[Greens-Media] Protest against Burma crimes to put pressure on Downer

[John Kaye]

Australian Coalition for
Democracy in Burma Inc
 
Media Release
21 September 2007
 
Protest against Burma crimes to put pressure on Downer
 
Supporters of democracy in Burma will rally at 12:30 pm today in front
of Foreign Minister Downer’s office in Martin Place, Sydney to pressure
the Howard government into taking action against the Junta, according to
NSW MP and President of the Australian Coalition for Democracy in Burma
(ACDB), John Kaye MLC.
 
Dr Kaye said: “The Burmese people have stepped up their challenge to
the dictatorship and the Howard government is sitting on its hands.
 
“Around the country, Buddhist monks are defying the brutal crackdown by
the police, army and paramilitary. Thousands of saffron-robed religious
orders are staging marches through the streets of Burma, directly
defying bans on public dissent.
 
“Other democracy activists continue to take brave protest action to
highlight the repression of democracy, the collapse of the economy and
rising fuel prices.
 
“On Tuesday tear gas was fired into a protest of about 1,000 Burmese
Buddhist monks and civilian demonstrators in the north-western city of
Sittwe. Three or four monks were arrested as the crowd were attacked and
scattered.
 
“The Australian Coalition for Democracy in Burma is deeply concerned
that without international help, the dictatorship will feel they can get
away with a brutal crackdown on these lawful and peaceful protests.
 
“We call on the Howard government to pull out all stops and put
pressure on the Burmese junta to respect human rights and restore
democracy.
 
“There is no time to waste. Foreign  Minister Downer should call in the
Burmese representatives in Australia and make it very clear that this
country will no longer tolerate arbitrary arrest, torture and
suppression of the results of the democratic election held a decade ago,”
Dr Kaye said.
 
Protest Details: Emergency Protest- Australian Government must act
now!
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm  Friday, 21 September, 2007 
Location: Martin Place Sydney (near the skaters, behind the fountain) 
 
Contacts: John Kaye 0407 195 455
Luke Whittington  0425 214 731
Maung Maung Than: 0411 337 816
 
The ACDB is a cross-party coalition of Federal and State
Parliamentarians committed to the restoration of democracy in Burma.
 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000