Burma

Burma/Myanmar Struggle for Democracy

History

The people of the Southeast Asian country of Burma are locked in one of the world's great freedom struggles. The country's military rulers, the State Peace and Development Council, have run the country with an iron fist for the past 15 years, after they assumed power from a 26-year socialist dictatorship. In 1988, students, professionals, and others launched a nationwide uprising aimed at bringing an end to authoritarian rule during which millions of people courageously marched on the streets, calling for freedom and democracy.

The military responded by gunning down thousands of demonstrators and imprisoning thousands more in one of Southeast Asia's most bloody episodes in recent history. The leader of the demonstrations, Min Ko Naing (pronounced Min Ko Nine), has been held behind bars ever since, where approximately 1,400 political prisoners remain. The most recognizable face of Burma, 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (pronounced Daw Aung Sawn Sue Chee), has been in and out of house arrest and prison since 1988. Presently, she is held under house arrest.

Worried that they could not hold on to power in 1988, the ruling generals announced they would hold a democratic election. Aung San Suu Kyi and many allies formed a political party, which they named the National League for Democracy (NLD). The party went on to win the election in a landslide victory in 1990, garnering an astounding 82% of the seats in parliament, even though many pro-democracy leaders were already imprisoned. Tragically, instead of permitting the electoral winners to assume office, the regime has maintained its grip on power ever since.

In 1996, students again organized major protests on the streets of Rangoon, with thousands conducting sit-down demonstrations at key traffic intersections. The regime responded again by force, brutally beating them with batons and water canons, and arresting hundreds. This time, a videographer managed to capture some of the events on camera, which were then shown on CNN and other news stations.

In May 2003, Burma again made international headlines when Aung San Suu Kyi, just released from house arrest a year earlier, was traveling on a speaking tour near Mandalay, Burma's second largest city. During her tour, approximately 600 members of her caravan were brutally attacked by the political arm of the regime, the Union Solidarity and Development Association. Up to 100 supporters were brutally beaten to death with blunt clubs, bamboo sticks, and spears, while Aung San Suu Kyi narrowly escaped assassination. She was held in prison and is now under total house arrest.

At the same time, many of Burma's ethnic groups, including the Karen, Shan, and others, have been waging armed freedom struggles against the regime, some for up to 50 years. The regime, intent on dominating the entire country, has responded with brutal force — raping, slaughtering, or forcibly displacing millions of ethnic peoples. Reports of some of the world's most horrific human rights abuses have been documented by governments and credible organizations in Burma's ethnic regions, yet these peoples never give up the struggle to protect their homelands and way of life.

The NLD, the true elected leaders of Burma, have called on citizens and governments around the world to put international pressure on Burma's regime.

This is a critical time for Burma since a number of international institutions and countries have begun to put further pressure on Burma. Burma has, recently, been put on the UN Security Council agenda, and only in December has ASEAN demanded the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. Since February of 2006, Burma has stepped up attacks and shelling of ethnic minorities, especially the Karen. The ASEAN and Malaysian envoys to Burma have failed to produce any concrete results and are being thwarted by the Burmese military junta. Internationally, China and India have negotiated deals for natural gas pipelines and supply, a deal which will engender further international cooperation with the military government.

In a move characteristic of their irrational policies, the seat of the government has been moved from Rangoon to Pyinmana. They staged their first administrative parade on March 27.

(From US Campaign for Burma)

News

No democracy or phone lines in Burma's new jungle capital, March 27, 2006

***Burma steps up attacks on insurgents, March 26, 2006

Myanmar to lay gas pipeline to China, March 27, 2006

***Malaysian FM cuts off Burma trip (BBC), March 24, 2006

***ASEAN Envoy Visits Burma After Two-Month Delay (VOA), March 24, 2006

***Burma snubs Asean envoy, March 27, 2006

Avian flu outbreak suspected in Burma’s Yezagyo, March 24, 2006

***New Attacks by Burma Army Displace Over 3,000 Karen, March 23, 2006

Rice lashes government of Burma as oppressive, March 16, 2006

Indian PM questioned over president’s Burma visit, March 15, 2006