STATEMENT ON 21st ANNIVERSARY OF 8888 DAY IN BURMA

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STATEMENT ON 21st ANNIVERSARY OF 8888 DAY IN BURMA

On this day in 1988, the military run one party rule so called the Burma Socialist Program Party (BSPP) rule went down to the history when it faced the nationwide uprising led by the students calling for freedom and democracy. The scores of tens of thousands of innocent lives were sacrificed when the military cracked down severely on the shows of civil disobedience before formally staging a coup on September 18, 1988, finally.

Furthermore, the brutal nature of military rule was bared by arrests, raids on camps and random shootings into peaceful demonstrators until and well beyond the seizure of power. Regardless of the atrocities and intimidations unleashed our endeavors for Burma’s freedom and democracy have never dimmed nor faded. As a result, a dare generation named 8888 generation was born ever since then. We 8888 Generation Students are still carrying our “fighting peacock flag” high and flying as symbol and leading banner for the freedom of people of Burma until today.

Consequently, confronting the most outrageous and ruthless military machine, many of our leading students were arbitrarily arrested, tortured, imprisoned and killed even in cold blood by the brutal regime; 8888 Generation Students leaders like Min Ko Naing and others are still in prison today.

However, like William Ernest Henley said, “In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under bludgeoning of chance my head is bloody but unbowed”, we will continue with our fight while honoring their sacrifices no matter what.

Nonviolent movement requires relentless participation of people in order to achieve victory no doubt. Though, the regime’s curse of “fear” still reigned and remained amongst the people.

Shamelessly also, the regime is still ignoring the will of the people – to honor the results of 1990 elections – and instead it is on a course to legitimize its otherwise illegal rule via its seven step road map leading to no where other than dynastic military rule in Burma until eternity.

The ruling military regime brutally crushed the well known “Saffron Revolution”, led by the Buddhist Monks, who were honored as one of the most peaceful persons on earth, in September 2007, killing hundreds of people including much revered members of the Buddhist Clergy. Many are still unlawfully disrobed and sent to hard the hard labor camps until today.

Turning a blind eye to the cries of millions of victims for help devastated by Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, the military regime forced the people to endorse its self-serving constitution and rigged the referendum claiming 94% victory.

With regard to current Daw Suu’s trial by the regime’s “Kangaroo Court”, some theory predicted that the regime would announce the formation of the “interim government” immediately after the kangaroo court’s guilty verdict to Daw Suu last week.  It would be an amazing hoodwink by the regime to divert the international outrage and concern in this regard.  But, it didn’t happen somehow and the trial date was moved to the next week. Though, we still believe in it.  In a reverse way, probably, the regime might announce the “interim government” with its puppets ahead, and dump Daw Suu’s case into their hands so that it can do a whitewash in this regard.  Anyway, the stubborn regime has enough guts to contain Daw Suu until after the 2010 election regardless. That is for sure.

The arbitrary detention of Daw Suu and the public outcries for that have nothing to do with our fight for the freedom of our nation as far as we know the nature of our nation’s crisis. Since, Daw Suu has led us, by way of non-violence, to fight for our freedom by sacrificing her life; she already knew that she would face the intimidations, torture, detention and extra-judicial execution or even persecution by the regime at some point.  That undoubtedly is not an issue.  The issue here is whether it is a logical solution for us to fight for the freedom of someone, who is fighting for the freedom of ours.  Our idea is that instead of fighting for the freedom of our leaders, who have sacrificed so much, don’t we think that this is the time for us to follow their footsteps by abandoning our “fear”?  Remember, non-violent movements and its leadership requires the unanimous mass participation not just support alone.

“Do something make sense for our leader before it’s too late?”

“Don’t attempt to cry over the split milk.”

UN and UNSC both failed to intervene in such ongoing lawlessness in Burma due to the complicated red-tape and prejudices that gave China the mandate – veto power - to shut down the world’s efforts to resolve our nation’s crisis.

Oft and repeatedly we have shouted out loud and clear that no nation, organization or even UN alone could solve our problems other than ourselves. Remember a system could not be beaten by just looking at it as an outsider. .

The major problem with our efforts to restore freedom and democracy in Burma is the fact the people are looking at their crises as outsiders only. Also, offering expressions of pity and sympathy on Daw Suu and 8888 Generation Students for their efforts and sacrifice only will not bring the required “changes” in Burma. Only following in the footsteps of leaders who have sacrificed so much for the people would get the job done. Gandhi is heralded as a great leader because people not only listened to what he said but also followed his leadership as well. Another way to put it the people of India did what they were told to do. It required only dare without scare for them to step up to the plate when they were called upon. Hence, we definitely need one daring generation to lead the people.

In this view and on this historical day we specifically call on the people of Burma to step up and rise to the occasion at hand. The military rule today is akin to a contagious epidemic like cholera and others that require concerted nationwide effort to control and eradicate. There is no magic bullet for cure.

Many more heroes need to be sacrificed and more to no avail also, in case people are still undecided and living in fear. Only the courage of the people to face the atrocities and social injustices squarely at hand is needed to follow in the footsteps of our leading 8888 Generation Students and other leaders and that will make the difference in our efforts.

Moreover, we call on the military personnel who value duty, honor and country to take this opportune moment to rise up to the occasion and play their part well in changing the system to a democratic and representative rule in place of the present military one abhorred by not only the people of Burma but also the world today.

We quote former US President Bill Clinton’s “FREEDOM IS NOT FOR FREE. BUT, IT HAS A CERTAIN PRICE TO PAY” to remind our people.

Now it is the time for us and the people of Burma, to fight and take advantage of the prevailing political situation, certainly in our favor today, and bring down military rule in our country once and for all.

Campaign Planning Committee

Anti-Dictatorship, People’s Freedom Movement in Burma

Washington DC, USA

August 8, 200