Philippine Gov’t Asked to Support Probe on International Crimes in Burma

By Free Burma Coalition - Philippines • August 8, 2011

Solidarity activists based in Manila and Davao City under the Free Burma Coalition-Philippines (FBC-Phils) today joined the international commemoration of the 23rd anniversary of August 08, 1988 Edsa-like national uprising in Burma where 10,000 peaceful demonstrators were shot, arrested and killed as they demanded democracy and an end to human rights violations and economic mismanagement by the Burmese military junta.

In commemoration of the historic uprising otherwise known as “8.8.88 massacre”, pro-democracy groups around the world issued support to the ongoing international campaign to establish a United Nations-led commission of inquiry to investigate Burma’s crimes against humanity. They also denounced the military regime’s continued political repression and gross human rights abuses despite having a new parliament after Burma’s controversial elections in 2010.

FBC-Phils in a program held in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs office urged Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to support the international campaign for the creation of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to probe international crimes in Burma that include systematic sexual violence, the recruitment and use of child soldiers, forced labor, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, extrajudicial killings and disappearances.

Protesters put up a mock barb-wire barricade in front of the DFA which according to them symbolizes the continuing repression happening in Burma. They also attached photos of human rights violations with yellow-ribbons carrying slogans like “End systematic sexual violence in Burma” and “Stop Junta’s Forced Labour Policy.”

“We were in a similar situation during Martial Law in the Philippines when we refused to recognize coercive means to rule our country. Peoples around the world supported our struggle against the Marcos dictatorship. Now we believe it is our turn to extend solidarity for the peoples of Burma,” Egoy Bans, spokesperson of the FBC-Phils said.

The group likewise asked the Philippine government to use its influence inside the ASEAN and apply more pressure to the Burmese junta for genuine democratic reforms including immediate cessation of hostilities and all forms of human rights abuses in Burma.

Bans explained, “A commission of inquiry could be an initial step towards ending the reign of impunity in Burma and deterring the regime’s future perpetration of widespread and systematic human rights abuses against the peoples of Burma.”

“We cannot bring back the lives of those martyrs who died during the August 8, 1988 massacre, but more than commemorating this day, it is everybody’s duty to finally act and contribute something concretely for our brothers and sisters in Burma. Until today, human rights violations are happening daily in Burma. We believe the struggle for democracy must continue,“ Bans concluded.

Present during the rally were: Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL), Amnesty International-Pilipinas, Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) , Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Taga-Lungsod (KPML), Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific (CATW-AP), Bagong Kamalayan Collective and the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)

View letter of member of Free Burma Coalition – Philippines to President Republic of the Philippines here.

For inquiries, kindly refer to:

Gani Abunda: (+63)929-4109647,
Egoy N. Bans (+63917)7247582
c/o Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
+632 435 2900; +632 9110205

Tags: 1988 Uprising, 8888 Anniversary, Commission of Inquiry, Free Burma Coalition - Philippines

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Philippine Gov’t Asked to Support Probe on International Crimes in Burma

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