PETITION OF BURMESE DEMOCRATIC FORCES RESIDING IN FINLAND

TO GOVERNMENTS AND PEOPLE OF THE WORLD

7 June 2009

We would like to inform the governments and people of the world, who
respect human rights and democratic rights, and especially the people and the
government of Finland, who cherish human dignity and peace, about the latest
situation in our nation.
To the democratic forces and the movement for democracy in Burma,
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is not only a leader, but their hope and their belief as well.
She will bring a bright future to the nation and will light the beacon of peace in
Burma. Though she is a Noble Prize winner, she is now under detention in her own
nation. It is an attempt of the generals to imprison the belief of the people of Burma.
The aim of the junta is to legalize their rule that they have wrested after
killing many people since 1988. Beginning from 1993, they drew up a constitution
that would only let a general to become the president of the nation with the power to
stage a coup at any time he thinks necessary. Articles that would exclude Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi from Burma's politics were also added. The referendum to approve that
constitution was held at the time when the people from the Irrawaddy Division were
facing very hard times just after they were hit by Nargis Cyclone which killed about
two hundred thousand people and left millions of people homeless and devastated.
The junta denied aid offered to the victims by the international community and went
on with their referendum, a typical case of the generals fishing in troubled waters.
After the massacre of monks who were engaged in the movement of
praying in the streets for the whole nation in 2007, Mr. Gambari has visited the
country many times and made efforts to mediate between the junta and the opposition.
However, it is now difficult to say if his attempts have simply failed or the situation
has deteriorated. During the time, the generals had carried out their secretive activities
to alleviate the various pressures burdening them, and to make up leeway through the
economic and diplomatic blockades that engulfed them. Through their diplomats and
agents stationed abroad, they sent out disinformation and tried to bargain with
concerned governments and people. Some foreigners and Burmese living abroad, it is
learned, were involved in those counter activities.
It has now become clear that the SPDC government is determined to put
all the opposition forces, including monks, students, activists and no doubt, Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi, in jail in order to hold their 2010 elections without a hitch. Many
student leaders and monks were sentenced to sixty-year or seventy-year jail-terms and
were deported to remote jails. At present, the junta has framed a plot to put Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi behind the bars. At first, they seemed to have planned to hand down the
verdict as early as possible. However, due to the protests and pressures of the people
of Burma and the international community, now, the junta appeared to lengthen the
process of the trial and delay the verdict. Perhaps they are waiting for a time when
people pay less attention to the case.
 On April 29, 2009, National League for Democracy issued a statement,
widely known as Shwegondan Declaration. The declaration demanded the junta to
- Release their general secretary Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other
political prisoners.
- Rectify the constitution drawn by the generals.
- Allow the political parties to operate freely.
- Acknowledge the result of the 1990 Elections.
- Hold negotiations
At the same time, the declaration stated that the National League for
Democracy would take part in the coming elections after considering the Political
Parties Registration Act and the Election Act provided:
- The junta releases all political prisoners, including the leaders of the
National League for Democracy.
- Rectify the non-democratic articles from the junta's constitution.
- A free and fair election is carried out under the supervision of the
international community.
The stance and demands expressed in the Declaration are "Proposals for
the Democratic Reform Period" which is very important for the nation and the people.
We, democratic forces from Burma residing in Finland, expressed our unreserved
support for the declaration.

Our demands are as follows:

1. Unconditional Release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi!

2. Unconditional release of the unjustly detained ethnic leaders and all Political
Prisoners!
3. Ratification of the Constitution!
4. Realisation of dialogue at an early date!

Democratic Forces of Burma (Finland)

+358 50 4921957