On May 25 this year, the military junta of Burma ("Myanmar"), in defiance of the wishes of the international community, extended the house arrest of renowned democracy fighter Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, which was due to expire, for another year. This decision immediately brought condemnation from governments and NGOs around the world, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the German EU Presidency, and many human rights organizations. In the US, First Lady Laura Bush joined all 16 female Senators from both sides of the aisle, who set aside their political differences to appeal to the UN to request the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
In Taiwan, NGOs are continuing their participation in the global campaign for Burmese democracy. This year, Taiwan Labor Front, Taiwan Friends of Tibet, Taiwan Youth for Democracy in Asia and other organizations making up the "Taiwan Aung San Suu Kyi Network" are jointly hosting the "Free Aung San Suu Kyi Concert." Taiwanese bands Indulge, 88 Balaz, Chi, and Bazooka, as well as two bands made up of Burmese students, 飛靈 and Heaven’s Crows, have been invited to perform, to use their music to express the hope for democratic development in Burma, and to call on the military regime to immediately release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all the other democrats who have been imprisoned or repressed, and to give the Burmese people a life of democracy, freedom, and peace.
Ever since Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest, the international democratic community has made ceaseless efforts with various approaches to secure the release of this preeminent fighter for democracy and human rights. These measures have included diplomatic and economic sanctions, as well as many campaigns by NGOs. Since June 19, 2005 (her sixtieth birthday), numerous global actions have been undertaken by international organizations, such as protests or prayer rallies in front of embassies and offices of the Burmese government, to call on the regime to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. However, since Burma has no office of any type in Taiwan, in the past two years Taiwanese NGOs have launched petitions, so that Taiwanese people can participate in these international campaigns.
Democracy and human rights are universal values that know no boundaries. We remember particularly how Taiwan received assistance and solidarity from the international democratic community during its process of democratization. Therefore, through the establishment of the "Taiwan Aung San Suu Kyi Network" by Taiwanese NGO workers, and the holding of this concert on June 17, we hope that more Taiwanese people can understand the situation in Burma, and stand up to support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who has now been under house arrest since May 30, 2005. In the future, the "Taiwan Aung San Suu Kyi Network" will continue to pay attention to the issue of democracy in Burma, such as by annual events around Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday, until the dictatorial military regime unconditionally releases her and all the other Burmese political prisoners.
Taiwan Aung San Suu Kyi Network
沒有留言:
張貼留言