HUNGER STRIKE OF BURMESE STUDENTS I

[lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: HUNGER STRIKE OF BURMESE STUDENTS IN AUSTRALIA

               ALL BURMA STUDENTS DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION
                               (AUSTRALIA)
                                    
                                STATEMENT
                              JULY 7, 1995
                                    
                                    
             HUNGER STRIKE OF BURMESE STUDENTS IN AUSTRALIA
             -----------------------------------------------

Our hunger strike today marks military oppression in Burma, the
occasion of the July 7, 1962 military crackdown on the Student's
Union building and the massacre of hundreds of students in the
Rangoon University compound.

Today is also an historic milestone of the 1988 student-led
nationwide uprising to topple the military dictatorship and to
restore democracy and human rights in our motherland.

We wish to raise our great concern about the SLORC's continuing
systematic campaign of human rights violations. SLORC has
arbitrarily arrested and detained hundreds of political
prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and pressed people from
all parts of Burma into forced labour. Recent military offensives
in the border areas against the democratic forces are being
conducted at the same time as the SLORC claims to be negotiating
ceasefires and undertaking a so-called National Convention.

International action should incorporate decisive policies of non-
cooperation with the SLORC. Investment and business dealing and
the assistance programs of the United Nations and other
international agencies, including the multilateral IMF, World
Bank and Asian Development Bank do not benefit the people of
Burma or our aspiration for democracy.

Thailand is the frontline state for ASEAN's policy of
"constructive engagement", a policy that serves to support the
SLORC and undermines Burma's democratic forces. Thailand's
cooperation with the SLORC has resulted in persecution of Burmese
students, including indefinite detention without trial in the
Special Detention Centre and the Immigration Detention Centre.

The aims of the hunger strike intend to raise international
awareness of the human rights situation in Burma and to motivate
international support and effective action for the restoration of
democracy and human rights.

Our hunger strike is in solidarity with those Burmese struggling
for democracy currently held in detention in Burma and in the SDC
in Thailand.

We, participants in the hunger strike strongly demand:

1) to implement coordinated international trade sanctions and a
non-cooperation policy.

2) that the Australian Government implement an effective foreign
policy including bilateral and regional economic sanctions and
non-cooperation policy against the illegitimate military regime.

3) that the Australian Government set an ultimatum for the
release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners by July
11, 1995.


Executive Committee
All Burma Student's Democratic Organization of Australia
3 Gardiner St.
HAWTHORN  3122
Ph(03) 9819 9729