June 12, 2003

Sr. General Than Shwe

Chairman

State Peace & Development Council

192 Kaba Iaye Pagoda Road

Rangoon, Burma

Dear Sr. General Than Shwe:

On behalf of the 13 million men and women members of the AFL-CIO, I write to express our outrage at the vicious attack by the SPDC and its auxiliary, the Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA) on the peaceful convoy of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy in upper Burma on May 30, 2003. The SPDC’s announced justification of NLD provocation has been repudiated by the investigation of U.S. Embassy personnel to the area. The SPDC stands rightly accused of barbarous behavior by the international community, and faces future economic and political isolation unless you act now. 

The AFL-CIO demands that the SPDC immediately release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin U and others NLD leaders without preconditions. We further demand that the SPDC allow the immediate opening of all NLD offices, and release all those NLD local leaders and rank and file members who have been swept up in the latest crackdown. Universities which were closed down by the SPDC should be re-opened without delay. 

The SPDC must also prosecute the military and government officials responsible for planning and carrying out the violence. Since the SPDC judicial system and police are not independent, we demand that impartial investigators from the international community be allowed to conduct this investigation. 

Failing full and immediate action to meet these demands, the AFL-CIO stands prepared to work for immediate implementation by the U.S. Congress on a law which

Sr. General Than Shwe would ban the importation of all goods made in Burma/Myanmar. We will also increase our education and mobilization on this issue among our thirteen union members.

The AFL-CIO remains fully committed to support those struggling non-violently for a restoration of democracy and respect for human rights in Burma. We urge the SPDC to end its systematic harassment and violence against the NLD, release all political prisoners, and sit down and initiate a dialogue with the NLD that will lead to national reconciliation based on equal participation, and a transition to democracy.

Sincerely,

John J. Sweeney

President

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cc: Embassy of the Union of Burma, Washington, DC