MEDIA RELEASE

10 December 2003

JUNTA URGED TO STOP HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND RELEASE AUNG SAN SUU KYI AND POLITICAL PRISONERS

Burmese community and human rights groups in Australia strongly condemn the continued human rights abuses committed by the military junta, and reiterate their call for the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and remaining political prisoners, and a full and independent inquiry, with international cooperation, into the Depayin massacre of 30 May 2003.

“Systematic and widespread human rights abuses, environmental devastation, and massive heroin and amphetamine smuggling, regional military destabilization – these are Burma’s realities under the junta’s absolute rule. As a result, Burma is heading towards political and socio-economic crises and peoples of Burma also live in a state of constant fear”, said Than Oo from Action Group for Human Rights in Burma (AGHRB).

“The Depayin massacre and subsequent and continuing abuses clearly indicates that the junta has no real commitment to improving human rights in Burma. Unless we can bring about political reform, situation of human rights will not be improved. We call on international community to take a concerted action against the junta to stop human rights abuses and enter dialogue with democratic forces for reform”, said Than Oo.

The United Nations has repeatedly condemned the junta’s gross human rights abuses. The UN Human Rights Commission described a litany of abuses including murder, torture, rape, political imprisonment, and forced labor. Many other reports by the ILO, Amnesty International, Article 19, Human Rights Watch, and other independent groups often deeply disturbing details of the junta’s ill-treatment of Burma’s peoples.

Melbourne-based Action Group for Human Rights in Burma (AGHRB) will organize a Burma human rights forum at RMIT University in Melbourne on 10 December 2003 to commemorate the World Human Rights Day.

The Forum is supported by

· MPU- Burma (Member of Parliament Union),

· ISHR (International Society for Human Rights),

· Chin Human Rights Group,

· Karen Organizations

· AIA (Amnesty International Australia),

· School of Social Science and Planning RMIT University,

· Monash Students Association (Monash University, Clayton Campus),

· Free Burma Collective ( Monash University ),

· NLD-LA (Australia) National League for Democracy (Liberated Area) Australia Branch

· NLD-LA( Korea) National League for Democracy ( Liberated Area ) Korea Branch

· ABSDF (Australia Branch) All Burma Students’ Democratic Front,

· ABSDO All Burma Students’ Democratic Organization,

· Burma Hope Foundation,

· Women of Burma Group Melbourne,

· ABS (Australia Burma Society),

· Catholic Commission for Justice Development and Peace,

· ICRA (Vic) Indo China Refugee Association and

· Burmese Activists in Australia.

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For further information, please contact:

Mr. Than Oo: Tel (+61-3) 8502 6604 or Mobile: 0413 301 039

Ko Saw Win Maung Tel(+61-3) 8502 8744 or Mobile: 0422 880 914

Central Committee

AGHRB
Action Group for Human Rights In Burma