Statement of ARNO on the 19th anniversary of 8/8/1988

08 August 2007

 Today marks a historical landmark for the democracy movement in Burma. 19 years ago, on 8th August 1988 the countrywide uprising occurred to protest against human rights abuses and autocratic rule. It is a movement demanding democracy, respect for human rights and freedoms in Burma. On the other hand, it is a demonstration of popular disgust at the military rule or one party dictatorship. In response to this peaceful demonstration, the military started a massacre killing at least 10,000 people across the country.  This civil disobedience was the people’s voice, a voice much louder than the gun of the dictatorship that compelled ruling military regime, headed by General Saw Maung, to give multi-party general elections in 1990. But the military broke their won promise and refused to hand over power to the elected representatives or NLD which won a landslide victory. Many politicians and democracy activists have been arrested and NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is still under house arrest.  

The 8888 uprising is an exceptional national movement initiated by the students and joined by people from all walks of life, including government workers and members of the armed forces. It unites country’s diverse peoples to aspire for establishing a strong and stable Federal Union of Burma that will ensure self-determination, democracy and human rights.

Today SPDC has brought the country to the path of complete destruction causing grave political, economic and humanitarian crisis forcing bulk of the population to become internally displaced and refugees in alien lands.  Particularly in ethnic areas, the SPDC is committing crimes against humanity. The crimes committed against Rohingya, Karen and other ethnic groups are arguably genocide. It sets one people against another. In Arakan it puts the two sister communities of Rohingya and Rakhine at loggerheads while depriving the Rohingya people of their right to nationality — making them stateless in their own homeland –, right to education, right to marriage, right to freedom of movement, right to own property, right to work etc. It is perpetrating religious persecution against Muslims and Christians.   SPDC is reported to have built surface-to-surface missile installations and it becomes a threat to regional and international peace and security. We recommend the members of the UN Security Council, particularly China and Russia, to review their policies towards military ruled Burma so as to respect the will of the people of Burma. We also recommend that the neighboring countries should stop encouraging the ruling SPDC.  Arakan Rohingya National Organisation urges upon the international community to put pressure on SPDC; 

1. For true national reconciliation through tripartite dialogue as mandated by the United Nations.
2. For the unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Kyaw Min, a Rohingya MP, and his family members.
3. To stop forthwith all human rights violations and abuses in the country.
4. To quash the Burma Citizenship Law of 1982, to restore Burmese citizenship and accompanying rights to the Rohingya people.

Department of  Press and Information

Arakan Rohingya National Organisation