Worldwide Protests Call for Real Elections in Burma

By Ten Alliances • May 31, 2010

Activists in Over 20 Countries Demand Governments Oppose the Military’s Elections

In a coordinated Global Day of Action, Burmese communities and their supporters in more than 20 countries around the world held “People’s Elections” and demonstrations against the military’s elections. Protesters and passers-by signed postcard ballots voting for real elections rather than the military’s “selection.” The postcards call on voters’ national governments to denounce this year’s military elections in Burma and reject the results unless the regime changes course.

Signed ballot postcards will be gathered until Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday on 19 June, when the People’s Election results will be announced and the postcards delivered to national governments. The postcard calling for real elections is also available to sign online.

“People around the world have showed their unwavering support for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD, and pro-democracy parties inside Burma, and their overwhelming opposition to the military regime’s planned elections this year,” said Thwin Linn Aung, Coordinator of the Foreign Affairs Coordinating Team (FACT). “The regime’s intentions are clear—these elections are not intended to be a step towards genuine democracy, but solely to gain legitimacy while maintaining their hold on power. International governments can no longer take a ‘wait-and-see’ approach; they must publicly denounce the junta’s sham elections and apply pressure on the regime for there to be any substantive changes.”

“On the eve of the 1990 elections anniversary, the EU and ASEAN released a joint statement repeating precisely the stagnant position that will allow the regime to get away with these sham elections. The international community—and especially ASEAN—must stop repeating the same empty calls for free and fair elections, when the regime’s 2008 Constitution and new election laws have already made this impossible. As Burma’s neighbors, ASEAN countries must take the lead in pressuring the junta to take the necessary steps to make these elections truly democratic: release all political prisoners, end attacks against ethnic groups and engage in genuine dialogue including constitutional review,” said Khin Ohmar, Foreign Affairs Secretary of Forum for Democracy in Burma, and member of FACT.

Global Day of Action events were held from 27 May, the 20^th anniversary of the 1990 elections in Burma, to 30 May, the 7^th anniversary of the Depayin Massacre when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s convoy and NLD supporters were attacked by a junta-sponsored mob, and Daw Suu was placed under house arrest for the third time. For details and photos of the events, please visit the campaign website.

The Global Day of Action was part of the Global Campaign Against Burma’s 2010 Military Elections. The Campaign was initiated by the Ten Alliances of Burma’s democracy and ethnic rights movement, representing the most broad-based and multi-ethnic cooperation of political and civil society organizations from inside and in exile working for national reconciliation, peace, and freedom in Burma. It is endorsed by over 150 organizations around the world.

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Contact:

Thwin Linn Aung, Coordinator of the Foreign Affairs Coordinating Team (FACT) of the Ten Alliances: +66 (0)878502354

Khin Ohmar, Foreign Affairs Secretary of Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB): +66 (0)818840772

Tags: ASEAN, Foreign Affairs Coordinating Team, Global Campaign Against Burma's 2010 Military Elections, Global Day of Action, Ten Alliances

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Worldwide Protests Call for Real Elections in Burma

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