Condemn Military Oppression: Taiwan Supports Democracy in Burma-20070928

PRESS RELEASE by Taiwan Aung San Suu Kyi Network
2007 September 28, at the Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall

Since 25 September 2007, the military government of Myanmar (formerly Burma) has begun violent crackdown on its people’s peaceful march led by Buddhist monks and nuns for better living conditions and democracy; arresting advocates and causing some to die and many injured. Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi (the leader of Myanmar’s democracy and a Nobel laureate) who has been in house-arrest for nearly 20 years has since been sent to the notorious Insein Prison, signaling a state of deterioration of Myanmar’s already troubled water.

Taiwan Aung San Suu Kyi Network (TASSKN) expresses condemnation on the military junta’s violent acts, demanding the international community, including its neighboring countries, to press Myanmar’s military government to quit the brutal oppression and release all activists for democracy, and start the communication with demonstrators toward a peace resolution. TASSKN especially calls upon China to stop selling weapons to Myanmar’s military government that use those weapons against its people’s cry for democracy. If China wants the world to see that it is truly up to the standard and spirit of the Olympic Games, here is an opportunity. This region does not need another Tiananmen Square massacre.

1. We condemn the military government of Myanmar’s violation of human rights and its oppression on democracy. We call upon Myanmar’s government to recognize its people’s demand for better living conditions and democracy, and an immediate release of all activists for democracy.
2. We appeal to the international community to continue monitoring the situation in Myanmar, including placing necessary sanctions on the country’s government, in order to empower the people of Myanmar to defend their freedom and democracy.
3. We demand Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan to adopt the motion to support Myanmar’s democracy and an immediate release of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi.
4. We demand Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take necessary means to condemn Myanmar government’s bloody crackdown on its people’s peaceful march. Special attention should be given to the recent blockade enacted by China and Russia that blocked U.S. and European efforts in the UN Security Council to condemn Myanmar’s military government for its crackdown on civilians.

NGO Endorsement:
Taiwan Aung San Suu Kyi Network
Myanmar Overseas Chinese Student Association
Amnesty International, Taiwan Section
Buddhist Hongshi Association
Catuddisa Sangha
Chang Fo-chuan Center for the Study of Human Rights, Soochow University, Taipei
Constitutional Reform Alliance in Taiwan
Fujen University John Paul II Peace Institute
GreenCitizens' Action Alliance
GPPAC (Taipei)
Homemakers' Union and Foundation
Judicial Reform Foundation
Peacetime Foundation of Taiwan
Taiwan Aboriginal society
Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty
Taiwan Association for Human Rights
Taiwan Friends of Tibet
Taiwan Hakka Alliance
Taiwan Labour Front
Taiwan Tibet Exchange Foundation
Taiwan Committee for Philippine Concerns
Taiwan Confederation of Trade Unions
Taiwan Green Party
Taiwan Peace at Grassroots
Taiwan Solidarity Union
TransAsia Sisters Association, Taiwan
(continue growing…)