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Protest outside Burmese embassy demands troops return to barracks
Friday 28 September 2007
Members of the Burmese community and other supporters of democracy gathered outside the Burmese embassy in Canberra at lunch time today to demand an end to violence against protestors and arbitrary imprisonment, according to the Secretary of the Australian Coalition for Democracy in Burma, Maung Maung Than.
Maung Maung Than said: “We want the Burmese dictatorship to know that every Australian is in deep shock over the shootings, bashing and imprisonments in Rangoon and elsewhere in Burma.
“Nine people are now dead, including a Japanese reporter. Many more are injured.
“We want the Burmese regime to also know that the whole world is watching as they turn the might of their military machine onto the innocent people of their country.
“It would be a mistake for the dictatorship to think that they will get away with suppressing human rights and democracy.
“The rally today is calling for the regime to pull the troops and the paramilitary off the streets and allow peaceful protest to go ahead.
“Burma is a nation brought its knees by the military and their inhumane and destructive regime.
“There is only one way forward. The regime must end the repression, free the prisoners and recommence the process of national reconciliation.
“The future of Burma depends on the release of Aung San Suu Kyi who is the only person who could now restore order without violence.
“The rally today will let the Burmese government know that the world is watching.
“It will also let the Howard government know that the people of Australia demand nothing less than its full attention to this problem. Without international pressure, the regime will be allowed to get away with yet another brutal crackdown.
“With international help, the Burmese people will be able to free themselves at last and restore democracy and human rights,” Mr Maung Maung Than said.
