Message by the All Burma Monks’ Alliance, 88 Generation Students, and All Burma Federation of

Student Unions on International Human Rights Day

No. 8/2009(ABMA+88+ABFSU)
10 December 2009
Rangoon, Burma

December 10, 2009 marks the 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On this auspicious day, on
behalf of the people of Burma who have been oppressed and brutalized by the successive military regime since 1962, we, the
All Burma Monks’ Alliance, 88 Generation Students, and All Burma Federation of Student Unions, submit the following
message to the attention of the United Nations and the international community:

(1) We are proud that Burma was an early supporter of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Our country’s
democratically-elected government supported the Declaration as soon as Burma became a member of the United Nations
after it gained independence from Britain in 1948. However, since 1962, Burma’s democratically-elected government was
forcibly removed by the military regime, which has abolished all freedom, democracy and fundamental rights of the people
of Burma thereby ignoring the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Today, when the people from the rest of the
world commemorate this important anniversary, the people of Burma are forced to live under the climate of fear. We are
living in Burma's darkest days.

(2) As Burma’s military regime is planning to complete its plot to set up a permanent military rule in the country, with a sham
constitution and a showcase election, scheduled in 2010, the most dangerous days of Burma are before us. The strong desire
of the people of Burma to restore their fundamental rights will confront the regime’s final attempt to rule the country
forever. Peaceful activities will face forceful brutalities. There will be more bloodshed, more political prisoners, more
refugees; more internally displaced persons, more slave laborers, more child soldiers, and more crimes against humanity and
no accountability. The regime acts under the cloak of impunity.

(3) We are seeing that more governments are now choosing to engage with the regime with the expectation that they can
persuade it to make positive changes in our country. However, evidence, on the ground, proves that the regime considers
engagement as a weakness; the regime rejects good-will. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s request to Senior General Than Shwe for a
meaningful political dialogue has been ignored. The calls by the international community to release all political prisoners and
to hold a meaningful dialogue with the democratic opposition and ethnic minorities have not been fulfilled. The arrest and
harassment of democracy activists, monks and attacks against ethnic minorities continue unabated.

(4) We urge the international community to apply pressure and engagement with the clear intention to achieve genuine
national reconciliation and democracy in Burma.

We urge the international community to not recognize the 2010 election, if there is no release of all political prisoners,
including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, no sustainable political dialogue with democratic opposition and ethnic minorities, and
no national reconciliation first.

All Burma Monks’ Alliance

88 Generation Students
All Burma Federation of Student Unions