RESISTANCE DAY

[WinSoe@xxxxxxx]

Solidarity for Democracy in Burma
244 Upper Street, London  N1 1RU, United Kingdom.


RESISTANCE DAY STATEMENT

During the last World War, while Burma was under the occupation of the Fascist
Japanese regime the Burmese army headed by the founder General Aung San
gathered in a field near the Shwe Dagon Pagoda.
It was the 27th of March 1945, when General Aung San told his army and the
people of Burma, "attack the nearest enemy with what ever weapons available"
(expressed in original).  The entire population followed the leadership of
General Aung San and the Burmese army and revolt against the Fascist Japanese
to be free from tyranny.

Since independence in 1948, that historic day was celebrated as the
"Resistance Day" in honour and memory of the brave soldiers of the Burmese
army and the resistance fighters who gave their lives for freedom of our
people.

In contrast, this tradition was changed after the dictator General Ne Win
staged a military coup in 1962.  He renamed it to "Armed Forces Day" to
glorify the armed forces which he uses as an instrument of his power structure
and to undermine the brave nature of the people who historically revolt
against tyranny.

Since destruction of the democratic system, following the military coup, the
people of Burma have been loosing every human rights and freedom under the
brutal might of the armed forces.  The armed forces on the other hand have
been bullied by the elite Military Intelligence (MI) force which was created
by General Ne Win to safeguard his position.

Although decades have passed and numerous attempts of peoples, revolt in
various forms have been brutally crushed by the very same armed forces the
true colours of the majority of the soldiers came into light in the May 1990
general elections.  The soldiers and their families voted for the National
League for Democracy.  The National League for Democracy lead by General Aung
San's daughter Daw Aung San Suu Kyi won striking victory in every military-
base constituency adding up to a landslide victory nation-wide.

This remarkable sign demonstrates that the hearts and minds of the mojority of
soldiers are in line with the peoples' desire for freedom and democracy.

Now, it is time for history to repeat.  Now it is time that people of Burma
should hear what they have been long waiting for, the very words that our
national leader and founder of the armed forces General Aung San have said
some half a century ago, "attack the nearest enemy with what ever weapons

aviable".
Now it is time for the people and the peoples' army to reinstate the
"Resistance Day" and honour the braves with dignity.