Myanmar: Open Doors to Democracy!

Let it be known to the UN Security Council, all National Governments of the East and the West, and the military regime of Myanmar that we, the Board of Management, Executive Committee and the entire Jananeethi Family stand alongside the citizens of Burma in their peaceful protests. We urge you to act immediately for the early restoration of Democracy in Burma. If you fail, we pledge to hold you accountable for any further bloodshed.

We sadly understand that Burma is ruled by one of the most brutal military dictatorships in the world. For decades the Burmese regime has fought off pressure, imprisoning elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and democracy activists, wiping out thousands of villages, imposing forced labour, creating refugees and plundering the wealth of the nation. As in 1988 and 1990 the Burmese people have shown they want to choose their own leaders. In the past they did not fully reckon on the ruthlessness of the people they were up against. One day, as with all tyrannies, Myanmar’s will fall. But much blood may flow before that day dawns.

THERE are about 400,000 monks in Burma, and an equal number of soldiers under the ruling junta’s command. The soldiers have the guns. The monks have the public’s support and, judging from the past fortnight’s protests, the courage and determination to defy the regime. But Myanmar’s tragic recent history suggests that when an immovable junta meets unstoppable protests, much blood is spilled.

In the last pro-democracy protests on this scale, in 1988, it took several rounds of massacres before the demonstrations finally subsided, leaving the regime as strong as ever. By Thursday September 27th, with a crackdown under way, and the first deaths from clashes with security forces, it seemed hard to imagine that things would be very different this time.

We also call upon the Governments of India, China and Japan to speak – speak in support of the demonstrators for democracy and human rights. Defend and protect them as they are re-writing history and the destiny of a soverign nation.