Today, June 19, 2003 is the 58th birthday of Burma's democratic leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. On her birthday, the Nobel Peace Laureate and General Secretary of the National League for Democracy (NLD) Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is being detained forcefully by the Burmese military regime.
During her organizational tour in Upper Burma, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her party members were violently attacked by the supporters of the military regime near Depaeyin township and later she and the NLD leaders have been detained. International governments have expressed their anguish and concerns over such an ugly act of the ruling State Peace and Development Council and urged for the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
The US Secretary of State Mr. Colin Powell has asked for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and he strongly criticized the Burmese military government's actions against the democratic forces and for ignoring to hold the political dialogue in Burma.
The Association of the South East Asian Nations (Asean), in its meeting on 16 June, has also urged the representative of the Burmese military government, U Win Aung to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from detention as soon as possible.
Though there have been international outcry and condemnations, the Burmese military government has been repeatedly saying that "Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been put under protective custody for her own security and she will be released when the situation becomes normal".
During his recent 10th visit to Burma, the United Nations Special Envoy Mr. Razali Ismail's demand for the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was not fulfilled by the Burmese regime.
By looking at the episode of the 30th May and the intimidation and disturbances imposed by the SPDC and its thugs like Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during her organizing tour in Mandalay Division, Arakan State, Chin State, Kachin State, we don't see any willingness on the part of SPDC generals towards democratic transition and they have been trying to continue to hold on power by any means possible.
Since this is the crucial moment for the people of Burma, the strong support and immediate actions of the international community are much needed. We would like to request the democracy loving citizens of the world to put pressure on the SPDC in various ways for the release of Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other detained NLD members, to punish those who were involved in the May 30 attack and to call on the UN Security Council to intervene in Burma for emerging political dialogue which can bring a democratic solution in the country.
Similarly, we urge the people of Burma who voted for a democratic government in the 1990 elections, especially the Burma women folk, to stand firmly beside Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and stick to their belief and struggle with strength until we achieve our goal for democracy.
Contact : Thin Thin Aung (Joint General Secretary-1) Tel : + 91 9891252316