Local groups rally for movement in Myanmar

Myanmarese in Taiwan and members of several Taiwan civic, religious and human rights groups gathered to express their support for Myanmar’s “Saffron Revolution” and to urge the military junta to stop oppressing demonstrators and the democracy movement.

Wearing yellow ponchos, many marchers also donned paper masks of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to show their support for the detained Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, who has long championed democracy for her military-ruled country.

“The international community must lend support to the people of Myanmar, or their campaign would have no hope to carry on,” said Buddhist nun Chao Hui, who led the rally in a heavy downpour outside Taipei’s City Hall.

The Taiwan Aung San Suu Kyi Network, the main organizer of the parade, also voiced support for the pro-democracy activist and 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner who has been under house arrest for the past decade, said Sun Yo-lien, the network’s spokesman.

“We also urge China and Russia, which are among Myanmar’s few allies, to stop associating with and assisting the junta. We do not rule out pushing for a boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics if China fails to respond, “ Sun said.

The civic groups also paid tribute to Kenji Nagai, a Japanese photojournalist who was shot dead by Myanmar soldiers in the anti-government demonstration Sept. 27.

“I’m glad there are many young people among us. Their presence today shows that the younger generation in Taiwan does care about what is happening in other parts of the world, “ said Huang Wen-hsiung, a senior protester.

The Myanmar government says that 10 people were killed in the Sept. 26-27 crackdown on the pro-democracy demonstrations, and that 2,100 were detained. But dissident groups put the death toll at more than 200 and the number of detainees at nearly 6,000.

The military has ruled Myanmar, also known as Burma, since 1962. The current junta came to power after routing a 1988 pro-democracy uprising, killing at least 3,000 people. Suu Kyi’s party won elections in 1990, but the generals refused to accept the results.

Suu Kyi, who has spent nearly 12 of the last 18 years under house arrest, winning the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for her campaign for democracy.

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