ABSL pleads support

Major Events Vol. 3 Issue No. 36

October 1-15, 2007

ABSL pleads support

”We are looking up to India in a big way to make the dream of democracy successful in Burma, ’’ says ABSL presdent Kyaw Than.

All Burma Students League President (ABSL), Kyaw Than said that he and all other pro-democratic supporters in Burma are aghast at the pro—junta stance taken by the Govt of India. “India is one of the biggest democracy in the world. Still its open support for the junta is surprising and comes as a total disappointment to us. The recent statement made by the the Foreign Minister, Pranab Mukherjee saying that India cannot react to any pro-democracy movement inside Burma as it is the ‘internal affair of that country’ is very reckless as also painful to hear. India’s silence on the sufferings of Aang Sung Syu Kyi and others inside Myanmar comes as a big surprise when India itself recognised the struggle and committment of Syu Kyi by awarding her’’, said Than.

The Students leader felt that China’s influence in Myanmar and India’s Look East policy as the probable reasons for Delhi adopting such a stance. “Myanmar is playing a game with China and India. It is surprising how both China and India are falling into the trap of the Burmese Generals.’’ , he said. Than said that despite the brutal regime of the junta, lately huge protests and signs of a big movement in the horizon are seen. “A big uprising is in the offing...it can happen in a years time or even before the passing out of this calendar year. The only concern is the availability of an apt leader to lead this movement with Syu Kyi in house arrest and the likes of U Win Tin behind bars.’’, he opined. Than said that the pro-democratic movement is getting ideological support from select sections SE Asian countries like Thailand and Phillipines. “But we are looking up to India in a big way to make the dream of democracy successful in Burma’’ , said Than. Than said that the Students League is also maintaining contact with the North East Students organisations like AASU of Assam, NSF of Nagaland, AMSU of Manipur among others for solidarity and support. Than lambasted the National Convention and the 7 point formula raised by the junta as farce and a mere ploy to legitimise their arbitary rule. The student leader also acknowledged the support and involvement of the junta in connivance with the local outfits of Burma in narcotics trafficking . The presence of Indian insurgents inside Burma was seen by him to be a political problem that needs a political solution but something that the military junta has no intention of doing.

AISF, SFI, DYFI and AIYF organised a public meeting and rally in downtown Guwahati to vouch their solidarity and drum up further support for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other pro-democratic leaders languishing behind bars . They also demanded the establishment of democracy in Myanmar by overthrowing of the military junta. Than and a few other ABSL leaders were present on the occasion. Than again reiterated his plea for support for the cause of democratic movement.

These developments in Guwahati assumes significance in the wake of huge protest being launched inside Myanmar by the monks of the All Burma Monks Alliance. Myanmar is still a Buddhist majority and the monks are widely respected in the country. Most surprisingly the agitating monks even managed to penetrate through the strict no-entry security cordon to have a meeting with Suu Kyi who came down to the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, the holiest site in Burma, to pray with the monks. This was the first time that Suu Kyi has had been seen in public since her latest detention ,which started from May ’03. This is also a reflection of the shift in the mindset of the Junta which maybe is softening up after all due to the huge pressure from the west and the growing discontentment from within the country.

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