Chanting “Free Aung San Suu Kyi now! Democracy in Burma now!”, almost 100 Burma activists spearheaded by Free Burma Coalition (FBC) and Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC) held a rally infront of Burmese Embassy in Makati City, February 14.
Staging their own version of “lovapalooza”, the protesters kissed pictures of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on top of the heart-shaped red baloons.
{mosimage} Chanting “Free Aung San Suu Kyi now! Democracy in Burma now!”, almost 100 Burma activists spearheaded by Free Burma Coalition (FBC) and Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC) held a rally infront of Burmese Embassy in Makati City, February 14.
Staging their own version of “lovapalooza”, the protesters kissed pictures of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on top of the heart-shaped red baloons.
“Symbolically, a kiss for Aung San Suu Kyi’s picture is a kiss for freedom and democracy in Burma,” FBC-Phils Coordinator Egoy Bans explains.
The rally was also attended Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL), Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), Sanlakas, Sanlakas Youth, Gelmart Union, Partido ng Manggagawa, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) and the Coalition Against Trafficking of Women-Asia Pacific (CATW-AP).
FBC-Phils and APSOC called for the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The Nobel Peace laureate and Burma’s democracy icon spent most of her 17 years in prison under house arrest.
The Burma activists also expressed disgust over the issue of China and Russia vetoing United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution for Burma’s democratization.
Last 12 January , with 9-3 vote and three abstentions, the UN Security Council rejected a non-punitive resolution seeking to press the Government of Myanmar to speed up democratic reforms. Despite having the requisite nine votes required for the resolution to be adopted, it failed because of a double-veto by permanent Council members China and Russia. South Africa joined the double-veto.
“The double-veto of China and Russia is an open endorsement of military rule in Burma. This double-veto is like signing the death warrant of the already suffering peoples of Burma. It’s sad that number game reigns over the supposed democratic aspirations inside UN Security Council that rags to protect the world from any threats,” Bans said.
Media organizations who attended the rally include Inquirer, Philippine Star, Tanod, People’s Journal, Business World, Tribune, Associated Press, Associated Press and Reuters TV, and the Agence France Presse. There were also interviews from Radio Free Asia and BBC after the rally. Protesters also highlighted the issue of the current military offensive in Karen State Burma.Rasti Delizo was interviewed by the foreign media.
The activists peacefully dispersed at 12:30 noon.
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