No end in sight to Burma’s agony

I WISH to draw the attention of your readers to what is going on in Burma these times. Many will remember the scenes beamed into their living rooms in autumn 2007 when thousands of Buddhist monks took to the streets in a brave and peaceful protest in support of their oppressed fellow countrymen and women.

Sadly, many of those monks paid dearly for their audacity, many being savagely brutalised by the military, some “disappeared” and many more fleeing the country.

In response to international political pressures the regime is to hold an election later this year. Lest any of your readers might think this would advance the cause of democracy in Burma, let me hasten to disillusion them.

The Machiavellian election laws recently promulgated have given no option to the main opposition party, of which imprisoned icon Aung San Suu Kyi is leader, but to refuse to register for the election.

To do so would have required them to repudiate their leader and the 2,100 political activists in jail for the “crime” of peacefully advocating a restoration of democratic government.

The unjust and restrictive election laws, coupled with the flawed 2008 constitution, are clearly designed with the sole purpose of ensuring that the present military junta will continue to retain their tight control of Burma. This election, as planned, would be a travesty of justice and, if it goes ahead, will be a total sham. It would seem the generals brutal regime is determined to go on defying the UN, the EU and all civilised world opinion.

There should be no credence whatsoever invested in criminals who have been misruling Burma since 1962, while demoralising the courageous people working for democracy in difficult and dangerous conditions within the country. The recent decision by the EU to extend existing sanctions against Burma for a further period is to be welcomed, as is its call for “an end to violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.”

We would urge our Government, which to date has been very supportive of the democratic forces working for change in Burma, to redouble their efforts to push for a long-delayed return to justice and true democracy for the poor suffering people of Burma.

Gearóid Kilgallen

Chairperson

Burma Action Ireland

PO Box 6786

Dublin 1