Free Burma activists picket Burma embassy, demand Suu Kyi's release

In line with the celebration of the Valentine's Day, Filipino activists
today launched their own version of "Lovapalooza" infront of the Burma
embassy in Makati City but this time kissing not their loved ones but
photos of the most prominent political prisoner of Burma Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi.

Bringing with them heart-shaped red ballons and placards members of the
Free Burma Coalition-Philippines and Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition
(APSOC) reiterated their demand to free Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the
National League for Democracy in Burma who is still under house arrest
despite of the series of international protests against the military
regime in Burma. FBC-Phils and APSOC also said that the UN Security
Council should now act immediately because of the deteriorating
political and social conditions in Burma.

WHERE IS THE LOVE?

The groups also surrounded the embassy with "red roses" which according
to them symbolizes their love for democracy and justice which are
clearly absent in Burma for the past four decades. One of the protester
is holding a placard with a slogan: Where is the Love in Burma?
obviously derived from the popular song Where is the Love of the band
Black Eyed Peas who also called for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's release
through a concert in Thailand last year.

Some Asean leaders including UN undersecretary for Political Affairs
Ibrahim Gambari have already echoed support for Suu Kyi's immediate
release but the junta simply ignored this.

DOUBLE-VETO OF CHINA AND RUSSIA

Last 12 January , on a vote of 9-3 with three abstentions, the UN
Security Council rejected a non-punitive resolution seeking to press the
Government of Burma to speed up democratic reforms. Despite having the
requisite nine votes required for the resolution to be adopted, it
failed because of a double-veto by permanent Council members China and
Russia and joining them was South Africa.

"It's Valentine's Day. We just hope that Cupid's arrows will hitthe
hearts of the Chinese, Russian and South african governments for them to
realize that supporting the illegal regime of Burma is not at all worth
it. They should reverse their position and side with the peoples of
Burma,"Egoy Bans, FBC-Philippines spokesperson said.


"The double-veto of China and Russia is an open endorsement of military
rule in Burma. This double-veto is like signing the death warrant of the
already suffering peoples of Burma. It's sad that number game reigns
over the supposed democratic aspirations inside UN Security Council that
brags to protect the world from any threats,"Bans added.

Bans stressed,"The Burmese regime is still in power because of the
support of a few powerful states like China and Russia. China is the
biggest supporter of Burma. Other states, because they cannot afford to
severe economic ties with China, have decided to remain silent on the
Burma question."

CONTINUING ABUSE AGAINST WOMEN IN BURMA

The group also slammed the continuing military offensive in Karen State
Burma that has already displaced more than 20,000 people. In a report
launched yesterday by the Karen Women's Organization the group have
provided graphic evidence of the widespread terror tactics being
employed bythe military regime's troops against women across Burma's
Karen State.

The report documents over 4,000 cases of abuse, including rape, murder,
torture and forced labour, mainly over the past few years, in over 190 villages by
troops from over 40 Burmese Army battalions.

FBC-Philippines claimed that 44 years of military rule simply has made
the Burmese regime more brutal. The junta resists international pressure
and is more concerned to maintain its grasp on power than to serve its
impoverished population largely because of continued support from China
and Russia. Bringing Burma in the UNSC is a major and crucial step to
jump start genuine democratic reforms in that country, the group
explained.

 

http://www.iidnet.org