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(October 2,
2007/ Taipei, Taiwan) The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
condemns the Myanmar military government’s ongoing repression of
the Burmese people, and calls for the return of freedom and
human rights in Burma.
Department
of International Affairs Director Lai I-Chung condemned the
military government’s use of violence to suppress the local
populace, and called for an immediate end to the repression. He
likewise demanded that leaders grant freedoms of assembly and
association to the Burmese people and arrange for the immediate
release of National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San
Suu Kyi. Director Lai decried the Chinese government’s support
for the military, which subsequently harms the democracy
movement in Burma.
From
September 18th to 26th, a period of nine days, a total amount of
100,000 Burmese monks and student activists held street
demonstrations against the military government. The repressive
military government subsequently ordered the military to
reinstate order, who began to use brutal force to suppress the
people on the 26th. Many monks, activists, and even innocent
bystanders were wounded, killed, or taken into police custody.
Director Lai
stressed that the junta has long relied on Chinese support to
resist growing international pressure for a regime change. He
called upon leaders in Beijing to stop granting foreign aid to
the military junta, without which they could not perpetuate
their regime.
“Democracy
is a universal value,” said Director Lai. He emphasized that
even though Taiwan was once deeply authoritarian, the people
made many sacrifices to help Taiwan become a democratic country.
Thus, the people of Taiwan will give their full support to the
Burmese populace, so that they might likewise pursue democratic
reforms and gain their freedom.
The
Democratic Progressive Party and The National Council of the
Union of Burma (NCUB) are both members of the Council of Asian
Liberals and Democrats (CALD). Besides DPP’s support for CALD
Resolution No. 5 S 2007, DPP wishes to further openly condemn
the repressive regime and to appeal to the junta to immediately
stop repression, return freedom to the people, and release all
political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The
Democratic Progressive Party will continue to pay close
attention to developments in Burma and voice its concerns
regarding the ongoing repression of the people. |
