[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

ABYMU, ABSDF, DPNS and NLD (L.A) Jo



Subject: ABYMU, ABSDF, DPNS and NLD (L.A) Joint Statement


Statement of
The All Burma Students' Democratic Front - ABSDF
The All Burma Young Monks Union - ABYMU
The Democratic Party for a New Society - DPNS
The National League for Democracy (Liberated Area) - NLD (LA)

Dated: 3 September 1999

To the people of Burma,

 Burmese people have a rich and brilliant tradition of struggle, engaging in
anti-colonial, anti-fascist and national liberation movements throughout
Burmese history. Burmese people have always actively engaged in these
movements
and many have sacrificed their lives for the causes.  The anti-colonial and
anti-fascist generation struggled to win Burma's independence in 1948.  But
Burma has not become the free, just, prosperous and peaceful country of which
that generation dreamed. Burma has been plagued with conflicts and oppression
and turned into one of the world least developed countries beginning with the
introduction of military dictatorship after the 1962 military coup. 

In 1988, people throughout Burma showed their true desires by participating in
the Popular Democracy Movement, demanding an end to military dictatorship
and a
return to democracy in Burma. As a result, the ruling authorities were forced
by people power to end the Burma Socialist Program Party's (BSPP) regime
and to
move toward a multiparty democratic system. The 1990 multiparty General
Election was held as a result of the 1988 Popular Democracy Movement. 
Tragically, the military has denied the indisputable outcome of the election
and entrenched itself for a lengthy stay in power.

The military regime, now called the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC),
has constantly denied citizens their basic rights.  As a consequence, the
people's economic, social, education and health situations have deteriorated. 
The Burmese economic infrastructure is in ruins because of the mismanagement
and despotism of the ruling elite. The rice price has increased exponentially
during these eleven years of military rule.  The price of a basket of rice in
1999 is more than 200 kyats, up from 9 kyats per basket in 1988. Poverty is
endemic throughout Burma, once the rice bowl of Asia, because of sky-rocketing
prices on basic commodities, and an unresponsive government that offers
practically no social welfare program. Rice riots have occurred recently in
Rangoon, Mandalay, Shwe Bo, Basein and Paung Townships. The starvation forces
people to steal or beg for their survival under military rule.

The global trend at the turn of the century is for countries to invest in
education, aiming to compete in the 21st century.  By contrast, in Burma
600,000 children of primary school age annually drop out of schools because of
economic hardship and high education expenses. For the past 11 years,
universities have been open for only two years; they have been completely
closed down since 1996, and there is no indication that they will re-open
soon.
More than 400,000 students who passed high school examinations are now waiting
to enroll in universities.  An entire generation of students has been denied
its education. This tragedy is alarming not only for these students but also
for the next generation of students.

The situation has reached crisis level in the health sector as well.  The
military regime has reluctantly used 0.3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) in the health sector, according to the official indicators of 1997-1998
State Budgets. The health condition of the general population is deteriorating
and many deaths occur as a result of preventable diseases. Death tolls of
infants and pregnant women are on the rise, many dying because of lack of
primary health care as well as scarcity of medicine and medical instruments in
public hospitals.  HIV/AIDS has become widespread and is a major threat to
Burmese society. Gen. Ket Sein, Health Minister of the regime, has to admitted
that ?indicators show 70 to 97 people of 1,000 were infected from blood
donation samples in Rangoon and Mandalay?.

The ruling military regime is constantly promoting its so-called ?free market
economy?, though only a privileged few can enjoy the benefits, at the cost of
exploiting the country's resources.  Money laundering connected to the illegal
drug trade has had disastrous social and economic consequences.  Small private
sector workers and small entrepreneurs cannot survive because of oppression,
injustice and negligence of the state.

Today we, the ABSDF, ABYMU, DPNS and NLD (LA), are committed to and engaged in
the unfinished struggle for democracy. We believe that only liberation from
military oppression and the introduction of a new era of democracy in Burma
will free us from this suffering. The dictators have never been concerned with
the plight of the Burmese people and care only about remaining in power. We
call on the people of Burma to join together, hand in hand, in the struggle to
end the military dictatorship in Burma.  In our united struggle we can
create a
better future for coming generations.

This is also the right time for soldiers who are still serving in the Burmese
army to stand with the people. We know that the rank and file of the army in
Burma suffers along with the people under the dictatorial regime.
Therefore, we
call on the soldiers in the Burmese army to release the chains of oppression
upon us and upon themselves. 

Finally, we resolve to take on any role, serve in any capacity, and pay any
price in the democratic struggle together with the oppressed Burmese people.

End.