Following reports that the military junta in Burma will still pursue its already questionable national referendum of a likewise controversial constitution on May 10 despite the calamity wrought by Cyclone Nargis, activists in the Philippines today held another picket in front of the Burmese Embassy in Makati City to reiterate their demand for the “nationwide postponement” of Burma’s referendum.

After their rally yesterday in front of the Myanmar (Burma) Embassy, activists under Free Burma Coalition-Philippines today held another rally outside the Thai Royal Embassy in Makati City and urged Thailand government, the next Chair of the ASEAN to also echo the demand for the immediate postponement of National Referendum in Burma. FBC-Phils is urging the ASEAN to likewise help in monitoring safe delivery of goods and services in disaster struck areas of the said cyclone-devastated country.

Aware and deeply saddened by the violent crackdown of the peaceful and democratic protests in Burma, the Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC) calls upon the leaders of the world to embrace the monks and democratic defenders under the mantle of international protection and solidarity. The monks are paying the price of democracy with their own blood and we cannot continue to simply watch them die one by one in the hands of a brutal and ruthless military regime.

Members of the SANLAKAS and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP-Solidarity of Filipino Workers), both forerunners of the Free Burma Coalition – Philippines, called on the Burmese people to step up their defiance of the SPDC military junta thru a people power similar to the Philippine experience and eventually overthrow the SPDC military junta.

As women – trafficking survivors, mothers, sisters, activists – we honour the nuns and monks who walked barefoot in the streets of Rangoon, Mandalay and other parts of Burma to protest against the 45-year old military regime. Sparked by the recent sharp fuel price hikes, the Burmese religious and people started pouring to the streets after a deadline set by the monks themselves. We feel their suffering and those of their people, women and men, in poverty and severe fascist rule.

Davao-based international solidarity organization, the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), secretariat of Free Burma Coalition – Philippines (DBC-Phils), is leading a series of solidarity activities to support the ongoing people power uprising in Burma (also known as Myanmar).

“The protests continued but were marred by violent dispersals. The military junta did not exercise restraint! It has crossed the line by beating and arresting the peacefully marching Buddhist monks and other people. This is unacceptable”

Thousands of Buddhist monks, artists, and people in all walks of life are flooding the streets of Burma today. There is a nationwide general strike called by the All Burma Monk Alliance as they peacefully trooped to about twenty-six (26) cities and towns across the country. Knowing the way Burmese junta handles situation like this—there is a massacre waiting to happen.

Citing China as Burmese junta’s number one supporter, activists around the world today picketed Chinese embassies worldwide and challenged the current Chinese government to reverse its foreign policy on Burma.

More than 100 people arrested and detained, with fear of being tortured, 500% arbitrary increase in diesel and gasoline prices and a military government that is either unable or unwilling to reform, a dreadful human rights environment—this is the sorry state of Burma today.

Following the spate of arrests of activists in military-ruled Burma triggered by swelling public discontent over sharp rise in fuel prices in the said territory, regional solidarity network Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC) today urged the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to immediately take action and help stop the massive arrests and torture of activists now numbering to more than 100 people.

Reacting on the extension of house arrest for another 6 months of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, activists in the Philippines today said that the civil society is doing its share aimed at bringing back democracy in Burma. They however slammed the United Nations and the ASEAN for not doing theirs enough.

As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, rights groups today slammed the recent gang-rape of four Kachin schoolgirls by Burmese soldiers who jailed the victims after their sordid deed. The schoolgirls plight highlighted demands for justice for all the victims of women rights abuses in Burma perpetrated by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) the name of the military government in Burma.