Urgent Appeal to the International

[absdf102@xxxxxxxxx]

September 20, 1998
Immediate Appeal to the International Community

We, Burmese students activists around the world, appeal for the
international community?s immediate support in Burma?s struggle for
freedom, peace and human rights. At this moment, every second is crucial
for peaceful change in Burma. Delay and reluctance of action by the
international community may only cause loss of lives and prolong the
suffering of Burmese people.

In 1988, the same military junta killed thousands of peaceful
demonstrators and jailed thousands more. The same regime ignored the
1990 election results in which National League for Democracy(NLD)won an
overwhelming majority. The NLD, which has the mandate of the majority of
Burmese people tried, to convene parliament by August 21, 1998. The
regime, instead of cooperating with the NLD in the national interest,
responded by arresting hundreds of NLD members including elected members
of parliament.

The National League for Democracy, exercising its legitimate rights and
fulfilling the will of Burmese people bestowed upon them in the 1990
election, formed the "Committee to represent Elected Law Makers" on
September 16, 1998. This committee, having the mandate of 250 elected
members of parliament which is the majority,  is in fact the parliament.
The parliament also elected Dr Saw Mra Aung as the chairman of the
parliament.

This is a very crucial moment. Any delay by the international community
to support the actions and resolutions of the legitimate parliament will
only bring regrettable consequences. We appeal the international the
international community to:

1.  Immediately support the parliament and its resolutions.
2.  Take steps to remove the regime?s representatives from the United
Nations and other international bodies since they do not represent the
people of Burma.
3.  Expel the regimes representatives from your countries since they do
not represent the people of Burma
4.  Closely monitor the situation in Burma and take necessary steps to
prevent further bloodshed.

All Burma Students Democratic Organization (Australia)
All Burma Students League (India)
Burmese Students Democratic Organization (Canada)
Democratic Burmese Students Organization (USA)
Oversea National Students Organization of Burma (Thailand)