Evidence compiled by the Burma Campaign UK from reliable sources shows Burma’s dictatorship is covering up a state-sponsored massacre.
- There were no ‘clashes’, what happened on May 30th was a pre-meditated attack. The US state department has described it as an ambush. The British Foreign Office support this assertion.
- The attack was carried out by a pro-government militia. The Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA) was set up by the dictatorship. Its patron is Than Shwe, the dictator of Burma. It is used across Burma to intimidate the population. This is not the first time USDA members have attacked Aung San Suu Kyi. They have subjected her to regular intimidation since her release from house arrest last year.
- Many more than four people were killed. Eyewitness reports indicate the figure is more likely to be between 60 and 100. The number injured is many more than this. US embassy officials in Burma who visited the scene found evidence of a large-scale attack.
- The attack was co-ordinated by the dictatorship as part of a crackdown on the democracy movement. In the past week the dictatorship has taken draconian steps against the democracy movement. All the senior leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD) are under arrest. Amnesty International has evidence of over 100 arrests and reports from inside Burma indicate the figure could be much higher. All NLD offices have been closed, as have universities and colleges.
- As thugs wielding bamboo stakes and iron bars charged at Aung San Suu Kyi her life was saved by students placing their bodies in front of her. One eyewitness said: “We did our best to protect Daw Suu. In twos and threes we joined hands and stepped up to protect and replace the fallen…the ground was awash with blood.”
- Aung San Suu Kyi has been seriously injured. Eyewitness reports agree that Aung San Suu Kyi received a serious headwound in the attack.
- Aung San Suu Kyi is not in protective custody, she is under arrest. If she is in protective custody there is no reason why diplomats and the Red Cross are not allowed to see her. Clearly they are no threat to her. The headwound could be one reason why she is still being held by the military, rather than returned to house arrest. The headwound was received when a brick or rock smashed a window of her car. Some reports also say she was beaten by thugs with bamboo stakes.
- Eyewitnesses say the attackers stripped women and beat them, forcing them to flee naked into the jungle. Bloody clothing found at the scene by US officials appears to corroborate this account.
- An eyewitness has reported that the bodies of the dead were burnt by soldiers in an attempt to hide evidence of the massacre. Horrifically, the injured were also piled with the dead and burnt alive.
- Tin Oo, Aung San Suu Kyi’s 75 year old deputy, was reportedly shot and beaten in the attack. He was last seen being dragged away by military police.
- In an attempt to stop news about the attack reaching the outside world, telephone lines to the area of the attack were cut. The telephones of many NLD activists have also been cut.
- Hundreds of democracy activists have been forced to go into hiding.
- In other parts of Burma it is business as usual for the dictatorship. Attempts at ethnic cleansing of ethnic minorities continues, as does the use of rape as a weapon of war, and widespread use of forced labour, torture and intimidation.
For more information contact:
John Jackson, Director of the Burma Campaign UK or Mark Farmaner, Media Officer, on 020 7281 7377