BURMESE ORGAZATION'S NEWS
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Statement upon the award of the 2001 Student Peace Prize to Min Ko Naing and the ABFSU
Date: : January 26, 2001
Foreign Affairs' Committee All Burma Federation of Student Unions
1). On January 25, 2001, the Norway based Student Peace Prize Committee of the International Student Festival in Trondheim (ISFiT)- under the theme of "Global Responsibility", awarded the Student Peace Prize to Min Ko Naing and ABFSU for year 2001 .
2). Min Ko Naing (a) Paw Oo Htun is a significant image of the 1988 peoples revolution of Burma. He has also been recognized as the elected chairperson of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) since the August 1988 student mass conference in Burma, and in subsequent student conferences in 1989 and 1990. ABFSU Chairperson Min Ko Naing was arrested and detained on March 23, 1989 by the military regime and given a long term sentence, which he has served, in solitary confinement, in several prisons. He is now held in Sittwe prison, located in Arakan State, western Burma and there is serious concern for his health.
3). The All Burma Federation of Student Unions was formed in 1936 during the period of Burma's struggle for independence from colonialism. The ABFSU led student movements in the national independence struggle and after the independence era has been struggling with the people for internal peace, national reconciliation, Democracy and the abolishment of the military dictatorship system. The ABFSU were forced to operate underground after the military regime, led by Gen. Ne' Win, bombed the student union building and banned all student unions in Burma on July 8, 1962. Nevertheless, the Burmese students preserved and maintained the student spirit and the role of ABFSU and handed this spirit from generation to generation. As a result, the ABFSU was reformed at the student mass conference in 1988. Yet again, however, after the military re-seized power on September 18, 1988, the ABFSU was forced underground due to oppression by the military regime, and the arrest of many ABFSU students, including Min Ko Naing, the chairperson of ABFSU.
4). We, the Foreign Affairs' Committee of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, deeply feel that the Student Peace prize awarded to Min Ko Naing and the ABFSU is an honor to the significant role that Burmese students have played in Burma's struggle, and to the many students who have sacrificed their lives in movements along Burma's history. We also believe that the Burmese students who gave their lives must be recorded in Burma's history.
5). The ABFSU holds to five principles and three flags, and has been struggling according to the desire of Burma's students. According to these, the ABFSU is compelled to struggle a) for the release all political prisoners, including Min Ko Naing, b)for the freedom of student unions in Burma for the assurance of student rights, c) for meaningful dialogue towards the national reconciliation process, based upon the 1990 general election result, d) for Internal Peace and e) for National development.
6). We, the Foreign Affairs' Committee of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, are deeply thankful to the International Student Festival in Trondheim (ISFiT) and the Student Peace Prize Committee and would also like to describe our thanks to other organizations and persons who took part in the nomination and awarding of the Student Peace Prize to Min Ko Naing and the ABFSU for the year 2001.
January 26, 2001 Foreign Affairs' Committee All Burma Federation of Student Unions
P.O.Box ( 122 ) Mae Sot Tak ,
63110 Thailand.
Tel : 66 55 542 724 Fax : 66 55 542 724