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Burma demonstration
Burma supporters take to the streets
to remember 8-8-88
Ottawa - On Saturday, August 8 at 1pm, Canadian Friends of Burma and the
Burmese Students Democratic Organization invite you to meet us at the Human
Rights Monument (corner of Elgin and Lisgar) and march to the Burmese
Embassy on Range Rd. to call for the immediate restoration of democracy to
Burma. From 9am-5pm on this day, CFOB and BSDO will also have an information
booth set up in the Byward Market (on William St. mall, between Scotia Bank
and Coffee Revolution) to distribute information materials and answer
questions from the public.
What is the legacy of 8-8-88? On the 8th day of the 8th month of 1988,
Burmese soldiers opened fire on peaceful pro-democracy marches occurring
throughout Burma and massacred approximately ten thousand people. Thousands
of students and others fled to the border areas and forged alliances with
the ethnic resistance movements. At this point, pro-democracy leader, Aung
San Suu Kyi, began her public support for the struggle for democracy. In
1990, her party, the National League for Democracy, won the national
elections but the military quickly annulled the election results and has
retained and its repressive grip on power since. Human rights abuses and
oppression have severely worsened over the years.
Just last week, Aung San Suu Kyi was detained in her car outside of Rangoon
for six days in a successful attempt by military authorities to keep her
from visiting her democratically-elected colleagues. The National League for
Democracy has called on the internationally-condemned military regime (State
Peace and Development Council) to recognize the 1990 election results and
convene parliament by August 21, 1998 or face certain consequences.
For more information, please contact, Christine Harmston or Robin Black at
CFOB ph#: 237 8056
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