Channel NewsAsia - Exiled Myanmar s

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Subject: Channel NewsAsia - Exiled Myanmar students in UK and Australia campaign for democracy

Exiled Myanmar students in UK and Australia campaign for democracy
Exiled students touted Thursday, September 9, 1999, or 9-9-99, as Myanmar's
"date with democracy," hoping for a repeat of the August 8, 1988 or 8-8-88
protest that almost toppled the military government.

Students in Australia and UK have been protesting for an end to military
rule in Myanmar.

In the UK, campaigners for democracy in Myanmar took their message to the
centre of London.

They toured the capital in a double-decker bus, demanding freedom and human
rights in their homeland.

With a flash of colour and the sound of protest, the streets of London came
alive, as pro-democracy campaigners in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma,
rode through the streets to send a clear message to the military regime in
Yangon.

Among the protestors boarding the bus tour around the capital was actress
Maureen Lipman.

She issued a call to western governments to apply sanctions on Myanmar, and
heed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's wish for peace and reconciliation.

The bus circled some of London's best known tourist sites, including
Trafalgar Square, dominated by the giant figure of Nelson's Column.

The protestors also said that they would continue with their campaign, until
full democracy is restored to their homeland.

Initially, police were helpless in stopping the crowd which swelled, after
the gates were pulled down and word spread that a protest was going on.

However, reinforcements were called in together with police dogs who helped
control the crowd, and several arrests were made.

The Overseas National Students' Organisation of Myanmar is appealing for
international support in their attempts, to topple the country's military
regime.

According to them, they are unable to make any movement in their homeland
for fear of arrest, hence, they need the support of the international
community.

Nonetheless, there has been little sign that the population of Myanmar is
ready to risk a repeat of the bloody clampdown 11 years ago, when an
estimated 3,000 people were killed.

The Myanmar regime posted riot police around the unusually quiet capital of
Yangon on Thursday, to deter any protests.