Burma Democratic Concern (BDC), Free Burma Project (FBP) and “The House of Peace and Nonviolence” today call for the EU to support the people for genuine democratization in Burma.

EU special envoy on Burma, Mr. Piero Fassino, wrote the article Elezioni in Birmania, l'impegno dell'UE per scardinare il regime which is published in
http://www.lastampa.it/_web/cmstp/tmplRubriche/editoriali/gEditoriali.asp?ID_blog=25&ID_articolo=7714&ID_sezione=&sezione= on 17 August 2010 saying that junta’s planned 2010 elections are the start of the democracy which is in reality totally opposite.

“It is very worrying that even the EU special envoy on Burma could easily fall into junta’s lies. It is not the election but the show-case for the junta to shed its skin. It is also clearly showing that EU must be informed more of what is actually happening on the ground in Burma”, said U Myo Thein, the Director of the Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) in United Kingdom.

The people of Burma have been suffering under one of the world's most brutal and repressive regime. Freedom of expression and freedom of association are non-existent and Burmese citizens are denied any state in the shaping of their future.

“Our past experiences taught us that regime won’t give up the power easily and they will take ultimate force to crush all the dissidents to cling onto power. Junta is setting up everything to make sure to win their own proxy party, Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) headed by these very generals”, said U Khin Maung Win, the Director of the Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) in United States.

Burma's economic crisis continues to deepen under military rule. People earn on a wage of around $1 a day.

Unemployment is rising dramatically every month while prices of consumer goods are escalating out of control. In Burma, people face complete lack of access to basic social services such as health services, and water sanitation.

“We do not recognize junta's seven steps road map. This is the true desire of Burmese people coming from the bottom of our hearts and the results of the 1990 general elections must be implemented accordingly”, said Daw Khin Aye Aye Mar, the Patron of the Burma Democratic Concern (BDC).

Under the military generals, poverty has soared and corruption is growing. In Burma, power is centred on the ruling junta--the State Peace and Development Council, or SPDC--which maintains strict authoritarian rule over the people of Burma.

“Military regime promised to hand over the power to elections wining party after the 1990 elections but when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's party, NLD, won landslide victory; junta refuses to transfer power. Now, again, these very generals who rule the country since 1988 declared to hold new elections in 2010 without honouring 1990 elections results. The point here is how we can trust the junta which ignores to respect the people's true will”, added U Tint Swe Thiha, the Patron at the Burma Democratic Concern (BDC).

Military rule will be legitimized under the constitution which adopted unilaterally in which 25% of the parliamentary seats are reserved for soldiers who will be appointed directly by commander in chief of the military.

“Election laws are undemocratic and unjust. They effectively bar Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from taking part in the elections and National League for Democracy (NLD) was automatically dissolved under the junta’s electoral laws for refusing to register for the elections. Without the participation of 1990 election winning parties including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi led National League for Democracy (NLD), junta’s planned election is clearly not creditable”, said Johnny Diaz, the Director of the Free Burma Project (FBP).

If 1990 elections winning parties were agreeing to participate in junta’s planned sham 2010 elections -- it means self-defeating for democracy movement as well as it will be automatically adopted the regime's sham constitution which designed to perpetuate military rule in Burma.

“Rather than surrendering junta, the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi led NLD chose not to participate in the elections. But it is equally true that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in the last democratic elections in 1990 (even then under arrest), was elected and she must be the prime minister of Burma as the leader of the winning party with more than 80% of the seats in parliament”, said Maurizio Somma, the President of “The House of Peace and Nonviolence” in Italy.

On 29 March 2010, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s party NLD unanimously decided not to re-register in accord with junta’s party registration laws. Addition, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi expresses her position in her famous “Six Points Analysis*” in rejecting party registration. On 19 August 2010, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi led NLD officially announced that NLD is boycotting the junta’s planned sham election. The regime declares that fresh election will be held on 7 November 2010.

Take Action

Please write the letter to Mr Piero Fassio, the EU Special Envoy on Burma at piero.fassino@partitodemocratico.it requesting him not to endorse junta’s planned sham 2010 election, to reject junta’s sham 2008 constitution and to call for to implement 1990 election results.

For more information please contact

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC)

• U Myo Thein [United Kingdom]
Phone: 00-44-208-493-9137, 00-44-787- 788-2386

• U Khin Maung Win [United States]
Phone: 001-941-961-2622

• Daw Khin Aye Aye Mar [United States]
Phone: 001 509 586 8309

• U Tint Swe Thiha [United States]
Phone: 001-509-582-3261, 001-509-591-8459

Free Burma Project (FBP)

• Johnny Diaz [United States]
Phone: 00-707-208-3126

The House of Peace and Nonviolence

• Maurizio Somma [Italy]
Phone: 00-39-348-130-7760, 00-39-081-871-9734

Notes to the Editor:

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on 1990 Elections Results:

“If this country is to achieve genuine democracy, the result of the elections of 1990 must be recognized. The results of the 1990 General Elections must be implemented is a resolution already taken by the United Nations. It will be to the detriment of our country if after an election has been held the results are not honoured and we do not resist attempts to trivialise it”.

*Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Six Points Analysis:

1. I will uphold the “Shwe-Gone-Daing Declaration@” and I don’t accept the 2008 Constitution
2. I will continue struggling for democratisation of Burma
3. I believe that NLD is neither my property nor anyone else
4. I don't accept any attempt creating factions within the NLD
5. I don't accept the junta's undemocratic and unjust political party registration law
6. I don’t believe that NLD is abolished even if it is dissolved by the military regime

@ “Shwe-Gone-Daing” Declaration

• To release of all political prisoners
• To hold a political dialogue

To review the Constitution
To recognize 1990 election results

To download PDF file here