ABFSU

Press Statement of ABFSU-FAC on the Aung San Suu Kyi’s Trial 5/2009

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Press Statement of the Foreign Affairs Committee of All Burma Federation of Student Unions
on the new charges against Aung San Suu Kyi

The Solution for the Recent Political Situation Is the Unconditional Release of Aung San Suu Kyi

(5/ 2009) May 22nd, 2009

1. The news of the new court case being brought against Aung San Suu Kyi; who was charged under Article 22 on May 14, 2009, has shocked all the people of Burma. The military junta has accused her of violating the terms of her house arrest by allowing a visitor to stay at her home without official permission. This was the second time the American intruder, John W Yettaw, tried to enter Aung San Suu Kyi’s compound. The military junta has tight security around her house and it is thought they allowed his entry, to create this new court case.

2. May 27, 2009 is the legal date the military junta must release Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest. The military generals are afraid that she will stand in the 2010 Election, to represent the people in accordance with the Shwegondine Declaration, if they release her. They are trying to legitimise prolonged military rule with this election.

3. Arresting Aung San Suu Kyi and trying her with the American intruder Yettaw’s case, is the SPDC’s latest shameful attempt to legitimise their rule.

4. We, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, conclude the following facts on the SPDC’s attempt of new court charges on Aung San Suu Kyi-

a.) This case is not a judicial problem. It is a political problem.

b.) It is the SPDC military junta’s absolute rejection to take a positive political route and initiate national reconciliation, and to follow the “Shwegonedine Declaration” of the National League for Democracy, which the international community and the people of Burma are asking for, by making this current political obstacle.

c.) Seeing the people protesting, both in Burma and around the world, it is obvious that planning to put Aung San Su Kyi in jail is not only an internal issue but also regional issue.

d.) All Burma Federation of Student Unions ( Foreign Affairs Committee) declare that for the genuine solution of the case of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, it is a secondary concern whether the court is open or not. The primary and main point is that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her two colleagues, Daw Khin Khin Win and Ma Win Ma Ma (Daw Khin Khin Win’s daughter), should be released immediately without any condition.

Foreign Affairs’ Committee

All Burma Federation of Student Unions
To Contact:
Min Naing (In charge) Phone: +66-81-680 2015
Zaw Tun (Deputy in charge-1) Phone: +66-89-952 7340
Zin Maung (Deputy in charge-2) Phone: +66-86-923 3547

Statement of the Participants of 2009 Gwangju Inter’ Peace Forum

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PRESS STATEMENT OF THE PARTICIPANTS OF 2009 GWANGJU INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORUM ON BURMA

Immediately drop the new charges against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and release her unconditionally

Date: May 19, 2009

We, the participants of 2009 Gwangju International Peace Forum, deplore the illegal detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s pro-democracy movement  and winner of 2004 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, by the military government of Burma — State Peace and Development Council ( SPDC).  We condemn the military authorities for transferring her from her home to the infamous Insein prison and for bringing new charges against her. The new charges against her are completely ridiculous and only meant to continue her already illegal detention and will further affect her health and security.

Statement Regarding the Awarding of the 2009 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award to Min Ko Naing

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Date: May 8, 2009

Min Ko Naing. formally the chairperson of ABFSU and now the leader of 88 Generation Students has been chosen to receive the Gwangju Human Rights Award for 2009.

The Gwangju Human Rights award is given by May 18 Memorial Foundation and in their award announcement this year stated that “Min Ko Naing and his colleagues have devoted themselves to Burma’s democratization, and it is their devotion that we hope to remember and share as we commemorate the May 18 Gwangju Uprising.”

We, the Foreign Affairs’ Committee of All Burma Federation of Student Unions, acknowledge the May 18 Memorial Foundation for their active effort to promote the Burmese democratic and human rights struggle.

We feel immensely proud the Gwangju Human Rights Award for 2009 is being given to Min Ko Naing, who is currently serving a long sentence in prison, this being his third.

Therefore, we will continue to commit ourselves in the freedom struggle to gain democracy together with our Burmese people and students; along with the international community’s support such as the May 18 Memorial Foundation, the people and students who struggled against dictatorship in the Republic of Korea. We also show our thanks to our Burmese colleagues, National League for Democracy (Librated Area – Korea Branch), Democratic Party for the New Society and The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), who helped in nominating Ko Min Naing for this award.

The strong union spirit acting in a peaceful manner can regain for people freedom and democratic norms.

Foreign Affairs’ Committee
All Burma Federation of Student Unions

To Contact:
Min Naing (In charge) Phone: +66-81-680 2015
Zaw Tun (Deputy in charge-1) Phone: +66-89-952 7340
Zin Maung (Deputy in charge-2) Phone: +66-86-923 3547

Support Students demand for regular electricity supply

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Urgent release: Support Students demand for regular electricity supply

Urgent release for Students demand for regular electricity supply during the examination period from 2 Townships

Date: 9th March, 2009

People have always heard from the state control medias that there are huge development in natural gas projects and hydro power projects, although in practical, there is hardly electricity supply in Chin and Arakin state and people have to use the electricity in very limited ration even in big cities in Burma including Rangoon and this has broken the records of the previous years.

The lack of electricity supply has substituted with the energy consumption extracted from the forests. Therefore, the electricity problem of Burma has become the regional issue as it can bring the extinction of forests and the environment and climate changed. Actually, there have enough resources, such as natural gas, hydro power, to produce 24-hours power supply to the whole Burma for decades. However, as military regime has just emphasized on earning the foreign currency regardless of the need of domestic electricity supply, people have had to stay in darkness.

Moreover, now is the time for high-school examination in Burma, the lack of enough electricity supply even for the night time, made students to be very terrible and troublesome period. While students who are about to sit their exam cannot learn their lessons because of too much electricity going out, on the other hand, there is full power supply in military areas and it can highlight the big difference between military and civilian life.

The trouble of lack of regular electricity supply has shown the gap between the situation of people, students and that of military institution. That made public dissatisfaction and students outrage could lead to demonstrations to get regular electricity supply in Mawlamein on the night of the 6th of March and in Tontay on the 7th March, 2009.

Since the plight of students and public from Mawlamein and Tontay to get enough electricity supply can represent the all sorts of life in Burma. This is an unavoidable demonstrations for the basic need of our public, we, All Burma Federation of Student Unions – Foreign Affairs Committee (ABFSU-FAC) have comprehensively supported them and have declared that we will participate and cooperate as much as possible in these movements and consequences.

All Burma Federation of Student Unions – Foreign Affairs Committee (ABFSU-FAC)

To contact -

Min Naing (In charge) +66-81-680 2015

Zaw Tun (Deputy In charge – 1) +66-89-952 7340

Zin Maung (Deputy In charge – 2) +66-86-923 3547

Statement upon the award of the 2001 Student Peace Prize to Min Ko Naing and the ABFSU

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“Statement upon the award of the 2001 Student Peace Prize to Min Ko Naing and the ABFSU”

Date: : January 26, 2001

1). On January 25, 2001, the Norway based Student Peace Prize Committee of the International Student Festival in Trondheim (ISFiT)- under the theme of “Global Responsibility”, awarded the Student Peace Prize to Min Ko Naing and ABFSU for year 2001 .

2). Min Ko Naing (a) Paw Oo Htun is a significant image of the 1988 peoples revolution of Burma. He has also been recognized as the elected chairperson of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) since the August 1988 student mass conference in Burma, and in subsequent student conferences in 1989 and 1990. ABFSU Chairperson Min Ko Naing was arrested and detained on March 23, 1989 by the military regime and given a long term sentence, which he has served, in solitary confinement, in several prisons. He is now held in Sittwe prison, located in Arakan State, western Burma and there is serious concern for his health.

3). The All Burma Federation of Student Unions was formed in 1936 during the period of Burma’s struggle for independence from colonialism. The ABFSU led student movements in the national independence struggle and after the independence era has been struggling with the people for internal peace, national reconciliation, Democracy and the abolishment of the military dictatorship system. The ABFSU were forced to operate underground after the military regime, led by Gen. Ne’ Win, bombed the student union building and banned all student unions in Burma on July 8, 1962.

Nevertheless, the Burmese students preserved and maintained the student spirit and the role of ABFSU and handed this spirit from generation to generation. As a result, the ABFSU was reformed at the student mass conference in 1988. Yet again, however, after the military re-seized power on September 18, 1988, the ABFSU was forced underground due to oppression by the military regime, and the arrest of many ABFSU students, including Min Ko Naing, the chairperson of ABFSU.

4). We, the Foreign Affairs’ Committee of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, deeply feel that the Student Peace prize awarded to Min Ko Naing and the ABFSU is an honor to the significant role that Burmese students have played in Burma’s struggle, and to the many students who have sacrificed their lives in movements along Burma’s history. We also believe that the Burmese students who gave their lives must be recorded in Burma’s history.

5). The ABFSU holds to five principles and three flags, and has been struggling according to the desire of Burma’s students. According to these, the ABFSU is compelled to struggle

a) for the release all political prisoners, including Min Ko Naing,

b) for the freedom of student unions in Burma for the assurance of student rights,

c) for meaningful dialogue towards the national reconciliation process, based upon the 1990 general election result,

d) for Internal Peace and

e) for National development.

6). We, the Foreign Affairs’ Committee of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, are deeply thankful to the International Student Festival in Trondheim (ISFiT) and the Student Peace Prize Committee and would also like to describe our thanks to other organizations and persons who took part in the nomination and awarding of the Student Peace Prize to Min Ko Naing and the ABFSU for the year 2001.

Foreign Affairs’ Committee
All Burma Federation of Student Unions
January 26, 2001

Foreign Affairs’ Committee
All Burma Federation of Student Unions
P.O.Box ( 122 )
Mae Sot
Tak , 63110
Thailand.
Tel : 66 55 542 724
Fax : 66 55 542 724
” Safeguard for students’ right. ”
” Fight for academic freedom. “