The statement on China and Russia over Burma issue
September 18, 2007
We, the Overseas National Students' Organization of Burma (ONSOB), Denmark, want to inform China and Russia that today, September 18, 2007, is the 19th anniversary since the Burmese military took over the power in 1988.
The military regime, now called the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), in Burma tyrannizes its people, including students and monks, with arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions, tortures, and extrajudicial killings. Moreover, it is committing gross human rights violations such as rapes, forced labors, burning down villages in rural areas of Burma.
Recently, there are peaceful demonstrations in Burma protesting against drastic increases in the fuel price and sky-rocketing living costs. The military regime is using its henchmen such as members of the pro-junta Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) and the paramilitary group Pyithu Swan Arr Shin (PSAS) to violently crack down on demonstrators. The China and Russia governments should aware that the SPDC is terrorizing its people by using its thugs and suppressing the will of the Burmese people with violent means.
The China and Russia governments, however, are supporting the SPDC with economic aids and military equipment although the regime is brutally suppressing its people will. We want to inform you that it is the same as directly terrorizing the Burmese people because the military is using your support to arrest, kill, and torture its own people.
The China and Russia had also vetoed the proposal to discuss the Burma issue on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). We want to warn you that it is an undeniable mistake in the history of the world that can never be mended.
It is an open secret that the SPDC has sent hundreds of its military officers to Russia in order to receive training in nuclear technology. However, the military regime’s goal to become nuclear power in the region without proper technical know-how and political stability in the country can become an environmental disaster not only in Burma but also in the region. Therefore, we strongly oppose the agreement to provide a 10 MW research nuclear reactor by Russia to the Burmese military regime. We urge the Russia to stop providing training to the military regime as well as technology and support equipment immediately.
We welcome, however, China’s hope that the military regime would properly handle issues and actively promote national reconciliation. We agree with Tang Jiaxuan, Chinese State Councilor, statement that the democracy process was in the fundamental interests of the people of Burma and conducive to regional peace, stability and development. We welcome the Chinese statement, as Xinhua reported, “China whole-heartedly hopes that Myanmar [Burma] will push forward a democracy process that is appropriate for the country.” However, China economic and military aids are helping the SPDC to continue hold on to power, and the Burmese people are always forced to live in insecure future without individual human rights and democracy.
Therefore, we strongly urge China and Russia
§ To stop their economic, military, and political support immediately to military regime
§ To encourage international cooperation to resolve the Burma political problems, as a good friend and neighbor, to a peaceful transition to a democratic society and national reconciliation through substantive dialogue.
§ To demand immediate cease of the Burmese regime’s brutal crack down on peaceful demonstrator using the thugs such as USDA and PSAS members.
Respectfully,
The Overseas National Students' Organization of Burma |
