Burma Watchers To Burmese Junta: Democratize Or Face More Protests

http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/news.php?news_id=20080919032553
MANILA, Philippines (September 19, 2008) - "There is no way the military regime can hide the continuing denial of human rights in Burma and its deplorable management of the country. It is therefore urgent for the international community to take stronger and more comprehensive action against the kind of government that turned its country into a garrison state".

Thus said Free Burma Coalition-Philippines spokesperson Egoy Bans on the 20th anniversary of the bloody coup d'etat staged by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), now known as State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the official name of Burma's military junta.

FBC-Phils and other pro-democracy groups around the world, hold the SLORC responsible for the 1988 arrest and murder of thousands of peaceful activists and civilians calling for democratic reforms in Burma. Year 1988 also saw the rise to popularity of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as she assumed leadership of the main opposition party, the National League for Democracy.

Bans said, "Twenty years have passed but nothing has significantly changed in Burma. In the guise of restoring peace and order, SLORC was founded and later changed its name to SPDC in another attempt to fool the people into believing empty promises of political change and economic development.

Except for the junta's name, nothing has changed at all. Peace, development, democracy and even the rule of law are nowhere to be found."

FBC-Phils also challenged the military regime of Burma to democratize or else the junta faces more international condemnation. "This is a show of force between the junta and the international community. The world is closely watching Burma and we will not stop staging protest actions, particularly infront of the junta's embassies wherever they are stationed," Bans stressed.

CHALLENGE TO CHINA

FBC-Philippines likewise criticized China for cuddling the junta saying that it "has contributed so much to the suffering of the peoples of Burma" through continued supply of arms and ammunition to SPDC's armed forces.
In 2006, China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on Burma saying that Burma does not pose a threat to regional peace and security.

FBC-Phils explained that China "acts like the popular Big Brother" and blocks any UN effort to address growing global concern for human rights and democracy in Burma. The international community has constantly asked China to play a crucial role in Burma's democratization but the Chinese regime has refused citing the principle of non-interference or respect for a country's sovereignty by not meddling with its "internal affairs."

"Although China is not the only country engaged in Burma, it is imperative for the Chinese government to break its silence on the issues of human rights violations of the SPDC. Before quickly defending the junta, China should first offer viable alternatives for democratic reforms in Burma," Bans concluded.