“No to Burma’s Sham Election!”
November 1, 2010, 1:08 am
Filed under: Burma
Filed under: Burma
A big thank you to all who made it down for the event last Saturday and the photo taking. For those who are interested to find out more about Free Burma Campaign Singapore, do feel free to check out our blog and join our Facebook group!
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Free Burma Campaign Singapore statement on the 2010 Burma elections
February 13, 2010, 12:30 pm
Filed under: Burma
Filed under: Burma
Today, February 12, marks the 63rd anniversary of the Union Day of Burma. To commemorate this important date, Free Burma Campaign Singapore (FBCSG) is issuing a statement with regards to the upcoming 2010 elections.
We call upon the regime to respect the voices and choices of the people by carrying out a free and fair election. Before the elections take place, we insist that the regime meets three crucial benchmarks:
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The immediate release of all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
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National reconciliation: Inclusive dialogue with key stakeholders from democracy groups and ethnic nationalities, including a comprehensive review of the 2008 Constitution.
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Total cessation of the systematic abuse of human rights and criminal hostilities against ethnic groups, political activists, journalists and civil society.
These benchmarks must be fulfilled before the elections in order to provide equal opportunities for opposition politicians and Burmese society at large. The elections cannot be presumed free and fair without first meeting these conditions.
We at FBCSG also express concern at the fundamentally flawed structure of the Constitution, which binds the electoral process and beyond.
A high proportion of parliamentary powers is allocated to the military; any proper mechanism for the protection of human rights is lacking. Any election that takes place without a thorough review of the Constitution will not bring about any political and social change in Burma.
Contact us at burmacampaignsg@gmail.com
What Obama needs to realise
“Despite years of good intentions, neither sanctions by the US nor engagement of others have succeeded in improving the lives of Burmese people,” said Obama during the APEC meeting in Singapore according to the report by the Guardian.
Now I hope that Obama will not lift the US sanction on Burma. Instead, he needs to realise that because of countries like China, India and Singapore who are supporting the junta with their investments and diplomatic ties, the US has not been making a huge impact for change in Burma.
What Obama probably needs to do is to work with countries investing and having trade ties with the Burmese military junta to pressurise them into coming up with conditional trading ties for example, free the political prisoners and reviewing the constitution before supplying them trade or aid of any kind.
Making statements asking the junta to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is one thing that anyone can do. But to reinforce that demand with further actions and getting solidarity from the rest of the world will hold much more of an impact I think.
Recommended reading materials:
Foreign Investment – About Burma
Shwe Gas Project fact sheet (pdf)
Foreign Investment in Burma: Analysing the Statistics
Singapore, a friend indeed to Burma (Old one but still valid til today)
Burma-Singapore Axis: Globalising the Heroin Trade (Another old article)
Press statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Simply ridiculous!
rachelzeng.wordpress.com 