GozoNews.Com

Moviment Graffitti joined with civil society around the world yesterday, in an International Day of Action in Solidarity with the Burmese People. The movement held a peaceful protest in front of the Chinese Embassy.

The movement explained, “What is happening in Burma should be of concern to all of us. In recent days several hundred Buddhist monks took to the streets to protest against the economic and political situation in their country. In a short time hundreds of thousands of Burmese people joined the Buddhist monks in their protest.

The current military regime has ruled Burma for the last eighteen years. In this period, the Burmese people have had to endure a brutal rule, with total disregard for fundamental human rights. One of the most publicised examples of such abuse is the house imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the political party National League for Democracy. After elections won by her party in 1990 were cancelled, she was kept under arrest for much of the last seventeen years.”

Moviment Graffitti added that, “Although presently the protests seem to be fading out, this is only occurring because of the fierce repression being carried out by the military regime. Thousands of Buddhist monks were thrown in jail and others were locked inside their own convents. Other activists who took part in the protests were also arrested, tortured and even killed. It seems that hundreds have died during this latest government crackdown.”

The movement said, “This peaceful demonstration is being done in front of the Chinese Embassy because of the fact that this country has been the main supporter of the military regime in Burma. China provides the regime with many of its armaments and also gives it political and economic assistance. Even in the light of the recent happenings, China still failed to carry out any decisive action that would have permitted the Burmese people to free themselves from the harsh rule of the military regime.”

“But unfortunately it is not only the Chinese authorities that are helping the military regime to hold on to power. Western oil companies have investments in Burma and are carrying out projects together with the military. US-based Chevron and France-based Total S.A. are the companies which most help the Burmese regime economically through their investments. Workers on their project sites are treated almost the same as in the times of slavery. And all this is being done in spite of the economic sanctions which the USA and European Union have imposed on Burma.”

In the light of the present situation in Burma, Moviment Graffitti expresses its solidarity with the Burmese people. We also urge the international community to keep the spotlight on this country, even now that the protests are fading out due to the military repression. Moviment Graffitti is of the opinion that the Maltese Government should take a more pro-active stand in favour of fundamental human rights and democracy in Burma, and also condemn those countries, and other entities, that are supporting the military regime.

Moviment Graffitti concludes by saying, “Although Burma may seem a remote country so far away from Malta, we think that what is happening there should be of concern to all of us. On this occasion we should remember the words of Martin Luther King, ‘An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere’.