Statement on Burmese Regime’s 2010 Election Laws
March 27, 2010

Today marks the 63rd anniversary of Burma’s Armed Forces Day which is known as the Fascist Revolutionary Day: the day the people of Burma united under General Aung San to fight against the fascist Japanese army; which ended the Japanese occupation of the country.

August 1988: millions of people marched and demanded the restoration of democracy in Burma and an end of the military dictatorship since 1962. However, the fascist Burmese military brutally cracked down on peaceful demonstrators and killed over 3000 people, including monks and students.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of Burma’s independence leader General Aung San, emerged as the leader of the democracy movement and her organization, the National League for Democracy (NLD), won 82% of the parliamentary seats in the national election held in 1990. But the military dictators ignored the people's wishes and refused to transfer power to Burma’s democratically elected leaders.

March 2010: the military authorities in Burma, known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), announced unjust new electoral laws in preparation for the elections planned for this year.

We are deeply concerned that the SPDC’s electoral laws which, contrary to the wishes of the people of Burma and the international community, exclude Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and more than 2,100 political prisoners from political participation, fail to convene an all inclusive, credible election which would create a democratic Burma.

The SPDC’s election law may also prohibit Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners from being members in political parties. This is clearly another step in the wrong direction taken by the military authorities. The political party registration law makes a mockery of the democratic process and ensures that the upcoming elections will be devoid of credibility.


On this remarkable day we, the Burmese Democratic Forces in Canada, call for the following:
1) that the Burmese military regime release all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic leaders.
2) that the Burmese military stop attacking the ethnic communities in Burma.
3) that the State Peace and Development Council immediately overturn the shameful electoral laws that bars the political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, from participating in the political process.
4) that Senior General Than Shwe and the Burmese military authorities engage in an inclusive political process; a tripartite dialogue leading to a national reconciliation; and fair, transparent and credible elections in which all citizens of Burma / Myanmar, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, can freely participate.
5) that the State Peace and Development Council start a process to amend the 2008 constitution to ensure a genuine all inclusive democratic political process in Burma.

We believe that a tripartite dialogue remains the best viable means towards achieving national reconciliation, long-lasting peace and prosperity in Burma.

The Burmese regime, the State Peace and Development Council, has ignored numerous demands from the UN Security Council, UN General Assembly, the UN Secretary General, world leaders, neighbours, and ASEAN that the SPDC release all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi; work towards a national reconciliation; and hold an all inclusive, credible election. The international community is increasingly concerned that the SPDC continues to ignore calls to show commitment to political reform towards a national reconciliation.

Therefore, we, the Burmese Democratic Forces in Canada, call for the following:

1. that Canada, the international community and other relevant partners, should absolutely make it clear ahead of time of what is expected of the military regime with regards to its planned elections, and be prepared to denounce any results short of international expectations or failure to meet international standards of all inclusive, credible, free and fair elections.
2. that Canada to take a strong stance in making it clear to the military junta that Canada is ready to support the United Nations Commission of Inquiry for Crime against Humanity in Burma should the Burmese generals fail to live up to the expectations of Canada and the international community.
3. that Canada to support a global arms embargo against Burma, as there have been clearly demonstrated connections to the supplies of arms and the repression of the people of Burma at the hands of the military junta

Signed


International Burmese Monks Organization (Canada)
National League for Democracy (LA) Canada Branch
Burmese Students Democratic Organization
Canadian Campaign for Free Burma
Burmese Muslim Association (Canada)
Free Burma Federation
United Democratic Youth League (Canada Branch)


Contact Persons: 2010 Election
.