Human Rights Defenders & Promoters are beaten by gangsters of Burmese junta: Forewarning to UN Security Council members and neighbors of Burma

The situation of human rights in Burma was formally placed on the resolution of the UN Human Rights Council (UNCHR) in 1994. Since the UNHRC had passed a resolution, the UN Secretary-General was obligated to report the matter to the UN General Assembly (UNGA). As UNGA resolutions get stronger every year and we sought the support of the UNGA to mandate the Secretary-General into helping resolve the political stalemate in our country. The UN Secretary-General eventually appointed a Special Envoy to explore the problems and help resolve them.

However the Burmese generals refused to let either the UN Special Envoy or the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights enter the country, stepped up political suppression, and committed violent crimes to crack down on the democracy movement. The UN Special Envoy resigned and as conditions in Burma further aggravated, the UN Secretary-General was asked to brief the UN Security Council about the situation in the country. Today, Burma is already on the official agenda of the UN Security Council which has decided to discuss the situation at its meetings. Unfortunately on 12^th January of this year, China and Russia cast a rare double veto of a resolution calling on Burmese military regime to release all political prisoners, speed up progress toward democracy, and stop attacks against ethnic minorities. All nonbinding UN resolutions have not improved the situations at all.

Therefore, the oppressed people of Burma have to brave against harsh repression and try to defend their rights. The Human Rights Defenders & promoters (HRDPs) come into existence this year. The volunteers organize workshops and educate the people on human rights. In spite of this, the military junta has made the human rights defenders defenseless. On 18^th April, in a delta township Henzada, 4 HRDP activists were cruelly beaten by gangsters, apparently members of local authorities and police.

It reminds the Black Friday, 30^th May 2003 when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her entire team were brutally attacked by a bunch of criminals backed by the authorities near Deyapin.

We, Burmese pro-democracy groups in India condemned this act apparently executed by the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA). We strongly demand the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to take legal actions against the perpetrators and provide security and compensation to the victims. The USDA must be declared as terrorist organization.

It is also worrying that the Indian government has recently promised Burma’s military junta increased military aid and training. Practically the foreign-made weapons and ammunitions are used to fight against ethnic minorities of Burma. It is not exaggeration that the arms supplied by the neighbors made SPDC feel over-confident to kill or assault own people. Therefore we urge all neighbors to review their existing Burma policy.

At this instant, we would like to draw the attention of all members of the UN Security Council as we are downhearted by “Nay” votes by veto powers, China and Russia and also by South Africa. Your negative votes made the regime more murderous. This premeditated attack against human rights defenders and promoters is a forewarning for those nations to turn around their position on the issue of human rights in Burma.

We congratulate all human rights defenders and promoters. We honestly urge the people of Burma to stand up and defend the basic rights.

We reaffirm our commitment to fight for democracy and human rights in Burma.

Burmese pro-democracy groups in India

Media contact: Myint Aye 989-162-6823