Taiwan civil society condemns Burma military regime’s new charges of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has already spent more than 13 years of the last 19 years in detention. Regardless of her health condition, Burma military regime moved Aung San Suu Kyi to Insein Prison, where she will face an unjust trial on Monday (18th, May) for supposedly violating the terms of her house arrest by hosting an American man, John William Yettaw who was uninvited to swim to her compound a week ago.
The recent development in Burma clearly shows that the regime’s formulation of further democratic changes and nation’s reconciliation is nothing but illusion. The military regime’s charges of Aung San Suu Kyi is without merit, and the revoking of her defence lawyer's licence also shows the regime’s control of Burma’s juridical system.
Althought Taiwan is neither the member of ASEAN or UN, Taiwan civil society is deeply concerned about the urgent situation of Aung San Suu Kyi and her people’s determiation of pursuing for democracy and human rights in Burma. We regard the current trial as the military regime’s ploy to convict and extend Aung San Suu Kyi’s illegal detention which is due to end this month.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the 63-year-old Nobel Prize laureate, once said, "Please use your liberty to promote ours." Taiwan is well-known for its democratization and freedom. At this critical moment, Taiwan civil society will express our support on the day of her trial to Myanmar Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei. We also urges everyone here to show up at the “Candlelit Vigil for Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma” to express our support.
This public event will start at 7 PM on May 18th at the park of Shida Rd., Taipei city, Taiwan.
Also, Taiwan civil society strongly calls on our President, Vice President, and Premier to condemn the military junta’s suppression of democracy in Myanmar/Burma just like what they did in 2007 after the Saffron Revolution. We especially urge our Minister of Foreign Affairs to release a public statement about Burma’s democratic setback recently, not to remain silent anymore. We also call on all members of The Legislative Yuan to sign the petition of “Free Aung San Suu Kyi, Free All Political Prisoners in Burma Now!” in order to show their support just like all female legislators’ support in 2007.
Thus, with the immediate mobilization of international civil society, Taiwan Civil Society calls on Myanmar/ Burma Government to take actions below:
1. Aung San Suu Kyi was Prime Minister Elect and should be immediate released and be guaranteed medical assistance.
2. All political prisoners in Myanmar/ Burma should be immediate released, and the practice of jailing people based on their political opinions and their status of ethnic minority should be halted immediately. The process of democratization should be launch immediately.
Organizations / Individuals:
Taiwan Free Burma Network (TFBN)
Taiwan Youth for Democracy in Asia (TYDA)
Taiwan Labor Front
Amnesty International Taiwan （AI, Taiwan）
New Idea Burmese Chinese Association
Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR)
Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty (TAEDP)
Judicial Reform Foundation (JRF)
Taiwan Environmental Action Network
Green Party Taiwan
Taiwan Friends of Tibet
Humanistic Education Foundation
Cheng Nan-jung Memorial Foundation
Dr. Chen Wen-chen Memorial Foundation
Wild Strawberry Student Movement
Sam Lai (Taiwanese NGO worker in Thai-Burma border)
沒有留言:
張貼留言