WUNRN
Website of Women's League of Burma:
WOMEN'S LEAGUE OF BURMA STATEMENT ON
THE
66TH BIRTHDAY OF DAW AUNG SUU KYI
"June 19th, 2011, is the 66th birthday of Burmese democracy leader
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. This is the first birthday she will celebrate free after
spending fifteen of the last twenty years under house arrest. Since her
release, she has enthusiastically continued her struggle with unwavering
political conviction. Therefore, the Women’s League of Burma (WLB) would like
to express our great respect for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and honor her on this
special occasion.
On this occasion, we would also like to express our deep pleasure at Daw Suu’s video messages during key events. She greatly encouraged women migrant workers and activists in Thailand on International Women’s Day and inspired many others during her addresses to the 7th ASEAN People’s Forum in Indonesia in May 2011, and to the International Conference to End Violence against Women that was held from May 23-25 in Canada.
In her video speech, she critically highlights the situation of women in Burma who have been suffering various violations under the dictatorship. She also clearly stated that if men and women work together to achieve human rights and democracy, the entire people of Burma will enjoy genuine peace. Each speech emphasized the lack of security of women, who are critical to the development of peace and democracy in Burma and as they comprise over 50% of country’s population.
The WLB is deeply concerned about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s security during her upcoming national-wide organizing trip due to her previous trip to Debayin in 2003, which resulted in a military regime backed massacre. In any case, the current puppet government is fullyresponsible for her security against any political assassination attempt throughout her trip.
Recently, the so called democratic government, led by president U Thein Sein, announced to be a faultless government that is governing a prosperous country. This deception is an attempt to gain some legitimacy from the people inside Burma and the international community. The recently issued false amnesty for prisoners and escalating border conflicts show the real face of the new government. Moreover, people from Burma including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have no freedom of expression, which is imperative for any genuine democracy.
The WLB strongly urges this puppet government to resolve the ongoing conflicts in border areas, to release all political prisoners unconditionally, and tobegin a tripartite political dialogue with ethnic forces and democratic parties, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, for peace and justice to transpire in Burma.
We also urge the United Nations and international community not to support or cooperate with the puppet government until there is positive concrete change in the political situation in Burma. We also appeal to the international community to increase support for innocent people, including women and children who suffer from civil war, and to prioritize cross border assistance to people from Burma who face poverty and various untold sufferings.
On this special occasion of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi 66th birthday, we, the WLB, would also like to urge the entire people including the youth of Burma to work hand in hand with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to topple the so called democratic government and achieve genuine democracy and peace in Burma.