PSPD in English Int. Solidarity 2007-05-30   943

Closely Examine Depayin Massacre, and Free Political Prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi.

Joint Statement – the 4th year of Depayin Massacre

Today, May 30th, 2007, marks the 4th year of massacre by the military dictatorship in Depayin, Burma(Myanmar). We, Korean NGOs and Burmese in Korea, wishing Burma’s democracy strongly urge to closely examine Depayin massacre, and free all political prisoners and victims including Aung San Suu Kyi.

On May 30th, 2003, there was a terror around Depayin area in Burma targeting Aung San Suu Kyi who was having public speech tour and NLD leaders. A word from the government in exile says that 70 people were killed, 200 people were injured, and many are missing. Following this event, Burmese military regime (SPDC) started suppressing opposition party, arrested 256 members in only a short period of time. Among them, 100 people are still in prison. Also, they closed NLD offices around the country and temporarily closed major universities.

Right before the massacre, a huge crowd gathered to hear Aung San Suu Kyi’s public speech even under the poor situation caused by military regime, However, civil society’s sincere hope expecting Burma’s democracy was again trampled by the dreadful physical violence. Even four years after the massacre, military government has not investigated the actual number of victims and the responsible people for the massacre. Moreover, international society’s request was not accepted. When we bring together Burma’s political situation, words from witnesses, and international human rights organizations, we suspect that there might be military government at the back of Depayin Massacre. In November, 2003, at the third Committee at 58th UN assembly, a special Rapporteur Pinheiro said that “there is a clear evidence telling that military leaders had overlooked Depaiyn”.

Nobel Peace Prize winner of 1991, and the symbol of Burmese hope to democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi was removed from a long years of house arrest, but after Depayin, she was placed again under house arrest in 2003.

On last May 25th, despite all the expectations of the removal of the house arrest since she was under house arrest for 11 years, military government announced they extended it one more year. NLD party suggested a talk to military government to solve retrograded condition of Burma twice in 2006. But military government refused a talk for peace and is threatening democracy-requesting people.

Long years of military dictatorship in Burma is holding back Asia’s peace and human rights. Despite Burma’s such cruel situation, Korean government is putting no effort. After Ban Ki-moon was elected for UN secretary-general, there are expectations for Korea to take parts for Burma’s democracy. But President Roh, declared that he has no intention to take parts in Burma’s human rights problem at ASEM in September, 2006. He is turning against human rights and democratic movement of the world. The value of democracy and human rights are fundamental condition for world peace, and values that can never be conceded. Korea can never be proud as a country for human rights, and it will have no place in the international society, if Korean government does not start to place a real effort to bring democracy in Burma who is still under military dictatorship in this 21st century.

Today, we strongly urge the following.

1. Closely Examine and Punish responsible people for the Depayin massacre
2. Free political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, and Guarantee free political activities
3. Korean government give efforts to bring democracy and human rights in Burma

May 30, 2007

Burma- NLD(National League for Democracy-Liberated Aiea) Korea Branch / BURMA ACTION KOREA(BAK) / Center for Corporate Social Responsibility(CCSR) / Citizens’ Action Network(CAN) / Citizens’ solidarity for Human Rights(CSHR) / Friends of Asia(FOA) / Human Rights Solidarity for New Society / Imagination for International Solidarity / Joint Committee with Migrants in Korea(JCMK) / Korea Confederation of Trade Union(KCTU) / Korean Federation for Environmental Movement(KFEM) / Korean House for International Solidarity(KHIS) / Koreans for Burmese Democracy / Migrant Trade Union(MTU) / MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society / NANUMMUNHWA / NAWAURI / Open Radio for North Korea / Palestine Peace Solidarity / People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy(PSPD) / The Refuge Pnan / The Association for Migrant workers’ Human Rights Center

International Solidarity Committee

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