Help Save Ethnic People of Burma

Stop engagment with USDP government of Burma

Greetings,

I just signed the following petition addressed to: Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, Ms. Hillary Clinton, Mr. Yang Jiechi, and Mr. Surin Pitsuwan

----------------
Begin direct engagement with UNFC and NLD

Senior General Than Shwe of Burma held national referendum in 2008 to adopt self-approved Constitution while the nation was suffering the worst natural disaster in its history. Then, he staged a completely rigged election in 2010 where he announced his own Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) a winner of 80% civilian seats while his army holds a grip on 25% of the Parliament. From behind the scene, the puppet master orchestrates his plan to solidify the perceptual rule by placing hand-picked cronies and henchmen to key positions of this new government.

While luring international communities with promise of reform and deceiving with cosmetic changes to fend off Western pressure and to gain international legitimacy; USDP government has not made the slightest change in its core culture of impunity. To date, it has not recognized the very existence of all political prisoners let alone releasing them, it continues to build mega infrastructure projects with disastrous environmental consequences without consent from the public, and it remains to reign over ethnic states with fear and terror.

Terrorism is defined as violent acts which are intended to create fear and terror, are perpetrated within a religious, political or ideological goal, and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants (civilians). Since June 9th, 2011 innocent civilians from Kachin and Shan States have fled their homes and abandoned their properties in fear of the government troops. The self professed government soldiers intentionally robbed, confiscated, looted, and burnt homes, livestock, and crops to instill fear in the public. Then, the government forced Kachin in the urban areas to sign letter of discontent against Kachin Independence Organization. Later on August 20th 2011, Thein Sein read self-written letters on the state media that Kachin people are seeking for assistance from his government. In reality, there is not a single IDP from over 30,000 in Kachin state who has sought refuge in a USDP office. Burma Army has relentlessly launched attacks against its unarmed/non combatant civilians and captured young men to serve as porters while raping and executing young women with impunity. Prisoners (including monks) were mobilized to the front line to serve as human shields in Northern Shan State. Arbitrary shooting/bombing, brutally torturing, bodily mutilations, burning to death, summary executions are prevalent atrocities perpetrated Burma Army battalions upon arrivals to Kachin villages. Above all, reports of chemical weapon used by Burma Army in battles against Kachin Army in three locations: Christian Prayer Hill, Lung Zep kawng, and Shwe Nyaung Pyin has begun, since the week of Oct 17, 2011. After chemical weapon shells exploded in Kachin Army posts, dark smoke billowed and a unique type of gun powder oder emitted, symptoms include nausea, dehydration, vomiting, fainting, and long term effects are still under investigation. All these acts of terror are perpetrated for a political goal of indefinite rule by a tyrant. We, the people, support the KIO's resistance against the USDP government.

The modern day Burma was founded after Pang Long agreement was reached with ethnic leaders in Feb 12th, 1947. If this self-appointed government of Burma desires genuine ethnic harmony and national reconciliation, it has no reason to ignore the very foundation of the Union, the Pang Long spirit. The Kachin Independence Organization is not waging a war of separatist movement, ethnic autonomy, or fighting exclusively for the Kachins' rights. It is defending for the rights of all the inhabitant of the Union of Burma including the soldiers of all ranks in the Burma Army. We firmly stand against the ideology that only ONE TYRANT has the sole authority to determine the destiny of a nation. We desire to live in the Burmese Union as a Kachin, Karen, Chinese, Shan, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, a Buddhist Monk, or a self-enlisted soldier and not need to falsify legal documents to be admitted to medical school or obtain promotion in social services. Without will, the entire country of Burma is held hostage to capitulate culture of impunity.

Therefore, we demand the International community to:
1) Recognize and directly engage with the United National Federal Council of Burma and the National League for Democracy
2) Stop engagement with the USDP regime until it holds tripartite dialogue
3) Help Internally Displaced People and civil war refugees
Sincerely,

[Your name]