16 Burma Pro-Democracy Organizations host a London rally and a peaceful march to condemn Burma’s sham election
Today, 16 Burma pro-democracy organizations including all ethnic organizations, based in the United Kingdom, organize a London rally and a peaceful march to condemn sham elections in Burma on 7 November 2010, urging the international community to reject the result of regime’s fake elections and support our call for a UN-led effort to secure genuine tripartite dialogue in Burma.
This rally and peaceful march is to highlight Burma’s November 7 fake elections, based on the State Peace and Development Council’s 2008 undemocratic constitution, which does not guarantee the basic human rights of people, ignores the principles of equality and popular sovereignty, and makes the military as a special privileged class allowing them to occupy 25 percent of the parliamentary seats in both National, and State and Region Parliaments. There will be no independent judiciary. Democratic voices of the people will not be tolerated and unjust laws remain in place. The constitution undermines federal democracy, ignores the agreed upon principle of ‘unity in diversity’ and effectively denies ‘right of self-determination’ of the ethnic nationalities. Therefore, the upcoming elections will not signify or advance democratic reform and, evidently, it is detrimental to the interest and against the aspiration of the people of Burma.
The 2008 constitution is designed to maintain dictatorship whoever wins the elections and make it impossible to amend the Constitution without the military agreeing. The dictatorship in Burma has restricted political parties using draconian methods in the election law, banning several genuine democratic parties including National League for Democracy.
“We strongly condemn this regime’s sham election and want to make it clear that this is a complete sham, and will not lead to any kind of democratic change that people want. The only intention of this elections is to legalise military rule with civilian front”, said Dr. Win Naing of National League for Democracy – Liberated Area Europe.
“We urge the United Nations to use its power to pressure the regime to immediately enter into genuine inclusive dialogue to solve the problem in Burma”, said Duwa Mahkaw Hkun Sa of Kachin National Organization.
The 16 organisations call upon European Union and International community to support the following calls;
1. To urge governments, including the ASEAN, to condemn the fake elections to be held on 7 November 2010;
2. To urge the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, to pressure Burma’s military regime to release all political prisoners immediately and stop attacks against ethnic civilians;
3. To urge UN Security Council to declare the 2010 election null and void by not recognizing its results;
4. To urge the UN Secretary General to implement UN-led effort to secure genuine dialogue among democratic forces led by Aung San Suu Kyi, Ethnic Representatives and Burmese regime.
This London rally and a peaceful march is organized by the following organisations:
1. 88 Generation Student – UK
2. Arakanese Community – UK
3. Arakan Rohingya National Organisation – UK
4. Burma Democratic Concern
5. Burmese Democratic Movement Association – UK
6. Burmese Muslim Association – UK
7. Burmese Rohingya Organisation – UK
8. Chin Community UK
9. Democratic Party for a New Society – UK
10. Karen Community Association – UK
11. Karen National Union- UK
12. Karenni Community – UK
13. Kachin National Organisation – UK
14. Mon Community – UK
15. National League for Democracy Liberated Area Europe
16. Women of Burma Organisation – UK