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SDA Supports the FTUB Call



Free Burma Coalition, Australia

Press Release
>
>Union Condemns Repression in Burma
>
>The National Secretary of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees
>Association Mr. Joe de Bruyn, today condemned the continuing repression of
>the National League for Democracy in Burma by the military government.
>
>"Over 800 members and supporters of the National League for Democracy have
>now been arrested by the Military Junta in Burma, simply because they
>desire to see democracy restored in their country" Mr. De Bruyn said.
>
>"Of these 800 people, 196 are elected politicians who are attempting to
>convene a Parliament In respect of their legal duty as spell out to them by
>the people of Burma in the 1990 general election.
>
>"The National League for Democracy won 82% of the seats in this general
>election and the military has refused steadfastly to allow these elected
>representatives to fulfill their mandate.
>"Four elected people's representatives have already died in prison and it
>now seems likely that the Vice Chairperson of the National League for
>Democracy, U Tin Oo may soon be arrested and suffer the same fate.
>
>'There is a dire emergency situation in Burma at present1 and the forces
>for democracy desperately need outside support."
>
>
>Condemnation Of the Military Junta
>
>"The Union strongly condemns the continued repression of the democratically
>elected politicians in Burma by the Military Junta" Mr. De Bruyn said.
>
>"The Union strongly condemns the continued repression of the democratically
>elected politicians in Burma by the Military Junta" Mr. De Bruyn continued.
>
>We also call on the Australian Government to actively discourage trade with
>Burma by closing the Australia Office in the Burma capital of Rangoon.
>
>We support fully the democratic forces working internationally,
>particularly the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma and
>the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma in their efforts to see democracy
>achieved in Burma.
>
>Union Asks Government to Act
>
>The Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association has written to the
>Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, asking him to impose a new
>tough policy on the Burmese Military Junta in the light of the oppression
>taking place in the country.
>
>"It is clear that the Australian Government's policy of using diplomatic
>pressure on the Burmese Military Government as failed" Mr. De Bruyn siad.
>
>"The continued arrest of hundreds of democracy activists in Burma in recent
>times proves that the policy of diplomatic pressure is not working.
>
>"The Military Junta in Burma will only respond to real pressure and it is
>time that the Australian Government used real pressure as a tool in support
>of the supporters of democracy inside the country.
>
>Australia should use its diplomatic influence with other countries in South
>East Asia to increase the pressure on the Burmese regime by implementing
>trade sanctions against the country until democracy is achieved.
>
>"The recent events in Indonesia shows that dictators can be forced to step
>down if sufficient 
>domestic and international pressure is brought to bear.
>
>"Given the success of a change of Government in Indonesia, additional
>pressure is likely to bring the discredited Military in Burma to the point
>of resignation."
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Authorised by:		Joe de Bruyn
>National Secretary
>Shop Distributive & Allied Employees Association
>Telephone: 03-96292299
>Mobile: 0411-514314
>
>
>++++++++++++++++
>
>CFMEU
>
>CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING, ENERGY UNION
>FOREST & FOREST PRODUCTS DIVISION
>
>
>
>
>21st September 1998
>
>Alexander Downer
>Minister for Foreign Affairs
>Canberra ACT 2600
>
>Dear Minister
>
>I am writing on behalf of the CFMEU Forest and Forest Products Division 
>representing 20,000 members, in regards to the disgraceful oppression
>currently occurring in Burma.
>
>The people of Burma in the 1990 general election exercised their democratic
>right to have democracy restored in their country through the National
>League for Democracy (NLD). These right are being violated therefore: we
>call upon you to impose tough policy options in right of the recent and
>unjust acts.
>
>There have been many issues over the past twelve months in which the
>Australian Government has applied pressure to be used as a tool, and this
>has proven to be effective and clearly demonstrates that the Military in
>Burma do respond to pressure.
>
>I further ask, that you inform our Asian neighbors of your intentions,
>stating how diplomacy has not been effective and as a consequence, the time
>has come to demonstrate once again, that we will not allow this
>reprehensible abuse to continue.
>
>We believe it is imperative the Australian Government sends a message of
>intolerance towards this display of gross injustice.
>
>Yours sincerely,
>
>
>Trevor Smith
>National Secretary
>Forest and forest  Products Division 
>CFMEU
>
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>
>SDA  Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association     
>
>REGISTERED OFFICE: FIFTH FLOOR, 63 QUEEN STREET, MELBOURNE, 3000
>TELEPHONE (03) 9629 2299  FAX (03) 9629 2646
>
>NATIONAL PRESIDENT 						NATIONAL SECRETARY
>Don Farrell 								Joe de Bruyn
>
>Jdb/cr
>22nd September, 1998
>
>
>
>The Hon. Alexander Downer
>Minister for Foreign Affairs
>Parliament House
>CANBERRA A.C.T. 2600
>
>
>Dear Minister,
>
>
>I am writing to you to express the deep concern of the Shop Distributive
>and Allied Employees Association at the continuing repression of the
>supporters of democracy in Burma.
>
>As you know, over 800 members and supporters of the National league for
>Democracy in Burma have now been arrested by the Military Junta, 8impiy
>because of their desire to see democracy restored to their country.
>
>Of these arrested people, 196 are elected politicians, who arc attempting
>to convene a Parliament in respect of their legal duty, spelt cut to them
>by the people of Burma in the 1990 general election.
>
>The National League for Democracy won 82% of the seats in that general
>election and the military regime ever since this time has refused to allow
>the elected representatives to fulfil their mandate.
>
>Four elected people's representatives have already died in prison and it
>now seems likely that the Vice Chairperson of the National League for
>Democracy, U Tin Oo, may soon be arrested and suffer the same fats.
>Clearly, there is an emergency situation in Burma and it desperately
>requires your attention.
>
>It is clear that the past policy of exciting diplomatic pressure only on
>the military regime in Burma has tailed. Accordingly, we call upon the
>Australian Government to act immediately to discourage trade by closing the
>Austrade Office in Rangoon.
>
>We also ask that you use Australia's diplomatic influence with the
>countries of South East Asia to impose a trade embargo on until such time
>as the democratically elected politicians are able to take up their duties
>as the elected Parliamentarians of  their country.
>
>The events in Indonesia have shown that domestic and international pressure
>can bring about the resignation of a dictator from office and the
>establishment of a more representative Government. It seems that Burma is
>in a similar situation, where sufficient pressure both inside and outside
>the country will be sufficient to topple the dictatorial regime and enable
>the properly elected representatives of the people to assume office
>
>We believe your urgent attention to this matter is required, given the
>severe nature of the repression that has occurred in Burma in recent weeks
>
>
>Yours faithfully
>
>
>
>
>JOE DE BREJYN
>National Secretary-Treasurer
>
>	++++++++++++++
>
>
>
>CFMEU
>CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING, ENERGY UNION
>
>21st September 1998
>
>General Than Shwe
>Primer Minister SPDC
>Ministry of Defence
>Dagon Post Office 
>Yangon, Union Myanmar
>
>
>Dear General Than
>
>
>I am writing on behalf of the CFMEU Forest and forest Products Division on
>behalf of 20,000 members to express our absolute disgust to your complete
>disregard towards the people of Burma.
>
>The CFMEU Forest and Forest Products Division has written to the Australian
>Government calling upon them to no longer consider diplomacy as a means of
>action when such violations of human rights currently exist.
>
>We will continue to increase domestic pressure on the Australian Government
>to impose forms of sanctions if you do not demonstrate any signs of genuine
>political progress including, tripartite dialogue involving the military,
>Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and leaders of the non-Burma ethnic nationalities of
>Burma.
>
>This disgusting abuse of human rights will not be tolerated by Australia or
>any countries of the world, therefore I assure you that if you continue to
>demonstrate abuse upon the people of Burma and deny them their fundamental
>human rights, we will lobby and pressure all countries globally to take
>action.
>
>
>Yours sincerely,
>
>Trevor Smith
>National Secretary
>Forest and Forest Products Division
>CFMEU  
>
>
>	++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>SDA 
>Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association
> REGISTERED OFFICE: FIFTH FLOOR, 53 QUEEN STREET, MELBOURNE, 3000  
>TELEPHONE (03) 903.2299  FAX (03) 9629 2646 
>
>NATIONAL PRESIDENT 						NATIONAL SECRETARY
>Don Fanell 								Joe de Bruyn
>
>Jdb/cr 
>22nd September1998
>
>
>
>General Than Shwe
>Prime Minister of the State Law & Order Council
>C/o Ministry of Defense
>Signal Pagoda Road
>Dagon Post Office Yangon
>Union of Myanmar
>
>
>Dear General,
>
>
>I am writing to you to let you know that the 230,000 member Shop
>Distributive & Allied Employees Association in Australia has asked the
>Australian Government to take immediate action to impose trade sanctions on
>your country,  in view of the increasingly severe repression of the
>supporters of democracy perpetrated by your Government.
>
>We have asked the Australia Government to actively discourage trade, by
>closing the Austrade Office in Rangoon.
>
>We have also asked our Government to use its diplomatic influence with the
>countries of South East Asia to impose an embargo on trade width your
>country until the democracy situation improves.
>
>We cell upon your Government to do the following:
>
>1.	Release all the members and supporters of the National League of
>Democracy, who have been arrested by the Government, simply for their
>desire to see democracy restored to their country.
>
>2.	We demand that the properly elected representatives of the people in the
>1990 general election, he permitted to meet as the properly elected
>Parliament of Burma at the earliest opportunity.
>
>3.	We insist that a tripartite dialogue be commenced, including
>representatives of the Military Junta, the leader of the National League
>for Democracy Ms. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and leaders of the non -Burma
>Ethnic Nationalities of the country.
>
>4.	We demand the cessation of all abuses of basic human and trade union
>rights in your country as perpetrated by the military regime.
>
>If these steps are not taken immediately the campaign for democracy in
>Burma will continue to gain international support and will increasingly
>feature in international forums where the supporters of democracy in Burma
>will place the issues squarely on the table.
>
>
>Yours faithfully
>
>
>
>
>JOE DE BRUYN
>National Secretary-Treasurer
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Free Burma Coalition, Australia

Working for the:
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
Federation of Trade Unions, Burma
Australia Burma Council

PO Box 2024, Queanbeyan  NSW  2620
Ph: +61-2-6297-7734  Fax: +61-2-6297-7773