Burmese to demonstrate against military election

The pro-democracy Burmese exile around the world will demonstrate their resentment against the imposed military election in Burma. The exile Burmese groups will hold public rally and protest meetings in front of Burmese Embassy, UN Building and other public places on May 27 to draw the attention of the international community.

The India-based Burmese democratic groups have also joined hands to organize a rally at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on Thursday morning.

“We, Burmese in exiled have called Global Day of Action Against Burma’s 2010 Military Election on 27th May 2010 urging for a real election, not a military selection,” informed Pu Kim, a Burmese political activist based in New Delhi.

Mentionable that Global Day of Action for Burma was an initiative by Burma Campaign UK with the support from US Campaign for Burma, Amnesty International, Avaaz.org and also Buddhist monks from different parts of the globe during the 2007 anti junta protest in Burma which was simultaneously organized in over 100 cities of 30 countries.

The peaceful protests were aimed to make public awareness regarding the plight of Burmese people including the monks, and finally international community to raise voice against the military junta.

Meanwhile, ten alliances namely National Council of the Union of Burma, Democratic Alliance of Burma, National Democratic Front, National League for Democracy-Liberated Area, Members of Parliamentary Union, National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, Forum for Democracy in Burma, Women’s League of Burma, Students and Youth Congress of Burma and Nationalities Youth Forum have declared protest programmes in other countries as well.

The protest rallies, some already started since May 25 and will continue till the end of May, are being organized in Tokyo (Japan), Taipei (Taiwan), Seoul (South Korea), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Melbourne (Australia), Paris (France), Geneva (Switzerland), Stockholm ( Sweden), San Francisco (USA) etc.

It may be mentioned that National League for Democracy and other democratic parties of Burma established a landslide victory in its general elections on May 27, 1990. Of course, it was shocking that the junta did not recognize the outcome of the polls and hence did not hand over power. Rather, the group of generals imprisoned many opposition political leaders and many elected representatives left the country to take refugee in foreign nations.

Twenty years back, the junta has declared to hold another general election sometime later this year. But the electoral laws released prior to the exercise indicted that the junta was still uncomfortable with the pro-democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Over two thousand political activists are still behind bar in Burma and they would never be allowed to take part in the election. In a summarized note, one can guess that the present brand of junta named State Peace and Development Council wants to ensure their rule even after the polls.

The Nobel laureate Suu Kyi and her party National League for Democracy with many other opposition parties have already expressed their strong resentment against the election and also the 2008 Constitution. These parties would not join the polls as a mark of protest against the flawed electoral laws.

“We expect an unified worldwide action against the military rulers of Burma would finally help in denouncing the proposed sham election. We also want the election result not be recognized by the international community,” said Thin Thin Aung, a lady Burmese exile in India.

She also added, “We demand for release of all political prisoners including Suu Kyi, cessation of hostilities against ethnic & democracy groups and review of the 2008 constitution.”

Source :http://www.narinjara.com/details.asp?id=2616