7th Anniversary Burma's Saffron Revolution - To be held in Delhi on September 26 2014

September 25, 2014:

We, the Burmese democratic activists led by Buddhist Monks, belong to the various organizations of students, youth, women, ethnic and political parties, assemble at Shwe Waryaung monastery to mark 7th anniversary of '2007 Saffron Movement' in Burma, in which several hundreds of peace loving people including Buddhist monks were killed when army brutally cracked down on them. Then, thousands of Buddhists monks led peaceful procession in all major cities across the country for national reconciliation and peace in Burma as well as in the world. Monks did not shout any slogan against Junta at these peaceful demonstrations, but only chanting Buddha's Mantra for love and peace.

Presently, the military junta has been trying to hoodwink world's opinion by installing puppet civilian government led by the ex-army general Thein Sein through sham election in 2010. It is obvious that the situation in Burma (Myanmar) had no change at all and common people are still suffering and reeling under the brutal rule of junta. The people of Burma had been continued to be denied their fundamental rights, political rights and activist are brutally cracked down to be killed, arrested, tortured and forced to leave the country or forced to be displaced. Hundreds of political prisoners are still remaining in jails and at the same time hundreds of thousands of people fled and taking refuge in neighboring countries as the result of junta's wars being waged in ethnic minority dominated areas. Human rights violation at the ethnic areas is unabated until now.

Land confiscation, especially farmlands, by the army becomes instrumental; when the hundreds of farmers demonstrate claiming their farmlands, many of them have been arrested and imprisoned. Then, those students who stand with the farmers, the workers, the oppressed, as well as for the rightful courses have been put behind bars. Among them, Ma Phyu Hnin Htwe, second year student, a human rights defender, a member of the All Burma Federation of Student Union (ABFSU), was arrested in this month. Human dignity has been burning to the ground. This highlights that today's puppet Hlattaw (Parliament) is destructive to the common goods, in fact.

Thus, we would like to express our view on current situation in Burma. Although we have confidence on Madam Aung San Suu Kyi's commitment on people's cause, we are very doubtful on junta's promise of reform as they never keep their promises. We also believe that any political offshoot that growth under shadow of pro-military dictatorship constitution 2008 will be just another military government in civilian cloth in essence. The state power still remains in handful of military dictators named National Defence and Security Council (NDSC), regardless of the existence of sham election, puppet parliament and bogus civilian government.

We firmly believe that Burma's political crisis cannot be solved, no matter whatever political agreement made with whatever political party, as long as 2008 pro-military dictatorship constitution remains in force. The public life will largely remain in military bondage as per pro-military constitution, the military leaders are guaranteed with one-fourth of total parliamentary seats in all assemblies and all important ministerial positions, and the government can confer power to NDSC legally under this 2008 constitution in case of so-called 'state of emergency', in fact, allows military to stage serial coup d'etat at their will. Until now, all the ministries have been occupied by military officers or ex-military officers.

Therefore, we hereby demand Burmese Military Junta to implement following points immediately if it has sincerity to settle general crisis that Burma has been facing for half a century.

1. To release all Farmers, Student Leaders, Political Prisoners and to initiate for a genuine peace process.
2. To repeal or abolish 2008 undemocratic constitution.
3. To make formal apology to Monks for cracking down of peaceful procession and chanting Buddha's Mantra for love and peace.
4. To implement for a Federal Union wherein the self-determination of ethnic nationalities' own affairs are constitutionally granted.
5. To give the farmlands back to the farmers, who are the rightful owners
6. To establish Justice, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, which are the foundation of good society

Program

Date: 26th September 2014 (11:00 A.M IST)

Venue: Shwe Waryaung monastery , Vikaspuri, New Delhi

ON BEHALF OF SAFFRON REVOLUTION MONKS IN DELHI

Burmese democracy activists in India

Contact ; U Pyinnya Zawta

Burma Centre Delhi (BCD)
WZ 110-A, (1st Fl), Bodela,
Vikas Puri, New Delhi -110018, India
Ph: (O) +91-11-45660619
[email protected]
www.burmacentredelhi.org