CUT ALL TIES WITH THE ILLEGITIMATE

[burmamtk@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: CUT ALL TIES WITH THE ILLEGITIMATE REGIME OF BURMA

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SACP HEAD OFFICE
19th October 1999

CUT ALL TIES WITH THE ILLEGITIMATE REGIME OF BURMA

The South African Communist Party has been shocked to learn that trade
representatives of the military junta in Burma (Myanmar) are =
participating
in the South African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX) currently
taking place at NASREC in Johannesburg. As the SACP, we condemn, in the
strongest possible terms, the presence of representatives of a fascist,
repressive and murderous regime that has stopped at nothing to deprive =
the
people of Burma of their basic human rights and dignity.

We are also deeply disturbed by the comments of Johan Theron, SAITEX
exhibition director, to the effect that =93We are pleased to have =
attracted
Myanmar. This is a breakthrough, a link up from Africa to a potentially
lucrative developing country that until now has been a closed book to =
us=94.
This is said without at the same time pointing out that to promote trade =
and
economic relations with the Burmese military junta is to prop up a =
regime
that is no different from the apartheid regime. South African business
cannot make the same mistake twice.

The Burmese junta, which forcibly overthrew and repressed the previous,
democratically elected government, has engaged in forced slave labour, =
child
labour, extra-judicial killings and the suppression of basic human =
rights.
The junta has banned all opposition political and labour organisations, =
and
has held Nobel Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, under house arrest for =
several
years.

Given that the Burmese junta represents one of the most repressive, =
corrupt
and immoral =93governments=94 anywhere in the world, the SACP strongly =
believes
that the presence of any of its representatives in our country is an =
affront
to the dignity and struggles of the Burmese people as well as to South
Africa=92s own principles of respect for human rights, justice and =
democracy.

The SACP calls for all political, economic and trade ties with the =
Burmese
junta to be halted with immediate effect. South Africa can have no =
further
dealings with such a regime until such time as the people of Burma have
their most basic democratic and human rights restored.

We call on all progressive forces in our country to let their voices be
heard on this matter and send a strong protest to the organisers of =
SAITEX
<saitex@xxxxxxxxxx>

BLADE NZIMANDE
SACP GENERAL SECRETARY
*************************************************************************=
***
*************************************


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<DIV>SACP HEAD OFFICE<BR>19th October 1999<BR><BR>CUT ALL TIES WITH THE=20
ILLEGITIMATE REGIME OF BURMA<BR><BR>The South African Communist Party =
has been=20
shocked to learn that trade<BR>representatives of the military junta in =
Burma=20
(Myanmar) are participating<BR>in the South African International Trade=20
Exhibition (SAITEX) currently<BR>taking place at NASREC in Johannesburg. =
As the=20
SACP, we condemn, in the<BR>strongest possible terms, the presence of=20
representatives of a fascist,<BR>repressive and murderous regime that =
has=20
stopped at nothing to deprive the<BR>people of Burma of their basic =
human rights=20
and dignity.<BR><BR>We are also deeply disturbed by the comments of =
Johan=20
Theron, SAITEX<BR>exhibition director, to the effect that &ldquo;We are =
pleased=20
to have attracted<BR>Myanmar. This is a breakthrough, a link up from =
Africa to a=20
potentially<BR>lucrative developing country that until now has been a =
closed=20
book to us&rdquo;.<BR>This is said without at the same time pointing out =
that to=20
promote trade and<BR>economic relations with the Burmese military junta =
is to=20
prop up a regime<BR>that is no different from the apartheid regime. =
South=20
African business<BR>cannot make the same mistake twice.<BR><BR>The =
Burmese=20
junta, which forcibly overthrew and repressed the =
previous,<BR>democratically=20
elected government, has engaged in forced slave labour, child<BR>labour, =

extra-judicial killings and the suppression of basic human =
rights.<BR>The junta=20
has banned all opposition political and labour organisations, and<BR>has =
held=20
Nobel Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, under house arrest for=20
several<BR>years.<BR><BR>Given that the Burmese junta represents one of =
the most=20
repressive, corrupt<BR>and immoral &ldquo;governments&rdquo; anywhere in =
the=20
world, the SACP strongly believes<BR>that the presence of any of its=20
representatives in our country is an affront<BR>to the dignity and =
struggles of=20
the Burmese people as well as to South<BR>Africa&rsquo;s own principles =
of=20
respect for human rights, justice and democracy.<BR><BR>The SACP calls =
for all=20
political, economic and trade ties with the Burmese<BR>junta to be =
halted with=20
immediate effect. South Africa can have no further<BR>dealings with such =
a=20
regime until such time as the people of Burma have<BR>their most basic=20
democratic and human rights restored.<BR><BR>We call on all progressive =
forces=20
in our country to let their voices be<BR>heard on this matter and send a =
strong=20
protest to the organisers of SAITEX<BR>&lt;<A=20
href=3D"mailto:saitex@xxxxxxxxxx";>saitex@xxxxxxxxxx</A>&gt;<BR><BR>BLADE =

NZIMANDE<BR>SACP GENERAL=20
SECRETARY<BR>************************************************************=
****************<BR>*************************************<BR></DIV></BODY=
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