Statement on the 20th Anniversary of the General Uprising in Burma

August 8, 2008)

Today, August 8, 2008, marks the 20th anniversary of the Burmese democratic uprising in which hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life took to the streets in Burma to demand an end to military rule. Many thousands of Mon also proudly marched in the hope that decades of conflict would finally come to an end and the prospect of a peaceful transition seemed to be within everyone’s reach.

Sadly though in September 1988, the Burmese military rather than opening up to a better future opened fire on the peaceful demonstrations killing and hunting down many thousands of its own people who were peacefully protesting. Many more who had participated in the uprising were cruelly beaten, arrested, tortured, and raped. Thousands had to flee to the border and neighbouring countries to escape the atrocity. Many thousands lost their family members, never to see them again.

Twenty years on and the situation in Burma has only worsened and repression by the SPDC continues. As a result, our natural resources have been depleted without proper management in which oil, gas, and other valuable resources are sold off to foreign businesses for the benefit of the military elite. The Burman elite live like kings behind heavily fortified walls in the new capital, Naypyidaw, as if to escape a dangerous epidemic, who fear their people more than ever before, being blind and ignorant to the suffering of millions of people.

The Burman military in turn purchases weapons and surveillance technology from China , Russia , India and other Asian countries to further oppress its own civilians. Very little developmental progress has been made in the last 20 years of military rule, rather the people have endured more suffering, poverty has deepened, more children are starving, more young people are dropping out of school to find work in other countries to feed their families, and the old and the sick die without proper health care. Meanwhile, human rights abuses such as gang rape by Burmese Army personnel, forced labour, and torture are becoming more widespread, especially in ethnic and remote areas. Due to the intensification of military operations against the ethnic minorities in Burma , over 2 million people have fled to neighboring countries and over a half million are internally displaced.

Recently, the international community has witnessed the SPDC”s entrenchment in its crackdown on the Saffron Revolution in September 2007 and its non-compassionate response to cyclone Nargis that killed over 140,000 in May 2008 and its indifference to the continued suffering of people in its aftermath. At this critical time in our history, the SPDC has won the military battle to repress their own people, but has lost immense credibility and any moral high ground it may have had in winning independence in 1948, over 60 years ago.

The SPDC has ignored the international community which has repeatedly called on the regime to ensure a peaceful transition to national reconciliation and restoration of democracy in Burma .

On this historic occasion, we urge the international community to remain united with Burma ’s democratic forces to:

1. support the efforts to bring the Burma ’s case to the United Nations Security Council

2. impose an arms embargo and targeted financial sanctions against the military regime

We urge the SPDC:

1. The unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, Nai Yekha and Nai Cheem Gakao.

2. The cessation of repression and hostilities against ethnic nationalities.

3. The commencement of tripartite dialogue comprised of ethnic nationalities, elected representatives, and military regime as recommended by the United Nations

This statement is jointly issued by:

1. The Australia Mon Association (AMA)

2. Euro-Mon Community

4. Mon Canadian Society (MCS)

5. Monland Restoration Council ( USA )

6. Mon National League for Consolidating and Aiding (Mae Sot, Thailand )

7. Mon Refugee Organization ( Malaysia )

3. Mon Unity League ( Thailand )

8. Mon Women's Association of America

9. Mon Women’s Association of Canada

Media Contacts:

Nai Siri Mon Chan ( Australia ) Tel: + (61) 433 555 372.

Nai Mot Deep ( USA ) Tel: 260-447-7741, 260-441-0549

Nai Kasuah Mon ( Thailand ) Tel: + (66) 081-365-9140

Nai Sai Mon (Canada) Tel: 1 403 615-8140