Let’s celebrate Aung San Suu Kyi being awarded the Congressional Gold Medal!
The U.S. Senate joined the House in voting unanimously to award this honor. It is a historic vote because Aung San Suu Kyi is the first person in the 232-year history of the award to be granted the honor while imprisoned.
The situation in Burma is building towards the referendum on May 10. The importance of this election cannot be overstated. The regime will use this vote to legitimize its power, and neither the election itself or the constitution the Burmese are voting on are legitimate.
In this referendum, Burmese are asked to “vote” on a new constitution – one that has been 15 years in the making. By all counts the constitution is a sham and gives sweeping control to the armed forces. Among other things, it limits those who can run for office, and prohibits Aung San Suu Kyi and many members of her party from holding office. The regime is not allowing international observers for voting day. There will be no independent monitoring of the results. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, the UN Special Rapporteur on Burma sums up the situation thusly, "How can you have a referendum when you repress those who intend to say no? The process is completely surreal."
The international community must not allow this election to be recognized.
In the lead up to this election, tensions are running high, and the people are bravely taking risks. Street protests erupted in several Burmese cities over the weekend, and more than 50 demonstrators, led by 20 saffron-clad monks, tried to make their way to the country's famous Shwegadon Pagoda in Rangoon on Saturday. The Pagoda has been off limits to the monks since protests last autumn.
Many democracy groups are telling people to vote “NO” on the referendum. Some are saying not to go to polls at all. All decisions carry risks. No matter what the actual vote, the regime will undoubtedly celebrate a “YES” victory giving them control over the country.
Aung San Su Kyi remains under house arrest. There is not free discussion of the issues in the press or elsewhere. Hired thugs are on street corners monitoring public discussion, 60 people wearing a t-shirt with NO on it were arrested, and other activists are being beaten or threatened. (Click here for statement by US State Department
What can we do to support the Burmese people in this dangerous time? What can we do to prepare ourselves for what will happen after the results of the sham referendum come in?
Here are some easy things you can do to support the Burmese now:
1. A new resolution has been introduced in the House of Representatives that will urge the United Nations Security Council to not recognize or accept this new constitution. Please let your Representative know today that s/he must co-sponsor this resolution. www.uscampaignforburma.com
2. It has been more than 6 months since the brutal crackdown on monks and peaceful demonstrators in Burma and arrests and attacks continue yet we still don’t have a new Burma sanctions bill. How much longer should the people of Burma have to wait? The JADE Bill was passed unanimously by both Houses of Congress 4 months ago but is stalled in conference on its way to the President to sign. It lost its champion when Rep. Tom Lantos died. Now Speaker Pelosi must step up and take action to push it through. Email her and tell her it must be sent to the President NOW before the referendum. www.speaker.house.gov/contact/
3. Hold a vigil the week or day of the referendum for the Constitution to pray for the safety and well being of the Burmese. Publicize it. Inform people.
San Francisco Vigil:
SF Federal Building
(Golden Gate and Larkin)
Friday May 9
4-8pm
Come for all or part of it.
(This will actually be May 10 in Burma.)
We chose the Federal Building because of the sanctions bill that still is not enacted. We will have a meeting with Speaker Pelosi’s office to urge her to push this bill through conference and to the President’s desk.
Thanks for all your love and work. Please keep us informed of your actions.
Peace,
Margaret Howe
Human Rights Program Coordinator
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