Back to BADA home
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
October 3, 2007 Nyunt Than (510) 220-1323;
nyuntthan@gmail.com
Gregg Butensky (415) 867-0377 gregg@madnomad.com
MEDIA ADVISORY
ACTIVISTS AND CLERGY DEMAND IMMEDIATE ACTION ON BURMA
Bay Area joins International Solidarity Actions with Protest, Peace March, & Vigil
WHEN:
Friday, October 5th - 2:00 pm - 8:00 pmWHERE: San Francisco, CA
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Protest at Chinese Consulate, 1450 Laguna Street, San Francisco
5:00 pm - 5:40 pm March to United Nations Plaza, Market Street between 7th & 8th Street
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Multi-religious prayer vigil at the UN Plaza with speakers and religious chants.
WHAT:
The Burmese American Democratic Alliance (BADA) joined by a coalition of allies and clergy from different religions will protest and march in support of the Burmese pro-democracy movement. The group will be led by local monks in the spirit of the recent peace marches in Burma. The day of action will begin at 2:00 pm with a protest at the Chinese Consulate calling on the Chinese government to demand that the Burmese military regime immediately end the repressive crackdown on protestors and monks in Burma. The group will proceed in a march to the United Nations Plaza where they will hold a multi-religious prayer vigil."Peaceful protesters including Buddhist monks are being slaughtered in Burma. Now is the time for the international community to act. There should not be any more tolerance for political wavering. China, the UN, and the world community must force the military regime to come to the negotiation table. The world needs to unite and take action," said Nyunt Than, President of BADA.
Activists from around the world are holding solidarity actions this week to support the Burmese people and to demand that the Chinese government step in and end the repression. China is the Burmese military's largest supporter and is believed to have considerable influence with the junta. If the Chinese government is to live up to the motto of the upcoming Beijing Olympics—"One World, One Dream"—it must act now.
Since the peaceful protests in Burma began in August, hundreds have been detained and up to 200 protesters and monks have been killed by the violent response of the military regime. The crackdown on the protesters is reminiscent of the military’s killing of thousands during the 1988 pro-democracy uprising. "Two decades ago the regime dismantled the university system in Burma to punish the students who led the uprising after it was crushed. Now we are witnessing similar actions being taken against many Buddhist monasteries. We greatly fear for the continued survival of Buddha Sassana in Burma," Nyunt Than added.
This past week, a UN envoy met with the military junta’s leaders to discuss the political situation, but no negotiations were confirmed.
BADA is a San Francisco Bay Area based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and has been advocating democracy and freedom for all the people of Burma since its founding in 2001.
###