Fuel Price Hike Movement in Burma/Myanmar, August 2007: Statement on Violent Attacks on 88’ Generation Women Activists in Burma

Statement on Violent Attacks on 88’ Generation Women Activists in Burma

STATEMENT

Issued by Burmese Women’s Union

29 August, 2007 – Chiang Mai, Thailand

The Burmese Women’s Union (BWU), which was founded by women activists of 1988 pro-democracy movement and consisted of different ethnic nationality women, is incredibly proud and wholeheartedly supports the courageous actions and bravery of 88’ Generation female students and other women activists inside Burma. The BWU also recognizes that this is not the first time women of Burma take front row and are standing up for the country’s political, economic and social affairs but have always been politically and socially active since the national liberation movement. Given the current circumstances, the BWU is encouraged and inspired by the significant number of women inside Burma taking leading role in recent peaceful protests to represent the concerns of the people over the dramatic fuel price hikes during the past week, especially taking the lead of the peaceful protest of about 2,000 people on August 22.

The BWU strongly condemns the heavy-handed attacks, arrests and crackdown of paramilitary group (known as Pyithu Swann Arr Shin) funded by the military regime and its civilian wing of Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) on 88’ Generation and other women activists’ peaceful protests against fuel price hikes across the country. The BWU is gravely concerned about the welfare and safety of women protesters and detainees. In particular the BWU would like to call attention to 88’ Generation activist like Ma Nilar Thein who has months old baby and is unable to go back home for fear that she will be unfairly persecuted. She believes that the protesters voice their concerns in peaceful manner for their country’s affairs and therefore are not guilty of any charge. Another woman activist called Ma Mee Mee has called on members of USDA not to trade off with the lives of all Burmese citizens for a short term benefit provided by the regime. The BWU is also incredibly inspired by Ma Su Su Nway’s brave action on 28 August despite her fragile health and knowing she could face violent attack from the USDA and Pyithu Swann Arr Shin.

As a member state and signatory, the Burmese military regime known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) is obliged under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of Discriminations against Women, and UN Security Council Resolution 1325, to protect women citizens from violence, to guarantee peace and security of the country, to allow the participation of women in political and public affairs, and their contribution in creating peace and security in the country. Instead, SPDC has allowed its paramilitary groups to resort violence against these women activists.

In light of the current situation, the BWU would like to call on and recommend the following actions to:

Demand and call on the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC):

· To immediately declare the USDA and its wing of paramilitary personnel known as Pyithu Swann Arr Shin as an unlawful association and abolish since they create and instigate violence and unrest in the country,

· To honor the Geneva Convention and allow peaceful demonstrations by all citizens of Burma and stop using forces and violent means to crackdown on demonstrators, particularly of women protesters,

· To honor, as a Member State, Articles proclaimed in CEDAW and to take appropriate actions to ensure women’s peaceful participation and expression of their concern,

Demand and call on the Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation:

· To protect the rights of women to freely express their concerns and to take every measure to protect the safety of women protesters,

· To take every measure to reveal the names of those violent attackers and take a law suit against them for injustice to be undone,

Demand and call on United Nations’ Secretary-General:

· SG to take all appropriate actions under his mandate declared under UNSC Resolution 1325,

· Recalling the terrible memory of 1988 bloodshed and the genocide that took place in Rwanda, SG to immediately delegate Mr. Gambari to Burma to defuse violence instigated towards peaceful protesters and prevent further violence,

· SG to take concrete initiatives immediately to materialize constructive dialogue toward national reconciliation in Burma,

Demand and call on ASEAN:

· To condemn the SPDC for recent arrests and violent crack-downs on the peaceful protesters and violating the Asean Declaration to stop violence against women,

· To demand the Burmese military regime to release all political prisoners and recent detainees without delay,

Call on International Community:

· To condemn and denounce the SPDC on its violence actions against peaceful demonstrators, particularly of women activists,

· To raise concern over the well-being and safety of current detainees and call for their immediate release,

· To call for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,

· To pressure your government to push the SPDC to solve the country’s problems through meaningful and constructive dialogue in peaceful manner.