Transcript of ASSK's Speech at UNCH

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Subject: Transcript of ASSK's Speech at UNCHR

What follow is the TRANSCRIPT OF SPEECH BY DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI from a video
tape which was sent to a press conferece held in UN Human Rights Commission
yesterday.  The press conference was held by the former foreign minister of
Norway and leader of Norwegian Christian Democrat Party Mr Kjell Magne
Bondevik.  It was also attended by the head of the Norwegian Government
delegation to the UN Human Rights Commission and NCGUB Prime Minister Dr
Sein Win.


TRANSCRIPT OF SPEECH BY DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI
Geneva, 17.04.96

"We would like to remind  those who are simply looking at the economic
benefits that they hope to reap from Burma today that they  are working
against their own long term interest and the long term interests of the
international community in general."

                                                                Aung San Suu Kyi


It is a matter of much satisfaction to be able to participate in this press
conference at a time when the United Nations Commission for Human Rights is
in this session. It is times the world knew what is going on in Burma today.
It has come to the point when we have to worry, not simply about the
violations of human Rights in Burma, but  about the lawless activities of
the authorities. The chair man of the NLD, U Aurng Shwe, has been moved to
write to the chairman of the SLORC, General than Shwe, to complain about the
way in which the authorities are using lawless methods to repress and to
harass the members and supporters of the National League for Democracy.

There are those who argue that the concept of human rights is not applicable
to all cultures. We in the National League for Democracy believe that human
rights are of universal relevance. But even those who do not belive in human
rights must certainly agree that the rule of law is most important. without
the rule of law there can be no peace. Either in a nation, a region or in
throughout the world. In Burma at the moment there is no rule of law. Unless
there is the rule of law there can be no peace or justice in this country.

We belive in self reliance and we depend on  the strength of the people of
Burma to achieve their  own goals. At the same time we also appreciate the
moral support and practical help of the interntional community . In this day
and age nobody can afford to ignore the opinions of the world around us.
Because of that we would like to appeal to the international community to
take a greater interest in what is going on in Burma.

In the letter which U Aung Shwe wrote to the chairman of SLORC, the cited
five specific case which proved that the authorities were behaving in a
lawless fashion towards the NLD and its supporters. Yet these cases  are
merely the tip of an iceberg of harssment and repression that is going on
throughout the wwhole country.

The international community has two duties with regard to Burma at the
moment. the first one is to focus on and to protest against the lawless
activities of the authorities. the second one is to do everthing possible to
implement the terms of General Assembly resolution with regard to the human
rithts situation in Burma.

The General Assembly resolution calls for the restoration of democracy in
line with the will of the people as expressed through the elections of 1990.
It is now almost six full years since these elections were held. In the
process of these elections the people of Burma made it quite clear what kind
of government they wanted. It is time that the world respected the will of
the people of Burma. It is no use saying that Asian people are not
interested in democracy when the people of Burma, who are of course Asians,
have expressed so very clearly that what they want is a democratic
government that will guarantee their rights fully.

Any move to ignore or to set aside the results of the elections is not only
to insult the will of the people of Burma, But also to insult the will of
the international community as expressed through the General Assembly
resolution.

If there is to be political progress in Burma concrete steps must be taken
to implement the will of the people as expressed throuth the elections of
1990. There are those who are prepared to pretend the elections never
existed, and that the will of the people has not bee made known to all
concerned. we can not condone such an attempt to set aside what the Burmese
people see as  a very clear expression of their aspirations  for the future
of their nation. The international community should take firm steps to
ensure that the authorities in Burma start the process of recognising the
results of the elections of 1990, a process that is long overdue.  

At the moment there is danger that those who believe economic reforms will
bring political progress to Burma are unaware of the difficulties in the way
of democratisation. Economics and politics can not be separated, and
economic reforms alone can not bring democratisation to Burma. Moreover it
is not possible that any kind of economic reform can succeed in a country
where there is no rule of law. For that reason we call upon the
international community to insist the authorities  in Burma do their outmost
to institute the rule of law in Burma as soon as possible.

So far the authorities have chosen to ignore our call. However, we believe
that one day we will have to solve our problems throuth dialogue.

The General Assembly resolution also calls for a substantive political
dialogue  between the authorities, the National  League for Democracy and
other political organisations and various  ethnic groups in Burma. The
National League for Democracy  is ready for dialogue at any time. But that
does not mean that we are prepared  to sit and let the authorities act as
they whist against our members and supporters. We have to protest against
injustice and lawlessness. It is our duty, not only as a party that
represents the aspirations of the democratic forces of Burma, but as a party
that believes in justice and peace throughout the world.

Our request to the international community is in fact a quite simple one. We
would simple like them to be aware of the fact that the situation in Burma
is a threat not only to its own people, but to the region and to the world.
Injustice and lack of peace in the country means injustice and lack of peace
for the rest of the world because it threatens peace and justice  everywhere
else. We would like to remind  those who are simply looking at the economic
benefits that they hope to reap from Burma today that they  are working
against their own long term interest and the long term interests of the
international community in general. To flout the will of the international
community is to promote instability and dissension through out  the world. 

We are confident that we shall achieve our goal of building a genuine
democratic state in Burma. However, we also wish the international community
to take part in our struggle, and to be supportive of our endeavours. We
would like the whole world to join us in our call for justice in Burma  and
for the quick implementation of  the terms of the General Assembly
resolution with regard to human rights in Burma.

I would like to end this statement simply with a words of thanks to all
those who have made it possible for me to participate in this press conference. 

Thank you.
Democratic Voice of Burma(DVB) has one hour air time broadcasting to Burma
everyday. It is one of the main sources of information for the people of
Burma especially for those inside the country.  For more informaton, please
write to:
DVB, P.O Box 6720, ST.Olavs Plass, 0130 Oslo, Norway.  Tel: 47-22-200021,
Tel/fax:47-22-362525.