Statement of Rally for CRPP Today falls on the ninth anniversary of the elections in 1990 in which democratic representatives were voted to govern Burma with the democratic principle. We, Burmese students and the Burmese community , and Australian students and supporters rally to express our support toward the Committee Representing People's Parliament (CRPP) founded in September 16 ,1998. The elections were also a result of the 40 days of nation -wide rallies known as 8888 uprising by the millions of people across the country for democracy in Burma. The regime known as State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) promised an election in 1990 . Despite their promise SLORC ignored the results in which National League for Democracy won 82% of the seats and formed the current regime, changing its name to State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in 1997, to continue their brutal rule. We believe that the military dictatorship that has ruled Burma for 37 years will cease only when the people's parliament is established and a true sense of democracy, human rights and peace, as well as self- determination for the entire people of Burma will flourish. We support CRPP on its due task, authorized by 251 members of parliament, to convene the people's parliament. In the first Notification CRPP affirmed the people's desire to a democratic Burma, the parliament consist of elected representatives. The CRPP is the only legitimate authority. The SPDC and the so-called National Convention, who are currently drafting a constitution, are illegal and unrepresentative. They have no right to rule the country or draft the constitution as they are not authorized by the parliament. We believe International community must response to the call made by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to step up support for democratic movement and CRPP. CRPP has recently been recognized by Canadian province of British Columbia , EU parliament , Denmark , Belgian and International Parliamentarian Union IPU. We are disappointed that none of the Australian parliaments support CRPP. We condemn the regime for their unlawful detention of 150 members of parliament. We call on the international community, particularly the Australian Federal and State parliaments to: -support the CRPP as the legitimate authority of the people of Burma and it's lawful right to convene the people's parliament as per the 1990 election result; -urge the SPDC regime to enter dialogue with the CRPP -seek ways to free Members of Parliament-elect and political prisoners including student leader Min Ko Naing; and -to demand the reopening of all universities and colleges (closed since 1996), and the re-establishment of the student union. We also urge the Australian Government to impose economic sanctions against the Burmese military dictatorship and call on the state parliaments to adopt selective purchasing laws that ban any contracts with companies doing business with the brutal regime in Burma. Central Committee All Burma Students Democratic Organization ( Australia) 27th May 1999 Canberra , Australia <http://www.absdo.com/>www.absdo.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
