Veteran politician appeals for international action on Burma

Mizzima News: - Mungpi
Thu 30 Aug 2007

With government-backed gangsters taking charge of security, ‘Burma is under Thug’s rule’ according to veteran Burmese politician U Win Naing, who today appealed to the international community to come to the protection of the Burmese people.

A self-styled nationalist, Amyotharyee U Win Naing, in a statement released today said, with at least 100 peaceful protestors forcibly arrested within the last seven days, Burmese people lack security and are vulnerable against inhumane attacks by junta-sponsored gangsters and goons.

“We are not protected by laws or ethical or moral practices any longer,” said U Win Naing.

Following the fuel price hike on August 15th, activists and civilians in Rangoon and other parts of the country have embarked on peaceful protests in the form of marching through the streets, demanding lower fuel and commodity prices.

U Win Naing says the people’s desire for adequate living conditions and survival has motivated them to take to the streets.

“They are not asking for the removable of the present military government,” U Win Naing said.

However, the public protests, the largest ever in a decade in Burma, were subject to a crackdown by the junta through the deployment of its puppet civilian organizations – Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) and Swan Arrshin.

According to the Thailand based rights group, Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Burma (AAPPB), at least 100 protestors, including Burma’s second most prominent pro-democracy figure Min Ko Naing and 12 other members of the 88 generation students group, have been arrested during the protests that first began August 19th.

While there are at least one-hundred thousand families that are missing daily meals in Rangoon’s suburban area alone due to severe poverty, actions to assist them are also being disrupted by junta-backed thugs, said U Win Naing.

U Win Naing and his group, who began donating rice to the poor people in Rangoon’s suburban areas on August 19th, were attacked by mobs believed to be backed by junta officials.

Following the attack, U Win Naing and company said their security remained threatened and they could not follow-up on their donation work.

“This morning I received a report that a young man in Hlaingtherer quarters about eight miles from downtown Yangon [Rangoon] hanged himself because he could not supply rice for his family,” said U Win Naing.
“Maybe I could have stopped him from hanging himself if I were allowed to provide rice to him and others,” he added.

U Win Naing said the incident was but one indication of conditions in Rangoon, and he appeals to the United Nations and world governments to intervene in order to prevent similar incidents from occurring.