Support: Freedom of Expression! (r)

[eyar@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

That is what we must exercise in our democratic society.

Eyarsoe

thaung@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> At 09:33 PM 9/29/97, you wrote:
> >         SUPPORT: Freedom Of Expression
> >
> >Support for the democracy movement in Burma and freedom of
> >expression are quite different issues.  One can be a supporter
> >for the democracy movement while criticizing the particular groups.
> >
> >On 19August, 1997, we heard a program from Radio Free Asia
> >(Burmese Service)about the execution in ABSDF.  We were quite amazed
> for
> >the courage of the radio station and we were very glad that it did.
> >Before then, we thought there was no one (except Amnesty
> International
> >and some human rights groups) who pointed out any weakness of the
> >oppositions on the border. Many students in Bangkok, who left the
> border
> >for frustration of what had happened, expressed their concern that
> >someone should have done it before for a departure to a good change.
> The
> >ABSDF students who are now taking shelter in
> >the various refugee camps were also glad about it and hoped
> >that it could make the leaders think for a change.
> >
> >However, the responses from the leaders, as far as we heard in
> >Bangkok were quite astounding.  They were angry for that program.
> Even
> >a leader said they listened RFA because of its support for democracy
> but
> >now he said he would not listen it any more because he thought RFA
> was
> >not supporting democracy. Some leaders said it was
> >not the time to do it.  we have been  curious how will they respond
> >to the radio station since then.
> >
> >If it is not the right time, when will it be the right time?  We
> >want them to think and compare that if SLORC says that it is not the
> >right time for criticism, how can we change the society and how can
> >we educate the people about what is happening and how can we let
> people
> >learn from the events?  We all are hesitant to admit our disorienting
>
> >dilemmas.  It doesn't. (A woman whom we know, Mi Mi Khaing who was
> from
> >NLD accused of being a spy and tortured and interrogated by Dr. Naing
>
> >Aung led ABSDF.  She was released lately). We wish Radio Free Asia
> >interviewed her about her experience in ABSDF interrogation centre.
> (Ne
> >Win Aung is also free and is living in Bangkok.He can also tell his
> >experience in the interrogation centre).
> >
> >It is quite irrational to say that someone is not supporting
> >democracy movements for pointing out the weakness.  When we say like
> >this, we should notice that we are behaving like BSPP or SLORC and we
>
> >are copying their BAD EVIL BEHAVIOURS instead of removing them from
> our
> >daily activities.  The events can devastate ourselves and for
> >such reasons, many students feel insecure to make a
> >change within ourselves.  Therefore many students have abandoned the
> >border struggle.   We should be facing the reality and we should not
> be
> >afraid of learning from the mistakes that we made.
> >
> >We hope that we should make every efforts to stop such awful events
> >and we should analyse ourselves for a better changes.  Internal
> changes
> >are necessary among us and we will never be able to
> >establish a peaceful and democratic country  if we don't  remove
> >those habits ourselves.  We hope that Radio Free Asia will stand
> >firm from its right direction.
> >
> >With respect,
> >A Group of *8888 Pro-democracy Students
> >
> >Down with Dictator! Down with SLORC! Down with Evil-revolutionaries!
> >********************************************************************
> >
> >
> >______________________________________________________
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> >
> Thank you. This is the most healthy tonic for the democracy
> revolution.
> thaung>