Letter to Ausstralia Government

To

Julie Bishop

The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Australia.

We, the Burmese living in Melbourne, would like to ask you to urge the Burmese Government to cease the assault and arrest of students protesting in Letpadan and Rangoon.

We strongly condemn the latest instance of brutal and indiscriminate assault by the police and vigilante groups against the students, monks, and residents in Letpadan who have been peacefully exercising their civil and political rights on March 10.

Special Rapporteur On The Situation Of Human Rights in Myanmar, Ms Yanghee Lee reported  worrying signs of backtracking on key human rights issues [in Myanmar]. She said she was "very disturbed" by reports of excessive use of force against students and other civilians at a protest on 10 March, when 127 people were subsequently arrested.

She also said that if Myanmar wants to create a meaningful democratic space, the Government needs to continue its efforts towards reform; this includes a free and independent media where journalists are not interrogated and arrested. 

There are also what she called "worrying" signs of backtracking on key human rights issues for the country…And in the area that I say backtracking has gained momentum is in the shrinking of the democratic space…"

Prominent Buddhist monk Sayadaw Ashin Sandatika said the government that changed from military dictatorship to civilian government, behaved in an authoritarian manner.

“Almost all the government members are top leaders from the previous military government although they said they are ruling a democratic country,… That’s why they behave like dictators. They only want to solve problems through violent means.”

Despite the promises of reform by the Thein Sein government, and international support including your government, the general public of Burma continues to suffer from economic hardship, human rights abuses, poor access to health and education services, land grabbing, low paid jobs, judiciary malpractices and various forms of oppression. While the Thein Sein government enjoys international legitimacy and financial support, the Burmese people are ignored and their fundamental needs are rejected.

Therefore, we the undersigned would like to call on the Australian government to denounce publicly the brutal crack-down of the peaceful protesters, and urge the Australian Government to denounce the failed reforms of the Burmese government and to review Australia’s Government policy towards Burma.

We further call on the Burmese government to immediately stop the violent attacks, harassment, and arrest of students peacefully protesting against the National Education Law, and to release immediately all those who have been arrested.