Statement on 12th Anniversary of May 27, 1990, Elections

The present ruling military junta in Rangoon, Burma, self-dubbed as the State Peace and Development Council (formerly known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council) has bloodily seized the power of the country on September 18, 1988, and promised the people a multi-party election on May 27, 1990.

The polls were held as scheduled and the National League for Democracy (NLD) Party headed by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (1991 Nobel Peace Laureate) won the elections by a landslide, securing 392 out of 485 (82%) seats in the National Assembly. True to nature, the ruling junta backtracked on its promise to hand over power to the elected representatives and instead cracked down severely on the winning party. The NLD party members and adherents were harassed, arrested, tortured and imprisoned. Also, there were scores of elected representatives still languishing in the so-called 'government guest houses' for refusing to toe the military line, not to mention more than a thousand NLD members and adherents, including the students, still being held in prisons in the country.

Under an obligation to carry on the task of democratising the country, a committee comprising of ten members, worldwide known as the Committee Representing the People's Parliament (CRPP) and authorised by 251 elected representatives was formed on September 16, 1998. The CRPP was then empowered with the task of convening a parliament to thrash out the country's woes.

This riled the ruling junta into taking unwarranted and unlawful steps like arresting U Aye Tha Aung, Secretary of the CRPP, who has extensive links with the ethnic minorities and 40 members of the NLD youth wing in April 2000, without viable charges and sentenced to long term imprisonment; a futile bid to undermine the CRPP. In another lawless stance the ruling junta put Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and some top members of the NLD leadership under house arrest on September 22, 2000, for attempting to leave for upper Burma to perform political duties.

In a show of solidarity with the people of Burma the international community headed by the United States and the European Union imposed economic and travel sanctions, amongst others, on the Rangoon regime. This was disastrous for the military junta as it became cash-strapped and desperate; unable to sustain its mammoth armed force of 450,000 men, the main tool in keeping the people under its boots till today. Doubtless, the Rangoon junta resorted to drug trafficking for much needed hard currency, in cohorts with its proxy, the United Wa State Army, a 20,000 well-armed group of ethnic Wa and Chinese, well-versed in producing and trafficking in illicit drugs, mainly methamphetamines known worldwide as 'Ya-baa' today.

When the drugs wreak havoc in Thailand, resulting in Thai youths landing in various detention centers of the country charged under drug offences, the Thai authorities declared war on drugs and the Thai Army took appropriate and decisive steps to stem the drug tide from Burma. As a result, the cash flow into the coffers of the Rangoon regime stopped and it became hard pressed for the regime to sustain its huge armed force. This culminated in the reckless Rangoon regime exacting its wrath on its neighbour Thailand.

In a fit, the Rangoon junta has suddenly and without notice, closed its borders with Thailand, from Mae Hong Son in the north down to Ranong in the south since May 22, 2002, till today without an explanation. Thais were hard hit, economically the most, by this unilateral closure of the borders by the unpredictable regime in Rangoon. Also, in a show of belligerence the Rangoon junta has amassed quite a large force on its borders, supposedly to attack the Shan State Army of Col. Yawd Surk an ethnic Shan insurgent group, often staging forays into Burma from the Thai borders.

With a view to hoodwink the international community, most obviously, to acquire much needed hard currency and prolong its dynastic rule the Rangoon junta leaked word that it was holding secret talks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. However, there was no publication of the text of the talks or the progress, if there was any, in any guise or form.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was freed, much to the delight of her beloved people, and worldwide, on May 6, 2002. Only then did the world know that there was no progress in the secret talks held during her house arrest lasting 19 months. Furthermore, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has declared that she is still doing her utmost for all the people in the country not only for the NLD; most probably referring to the ethnic minorities who were bawling that there was nothing for them in the talks between Burma's leader and the military junta and that they would like to also participate in the talks. And most importantly, she says she is still standing on the same vital and most important platform; recognition of the results of the May 27, 1990, elections and implementation of the mandate given to the CRPP by the people's representatives to convene a parliament participated by the elected representatives of the May 27, 1990, elections.

In this view, we have, but to heap applause on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for her steadfastness, dedication and devotion on our country's cause; freedom and restoration of democracy in Burma, which we have been fighting for and struggling against the lawless Rangoon regime since 1988 till today.

However, on the other hand Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's freedom, this time, has not given us any cause to celebrate. Instead, we are under a notion of a certain imminent ominous foreboding awaiting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's future and safety, to say the least.

The Rangoon regime has been forcing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on many occasions, secretly also amongst many, to toe its line, as known worldwide. And true to principle, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has refused to comply with the unlawful regime's self-centered demands on all counts. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has won her freedom from the evil regime on May 6th last, to the joy and celebration of millions in the world. However, we reserved our right to rejoice and celebrate on this supposed to be a joyous moment for all at present, as we truly sensed a ploy, evil and sinister, not to mention a devastating one, in store and awaiting our beloved national leader.

Given the evil regime's track record of treachery, trickery, and most heinous acts of butchery, we are quite positive that the Rangoon junta is on a course of committing the most heinous crime of all in our country's history, even surpassing that of her father's, the late General Aung San, the present day founder of Burma, who was assassinated on July 19, 1947, on the eve of Burma's independence on January 4, 1948.

The truth is that, the evil regime in Rangoon has no mind to restore genuine freedom and democracy in Burma, as evidenced by its betrayal on the people of Burma after the May 27, 1990, elections. The fork-tongued regime has been employing all the tricks in the book to hoodwink the people and the international community to buy time, to build up its stand and power in the country and worldwide. Today, the Rangoon regime is standing tall in the world, no thanks to the likes of China, Japan, South Korea, not to mention Australia, amongst others and much less the so-called Association of Southeast Asian Nations (A.S.E.A.N) a ragtag regional grouping of countries in Southeast Asia ruled mostly by despots like those in present day Burma. With this stand in hand and as abetted by the above mentioned countries the lawless regime is still refusing to comply with the will of the people as expressed in the May 27, 1990, elections. And this means Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, representing the people as their legitimate and popular leader and recognised by the world as such, has become a bump on the regime's way of perpetual domination of Burma. Needless to say, there is only one last card for the evil regime to play for its own survival and eternal rule of the country; "elimination" in its simplest form.

It is most obvious that the lawless regime has exhausted all avenues in intimidating, coercing and even forcing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to toe its line. And it is equally obvious that Burma's courageous and charismatic leader has not given way to SPDC in any way or guise, much less topple to the wiles and guiles of the evil regime till today. For this she has earned our unbounded aspiration and admiration, in addition to our undaunted support and devotion. However, to our sorrow this also spells doom for her.

On this auspicious day marking the 12th anniversary of the May 27, 1990, elections won by the NLD and with this ominous foreboding in sight, we most earnestly urge our irreplaceable national leader to exercise utmost discretion and caution in going about her duties for the people and country and lastly, and not certainly the least, we request the international community, specifically, the United States, the European Union and in large part, Australia, to endeavour their utmost to bring about democratic changes in Burma, specifically to convene a parliament under the auspices of the CRPP, at the earliest possible, before the most sinister disaster in the form of an 'elimination' set upon on our indispensable leader as wrought upon by the evil regime in Rangoon. In the advent of this calamity falling on our devoted leader, we have but no other option than to place responsibility on the so-called stalwarts of democracy led by first of all, the United States of America and its allies in democracy.

Central Committee
A.B.S.D.O. Australia
Dated. May 27, 2002.