Burma has been under totalitarian regimes since 1962 when General Ne Win staged a military coup. Since then, Burmese people are suffering very tremendously. Under General Ne Win’s one party Burma Socialist Programming Party, corruptions are rampant, and people are facing very hardship due to closed economics system and miss-management. In 1988 students led the mass uprising demanding for democracy, human rights and successfully managed to topple General Ne Win’s government after sacrificing thousands of lives. But, another military came to power on 18 September 1988 after gunned down peaceful demonstrators and declared to hold elections.
On 27 May 1990, elections were held and National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi won landslide victory. State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) later changed the name to State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the ruling generals, refused to honour the elections results and put Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest and arresting political activists intensified. People’s longing for freedom and liberty have never been faded away and Burma’s situation is like a time bomb waiting to be exploded.
In 1996 December, another students demonstrations were broke out demanding for student rights, freedom and calling for Asean not to allow Burma to join the bloc. Military regime swiftly cracked down students movements and imprisoned prominent leaders. Historically, students are always forefront of the movements in Burma and successfully fought to regain national independence. Ordinary people never hesitate to join in and show their support. But, peaceful protesters armed with non-violent were incomparable to soldiers with guns and riot polices with batons.
In May 2003, Aung San Suu Kyi’s motorcade was attacked by junta backed thugs near Depaeyin, upper Burma. Hundreds of Aung San Suu Kyi’s supporters were beaten to dead. Regime in the mean time, still ignoring to honour the 1990 elections results and didn’t allow elected MPs to meet as the people’s assembly. Human rights violations are common in Burma, day in and day out, everywhere. The basic commodities prices are inflated to the sky rocked high. While, living standard of Burmese citizens are escalating downward very rapidly out of control. In Burma, majority of the people are Buddhism comprising of 90% of the population and Buddhist monks are traditionally very revered in Burmese society. Buddhist monks played vital role alongside with public in country’s struggle for independence, justice and freedom.
In August 2007 when military regime announce to increase the fuel price 500% unnoticed overnight which caused to elevate prices of other stable food and basic commodities. People of Burma are facing very difficult situation as people earn less than $1 a day and students’ leaders demanded the regime to solve the problems. Military regime suppressed very quickly and arrested prominent leaders. Buddhist monks cannot keep quiet anymore as lay people are suffering very tremendously and they led the public and demanded the junta to find the solution and calling for national reconciliation. Military regime saw the Buddhist monks as the threatened to their cling onto power and attacked the Buddhist monks. The largest anti-government protests were broke out in 19 years led by Buddhist monks called Golden Colour Revolution (Saffron revolution). Military regime opened fired on peaceful demonstrators including Buddhist monks and raided Buddhist monastery and imprisoned thousand of political dissidents.
Hundreds of people lost their lives during Saffron revolution and regime have no exception to anyone who against them. International Community witnessed the brutalities of the regime and condemned the junta for killing peaceful demonstrators. Regime announced in 2007 that their national convention is about to be concluded for drafting constitution unilaterally for 14 years long drawn by its handpicked delegations. They also declared that referendums will be held in May 2008 and elections will be followed in 2010.
In May 2 and 3, 2008, Cyclone Nargis struck Burma killing more than 200, 000 people and left more than 2 million people homeless. Military regime deliberately delayed to give humanitarian assistance and denied to accept international relief efforts. In the mist of catastrophic Cyclone disaster, military regime prioritized to adopt its sham constitution through sham referendum. They declared that constitution was adopted with more than 90% of the vote.
Democratisation - The 1990 Elections (John Pliger)
The SLORC had set strict rules for the election which made canvassing virtually illegal. It had even fixed the date for May 27, 1990, the fourth Sunday of the fifth month, a date favoured by Ne Win's numerologists.
Despite the restrictions, the arrest of their leaders, and the fact that Suu Kyi had been barred from standing as a candidate, the NLD decided to contest the election.
On the day, voting was remarkably open and fair. Ninety-three parties put forward more than 2000 candidates for 492 seats.
The SLORC had expected a fragmented opposition vote, with its party, the NUP, doing quite well.
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC): This is NOW Time that International Community MUST remove TOURISM, TRADE and INVESTMENT Sanction on Burma
18 January 2012
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) warmly welcomes the release of hundreds of political prisoners. According to the list of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD network inside Burma who are supporting prisoners and visiting prisons around the country -- the numbers are approximately nearest well documented by NLD that there are 591 political prisoners in Burma. Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) welcomes the decision of the government to release the political prisoners according to the lists of NLD and we call for U Thein Sein regime to release all the rest of the political prisoners in accord with the NLD’s list of political prisoners.
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) also welcomes US Government decision to normalise diplomatic relation in response to Burma Government’s positive steps taken. Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) encourages international community to engage more with Burma in order to balance China’s influence over Burma. Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) truly believes that more engagement would effectively promote political, civil, democratic and economic freedom in Burma.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has already invited investment and tourism in Burma. Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) would like to echo our leader’s call for investment and tourism in Burma. Please do invest in Burma and please do visit Burma. Burma is facing challenges ahead which we must address sensibly, wisely and realistically for her quest for democracy. Burma must resolve poverty, corruptions, poor technology, and lack of expertise, poor banking, unemployment and inflation and fiscal and monetary policies.
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) calls for investment in Burma which will significantly boost the welfare of the Burmese people. By removing investment and trade sanction on Burma, Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) truly believes that Burmese citizens will have the benefits of increased investment which can bring technology, knowledge and democratic values since outside investment strengthens private institutions. At the same time, Burma must work hard to end the economics monopoly and cronyism in Burma. Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) welcomes tourists visiting Burma so as to promote ordinary Burmese people engaging with people from around the world.
Burma needs technology and financial assistance from international community to help rebuilding the nation after five decades of isolation and economics mismanagement. Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) is very concerned that due to the sanction imposed on Burma as the subsequence crucial international aid are stopped delivering in Burma. Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) calls for international community to provide more humanitarian assistance and development aid inside Burma and since in the past most of the US government's aid programme went to organisations based in Thailand. If there are obstacles blocking aids going inside Burma then we must remove them immediately since we don’t want to hurt the livelihood of the ordinary people of Burma whom are suffering from reputation risk. Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) opposes anything hurting people.
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) is very sad to learn that Burma receives less foreign aid money than any country in Southeast Asia because of the sanction imposed on Burma. For example, in 2009-10 Burma receives only $US7.2 per capita of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) while neighbouring Laos received $US64.4. Particularly international community must remove all sanctions that block technical assistance in health and social welfare. Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) is very shocked to learn that restrictions imposed by western countries prohibit assistance from reaching any member of the government because of which prohibit providing any assistance such as even providing training to teachers and health workers.
In particular, Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) calls for more assistance and international investment in education, social and health care in Burma. Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) truly believes that Burmese people will be very happy if International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) could help tackling poverty in Burma since Burma needs financial and technological assistance from international community so as to address the immediate needs of the people and in the process of rebuilding Burma.
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) truly believes that Burma is on the right track for democratic change. In order to help reliving the suffering of the people of Burma, we must have common position amongst all parties concerned by putting national interest first. Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) calls for international community to remove TOURISM, TRADE and INVESTMENT sanction on Burma in order to alleviate suffering of Burmese people who are suffering from REPUTATION RISK and to encourage Burmese government’s reform process which had already started.
For more information please contact Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) at
U Tint Swe Thiha [United States]
Patron, Burma Democratic Concern (BDC)
Phone: 001-509-582-3261, 001-509-591-8459
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC)
New Year Resolution
1st January 2012
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) sends the best wishes to all the people of Burma.
May all the people of Burma be happy, peaceful and auspicious in this New Year!
In this New Year, let’s us pledge again to work together making Burma a better place. Burma is facing challenges ahead and we need the concerted efforts of the all citizens of Burma to meet these challenges.
The year that has just ended was a significant year for Burma.
For the positive side, the current ruling regime initiated the dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, amended the electoral laws paving way for NLD to re-register as the official political party, released some political prisoners, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD decided to enter the election and by-election, U Thein Sein regime suspended the controversial Ayeyarwaddy dams, negotiating peace deals with the armed groups and passing some laws allowing democratic freedom.
At the other hand, fighting between government troops and KIA is still going on in Kachin State, foreign debts are still burden of the country, Burma economy is not in good shape combining together with poverty, corruption, unemployment, inflation, and economics monopoly and cronyism are still prevailing around the nation deeply rooted. Military is the only strongest well established institution in the country which is well infiltrated deep inside the bureaucratic system of Burma. Controversially still, military personnel are automatically occupied 25% of the parliamentary seats.
Burma must work without wavering to restore democracy, human rights, and rule of law. Burma must establish the independent judiciary system so as to put a full stop on corruption, abuse of power, anyone staying above the law and anyone buying justice in Burma. We have to work our utmost to establish independent and impartial judiciary system in Burma.
Burma must make sure to never allow manipulating laws which criminalize freedom of thought, expression, association, assembly and movement. Burma must ensure amending laws which legitimize arbitrary arrests, unlawful detention, inhumane interrogation, torture, arresting without warrant, charge or trial.
Burma must work to achieve the ever lasting peace, unity in harmony and equality in diversity in Burma. Equally important is to review the controversial 2008 constitution which gives absolute power to military commander in chief which is still major concern for people of Burma.
Burma must prioritise alleviating poverty, unemployment, inflation, illiteracy and major diseases. At the same time, Burma must work hard to end the economics monopoly and cronyism in Burma.
Burma needs financial and technological assistance from international community so as to address the immediate needs of the people and in the process of rebuilding Burma.
Flourishing Civil Society Organisations are one of the main concrete pillars protecting and strengthening a democratic system in the nation. Burma must work her utmost to flourish Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) in Burma. Emergences of the new institutions are an important part of the democratisation process of Burma.
Burmese citizens must be able to practice three fundamental democratic rights i.e. freedom of association, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. Strengthening these three main principals are the essential parts of the democratisation process of Burma. Burma must work promoting freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of expression in Burma.
Burma must work at the same time thriving Student Unions, Labour Unions and Peasant Unions so that students, workers, peasants and farmers will have the platforms to voice their concerns, to protect their rights and to promote their welfares in Burma.
Independent media and right to access freedom of information are the indicators which show the degree of the democratic tolerant in any nations. Burma must work to flourish freedom of media, social media and freedom of internet and information technology in Burma.
Burma must empower every citizen with education which is the best investment for future of Burma while ensure supporting welfares of teachers, teaching carrier, teaching environment and education standard in Burma.
Burma must educate her citizens of their rights, responsibilities and necessity of taking responsibilities in order to lay the concrete democratic foundation for future generations of Burma bearing in mind that Burma has gone through nearly half the century of successive various dictatorships and military dictatorships together with armed conflicts.
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) truly believes that it must be one of our primary tasks to educate our children with knowledge, technology and employable skills while ensures teaching humanitarian caring, humanity values and human development.
Burma must build the society of tolerance. To meet that end Burma must work to prosper the culture of dialogue, research, reasoning, question mark, freedom from fear, boosting self-confident and nurturing positive attitude in Burma.
Education starts at home and we truly believe that it is the essential part of the nation building process to educate families with parenting skills, child development and nurturing children.
Since Buddhist monasteries and Buddhist monks are essential vital part of the Burmese society and accordingly Burma must work to promote monastery education and support the welfare of the Buddhist monks.
Burma must work to ensure promoting religious freedom in Burma while Burma must have a commission which oversee the protection and promotion of (ethnics) minority rights i.e. maintaining heritage, religion, language, culture, food, writing, music and environment etc.
Burma must gradually modernize defence forces while educating them with values of professionalism and humanity.
Burma must work improving health and social care system which must be affordable and accessible to all the citizens.
Burma must improve agricultural system and must emphasise working on the development of villages, rural and border areas.
Urban population is expected to grow and Burma must work to embrace urbanization by expanding urban infrastructure, by creating jobs and improving bus and transportation services.
Responsible sustainable tourism is one of the most rewarding industries which can assist economic development in Burma. Burma must promote responsible sustainable tourism and at the same time Burma must encourage citizens to travel so as to promote understanding, knowledge and friendship between different societies residing at the different places.
Burma must gradually build industrialised economy that can generate nation’s revenues. The process of gradual economic reforms must be initiated right now. Economic growth is essential for the well being of our people. We must build the infrastructures needed to industrialize Burma.
Energy is an essential for development. Burma must work to ensure providing sufficient electricity and gas for all the citizens of Burma.
Burma must protect and work improving environment for our future generations. We must work to protect the waters, lakes, streams and rivers not to be polluted and not to be dried up while ensure protecting people from flooding and water erosion. Burma must anticipate controlling the quality of our air bearing in mind that the potential growth of urbanisation and industrialisation can increase air pollution.
Burma must protect forests, biodiversity and natural resources. Burma must work to gradually end excessive irresponsible logging, cutting forests and clearing land for agriculture. Burma must increase efforts to afforestation while Burma must work to gradually ban exporting teaks, logs, raw wood, cane, bamboo and endangered forest products in Burma.
Burma must alleviate corruption. The worst form of corruption is corruption of immigration control personnel. We must prioritise to secure our borders to deter and detect illegal immigrants’ intrusions into Burma since population affect us all.
Burma must ensure the fiscal stability and we must set up the feasible tax, banking and monetary policy in Burma. Burma must have the strategic national planning and budget distribution commission so as to effectively plan and distribute spending and future strategic national planning.
We also need gradual reforms in systems of government which would increase responsibility, accountability and transparency. This will be simultaneous and gradual evolutionary process and from time to time we must re-evaluate our reform process so as to have the best possible results to democratise Burma.
Burma must be working to decentralise her administration mechanisms and people must have the right to voice their concerns on every aspect of democratisation process.
These will be on top of Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) agenda for this year.
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) would like to reaffirm our position that we will be keep on working:
- to restore democracy, human rights and rule of law in Burma.
- to release all the political prisoners.
- to establish the independent judiciary system in Burma.
- to achieve the ever lasting peace, unity in harmony and equality in diversity in Burma.
- to review 2008 constitution to be acceptable for all the people of Burma.
- to flourish Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) in Burma.
- to flourish freedom of assembly, association and expression in Burma.
- to flourish freedom of media, social media, internet and information technology in Burma.
- to educate citizens of their rights, responsibilities and necessity of taking responsibilities in Burma.
- to educate humanitarian caring, humanity values and human development in Burma.
- to educate parenting, child development and nurturing children in Burma.
- to promote monastery education, education standard, teaching system and welfares of teachers in Burma.
- to prosper the dialogue, research, reasoning and question mark culture in Burma.
- to promote minority rights i.e. maintaining heritage, language, culture, food, writing, music and environment etc
-to prosper the culture of freedom from fear, boosting self-confident and nurturing positive attitude in Burma.
- to improve health and social care system in Burma.
- to support the responsible sustainable tourism in Burma.
- to support international community giving humanitarian assistance inside Burma.
- to support international financial institutions giving development assistance inside Burma.
- to encourage establishing the strategic national planning and budget distribution commission in Burma.
- to set up the feasible tax, banking, fiscal and monetary policy in Burma.
- to alleviate unemployment, poverty and inflation in Burma.
- to put a full stop on corruption, abuse of power, anyone above the law and buying justice in Burma.
- to end the economics monopoly and cronyism in Burma.
- to modernize defence forces while educating them with values of professionalism and humanity.
- to control illegal immigrants intrusions into Burma.
- to protect environment, biodiversity, forests and natural resources in Burma.
However, we accept the fact that this reform process will take time.
We would like to thank the millions people around the world who helped us to make Burma to be the free democratic society.
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) is the global campaigning and lobbying organisation to restore democracy, human rights and rule of law in Burma where everyone can enjoy the freedom of speech, press, beliefs, assembly and rule of law that emphasizes the protection of individual rights. Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) have the firm determination, dedication and devotion to keep on working until the democracy restore in Burma.
Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) believes that the solution for the crisis of Burma is restoring democracy, human rights and rule of law. Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) is equipped with participants who had political background and in depth knowledge of Burma issues. They had experiences in the past and engaging in current activities.
The main objectives of our organization are:
To support efforts to create a political environment in Burma
To increase awareness about political development in Burma
To strengthen support for Burma democracy movement in international governments
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