IUSY Statement on the Global Day of Action for Burma

27 May 2010

Statement on the Global Campaign for Burma and to Condemn the Upcoming Undemocratic Elections of the Military Regime

Today, the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) and all member organizations reaffirms its support to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, our Burmese comrades and to all the people of Burma who have been struggling for more than two decades to restore democracy, peace, and justice to their motherland. We offer our support by launching a global campaign to democratize Burma and in the immediate to condemn the upcoming military-led elections—a process which we believe together with the Burmese people is a sham as it closes all available avenues for the country to realize genuine democracy and national reconciliation.

Moreover, today, the 27th May, we celebrate the 21st anniversary of the election of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, which saw the Burmese people voting for peace, justice and democracy. Despite the unparalleled showing of the Burmese electorate for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy, the Burmese military disregarded the outcome of the elections and instead incarcerated Daw Aung San Suu Kyi together with thousands of political activists. The regime repressed all the democratic oppositions including ethnic nationalities by committing severe human rights violations in order to silence the voices of the democratic movement and the peoples of Burma. And now, it is planning yet another bogus election not only to further entrench its military rule in Burma but more importantly, to create a facade of consent for its continuing brutal dictatorship in the eyes of the international community.

In order to entrench its military rule, in 1993, the regime has implemented its so-called road map to “disciplined democracy.” It laid down the principles for a new constitution at a pseudo-national convention and endorsed this constitution through a fraudulent referendum which was held during a national disaster when Cyclone Nargis destroyed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Burmese in early May 2008.

The said constitution exempted army personnel and officials from persecution for high crimes they committed against their own people. Furthermore, it granted the Burmese army the illegitimate mandate to lead the country's political, social and economic life. As such, under this constitution, Burma will continue to be a military state and any political exercise conducted under its auspices such as the coming elections will never reflect the Burmese people’s genuine sentiment.

The Burmese government up to now is a military dictatorship regime, cut from the same glass as the previous military governments, which emerged in Asian and Latin American countries during the 70s, despotic governments which were toppled by successive people’s revolts. The Burmese military regime has no place in the current world. The atrocities they commit do not belong to our time, lest we allow it. No regime-led elections can legitimize its continued power over the people. Results of an election conducted under an environment of fear and oppression, conducted over hostilities to ethnic minorities, conducted without the release of political prisoners can never be recognized.

The military junta despite international clamor continue to its show arrogance and mindfulness over its tyranny and totalitarianism. Proof of which was the report of the Special Rapporteur Tomas Quintana on the human rights situation in Burma in March this year. Quintana delivered his report to the Human Rights Council on his return from his third mission to the country. He concludes his report with an endorsement for an investigation into crimes against humanity committed by the military junta.

We earnestly call on governments and the international community to support the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Burma to establish a commission of inquiry with a specific fact-finding mandate to address the question of crimes against humanity and at the same time acknowledge that the upcoming elections which exclude all democratic forces and parties, held under a military-favored constitution will not be credible.

Present in over 100 countries worldwide, we initiate and will continue to mount through our member, fraternal and partner organizations series of actions to expose the deceptive Burmese military-led elections, to pressure our respective parties and governments not to recognize its results, and to recognize the democratic leadership of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other elected leaders as well the role of ethnic nationalities that the Burmese people upheld two decades ago.

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