Photos by Orapin Yingyongpattana

Photos by Krinnakan Suwankan

Joint Statement of 33 human rights organizations,

Trade Unions, Democratic Movement, Students and Youth Organizations, Peace Advocates and Buddhist Community in Thailand

Condemning the Military Junta.

Supporting Peace and Democratic Struggle of People in Burma

Current political situation in Burma under military dictatorship has imposed arms and forces to crush the peaceful demonstration of the buddhist monks and their citizen. The brutal action result are the loss of several lives of monks while many are casualties after they joined the peaceful street action seeking for peace and demanding justice together with their compatriate citizen, students and those hundred thousand pro-democracy citizen. They are calling for the reduction of fuel price, free all political prisoners, establish the national reconciliation process and apology to the monks who were physically assaulted by the security forces.

This is another critical evident since the bloody massacre took place in Rangoon almost 19 years ago known as the 8888 events on August 8, 1988. It is believed that several thousands people were killed for their plea for a democratic society. Impunity remains a major concern for such grave human rights violations. No perpetrators were brought into justice so far.

Human Rights Organizations, Democratic Movement, Trade Unions, Students and Youth Organization, Peace advocates and Buddhist Community in Thailand whose names below are concern and pledging our solidarity and moral support to the struggling neighbour namely Burmese students and youth, monks, and various ethnicity in Burma for their legitimate call for a genuine democracy and social justice. We are hoping that the socio-political crisis in Burma will be settled peacefully as soon as possible. Therefore, we are ...

1. Condemning the military regime for the use of force to crush the monks and citizen causing the death and casualties of many protesters. It is actually some kind of state crime which the Burmese government led by the military junta cannot escape from this responsibility;

2. Calling the Burmese government led by the military junta to cease all forms of violence, refrain from using forces to disperse, crush or wipe out the peaceful demonstration which might bring about the loss and deterioting the situation. Universal Human Rights standard must be respected; peaceful resolution; immediately release of all political prisoners especially Aung San Suu Kyi, student leaders, pro-democracy elected members of parliament, and other peaceful demonstrators who were arrested recently and before the crack down;

3. Calling the Government of China, Thailand and ASEAN states to exercise their diplomatic influence in any appropriate means possible to stop further violence in Burma, prevent more bloodshed or probably massive killings. Any peaceful settlement to resolve their ongoing social, political and economic crisis is urgently needed and this should be enhanced to restore a peaceful and democratic society for the future of Burma.

Peace and Democracy be prevailed in Burma as soon as possible

28 September 2007, 11 a.m , In Front of the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok

On Behalf of the 33 Organizations Coalition for Peace and Human Rights

Campaign Committee for Human Rights (CCHR), Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB)

Amnesty International Thailand, Asia Network for Free Election (ANFREL), Asia Human Rights Institute (AHRI)

Young People for Democracy Movement, Thailand (YPD), Student Federation of Thailand (SFT)

Thai Labour Solidarity Committee (TLSC), Friend of People Group, Activites for Change Club, Burma Peace Group

Campaign for Popular Media Reform (CPMR), Campaign for Popular Democracy (CPD), 14 thula Foundation

Peace Progressive Woman Network, Thai Labour Campaign, Cross Culture Foundation, , Altsean-Burma

Thai Coalition for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (HRDTH), Union for Civil Liberty (UCL)

Human Rights and Development Foundation, Government Enterprise Labour Confederation

Buddha Network, Religion Followers for Peace Group, Democracy 24 June Group, Sekhiyatham Group

Slum 4 Provincial Network, Sem Sikkhalai, Thai Holistic Health Foundation, http://www.prachatai.com/,

May 2535 Relative Committee, MAIDS Chula, Thai Research Project Peaceway Foundation (Burma Issues)