Burmese pro-democracy youths seek UN help over 30 May incident

DVB (2003 July 12)

It has been learned that at a time when many NLD [National League for Democracy] members and groups have been writing letters to SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe, seeking the release of all those arrested in the 30 May Tabayin incident and to have an independent enquiry, the NLD youths have written a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan.
The letter, dated 8 July, was sent to the UN secretary-general through the UN Resident Representative's Office in Rangoon. A responsible NLD youth member said they had to write the letter to Kofi Anan because although the NLD youths have written a letter to SPDC Chairman Sr Gen Than Shwe they did not see any action being taken.

The letter contained four points.

• to form a UN-sponsored independent enquiry commission into the Tabayin incident
  
• to urge the military government to release all the detained students, youths, monks, and political prisoners
  
• to immediately allow the reopening of all NLD offices and implement the results of the 1990 May general elections within six months, and
  
• to let the UN Security Council take direct action in Burma's affairs.

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 12 Jul 03
BBC monitoring service