CHRISTIAN WATCHDOG GROUP JOINS BURMESE COMMUNITY IN PROTEST OUTSIDE BURMESE EMBASSY IN LONDON

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

LONDON, ENGLAND  (ANS) -- Some 60 protestors from the Free Burma Coalition UK (FBC UK) and Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) protested outside the Burmese Embassy in London, marking the 13th anniversary of democratic elections in the country now known as Myanmar. (Pictured: Protest group).

The elections in 1990 saw Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) Party win a landslide victory, but the military regime did not allow them to take power.

A large group of Burmese people with their supporters marched up from Berkeley Square and chanted pro-democracy slogans in front of the embassy, according to a report from CSW.

Speeches were given by representatives from the FBC UK, the Burmese Democratic Movement Association, the Burma Campaign and CSW among others. Protestors sang pro-democracy songs and many wore bright red headscarves and traditional Burmese dress.

Protestors carried placards calling on the Burmese junta to stop ethnic cleansing, to stop using human minesweepers, to release all political prisoners and to stop the use of forced labour. The aim of the peaceful demonstration was to register CSW and FBC UK's profound concern at Burma's lack of democracy and its horrific human rights records.

Ever since the military regime (currently known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)) seized power in 1962 by coup, the regime has mercilessly oppressed the people of Burma and the ethnic groups. It is currently headed up by General Than Shwe.

Ko Aung, founder of the FBC UK said: "The Than Shwe military regime refuses to honor the election results in which more than 82 percent of the elected seats were secured by representatives of the NLD. The regime has engaged in endless brutal repression of the winning party. All of these negative political aspects have created the country's economic, social, health and education problems, which have led to the current disaster-like circumstances. Burma has turned out to be one of the worst countries among the international community."

Mervyn Thomas, Christian Solidarity Worldwide's Chief Executive, said: "It was our privilege to join in with this protest and we will continue to stand with the people of Burma until they have won democracy and freedom.

"Close to a million people are internally displaced within Burma and many are on the edges of survival, living a fragile existence deep in the jungles of Burma. They are constantly hunted, shelled and driven like animals by the military. The junta is using civilians as human minesweepers, bullet shields and forced labourers. CSW will continue to do all it can to draw international attention to this appalling situation until there is real and lasting change."

James Mawdsley, a British man who spent three periods in detention in Burma for his pro-democracy activities, was at the demonstration. James, 30, was imprisoned for 417 days in solitary confinement during his last imprisonment. After regaining his freedom, he worked for a year at CSW as an international representative before leaving to concentrate on writing
projects.

He said: "It is 13 years since the National League for Democracy won a landslide election victory in Burma and still the military junta harasses and persecutes NLD party members. 18 elected MPs remain in prison and 39 have died in prison. There may be a temptation for us on the outside to think that with the passage of time, things must surely get better in Burma. This simply is not true. The regime has no intention of handing over power to the Burmese people or their chosen representatives.

"Not only is the regime obstructing the NLD and the UN, but they are being assisted from outside in their murderous repression of groups in Burma's border areas. Last week the Karen National Union (KNU) issued a statement asking Russia, China, India, Singapore and Poland to stop selling weaponry to the regime and to end training programs for the regime's soldiers."

Another larger protest is planned for August 8, 2003 outside the Burmese Embassy in London to commemorate the massacre of Burmese pro-democracy activists on August 8, 1988.

On August 8 1988 there was a national strike and peaceful uprising against the regime which led to thousands, including students, women, children, farmers, civil servants and Buddhist monks being killed by the Burmese Army.

The Burmese junta, currently known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), regularly attacks civilian villages in the ethnic areas.

Most of these attacks take place in the middle of the night and are most intense during the planting and harvest seasons. Villagers are used as human minesweepers, bullet shields and forced labourers. Children are abducted and sent to the frontline. Villagers are shot on sight, villages are burnt down, paddy and livestock are destroyed. As one internally displaced Shan woman said: "The SPDC troops came, they took whatever they wanted, burnt, killed and destroyed whatever they did not want. They captured the women and used us as porters by day and rape us at night."

The majority of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are in the Karen, Karenni, Mon and Shan areas. The IDPs under the control of the SPDC are regularly subject to severe human rights violations. These displaced people are in desperate need of shelter, medical care, food, clothing, education, moral encouragement and spiritual support.

Despite the release of pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on May 6 last year, the military junta has so far failed to take any genuine steps towards national reconciliation. The SPDC continues to arrest political dissidents, subject the NLD to heavy restrictions and intensify military
attacks on ethnic resistance groups.

Since taking power by coup in 1962, the SPDC military regime has gone to terrifying lengths to subdue and annihilate both the democratic opposition and the country's numerous ethnic groups.

On May 27, 1990, under international pressure, multi-party elections were held. The NLD, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, won a landslide victory of over 80 percent of the 485 seats. Burma's chance for democracy however was snatched away when the illegitimate junta refused to hand over power.

For more information, including photos of the protest, please contact Richard Chilvers at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on 020 8949 0587 or 020 8329 0045 or email richard.chilvers@csw.org.uk   or go to www.csw.org.uk. 

11:01:37 PM    pray []

A top international aid agency says North Korea is in a precarious situation, with starvation looming unless food supplies continue. The comments come the same day the South Korean government says it will slow down food shipments to the North if relations with Pyongyang worsen over its nuclear programs.

International aid agency Caritas is appealing for more than $2.5 million to help get food and medical aid to North Korea.

Kathi Zellweger coordinates the Caritas' operations in North Korea from her office in Hong Kong. Since 1995, she has made more than 40 trips to the North, most recently in April. In a speech Tuesday, she warned that the communist country is in desperate need of help. " Life for the ordinary North Korean is a grim struggle for survival," she said. "Food for survival and growth is still very much needed. ... Right now, the rations are down to 250 or 270 grams, and that is less than 1,000 calories per day."

North Korea's economy has been collapsing for more than a decade. The situation worsened in the mid-1990s when floods and drought caused a famine. Foreign aid since then has improved the situation, but Ms. Zellweger said more help is needed.

"It would not take long for North Korea to slip back into hunger and famine," said Ms. Zellweger. "Caritas feels that the North Korean people need and deserve assistance, and that humanitarian aid and politics should be kept apart."

Ms. Zellweger says Caritas, a Roman Catholic charity based in Rome, provides food to the North's most vulnerable citizens: children and pregnant women. The process, she says, has slowly led to greater openness and cooperation from the North Korean government and the people.

Aid programs, however, have faced difficulties in the last seven months as North Korea has faced off with the international community over its nuclear ambitions.

Ms. Zellweger says the tensions have made some donors reluctant to contribute to North Korea. She says a U.S.-led decision to cut off fuel donations to Pyongyang has hampered efforts to increase food production.

On Tuesday, the South Korean government said it would slow down aid shipments if Pyongyang escalates the nuclear dispute.

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun spoke with U.S. President George W. Bush late Monday. He reiterated that Seoul will work closely with the United States and Japan to solve the nuclear dispute diplomatically.

Washington has made clear that the only acceptable solution is for North Korea to keep its numerous commitments to be nuclear free.

11:23:01 AM    pray []

Torrential rain has caused major flooding in southern provinces, displacing millions and near hundreds dead. Hunan and Guangdong are hit the hardest. More rain is forecasted. We pray for the flood victims and also the flood of heresy in Guangdong. There is a sect which claims no Christian should be baptized in water. If they do, they cannot be saved! Cults like this are common.

11:15:14 AM    pray []

latelinenews.com from Muzi

10:57:04 AM    pray []