Madam, - In 1962 General Ne Win, commander of the armed forces, seized power in Burma. Incredible as it may seem, 41 years later, the generals still rule there. It has been a regime of unrelieved repression, of torture and rape by the military, of forced labour gangs and even child labour. Street protests have been ruthlessly crushed and thousands shot dead. Untold numbers of political prisoners have languished for years in captivity. It is a beautiful but sad country.
That courageous and indomitable woman Aung San Suu Kyi still struggles. against impossible odds, to keep the flame of freedom alive. She led the National League for Democracy to a landslide victory in 1990, but the generals defied the democratic will of the people and tightened their grip on power, placing Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest, and imprisoning many NLD leaders.
After intermittent periods of "freedom" and house arrest, she was again released last year. Recently she was travelling in a motorcade which was attacked by an opposition body set up by the military. A number of her supporters were killed and she herself suffered a serious head injury. NLD offices have been shut down nationwide and universities closed indefinitely. Aung San Suu Kyi was taken into "protective custody".
The plight of the 50 million inhabitants of Burma is something that has been allowed to fester for far too long. In talks between UN representatives and the regime, already going on for some years, it is clear that the generals are heel-dragging and buying time. A full and urgent debate within the UN Security Council is imperative. The EU too must take immediate steps to review its policy and beef up its sanctions on the recalcitrant regime. Pressure should also be brought to bear on the ASEAN countries to force the pace of change.
Aung San Suu Kyi's father, national hero of the liberation struggle against colonial rule, drew much inspiration from Ireland's fight for freedom. She herself is a Freeman of Dublin.
How right and fitting it would be for our Government to champion the cause of justice and freedom for the Burmese people, both within the UN and the EU, and through every forum and diplomatic channel available.
I call upon Mr Ahern and Mr Cowen to heed my plea on behalf of these forgotten people. - Yours, etc.,
GEARÓID KILGALLEN,
Dun Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.