3,000 rally to support Myanmar protests

KUALA LUMPUR: About 3,000 refugees, migrant workers and activists dressed in red marched to the Myanmar embassy here to hand over a memorandum urging the military rulers to settle the current crisis in the country.

Members of the All Burmese Democratic Force Malaysia staging a demostration outside the Myanmar Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. - 28 September, 2007

Led by a group called the All Burma Democratic Force (ABDF), the peaceful demonstration started at about 9.30am and ended at noon yesterday.

The ABDF is an umbrella group of different organisations of different races and religions, including the Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organisation Malaysia, National League for Democracy (Liberated Area) Malaysia and Zomi National Congress Malaysia.

Peaceful demo: Protesters sitting outside the Myanmar embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

On Thursday, many Malaysians received SMSes urging them to wear red in a show of solidarity with the protesters in Myanmar.

ABDF vice-chairman Mohammad Sadek said the group’s secretary-general Aung Kyaw Moe handed a two-page memorandum to the embassy’s minister-counsellor Win Myint at 10am.

Myanmar demonstrators fill a street as they hold up placards condemning the violent crackdown by the ruling junta, during a protest in front of the Myanmar embassy in downtown Kuala Lumpur. - 28 September, 2007

Protesters carried placards condemning the regime, with words like “Stop Torture”, “Evil Junta – Don’t Want”, “Don’t Kill Our Monks” and “Stop Fire”.

A police officer said the group did not have a permit to organise the demonstration, but as long as it was peaceful, they were allowed to carry on with the march to express their frustration.

The shadow of Myanmar protesters cast on the ground as they link their hand march through to China’s embassy during the demonstration in Kuala Lumpur. - 28 September, 2007

About 50 policemen and Federal Reserve Unit personnel were on stand-by.

Local non-governmental organisations such as Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), Youth for Change, Amnesty International and Parti Sosialis Malaysia also supported the march.

Myanmarese demonstrators shout slogans during the protest during the demonstration in Kuala Lumpur. - 28 September, 2007

Mohammad Sadek said the memorandum, among other things, urged the UN Security Council to convene an emergency meeting to examine the deteriorating situation in Myanmar.

He said China and Russia must warn the regime that they would support the Security Council’s evaluation of the situation as well as adopt the council’s resolution.

“Therefore, we also marched to both embassies,” he added.

Mohammad Sadek said they also wanted the regime to release all political prisoners, including Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, and to alleviate economic hardship and introduce serious reforms that ensured human rights, peace, justice and freedom.

In PENANG, about 70 monks staged a peaceful protest at the Malaysian Buddhist Association yesterday to express their unhappiness over the violent crackdown on monks in Myanmar.

3,000 rally at Myanmar Embassy (updated)

By MANJIT KAUR

KUALA LUMPUR: About 3,000 refugees, migrant workers and activists, all dressed in red, marched to the Myanmar Embassy here to hand over a memorandum urging the regime to settle the current crisis in the country.

Myanmar protesters and supporters offer prayers outside the Myanmar Embassy in Kuala Lumpur during a demonstration Friday.

Led by a group called All Burma Democratic Force (ABDF), the peaceful demonstration started at about 9.30am and ended at noon Friday. The ABDF is an umbrella establishment of different organisations of different races and religions.

ABDF vice-chairman Mohammad Sadek said the group’s secretary-general Aung Kyaw Moe handed over a two-page memorandum to the embassy’s minister-counsellor Win Myint at 10am.

Joining the demonstration were several other groups including the Myanmar Ethnic Rohingyas Human Rights Organisation Malaysia, National League for Democracy (Liberated Area) Malaysia and Zomi National Congress Malaysia.

Several local NGOs also came out in support of the Myanmar people. Among them were Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), Youth for Change, Amnesty International and Parti Sosialis Malaysia.

Protesters were seen carrying placards condemning the regime, with words like “stop torture”, “Evil Junta - Don’t Want”, “Don’t Kill Our Monks” and “Stop Fire”.

On standby were some 150 policemen and personnel from the Federal Reserve Unit.

A police officer, pointing out that the group did not have a permit to organise the demonstration, said they were nonetheless allowed to proceed as long as it was a peaceful demonstration with no untoward incidences.

According to ABDF’s Mohammad, who has been in the country for more than a year, the memorandum also urged the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting to examine the deteriorating political situation in Myanmar.

He said, the ABDF encouraged China and Russia to warn the regime that both countries would support the UN Security Council’s full consideration of the situation as well as adopt the council’s resolution.

“Therefore we also marched to both embassies while shouting ‘we want democracy’,” he added.

He said they also wanted the regime to release all political prisoners including democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, and to alleviate economic hardship and introduce serious reforms that ensured human rights, peace, justice and freedom for all races and religions.

Among the protesters was a mother of two Moe Moe, 40, who has been in the country for the past 13 years.

The seamstress brought along her sons Daren and Kang, aged six and one year old respectively, to show support for her countrymen.

Also seen were a few senior citizens. The protesters also pasted newspaper clippings on the situation reported by the local media on their shirts.

The demonstration caused slight traffic congestion at Jalan Ampang, with some people slowing down their vehicles to see what the commotion was all about.