The Thai NGO Co-ordinating Committee on development (NGO-COD) wishes to declare its support for the peaceful marches and public gatherings calling for democracy and social justice that are taking place all over Burma led by the Buddhist Clergy and involving hundreds of thousands of Burmese citizens. We fervently hope that the campaign is successful and devoid of bloodshed. But it is extremely worrying that that the Burmese military junta has a long uniform track record of using violence against the peaceful democracy movement. Therefore it is imperative that the government of Thailand, as a neighbour and fellow member of ASEAN, should send a clear message to the Burmese military junta, opposing the use of all forms of violence against the demonstrators, calling for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, and asking the junta to announce urgent measures for the establishment of democracy in Burma. This is in the interest of easing the tense situation and eventually establishing peace in Burma and the Region. If the Thai government remains silent and allows the situation to get out of hand, not only will the people of Burma have to endure further suffering, but tensions will escalate throughout the Region, and Thailand will need to prepare to welcome hundreds of thousands or even millions of new refugees from across the border.

Jon Ungphakorn
Chairman