On this date in 1947, the Panglong (Pinlon) Agreement was signed between Burma's national leader, U Aung San, and the patriotic ethnic nationality leaders for self-administration and self-determination. This agreement upheld the principle of national solidarity and unity among the peoples of Burma and the country eventually declared independence from British colonial rule. The leaders designated February 12 as "Union Day of Burma".
However, after the assassination of U Aung San in July 1947 the nation was beset with unrest. The military staged a coup de etat in 1962 as an excuse to control the country's political and economic instability. The Burmese Army headed by General Ne Win rekindled the flames of civil war
and peace could not be found in any corner of Burma. With the civil war raging throughout the country and the army looking only after itself, Burma soon lost its prestige and remains one of the ten poorest countries in the world today.
In commemorating "Union Day of Burma", the Free Burma Coalition-Philippines (FBC-Phils) believes that as long as a military dictatorship rules Burma, the country cannot achieve genuine peace, democracy, human rights and national harmony.
FBC-Phils expresses its solidarity with the true leaders of Burma by rejecting the road map unveiled in August by the ruling military government, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), as part of the junta's public relations campaign after it took opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi into detention.
Instead, we support the road map established by the ethnic groups entitled, "Rebuilding the Union of Burma". This alternative road map calls for a tri-partite dialogue among the military, ethnic and opposition leaders, an interim government and a legitimate National Convention. Part and parcel of this roadmap are the demands for a nationwide ceasefire and the release of all political prisoners in Burma, especially the pro-democracy opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi of the National League for Democracy (NLD).
We see that the ethnic peoples' road map emphasizes dialogue before the formation of a national convention, in contrast to the SPDC road map which forms a national convention as the first step to democracy. But
participation of the NLD and the conditions Suu Kyi is under will be critical to the credibility of the convention. In fact, the SPDC map does not offer a clear time frame for the democratic process to begin.
FBC-Phils. therefore calls on the Philippine government, as a democratic state and member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to work hand in hand with the international community in seeking effective and sustainable means to achieve true and lasting peace, justice, democracy and independence in Burma.
We ask the Philippine government and the ASEAN members to demand confidence-building measures from the junta to start off democratic reforms. The release of NLD leader Suu Kyi and all political prisoners,
the cessation of Burmese army attacks on the ethnic groups along the Thai border, and a nationwide ceasefire will be conditions that will encourage dialogue.
The Panglong (Pinlon) agreement signed 57 years ago today upheld the principle of national solidarity and unity among the peoples of Burma. This process of achieving unity on basic issues starts with dialogue. We say, let the conditions for dialogue first develop in Burma.
Free Suu Kyi and all political prisoners!
Participation for NLD and the ethnic peoples!
*******
Free Burma Coalition-Philippines (FBC-Phils.) is a coalition of organizations based in the Philippines working for peace, justice and democracy as part of Burma's global campaign and advocacy. It is co-convened by the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID). The Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) and other FBC-Phils. member-organizations conduct consciousness-raising activities in Manila
and the provinces. For solidarity and support, FBC can be reached at the IID office (02) 435-2900 or (02) 911-0205, contact Malou L. Manrique/ Myra Torres.
Showing posts with label Burma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Burma. Show all posts
Aug 11, 2003
Let the Burmese Peoples’ True Leaders Govern
7 August 2003
INITIATIVES FOR INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE
Free Burma Coalition (Amnesty International – Pilipinas;
Mariners Association for Regional and International Networking
Organization {MARINO}; Alliance for Progressive Labor {APL};
Movement for the Advancement of Student Power (MASP);
Balay Rehabilitation Center)
It has been almost three months since that Black Friday on May 30 and the crackdown on the National League for Democracy (NLD). In the meantime the United States has imposed economic sanctions on Burma. Although vague, Thailandhas proposed a “road map” for the restoration of democracy to Burma. Malaysia is openly thinking of kicking out its ward out of the ASEAN if persuasion fails to move the generals to heed its concerns. And the formerly reticent ASEAN – including the Philippine Foreign Ministry-- has issued calls for the military junta to free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
What is further on down the road? Indeed, the international climate has changed in terms of intervention and preventive action. It’s a post-Iraq world, a post-9/11 world. The world has recognized that internal affairs do not carry much weight any longer. Especially if it concerns intransigent rogue states that stand in the way of regional stability.
We are here today to remember the August 8, 1988 popular uprising in Burma.
That day is imprinted in the minds of the Burmese peoples and its supporters worldwide as an expression of the Burmese popular will to overthrow military rule and install Burma’s true civilian leaders.
But the reality that faces us today is the junta clinging on to power through naked military might and repression of the people’s sentiments. This, despite the landslide election of opposition leaders in 1990. This despite the mounting calls from governments, international groups and bodies such as ASEAN, E.U. International organizations and UN bodies, including the UN, for the junta to virtually step down and start democratic transition in Burma.
We stand here today to remind the junta that undemocratic governments will not last. We stand here to proclaim our solidarity with the Burmese people’s will.
We call on the SPDC to free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners, including the long-detained Ming Ko Naing and the “Black Friday” detainees.
We urge the Burmese military to immediately stop hostilities and human rights violations against the people.
We call on the ASEAN to face this crisis squarely by reviewing the status of Burma's membership and to develop a time frame for Burma to comply with ASEAN guidelines. ASEAN should put Burma as its priority agenda item at the ASEAN summit in October. Better still is sending a high-level ASEAN delegation to Rangoon to persuade the SPDC to dialogue with the democratic forces and ethnic nationalities. And ASEAN should also open formal channels with these forces themselves.
We call on the Philippine President herself to issue stronger calls for the unconditional release of Suu Kyi and the political prisoners to defuse tension in Burma and pave the way for a "tripartite" dialogue between the junta, the democratic opposition and the ethnic minorities.
There are also practical ways of Philippine support: by issuing refugee status or residency status to exiled Burmese people in the Philippines; or simply by opening Philippine schools to the Burmese.
We likewise call on the UN Security Council to force the junta to implement the 1990 election results in Burma and to engage in a tripartite dialogue to speed up democratic transition of power in Burma.
Lastly, we call on all peoples, nations, governments to recognize the legitimate representatives of the Burmese and ethnic peoples. It is high time that these representatives be openly supported, provided with all the assistance they need including diplomatic license to fast track the transition of Burma to freedom and democracy.
INITIATIVES FOR INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE
Free Burma Coalition (Amnesty International – Pilipinas;
Mariners Association for Regional and International Networking
Organization {MARINO}; Alliance for Progressive Labor {APL};
Movement for the Advancement of Student Power (MASP);
Balay Rehabilitation Center)
It has been almost three months since that Black Friday on May 30 and the crackdown on the National League for Democracy (NLD). In the meantime the United States has imposed economic sanctions on Burma. Although vague, Thailandhas proposed a “road map” for the restoration of democracy to Burma. Malaysia is openly thinking of kicking out its ward out of the ASEAN if persuasion fails to move the generals to heed its concerns. And the formerly reticent ASEAN – including the Philippine Foreign Ministry-- has issued calls for the military junta to free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
What is further on down the road? Indeed, the international climate has changed in terms of intervention and preventive action. It’s a post-Iraq world, a post-9/11 world. The world has recognized that internal affairs do not carry much weight any longer. Especially if it concerns intransigent rogue states that stand in the way of regional stability.
We are here today to remember the August 8, 1988 popular uprising in Burma.
That day is imprinted in the minds of the Burmese peoples and its supporters worldwide as an expression of the Burmese popular will to overthrow military rule and install Burma’s true civilian leaders.
But the reality that faces us today is the junta clinging on to power through naked military might and repression of the people’s sentiments. This, despite the landslide election of opposition leaders in 1990. This despite the mounting calls from governments, international groups and bodies such as ASEAN, E.U. International organizations and UN bodies, including the UN, for the junta to virtually step down and start democratic transition in Burma.
We stand here today to remind the junta that undemocratic governments will not last. We stand here to proclaim our solidarity with the Burmese people’s will.
We call on the SPDC to free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners, including the long-detained Ming Ko Naing and the “Black Friday” detainees.
We urge the Burmese military to immediately stop hostilities and human rights violations against the people.
We call on the ASEAN to face this crisis squarely by reviewing the status of Burma's membership and to develop a time frame for Burma to comply with ASEAN guidelines. ASEAN should put Burma as its priority agenda item at the ASEAN summit in October. Better still is sending a high-level ASEAN delegation to Rangoon to persuade the SPDC to dialogue with the democratic forces and ethnic nationalities. And ASEAN should also open formal channels with these forces themselves.
We call on the Philippine President herself to issue stronger calls for the unconditional release of Suu Kyi and the political prisoners to defuse tension in Burma and pave the way for a "tripartite" dialogue between the junta, the democratic opposition and the ethnic minorities.
There are also practical ways of Philippine support: by issuing refugee status or residency status to exiled Burmese people in the Philippines; or simply by opening Philippine schools to the Burmese.
We likewise call on the UN Security Council to force the junta to implement the 1990 election results in Burma and to engage in a tripartite dialogue to speed up democratic transition of power in Burma.
Lastly, we call on all peoples, nations, governments to recognize the legitimate representatives of the Burmese and ethnic peoples. It is high time that these representatives be openly supported, provided with all the assistance they need including diplomatic license to fast track the transition of Burma to freedom and democracy.
Jun 12, 2003
Uphold democracy in Burma!
The Alliance of Progressive Labor and the Free Burma Coalition vehemently condemn the Burmese military forces’ brutal dispersal of the motorcade held by the supporters and members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) headed by its dissidentleader Aung San Suu Kyi last May 30. After the burst of gunfire, more than 50 people were reportedly dead and many more were injured that clearly showed the military junta’s utter disregard for human and political rights. The government, in a crackdown after the incident, is now holding Suu Kyi and other leaders of NLD that include its vice-chairman U Tin Oo.
The ruthless attack clearly shows that a military rule much less a dictatorship would never uphold democracy and rule of civil law. In fact, NLD won a landslide victory in the last Burma national elections in 1990 but the military junta prevented them from holding power that should have fully established democracy in Burma since 1962 when the military started ruling the country.
We identify with the Burmese people’s upheavals and miseries since the Filipino people once lived under a military dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. After more than 20 years, we found ourselves further entrenched into extreme poverty as tens of thousands were killed and tortured by the military to curtail civil and political rights and subvert the protest movement. Eventually, in 1986, the Filipino people deposed Marcos through a bloodless revolution. This cornerstone in our history proves that the people would not forever live under such abhorrent situation and would continuously long for freedom, rule of law, and a democratic system of government where the people could exercise their rights without fear and ruthless assault from the powers that be. And although some sectors in the ruling elite want to bring back the dark years of Martial Law through the terror bills now filed in congress, the Filipino people will not allow the bills to be promulgated into law.
Certainly, the attack against the human and political rights of the Burmese people is also an attack on our rights and to all freedom loving and pro-democracy movements in other parts of the world especially in the poor and underdeveloped countries like the Philippines.
The Filipino people share the struggles of the people of Burma in its call for an end to the military junta led by U Tin Thun and uphold democracy as the pathway to peace and progress. The APL also supports the position of the Initiatives for International Dialogue urging the Philippine government, particularly, Foreign Affairs secretary Blas Ople to demand from the Burma government the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of the NLD during the one week ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Phnom Penh starting today June 12.
HOME | ABOUT APL | PRESS STATEMENTS | POSITION PAPERS | BASIC D
The ruthless attack clearly shows that a military rule much less a dictatorship would never uphold democracy and rule of civil law. In fact, NLD won a landslide victory in the last Burma national elections in 1990 but the military junta prevented them from holding power that should have fully established democracy in Burma since 1962 when the military started ruling the country.
We identify with the Burmese people’s upheavals and miseries since the Filipino people once lived under a military dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. After more than 20 years, we found ourselves further entrenched into extreme poverty as tens of thousands were killed and tortured by the military to curtail civil and political rights and subvert the protest movement. Eventually, in 1986, the Filipino people deposed Marcos through a bloodless revolution. This cornerstone in our history proves that the people would not forever live under such abhorrent situation and would continuously long for freedom, rule of law, and a democratic system of government where the people could exercise their rights without fear and ruthless assault from the powers that be. And although some sectors in the ruling elite want to bring back the dark years of Martial Law through the terror bills now filed in congress, the Filipino people will not allow the bills to be promulgated into law.
Certainly, the attack against the human and political rights of the Burmese people is also an attack on our rights and to all freedom loving and pro-democracy movements in other parts of the world especially in the poor and underdeveloped countries like the Philippines.
The Filipino people share the struggles of the people of Burma in its call for an end to the military junta led by U Tin Thun and uphold democracy as the pathway to peace and progress. The APL also supports the position of the Initiatives for International Dialogue urging the Philippine government, particularly, Foreign Affairs secretary Blas Ople to demand from the Burma government the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of the NLD during the one week ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Phnom Penh starting today June 12.
HOME | ABOUT APL | PRESS STATEMENTS | POSITION PAPERS | BASIC D
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)