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Free Aung San Suu Kyi! Free Burma! Cut all ties with the Burmese junta!
ASAP Statement - June 6, 2003
Action in Solidarity with Asia and the Pacific (ASAP) unequivocally condemns the Burmese regime’s brutal attack on the National League for Democracy on May 30.
The attack was instigated by the regime-created "Union Solidarity & Development Association" and involved paid criminal prisoners dressed as monks, as well as armed troops. More than 70 NLD activists died in the attack and many more were badly injured including NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The attack reveals just how desperate the Burmese regime has become as support for democracy has grown since the release of Aung San Suu Kyi over a year ago. They were obviously keen to cut short the NLD’s democracy tour which started just over a month ago and which had huge resonance.
The military junta cannot hold out indefinitely against the Burmese people’s deep desire for democracy and social justice.
After hearing of the attack, the people from nearby town of Monywa marched on the USDA office. There they were set upon by armed troops, USDA thugs and police. Three people died in the clash. But they have not been deterred and are planning a mass funeral ceremony for these martyrs.
ASAP stands in solidarity with the democracy movement of Burma and supports the worldwide protests planned for June 19.
ASAP joins with others calling on the Australian government to immediately break all ties with the Burmese military junta. Its policy of "limited engagement" has been an utter failure
We condemn Canberra’s policy of providing "human rights training" to the regime which began in 2000. Foreign minister Alexander Downer’s calls for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD activists smacks of hypocrisy given the government’s preparedness to deal with the regime and give it financial assistance.
This sort of collaboration provides the regime with political legitimacy. As Burma’s deputy foreign minister said in an interview with ABC TV in August 2001, "The outlook and approach of Australia towards Myanmar is much more welcome than those of the other Western nations".
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