UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION
National League for Democracy
No 97(b) West Shwegondine Street
Bahan Township, Rangoon
13 August 2008
12th waxing moon of Wagaung, 1370 Burmese era
S t a t e m e n t N o 19 / 08 / 08
Because of prevailing socioeconomic, political, education, health, and other general hardships in our country, our citizens have been reacting to these conditions out of conscience, individual sense of responsibility, and on their own volition.
The authorities have been responding to the situation by arresting the citizens. This is in violation of the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Preamble of the UDHR says that “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,” and Article 1 states that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights...” and Article 19 stresses that "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; ...”.
Furthermore, we have learned that some of the detainees were held in an asylum for people with mental disorders. The authorities treated the detainees like they were mentality unsound and also undermined their efforts for democracy and human rights. Detaining people in an asylum amounts to psychological torture and it breaches Article 5 of the UDHR which emphasizes that “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
Hence, the NLD hereby makes it known that it opposes and condemns the authorities' violation of the UDHR of which Burma is a signatory.
As per the decision of the Central Executive Committee meeting held on 12 August 2008
The Central Executive Committee
Credit: NCGUB's information department USA
