Justice is OUTLAW in Burma

BDC 01 Nov 2008 Press Release

Burmese junta sentenced nine prominent leaders of 88-Generation students including Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi to prisons who are rightfully demands for their rights-free and fair public trials. Because of demanding for justice, they are sentenced to six months to prisons and subsequently transfer them to MAUBIN prison in Delta region which is far from Rangoon where they live.

“While International Community is calling for the release of all political prisoners, military regime defied it by sentencing political dissidents to prison. It shows that Burmese military government will not listen to International Community so long as they are appealing them”, said Myo Thein, Director from Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) in United Kingdom.

Meanwhile two lawyers who are defending counsels of political activists are sentenced to prison accusing them of perverting court. In Burma, there is no law and military government is always above the law. There had never been free and fair trials for political dissidents and defence counsel who risk their lives to defend justice are frequently facing persecution.

“Sentencing two lawyers who are defending political activists is PRISONING JUSTICE. This is proving that JUSTICE IS OUTLAW in Burma and Ban Ki-Moon must make sure to go to Burma to press military regime to respect human rights and rule of Law. In addition, this is showing that we must have United Nations Secretary General Special Representative Office in Burma in order to monitor the Burma crisis”, said Khin Maung Win, Director from Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) in United States.

Burma crisis has been happening for 20 years and International Community is day-dreaming for military regime’s positive response to their appeal.

“We have never seen Burmese military regime is willingly to see national reconciliation in Burma. Instead, whenever international pressure is mounting on Burma, military regime is using the tricks. Delaying to answer the call, then allow to come in the envoy after the delay or promise to meet Aung San Suu Kyi just to have media exercise, and then manipulated the visiting envoys or meeting Aung San Suu Kyi for very short time with so called liaison minister until waiting for the time when international attention divert from Burma, and finally go back to status quo”, said Kyaw Lin Oo, Director from Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) in Thailand.

Burmese regime is always using the same old tactics in order to manipulate the parties involved in the crisis. We must try to see behind their motives and actions. Ban Ki-Moon might reluctant to visit to Burma because he might think that it is mission impossible for him. But, as the UN chief he must turn the situation and change the circumstances.

He must be a proactive and a decisive person who is firm in dealing with military regime. He must go to Burma to press junta but not to be manipulated. He must try his best to put pressure on military regime and demand -to do genuine time-bound dialogue with democratic forces led by Aung San Suu Kyi (which should be time frame of within six months) -to allow elected MPs of 1990 elections to convene Peoples Assembly (which should be time frame of within six months) -to implement 1990 elections results and to drop 2010 election plan (immediately) -to release all political prisoners (immediately)

This is the challenging time for Ban Ki-Moon and Burma Democracy Movement. Ban Ki-Moon must try his best to be mission accomplished from his visit.