Last night, we had a very successful candle-light vigil as more than 200 people went and stayed in Chater Garden listening to speeches, chanting and singing with performers and expressing their solidarity with the Burmese people who are now calling for withdrawal of the military government and the immediate democratization of Burma.
The Asian Students Association, World Student Christian Federation, Hong Kong Federation of Students, the students union of Hong Kong University and some exchange students were present in the whole event. (Please check the slideshow.)
We are very happy and inspired that our ASA member, the All Burma Federation of Students Union, has taken the lead in conducting the mass protests in Rangoon and many parts of the country after the Buddhist monks have been confined in their monasteries.
We have likewise learned that students in Thailand and the Philippines have led solidarity actions.
The call for a regionally and/or internationally-coordinated action will be announced early this week.
The statement of the WSCF is attached below. Please click more to read.
SOLIDARITY STATEMENT TO THE PROTEST MOVEMENT IN BURMA
World Student Christian Federation Asia Pacific (WSCF AP)
The World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) Asia Pacific, an ecumenical federation of 17 Student Christian Movements in the Asia Pacific expresses its solidarity and support to the Burmese people in their collective struggle to bring about meaningful change in their lives and their country.
The people of Burma is speaking to us today in a language that has long been muted by systematic repression and fear. The Burmese people have had enough! They have long endured suffering under the repressive Military regime and abject poverty brought about by unjust economic and social order. Triggered by the astronomical increase in fuel price early this month, the Burmese people finally said NO!
Today we are witnessing the power of the Burmese people to assert their right to determine their destiny and their future. Led by the Buddhist monks, they have openly challenged the repressive rule of the Burmese Military Government. The momentum of the street protests grow in number as people from all sectors bravely express their opinion and discontent to more than 40 years of Military dictatorship in this country.
As we gather here today, many have been killed, tortured, arrested and harassed by the military. We denounce Burma Military Government’s violent response to suppress the legitimate right of the people to express their demand to seek redress and apology, genuine reconciliation and peace and to defend their lives and liberty. We urge the Military government to stop the crack-down of the people but instead listen the voices and heed to their demands.
We want to highlight the role of Multi-National Corporations (MNCs) and big business who have worked with the Military Government in exploiting the Burmese people and their country’s natural resources. They too should be made responsible for the poverty and suffering of the people in Burma .
We recognize the long struggle of the people who have bravely resisted the Military Junta in different fronts. We remember the sacrifice of the numerous young men and women who have been killed in the 1988 uprising and many others who continued the struggle. In their memory we offer the young people’s commitment to carry-on the struggle for justice, peace and democracy.
We join the Burmese people who have courageously come forward by marching on the streets of Rangoon and in other parts of Burma to denounce the Military Government’s total disregard of the people’s right to freedom, democracy and self-determination.
We urge our member movements in all the countries in Asia Pacific and the global Federation to join local actions and campaigns to support the people’s action and ensure a peaceful resolution to this crisis. We continue to pray for the people of Burma , the leaders of the protest actions, our friends and colleagues in the student movement and the Churches. May they be strengthened by our solidarity action and prayers as they struggle to seek peaceful change in their country.
Long live the people’s struggle in Burma !
Justice to the victims of the Burmese Military regime!
September 28,2007
Chater Garden , Hong Kong
(At the candlelight vigil in support of the Burmese Struggle)
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BURNING BURMA: JOIN 2 HELP
Idea for this blog is simple–SPREAD THE WORD & GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL/REGIONAL/VIRTUAL INITIATIVES which are aimed at SHOWING (in a non-violent way) SOLIDARITY WITH MONKS’ PROTEST IN BURMA…hoping that in that way nobody who wants JOIN 2 HELP–will NOT MISS AN OPPORTUNITY to do so!
JOIN 2 HELP–HOW? IT’s SIMPLE!
Please help us with running this humble initiative–its simple–
1. Just drop us a line at feel.invited@gmail.com if:
– you know about a solidarity initiative that is about to take place somewhere
– you or your organization is taking or planning to take some action
– you would like to join us here in Poland & help create a “critical mass” to take some action on the ground or a virtual one
–you just feel like it & have a feeling it might help =)
B. Please forward this mail to all your friends & family …and ask them to do the same..and so on..
C. Paste the link to http://burningburmajoin2help.blogspot.com/ wherever you feel it might be useful. thanks!
D.o whatever you feel might help with spreading the word or helping gather information and passing it on to us.
E.- mail us if you have an idea how to make the blog more useful, etc..
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Burning Burma Join 2 Help: is a non-formal initiative run by a group of students from Poland devoted to protection of human & minority rights issues.