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Frigiv Min Ko Naing

27. februar 2002
Den internationale studenterfestival i Trondheim, ISFiT, har samlet 1500 underskrifter fra 70 lande som støtter genåbningen af universiteterne i Buma og forlanger frigivelse af studenterlederen Min Ko Naing

STUDENT PEACE PRIZE The International Student Festival in Tromheim.
ISFiT PRESS RELEASE 08.08.01

1500 people from 70 countries supports the students in Burma 1500 people from 70 different countries have signed the petition to reopen the universities in Burma and to set the student leader Min Ko Naing free.

Today is the last day for people to sign before the petition will be sent to the leaders of Burma. The petition was initiated as the organization All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) and its leader Min Ko Naing was awarded the Student Peace Prize 2001.

ABFSU was in the forefront of the uprisings in Burma in 1988. Thousands of students were killed or imprisoned for their commitment to a free and democratic Burma. Student Peace Prize Laureate Min Ko Naing is still imprisoned, in solitary confinement, more than 12 years after he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Thorvald Stoltenberg, former UNHCR and member of the Student Peace Prize Committee says:

“I am impressed with the large number of persons in so many different countries who support the students in Burma. The country is in a poor condition and is due to the closing of the universities facing an educational crisis. If the universities are not reopened to all that wants to study, Burma will soon be without competent teachers, engineers and health workers. I share the worry of Nobel Peace Prize laurate Aun San Suu Kyi for the future of Burma.”

Kjell Magne Bondevik, former Norwegian Prime Minister and also a member of the Student Peace Prize Committee, says “It is very positive that ISFiT has acchieved to gather such great support to Burma from all over the world. Through releasing some political prisoners it may look like the military regime is loosening the grip. But even so it is extremely important to sustain the international pressure. The support from the international community is the strongest weapon of the Burmese democracy movement.”

8 August is an important day for the democracy movement and students of Burma.

08.08.88 a general strike and mass demonstrations were held to make the ruling military junta accept the legally elected national assembly. The junta answered with violence and thousands of people were killed or imprisoned. The junta tightened its grip, also by closing down the universities to prevent the students from gathering. Since 1988 the universities have been open less than 3 years alltogether.

The Student Peace Prize is awarded every second year by the International Student Festival in Trondheim (ISFiT), in cooperation with the Norwegian student unions: SAIH, NSU and StL. The Prize aims to give attention and recognition to students fighting for democracy, peace and human rights. For more information contact Student Peace Prize Coordinator, Marte Jürgensen Tlf: +47 414 70 988, E-mail: marteju@stud.ntnu.no. Photos available at www.isfit.org


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Foto: Joachim Ladefoged. Fotoet er gengivet med fotografens tilladelse
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