UN must act over Suu Kyi

We, the undersigned organizations, Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma (AAPP), All Burma Federation of Student Union-Foreign Affairs Committee (ABFSU-FAC), All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF), Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS), Network for Democracy and Development (NDD), National League for Democracy-Liberated Area (NLD-LA) and Women's League of Burma (WLB), are gravely concerned about the health of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, 1991 Nobel Peace Laureate and Burmese democracy leader, as we have learned from a U.S. State Department press statement that she has staged a hunger strike to protest her imprisonment.

Undesirable consequences could result at any time in the country if her reasons for staging the hunger strike are not met. It will be the total responsibility of the military regime should any harm happen to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi during this hunger strike or incarceration.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained by the Burmese military regime since May 30, 2003, following the premeditated attack on her entourage in which over 70 people were brutally killed and 100 more injured. Despite mounting pressure from the international community on the Burma military junta for her release, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) still ignores these demands.

Besides, the regime has failed to respect the will of the people and the international community, including the calls made by the UN through its General Assembly, to solve the country's crisis peacefully. Such brutal acts by the military regime against the trusted leader of the people may cause utter devastation in Burma, which could lead to a shake-up of regional peace and stability. This will contradict the aims of the UN toward peace, stability and development of the citizens of the world.

For this reason, we believe the right time has come for the UN to take more concrete action for the realization of peaceful settlement in Burma. The country's state of affairs has been an ongoing grave concern for both the people of Burma and the international community.

However, given the turn of recent events, we can no longer tolerate the situation in Burma. The threat of safety to our leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has prompted us to seek further action. We feel that the UN is the most appropriate and effective channel to bring justice to our country. Therefore, we implore your Excellency (Secretary-General Kofi Annan) to consider the following recommendations: 1. To urge the SPDC to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi immediately and unconditionally; 2. To bring Burma to the attention of the UN Security Council in order to approve UN political intervention.

We eagerly await your response to our appeal.

ZAW MOEK YAW Foreign Affairs, National Council of the Union of Burma Yangon, Myanmar