A Memorandum from Arakan League for Democracy (Exile) To H.E. Khaleda Zia, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, 8 August 2006

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English version of the press-notice

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Democratic forces of Bangladesh express deep concern on
continued house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi

We note with deep concern and dismay the continued house arrest of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon. As the undisputed leader of the democratic struggle of Burma, she won 392 out of 485 Parliamentary seats in the National Elections in 1990 for the National League for Democracy. In spite of her resounding victory, she and her party was prevented from forming the democratic government of Myanmar. This is a serious violation of Human Rights and democratic values, as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). At a time when most of the countries in Asia and other parts of the world are being run by democratically elected governments, the house-arrest of Ms. Suu Kyi continues to be a stigma on democratic values cherished by the people of Burma. International communities along with the ASEAN leaders have called upon the authority of Burma to give her freedom so that she could freely exercise her democratic rights in her country.
For the last forty-four years Burma is being ruled by the military. It is a terrible disgrace. Thousands of people have sacrificed their lives fighting for the restoration of democracy in Burma. Hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee their homeland and live in exile. We consider the role of the military to be one of protecting the sovereignty of the motherland from external attacks and to assist the civil government, when needed, to combat major natural disasters. The norms and practice of democracy dictate that a country should be governed by democratically elected representatives of political parties and not by any military junta. The military rule in Burma must be brought to an end as early as possible.
We the democratic forces of Bangladesh call upon the Authority of Burma to immediately release Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi from house-arrest and allow her to exercise her democratic rights in her own country. We also express our solidarity with the movement for restoration of democracy in Burma.

Signed by -------- Please follow the link

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Four hundred and thirty two eminent citizens of the country including leaders of political parties and socio-cultural, professional, and rights organisations, civil society leaders and editors of national dailies and weeklies yesterday demanded an end to the incarceration of Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Myanmar's democratic struggle.

The call came through a signature campaign on the occasion of the 61st birth anniversary today of Suu Kyi, who has been kept under house arrest by a military junta in Myanmar for over a decade.

South Asian People's Union Against Fundamentalism and Communalism (SAPUFC) collected the signatures.

Sixteen leaders of political parties, 116 members of professional, socio-cultural and rights organisations, and 300 other eminent citizens signed the call for restoring democracy in Myanmar by releasing Suu Kyi immediately from house arrest and by allowing her to exercise her democratic rights in her own country.

The signatories also expressed solidarity with the movement for restoration of democracy there.

Copies of the statement will be sent to the UN secretary general, and Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) leaders.

Pointing out that Suu Kyi and her party the National League for Democracy in Myanmar, were prevented from forming a democratic government there despite winning 392 of the 485 parliamentary seats in the national elections in 1990, the statement said, "This is a serious violation of human rights and democratic values, as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

"At a time when most of the countries in Asia and other parts of the world are being run by democratically elected governments, the house arrest of Suu Kyi continues to be a stigma on democratic values cherished by the people of Burma," the statement said.

It went on saying that the norms and the practices of democracy dictate that a country should be governed by democratically elected representatives of political parties and not by any military junta. The military rule in Myanmar must be brought to and end as early as possible, it said.

"Not only the peace-loving people of Myanmar but also those in neighbouring countries have been victims of the military junta's barbaric mechanism of killings and torture over 44 years," read the SAPUFC statement signed by its General Sectary Shahriar Kabir.

Over 10 lakh Burmese refugees have been living in Bangladesh, India and Thailand. Over 2 lakh illegal Rohingya refugees have been living in Bangladesh for about 30 years, a situation which has become a threat to law and order in the southern region, according to the statement.

"We cannot remain unperturbed after witnessing absence of democracy and strong human rights violations in our neighbouring country especially when our country is not free from the curse of these," it said, expressing hope that the UN and Asean will take more effective steps than merely issuing statements.

The signatories include Sheikh Hasina, Monjurul Ahsan Khan, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haq Inu, Nirmal Sen, Prof Kabir Chowdhury, Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandakar, Kamal Lohani, Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud, Hena Das, Ayesha Khanam, Santu Larma, Sanjib Drong, Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Prof Abul Barkat, Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Barrister Amir-Ul Islam, Altaf Mahmud, Prof Muntassir Mamoon, Asaduzzaman Noor, Maj Gen (retd) KM Shafiullah, Prof Anu Muhammad, Advocate Sultana Kamal, Motiur Rahman, Rahat Khan, Atiqullah Khan Masud, Bazlur Rahman, Golam Sarwar, Abed Khan, Nurul Kabir, Shyamal Dutta, Golam Mortoja, Binod Bihari Chowdhury, Obaidul Huq, Sardar Fazlul Karim, Prof Khan Sarwar Murshid, Prof Mustafa Noor-ul Islam, Justice KM Sobhan, Kalim Sarafi, Prof Anisuzzaman, Prof Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, Maj (retd) Rafiqul Islam, Rafiqunnabi, Qayum Chowdhury, Ramendu Majumder, Syed Shamsul Haque, Prof Harunur Rashid and Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique.

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Political leaders and representatives of the civil society of Bangladesh demanded immediate release of Aung Sun Suu Kyi at a seminar held on 10 June in Dhaka.
In order to express solidarity with the democratic struggle of Burma and demanding immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the seminar was organized by 'South Asian People's Union against Fundamentalism & Communalism' (SAPUAFAC) held at 'Bangladesh Institute of law & International Affairs' (BILIA) auditorium in Dhanmondi, Dhaka.
Writer Journalist Shahriar Kabir, General Secretary of SAPUAFAC presented the Keynote paper which was published in book form with several rare photographs of violation of human rights committed by the army junta and resistance of pro-democracy people of Burma.
The seminar was addressed by eminant human rights defender Justice KM Sobhan, Dr. Hamida Hossain, Justice Mohammad Golam Rabbani, Ambassador Waliur Rahman, Director of BILIA, Monjurul Ahsan Khan, President of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Hasanul Haque Inu, President of Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal (JSD). The seminar was anchored by Kazi Mukul, Secretariat member of the SAPUAFAC, while National Professor Kabir Chowdhury President of the SAPUAFAC chaired the seminar.
In the keynote paper Shahriar Kabir said, neighbouring countries of Burma can not remain unconcerned with ongoing persecution committed by the army junta on different minority ethnic communities and political parties that involved with the movement for democracy. Despite UN's repeated appeals and resolutions for her release Aung San Suu Kyi, icon of democracy and human rights movement is still in captivity. Due to ongoing persecution on the minorities communities in Burma the neighbouring countries forced to endure burden of nearly two million refugees. More than quarter million Rohinga refugees took shelter in Bangladesh since late seventies. Apart from Bangladesh Thailand, India and Laos are also severely affected by the influx of Burmese refugees.
Kabir said, those who want to protect human rights and democratic values must raise their voice against the repressive rulers either in Burma or any where else on this planet. No country can survive in isolation. International communities both governments and civil societies should come forward to protect suffering people of Burma.
While criticizing western powers Shahriar Kabir said, just passing routine resolutions in UN is not enough to protect endangered ethnic communities and restoration of democracy in Burma. More pro-active role of UN and other international forums is urgently needed to save Burma from socio-political and human disaster.
Prof. Kabir Chowdhury, chair of the seminar said, all democratic forces in the neighbouring countries of Burma must extend all out support to the ongoing movement for democracy and human rights in Burma. He urged upon the Govt. of Bangladesh to condemn further detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, internationally acclaimed leader of Burma, as well as third world countries.
Dr. Hamida Hossain, eminent human rights defender of Bangladesh said, we love Suu Kyi, because we love democracy and human rights. We consider Aung San Suu Kyi as the symbol of democracy and human rights.
Justice KM Sobhan, a presidium member of SAPUAFAC said, other than Nelson Mendela, Aung San Suu Kyi suffered most for her people and her country. The democracy loving people of Bangladesh will always remain with her till she and her people achieve their goal.
Justice Golam Rabbani said, any one who has minimum conscience should raise voice for Suu Kyi's freedom and the democratic struggle of Burma.
Monjurul Ahsan Khan, President of CPB criticized US govt.'s double standard policy on Burma. He said, inspite of economic sanction US multinational companies are doing all kind of business with the army junta of Burma.
JSD President Hasanul Haque Inu also condemned the US and other super powers saying : US interference in different countries in the name of anti-terrorism is making democracy vulnerable.
The leaders of the political parties attended the seminar appreciated SAPUFAC's initiative to build up public opinion in support of Suu Kyi and the democratic movement of Burma. They also assured their support with such move in future.
The seminar was well attended by representatives of the civil society and rights organizations. A few exiled Burmese leaders were also present at the seminar.

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