Today marks the 21st
anniversary of Burma’s Human Rights Day – a student leader named
Ko Phone Maw and other students were shot dead on this day in 1988 by the military
security forces while they were protesting in front of Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT)
in Rangoon, the capital of Burma. The government’s inability to settle such heinous crime
had not only demonstrated the lack of justice in Burma but also had a confrontation
between the government and the students, which leads to the nation wide uprising called
8888 uprising to restore democracy and human rights in Burma. Thus, the day the death of
the student leader Ko Phone Maw was honored as Burma’s Human Rights Day later.
Before 13th
March 1988, People of Burma had suffered several political, economic and
social problems of the single-party dictatorship and closed- door economic policy, emerged
from the detrimental 1974 Constitution, which was drawn by force. As the constitution was
created by the dictator Ne Win, who staged the military coup in 1962 and the main
essence of the constitution was designed for the interests of the military generals rather
than the people; People of Burma were not happy about the constitution and its
consequences. Therefore, the death of the student leader Ko Phone Maw’s event had
become a triggering event for People of Burma to bring down the regime government
which administered the country by using a detrimental constitution. Due to this people
power movement, the constitution being drawn by force became illegitimate. Thus, March
13th is a symbol of democracy and human rights for Burma.
On this occasion, we reaffirm that the very essence of and the principles enshrined in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights are persistently being violated by the military
regime for several years. Gross Human Rights Violations, including forced displacement,
forced labour, attacked by soldiers on civilians, destruction or theft of food supplies,
murder, torture, rape and political imprisonment have been widespread in Burma. Freedom
of expression and Freedom of Association are non-existence. The right to life, liberty and
security for the people of Burma is denied. People of Burma have been subjected to
arbitrary arrest, detention and exile. In Burma, human rights violations are committed on a
daily basis by ruling military regime.
Therefore, on this remarkable day, we call upon the international community to support the
people power movement to restore democracy and human rights in Burma. We also call
Overseas Burmese People around the world to join the democratic movement in any
capacity that they can participate to strengthen the unity for Democracy and Human Rights
in Burma to fight against the military regime. We also urge new generations of students to
carry on the duties of predecessors as the role of students have been so significant
throughout the history of national struggles.
Free Burma Federation (Canada)
Burmese Students Democratic Organization (Toronto)
National League for Democracy (LA Canada Branch)
International Burmese Monks Organization (Canada)
Burmese Muslim Association (Canada)
Canadian Campaign for Free Burma
Contact Person:
Kyaw Si Thu, Tel: 1- 416-230-0901
