• 
• 
• 

1. Burma is facing severe political, social and economic crises. Due to the global economic recession, the people of Burma will soon confront even more severe crises.

2. To overcome these crises is a task for all the people. Thus, the National League for Democracy has proposed to the SPDC to tackle these issues through dialogue.

3. The NLD and the Committee Representing the People's Parliament (CRPP) has called for the SPDC to take the following actions: the unconditional release of all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi; to convene parliament; to commence political dialogue; and to review the constitution. The 88 Generation Students Group believes these actions are urgently needed in order to overcome the crises in the country. These calls are reiterated by stakeholders inside and outside the country as well as the international community.

4. The SPDC has failed to realise these calls, and continues to implement repressive measures including placing restrictions on movements of, and arresting, activists struggling for democracy and human rights. Countries that respect democracy and human rights have taken political, social and economic sanctions against the SPDC.

5. Regarding the sanctions, when meeting UN Special Envoy Gambari, Prime Minister Theing Sein asked that "the UN should first make efforts for lifting economic sanctions" and accused Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD of causing the sanctions. Making such accusations against Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD, activists and Western nations will not get the sanctions lifted.

6. These countries have put in place sanctions against the SPDC in protest against the severe violations of democratic and human rights the SPDC exercises.

7. No other individual and/or organisation than the SPDC military government can do what is necessary to end these sanctions. The 88 Generation Students Group firmly believes that should the SPDC immediately respect the above calls made by the NLD and the CRPP, the sanctions would be removed one after another.

8. In the current situation, it is time for the military government to move towards changes in the interest of the country and the people.

9. The 88 Generation Students urge the military government to respect the calls made by all forces inside and outside the country as well as members of the international community.

If the SPDC does not respect these calls, the responsibility for the negative consequences the country will suffer will rest solely with the SPDC.

THE 88 GENERATION STUDENTS

BANGKOK

Lights out, no one home

In the "war" between the pro- and anti-alcohol factions over the prohibition of alcohol at Songkran, there is one fact that is mixed up or ignored: Not everybody who is drunk, drives, and not everybody who drives is drunk. But what I find at least as dangerous as drunk driving are the idiots who drive at night without lights. These people thinkthat as long as they themselves can see, everything is all right. I have never seen the police stop such drivers and issue them with a ticket. These drivers should be banned from driving and lose their vehicles for an extended time. If the lights are not working, go to a repair shop or simply don't drive at night or in similar conditions (like rain).

If the traffic police would sort out the drunk drivers and "blind cars", a lot of lives would be saved on Thailand's roads.

SAM MUNICH

BANGKOK