[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

news from Mandalay



he following statement is spreading around in Mandalay and the ABSDF
received it from our sources. Galonni (Red Garuda) was a famous monk
association during 1988 popular democracy upraising and had taken local
security and pacification during upraising.
=============================


To the students and people of Burma,



The SPDC (State Peace and Development Council) formed the USDA (Union
Solidarity and Development Association) as support of their frail National
Convention.  The USDA has been registered as a social organization with no
inclination towards politics.  However, it has conducted several military
and political trainings for its members and has aggressively attacked the
winning party of the 1990 General Election, the National League for
Democracy (NLD).  Members of the USDA have been frequently exploited by the
military intelligence (MI) by detecting (undermining) political movements
and exerting pressure on elected Members of Parliament (MPs) to resign from
their positions.  They have also been used to in forced rallies against the
NLD in the name of 'public opinion'. 

In November 1996 the USDA conducted an attack at the Koke Kaing junction of
Rangoon, upon the convoy of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other democracy
leaders by using its intoxicated members armed with stones, sticks and
knives.  There has been three times of such life threatening attacks
plotted by the USDA and these are tantamount to state assassination of
future democratic Burma.  Minister of the SPDC and a patron of the USDA, U
Win Sein, has incited the followers to even assassinate Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi during his tour in upper Burma.  The reality shows, the USDA itself is
breaching laws and order and is creating disturbance against the peace. The
SPDC once mentioned the USDA as auxiliary defense force to the country and
conducted military training in use of violence in order to quell popular
demonstrations.

The real number of the USDA is insignificant but is swelling due to forced
membership of teachers, students and civil servants. The teachers, students
and civil servants suffered by losing personality and pride because of
their membership.  Some became member of the USDA only to protect their
personal interests and to gain advantages by cooperating with the ruling
elite. They will shift their loyalties to the people in the event of
change.  The experience of 1988, when most members of the ruling Burmese
Socialist Program Party (BSPP) turned their back on the party and joined
with the people.  However, there are small numbers of people in each
township, who are still actively involved with the military intelligence
against the interest of the people. The Gallonni (Red Garuda) urges the
students, patriotic youth and people to expose these members of the USDA.

The Red Garuda earnestly supports the call for a peaceful demonstration on
9 September 1999 (9999 movement) and will counter any deceptive activities
of the USDA. The Red Garuda has been organized broadly and systematically
in most cities and township with active young monks as the Red Garuda
Strike Column did in 1988.

Finally, The Red Garuda urges again to the people, students and patriotic
youth to expose the major pillar of the USDA, who are still obstructing the
democratic struggle, particularly in your respective areas and call to join
hand in hand with Red Garuda to defeat the USDA.



Red Garuda Strike Force
(Upper Burma)
Date: September 1, 1999