[Fwd: Article #3]

[absdf102@xxxxxxxxx]

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
--------------A3D22E732489E32FD554A980
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit



--------------A3D22E732489E32FD554A980
Content-Type: message/rfc822
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Disposition: inline

Received: from mx01.erols.com ([207.172.3.241]) by mta2.erols.com
          (InterMail v03.02.05 118 121 101) with ESMTP
          id <19980923013522.PERF275@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
          for <absdf102@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>;
          Tue, 22 Sep 1998 21:35:22 -0400
Received: from hotmail.com (f116.hotmail.com [207.82.251.46])
	by mx01.erols.com (8.8.8-970530/8.8.5/MX-980323-gjp) with SMTP id VAA08410
	for <absdf102@xxxxxxxxx>; Tue, 22 Sep 1998 21:35:21 -0400 (EDT)
Received: (qmail 16697 invoked by uid 0); 23 Sep 1998 01:35:18 -0000
Message-ID: <19980923013518.16696.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Received: from 153.37.114.79 by www.hotmail.com with HTTP;
	Tue, 22 Sep 1998 18:35:17 PDT
X-Originating-IP: [153.37.114.79]
To: absdf102@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Article #3
Content-Type: text/plain
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 18:35:17 PDT

The Dryden Courier
September 2, 1998
Page5

Guest Opinion

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor:

	My name is Shwe Htee, and I am from Burma.  I am currently a student at 
Tompkins-Cortland Community College, and I reside in Ithaca, NY.  I am 
writing to you today because I am gravely concerned about the situation 
in Burma, my country.
	Burma is the largest country in Southeast Asia, and it forms borders 
with Thailand, Laos, China, India, and Bangladesh.  Approximately the 
size of Texas, the population of Burma is over 50 million.  From 
1885-1945, the English colonized Burma.  But in 1945, a young man named 
General Aung San and his Burma Independence Army (BIA) gained 
independence for the country.  General Aung San is considered the 
national hero and founder of a modern Burma.  After independence, a 
democratic government was established in the country.  This government 
ruled Burma for several years until 1962 when a general named Ne Win 
overthrew the government in a military coup.  Since 1962, a military 
dictatorship has run my country.  This regime now called the State Peace 
and Development Council (SPDC) has oppressed the Burmese people for 36 
years and committed such acts as murder, forced and slave labor, 
portering, rape, village relocation, and the destruction of the 
environment.
	In 1988, there were mass uprisings to protest the military dictatorship 
and to fight for democracy and human rights in Burma.  Millions of 
people throughout the country participated in these demonstrations which 
occurred in March, June, and July, and cumulated in August 1988.  
Finally, however, the military regime brutally cracked down on these 
demonstrators.  On August 8,1988, or better known as 8.8.88, the 
military regime killed over 4,000 students and civilians.  The mass 
demonstrations continued, and the regime lost power for a short time.  
But then they regained power on September 18, 1988.  On September 18, 
1988, the regime staged a military coup and killed over 4,000 people in 
the entire country.  In 1990, national elections were held in Burma.  
The National League for Democracy (NLD), head by Aung San Suu Kyi, 
General Aung San's daughter and the 1991 Nobel Laureate for Peace, won 
the election by an overwhelming majority.  But the military regime 
refused to transfer power to the NLD party.
	The current situation in Burma is also worse than ever.  Millions of 
people suffer from malnutrition and disease. Approximately 15-18 
children in Burma die every day.  Over 6,000 political prisoners remain 
in jail.  Most of these prisoners are tortured and live in inhuman 
conditions.  As a result of this terrible situation, the National League 
for Democracy has called to convene parliament, despite the SPDC's 
refusal to transfer power.
	As a student dissident who was active in the 1988 Uprising, I am 
gravely concerned about the situation in my country.  For this reason, I 
am organizing "Democracy in Burma Day."  "Democracy in Burma Day" will 
be held on September 18, 1998 on the pavilion of the Ithaca Commons from 
5-7 pm.  "Democracy in Burma Day" will be the 10-year memorial to the 
thousands of people who were killed by the military regime on September 
18,1988.  "Democracy in Burma Day" will also show our support for the 
democratically-elected party, the National League for Democracy, to 
convene parliament and to assume power in Burma.   I invite you and the 
members of your community to come and join us on the Commons for 
"Democracy in Burma Day." Please come and support freedom and human 
rights in Burma.

If you need more information, please contact me at (607) 256-1123 or 
shwehtee8888@xxxxxxxxxxx

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
Shwe Htee (8.8.88)
Democracy in Burma Day, Coordinator
Democratic Burmese Students Organization, Central Executive Committee 
Member
Outstanding Global Citizen Award Winner



______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

--------------A3D22E732489E32FD554A980--