Statement on the 15th anniversary of the 8888 democracy uprising of Burma

The 8th of August has been commemorated as 8888 Democracy Uprising Day since 1989. On 8 August 1988, the people of Burma started a nation-wide massive movement calling for democracy, human rights and an end to the rule of the then Burmese Socialist Program Party (BSPP) government. During the month-long movement the people met brutal suppression by the military and shed blood and life, but the 8888 movement has never come to its end. The people are still striving to achieve democracy.

The ruling military junta (State Peace and Development Council), which staged a bloody coup to end the 8888 movement, promised the return of power to the people and establishment of democracy system in Burma. It has been 15 years since then. None of the promise has been materialized. The junta continues to cling on power by cracking down democracy movements, committing unabated human rights abuses, killing and jailing democracy activists.

Relying on the armed power of the military, the junta rules the people mercilessly. It ignores the people’s true desire for democracy and broke it own promise to hand over power to the elected party (National League for Democracy), which won the 1990 multi-party general elections and defies international pressure for democratization in Burma. Moreover the recent violent attack sponsored by the junta on the NLD entourage and the aftermath detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her party member show the junta’s unwillingness to democracy and the continued suppression on democracy movements.

Given the increasingly worsening political, economic and social situations in Burma, more concrete measures on the junta must be speedily applied to bring democratic change. The people of Burma have nothing more to suffer than the oppressive rule by the junta. Full human rights and true democracy can be nourished where there is no oppression.

Therefore we support the United Stated economic ban on the junta and urge other countries doing business with the junta to follow suit. Measures including economic and trade sanction, diplomatic ban and placing the junta in isolation from the international organizations will bear fruit to the aspiration of the people of Burma. We also welcome the strong pressure on the junta coming from European Union, Canada, Japan and some ASEAN countries, but reject Thailand’s road map idea because it is vague and sides with the junta. It just sees economic gain and would help the junta to prolong its iron grip on power.

Especially we would like to urge the European Union to increase measures that would move toward the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and political detainees and the dialogue process initiated by the United Nations between the junta and NLD. We also believe that the junta is going to break down soon amid the international pressure and increased opposition from the people.
On this occasion of the 15th anniversary of the 8888 democracy movement we pay tribute to all fallen martyrs during the 8888 movement and honor those who are fighting against the military dictatorship and striving for a democratic Burma. We strongly condemn the ruling junta for flagrant violations of fundamental rights and suppressions on the people. We demand the junta:

To release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and political detainees immediately,

To resume dialogue with NLD,

To hand over power to the NLD

Dated: 8 August 2003

Campaign Committee
Campaign for Democracy in Burma (Finland)

Contact Address

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