[Greens-Media] Twenty years after 8/8/88 uprising, Burmese military regime still brutal and undemocratic

[John Kaye]

Twenty years after 8/8/88 uprising, Burmese military regime still brutal and undemocratic

Media Release 
7 August 2008

Australian Coalition forDemocracy in Burma Inc

Embargoed until 12:00 AM 8 August 2008

Twenty years ago today more than three thousand Burmese students, activists and monks were murdered by the military regime in scenes of unprecedented violence and brutality. Australia must now sever economic ties with the corrupt and repressive dictatorship, according to the President of the Australian Coalition for Democracy in Burma John Kaye.

Dr Kaye, who is also a member of the NSW Parliament, said: "On the day on which the world remembers the innocent Burmese murdered by the military in the uprising two decades ago, we call on the Australian government to ensure that the children of those responsible for atrocities against their people are not being educated in this country.

"It is time for the Rudd government to increase  pressure on the regime by expelling these students and freezing all Australian bank accounts associated with the regime.

"Australia should not give comfort to those who have grown wealthy by stealing from their own country. At least three children of senior military figures are reported to be living in Sydney.  

"Just as in last September's 'Saffron Revolution', on the eighth day of the eighth month of eighty eight, decades of incompetent, corrupt and repressive dictatorship drove a famously tolerant and peaceful Burmese people onto the streets.

"And like last year's unprovoked attacks on the demonstrators, the military responded with systematic bashings, arbitrary arrests and torture and widespread murder.

"The events of twenty years ago not only demonstrated the viciousness of the military and their determination to maintain a vice-like grip on the power to pillage their country regardless of the human cost.

"It also showed the courage of the people of Burma and their commitment to restoring democracy after 56 years of dictatorship.

"In 1988 Australia disgracefully was the first country to recognise the repressive military dictatorship that emerged from the chaos of the uprising.

"Twenty years later it is well past time we undid that mistake and gave every assistance to the Burmese people struggling to be free," Dr Kaye said.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455

The ACDB is a cross-party coalition of Federal and State Parliamentarians committed to the restoration of democracy in Burma.