[Greens-Media] (Sue Pennicuik MLC) Burmese people mark unhappy 20th anniversary

[Amanda.Sharp at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Friday 8 August, 2008

 Burmese people mark unhappy 20th anniversary


Greens MP Sue Pennicuik said today that 8 August is a day of sad 
remembrance for the people of Burma. 

In 1988, millions of Burmese people from cities, towns and villages across 
the country took to the streets in peaceful protests, calling for freedom 
and democracy. Burma had been under military rule since a coup by General 
Ne Win in 1962.

The Burmese military junta responded by sending troops onto the streets 
during mass demonstrations on 8 August 1988 and opening fire on unarmed 
peaceful protesters. It is estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 people 
were killed and 10,000 students at the forefront of the movement were 
forced to flee to the jungle areas bordering Thailand in order to avoid 
capture. *

Aung San Suu Kyi was in Burma at the time as her mother was very ill. 
These events changed her life. She became the symbolic and actual leader 
of the democracy movement. The party she co-founded, the National League 
for Democary (NLD) went on to win 80% of the vote at the the 1990 
election, which the junta agreed to hold in response to the protests. 
However, the parliament has never met and the junta has continued to 
preside over a regime where opposition is brutally repressed. 

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest on and off for twelve 
years since 1989, including for the five years since 2003. This has 
recently been extended again by the junta. Human rights groups estimate 
the junta holds more than 1,800 political prisoners, many of whom are 
routinely tortured, including trade unionists, students, monks, members of 
ethnic communities and 17 elected members of parliament. **

"Like all people around the world who watch events in Burma, I mark this 
day with sadness, anger and frustration. The Burmese people are living in 
an Orwellian nightmare that has destroyed the lives of millions and left 
the country in a parlous economic state," Ms Pennicuik said. 


For more information, call Sue Pennicuik 0407 000 270

* ** Source: APHEDA
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