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Campaign for Democracy in Burma
(Finland)
Date: 3 December 2004
Burmese students and political activists who are
presently residing in Finland established the CDB, Campaign for
Democracy in Burma (Finland) on 20 June 2002 to carry out the following
objectives;
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To end military dictatorship rule and bring about
democracy in Burma
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To mobilize Finnish people’s support for
democracy and human-rights in Burma
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To represent Burmese community in Finland
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To organize an activist network for Burma action
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To cooperate with Burma pressure groups at the
international level
2002 Campaign Activities
Soon
after its establishment, CDB distributed campaign postcards in
commemoration of the 14th Anniversary of the 8888
pro-democracy movement of Burma and organized two campaign actions -
Free
Political Prisoners – for the immediate and unconditional release of
political prisoners in Burma as the first movement in Kuopio and
Haukivuori of Finland. At the time there were over 1500 political
prisoners in various Burmese jails.
During these campaigns CDB presented the photos and
picture of political prisoners including those who had died in prison,
of how torture and ill-treatment they suffered and the photos and
documents of the hell-like prison conditions. CDB collected the
signatures from people who attended the presentation as their call for
immediate release of political prisoners. In this campaign CDB
cooperated with AAPPB.
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In free political prisoner campaign in Kuopio (18-19 September
2002), over 300 signatures were collected.
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In Haukivuori campaign (8 November 2002) over 200 signatures were
collected.
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In December 2002, CDB sent the Campaign signatures to the United
Nations via AAPPB
2003 Campaign Activities
In the year 2003, the ruling military junta harassed
and committed brutal crackdown on the organizational trip to upper Burma
of Democracy Leader Daw Aung San Suu kyi. In the incident of May 27,
2003, the junta used its stooges and trained henchmen to attack and kill
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her entourage. The crackdown left over 100 dead
or injured. Fortunately she escaped unhurt but was taken into detention.
As to the incident, CDB condemned the crackdown and
pointed out that the junta was the main culprit responsible for it in
its statement.
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On 4 June 2003, CDB led a march in Kuopio joined in by Finns and
other foreigners calling for international action to counter the
crackdown and to help secure the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi.
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On 17 June 2003, CDB held demonstration in fronts of the Finnish
Parliament and called on the Government of Finland to help the release
of NLD leaders including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and to take a strong voice
against the junta, and handed a CDB letter of request to a secretary of
Finnish Foreign Affairs Ministry.
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The demonstration continued to hold the Chinese Embassy in
Helsinki on the same day calling on the Chinese Government to stop
support and arms sale to the junta. CDB also sent a protest letter to
the Chinese Government through the Embassy’s mail box after an Embassy
official refused to accept the letter.
2004 Campaign Activities
In cooperation with some Finnish members of Amnesty
International, CDB wrote an open letter to the leader of the ruling
military junta, Senior General Than Shwe. It called for immediate
release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. 50 copies of the letter were mailed to
the junta in February 2004.
On 8 August 2004, DB organized the 16th
anniversary of the 8888 pro-democracy uprising in Kuopio, Finland.
During the ceremony the people who had sacrificed life and blood for
democracy movement were honoured and speeches about 8888 history were
given.
Two CDB representatives attended three-day
European-Burma network meeting (9-11 September 2004) held in Amsterdam,
the Netherlands. CDB represented two other Finland-based organizations,
Finnish – Burma Committee and Finn- Mon Association and joined the EBN
at the meeting.
While in Netherlands, the representatives proposed
effective actions and close cooperation among Europe-based Burmese
organizations.
On 25 September 2004, CDB held it regular meeting,
restructured and enlarged its Campaign Committee to 23 members.
On 1 October 2004, CDB launched “Free Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi Campaign” again and distributed over 200 campaign postcards to
Finnish people including students. It gives information on Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi’s house arrest and urges the Government of Finland to help her
immediate release. Recipients of the postcard can sign and mail it to
Prime Minister of the Finnish Government.
CDB invited Prime Minister of the National Coalition
Government of Union of Burma (NCGUB) to visit Burmese community in
Finland make an arrangement for him to meet Chairperson of Foreign
Affairs Committee of Finnish Parliament on 8 December 2004. A press
conference is also planned on the same day. CDB plans the visit in
cooperation with Finnish-Burma Committee. see
photos
2005-2006 forwards Campaign
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Promote international campaigns to put pressure on the military junta
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Continue Free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi campaign
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Promote cooperation with international organizations and exiled Burmese
organizations and exile Burmese organizations through the creation of
Nordic network for Burma action
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Seek more support for Burmese democracy movement from Finnish Government
and citizens
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Ask the European countries, especially Finland to accept Burmese
political activists on the Burma border who are running into deep
trouble due to ASEAN’s constructive engagement policy with the military
junta
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Ask Finland to take effective pressure on the junta when the country
receives EU presidency in 2006
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Campaign against the junta’s ASEAN presidency in 2006
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Campaign against the high or low level representative of the military
junta attending any ASEM meeting to be held in Europe
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Campaign for UN-sponsored sanction on the junta economically or
diplomatically.
News & Information Department
Campaign Committee
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CAMPAIGN FOR DEMOCRACY IN BURMA
(CDB)