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Statement on 34th Anniversary of th



Subject: Statement on 34th Anniversary of the 7th July Martyrs

_________________________________________________________________
                                  ABSDF
                  ALL BURMA STUDENTS' DEMOCRATIC FRONT
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          STATEMENT ON 34th ANNIVERSARY OF THE 7th JULY MARTYRS
          -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                  
      
                                               Date: July 7, 1996

     7th July, 1996 marks the 34th Anniversary of the massacre
and the demolishing of Student Union at Rangoon University by the
Burmese military regime.

     Only four months after the military coup in 1962 by General
Ne Win, he dismantled U Nu's democratic government, and blew up
the Student Union building, along with hundreds of students
inside. At that time, this historical Student's Union was a proud
symbol of  Burma's Independence struggle against the hegemony of
the imperialist, and anti-colonialism. 

     The heroic defiance with which the unarmed students faced
the dictatorship demonstrates their sheer dislike for the
dictatorial rules that is denying their academic freedom. 

     Throughout history, the students of Burma have always been
in the forefront of the struggle for independence, democracy and
human rights. Hundreds of students have made their supreme
sacrifice in university,  prisons,  battle fields, alleys and on
the streets for the restoration of democracy and human rights in
our motherland. 

     For more than three decades, the military dictators have
repeatedly shown their brutality by imprisoning, torturing,
killing, and forcing thousands of people into labour camps. 

     In designing to enshrine the military's  leading role in the
country's constitution, it arrested the NLD representative who
opposed the National Convention and charged with section 5 (J)
which is yet another manifestation  of military's cruelty and
odious greed, in their desire to hold on to power. 

     We would therefore like to urge the people of  Burma.  
1) To preserve the spirit of 7 July , 
2) To support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD,
3) To boycott the sham National Convention,
4) To call for the release of all political prisoners, 
5) To work towards the transfer of power to the elected
representatives of 1990 elections and
6) To continue the struggle until democracy is achieved.

     We would also like to request the international community 
1) To impose trade sanctions and an arms embargo on the Burmese
Junta, 
2) To support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD, and
3) To pressure the SLORC to stop the gross violations of human
rights which they are now perpetrating throughout the country.

     The ABSDF strongly demands the SLORC:
1) To abolish the sham National Convention,
2) To release all political prisoners including prominent student
leader Min Ko Naing, 
3) To cancel all unjust laws and all forms stop human rights
abuses, 
4) To enter dialogue with NLD led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and
ethnic leaders to bring national reconciliation, democracy and
lasting peace to Burma.

     We also ask the rank and file of the Burmese Armed forces to
go back to their barracks and rightfully restore the dignity of
the Armed forces that had existed during the days of General Aung
San.

     In addition, we the ABSDF pledges to the people of Burma,
that we will continue the struggle until victory is won, and are
ready to sacrifice anything come what may.

    
Central Leading Committee 
All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF)