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Oppose Sham Elections in Burma

Dear All Burma friens,

We need your help launching a campaign against the military regime's sham elections!

Burma's military regime is planning to hold a sham election before the end of 2010 to attempt to legitimize military rule and silence the voices of those who want to bring true democracy to the country.

On August 8th the people of Burma will celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the pro-democracy popular uprising which brought Aung San Suu Kyi to the national spotlight and forced the Junta to hold elections in 1990 leading to the decisive victory of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy. That is why we have chosen this week as the launch date of our campaign against the regime's elections that Aung San Suu Kyi and democracy forced decided to boycott.

Before even a single vote is cast, Dictator Than Shwe has ensured the outcome, military rule. In 2008, the regime drafted a new constitution, that guarantees the military will not be controlled by the new 'elected' government, but rather the military will become a new so-called 'civilian government'.

Democracy is about making your voice heard and making it count, the people of Burma will not have that option in the military regime's sham elections, which bars Aung San Suu Kyi from participating. We need to be a voice for the voiceless.

Learn more about what is wrong with the election?

What you can do:

Record a video message to President Obama and/or UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon asking them to denounce Burma's sham elections and promote dialogue between the military regime, Aung San Suu Kyi, and ethnic groups! Suggested action below.

In Solidarity,

Aung Din, Jen, Nadi and Mike


Directions:

You will need: a video recording devise, yourself, and a location

First: Review a few of the videos USCB has provided on our website to get some ideas for your own!

Second: Read the script USCB has provided you, below, and make any modifications that you would like.

* Say who you are and where you are from. Hi, my name is ( ), and I am from (city), (state).
* Say why you are involved. I care for the people of Burma and I am trying my best to help them in their non-violent struggle for freedom and democracy. The beautiful country of Burma has been under successive military dictatorships for more than four decades and has been conducting crimes against humanity with a system of impunity.
* Tell them why you are speaking out: Now, the regime is seeking to legitimize it's military rule through sham elections. The people of Burma denounce this sham election and leaders of Burma's democracy movement led by Aung San Suu Kyi, call for the international community to not recognize the election. I support them, I agree with them, and I am now calling for President Obama and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to denounce this sham election.
* Tell them NO!!! to Sham Election, YES!!! to Dialogue, MORE PRESSURE REQUIRED.

Third: Record yourself reading the script.

Fourth: Upload the video, titled "Oppose Burma's Sham Election", onto YouTube. When you are done, send a copy of the link to our Development Assistant, Nadi at nadi@uscampaignforburma.org. We will then add your video to the list of videos made by other supporters.

Support 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi and the struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma:

Become a member of the U.S. Campaign for Burma.

Or, make a tax-deductible donation today.