STATEMENT RELEASE

October 31, 2003

Universities across Burma are shut down and students have been taken as political prisoners. Education is more readily available to those with power of influence, such as Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) members and their families, all the while the National League of Democracy (NLD) members and their families struggle to receive equal education oppurtunities. Ironically, the Myanmar Youth Association (MYA) currently approaches the task of raising education standards inside Burma at their Nov. 1, 2003 panel discussion held at NYC’s Hunter College. The NY coalition for a democratic Burma and the International Campaign for Democracy in Burma (ICDB), demand Universities be re-opened and political prisoners freed unconditionally. The lack of a democratic government accountable to the people is the root of the current crisis in the country today.

We stand 100% behind Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. All social reform including educational reform inside Burma must include the involvement of the National League for Democracy (NLD), who overwhelmingly won the 1990 election. All other reforms are unacceptable and subject to suspicion.

MYA and its directors have a proven record for ‘aiding” Burma through cooperation with the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). Therefore, the question that remains: is MYA on the side of 50 million Burmese citizens? or the side of the military generals oppressing the Burmese and Ethnic people through forced relocations, systematic rape, and censorship? Any type of assistance to be delivered to the Burmese people must be delivered directly to the people as approved and administered by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD.

The NY coalition for a democratic Burma and the International Campaign for Democracy in Burma, demand SPDC to recognize the free election results of 1990 and hand over power to the National League of Democracy immediately so that social reform may effectively reach the people of Burma.

Contact: Kheng Chow (646) 303-3305 kchow123@yahoo.com

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