MRC 8888 Statement

[nyap01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

STATEMENT ON  THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONWIDE  PRO-DEMOCRACY UPRISING  IN
BURMA

 August 8,1998

Today is the 10th Anniversary of the nationwide pro-demoncracy uprising in
Burma, marking the large scale slaughter of our friends, brothers, and sisters
who sacrificed their lives for democracy and human rights.  In this
unforgettable day, we, members of the Monland Restoration Council, protest
against the Burmese military regime in front of its embassy in  Washington,
DC., USA. 

On August 8, 1988 almost the entire  population of Burma marched into  the
streets and called for democracy.  After more than a month of peaceful
demonstrations, a military coup on 18th September cracked down the  democracy
movement.  Calling themselves then the State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC), the military Junta ordered the killing of thousands of civilians.
Thousands more were arrested, tortured, raped, and detained without trial.
Many others fled to malarial jungles along the border with Thailand. 

During the following 10 years human rights abuses have escalated all over the
country.  According to the recent United Nations Special Rapporteur, human
rights abuses in Burma include extrajudicial, summary executions, tortures,
forced relocation thousands of ethnic nationalities and forced labour by
children as well as women, and rapes of ethnic women by Burmese troops.  The
ruling Burmese military junta, recently renamed the State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC),  has employed an "ethnic cleansing policy" in
order to wipe out all ethnic  resistance and  Burmanize diverse ethnic groups.
Worst of all, systematic rape of ethnic women by Burmese troops is utilized as
a weapon of war against ethnic groups and as a policy of "blood mixing" and
Burmanization of ethnic groups. Besides, the military has made every attempt
to terminate the existence of ethnic culture and literature.  Celebration of
Mon National Day is banned, and teaching of ethnic languages is prohibited.
The regime ordered on 1st July 1998 to shut down all Mon national schools in
Mon state, threatening to arrest those who teach Mon language. 

The current political situation in Burma are getting worse and worse.  The
military regime restricts the freedom of movement of Noble Peace Prize winner
Aung San Suu Kyi.   Refusing to honor the results of the free and fair 1990
elections, the ruling regime has continued to refuse to negotiate with pro-
democracy forces and ethnic groups.  We are deeply concern about the present
political tensions in Burma. Burma is likely to explode again soon and repeat
the tragedy of 1988 unless a genuine political solution is found through a
peaceful means.

Aung San Suu Kyi has called for a parliament to convene by August 21, 1998.
We fully support her call, but strongly warn that a parliament which
implements only the interests of majority Burman will not find a solution; nor
will a parliament which neglects the causes of ethnic nationalities find an
answer.  The conflicts of Burma can never be solved without recognizing the
causes of diverse ethnic groups.  Only a genuine parliament which accomplishes
the establishment of a federal union that guarantees equality and the right to
self-determination of ethnic nationalities will find Burma a true solution. 

On this historic occasion, we urge U.S government and international  community
to support the struggle for democracy of Burmese people  by taking the
following actions:

1. Ask the United Nations to intervene in Burma's current political tensions.

2. Ask Burma's military rulers to immediately release all political prisoners
and to begin negotiations with  
    representatives of the NLD and ethnic nationalities.

3. Pressure Burma's military regime to convene  a Parliament to honor the
results of the May 1990 elections.
      
                                                      
Central Committee
213 Cumberland Ave.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
USA
TEL/FAx: 219-471-3961