To mark the 22nd anniversary of the 1988 student uprising in Burma, the U.S. Campaign for Burma has launched Oppose Burma’s Sham Elections, a campaign to press U.S. and world leaders to take a firmer line and not recognize the upcoming sham elections or its undemocratic results in the country of Burma.

The campaign centers on the concerns among activists and supporters of Burma that in a climate of mounting violence against innocent civilians and with millions disenfranchised in refugee camps, there cannot be credible elections in Burma. We must do everything we can to not legitimize the dictatorial rule of Than Shwe.

What you can do:

We are asking the international community not to recognize this 2010 sham elections in Burma. But we cannot do this without your help! Here’s what you do: Record a brief video to President Obama and/or UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon telling them not to support this sham election and this criminal regime.

You will need: A video recording devise and yourself

First: Review a few videos already uploaded on USCB YouTube Channel to get an idea.

Second: Read below some talking points for your video. Feel free to make any modifications as you wish.

• Say who you are and where you are from. Hi, My name is _____, and I am from (city), (state).
  
• Say why you are involved. I love the people of Burma and I want to help them in their struggle for freedom and democracy. Burma has been ruled by a very brutal military dictatorship for more than four decades. As we speak, this military regime continues to commit crimes against humanity and war crimes under a system of impunity.
  
• Explain why you are speaking out. Now, the regime is seeking to legitimize its military rule through sham elections. The people of Burma denounce this sham election and leaders of Burma’s democracy movement led by Aung San Suu Kyi, call for the international community to not recognize this election. I support them, I agree with them, and I am now calling for my government, the United States, and the United Nations, to denounce this sham election and refuse to give the thuggish regime the legitimacy it seeks.

Third: Record yourself on a recording devise.

Fourth: Upload the video, titled “Oppose Burma’s Sham Election”, onto YouTube. When you are done, send a copy of the link to our Development Assistant, Nadi at nadi@uscampaignforburma.org. We will then add your video to the list of videos made by other supporters.

What is wrong with the election?

2010 elections are an attempt to fool the world and secure military rule in the country. Through a deeply flawed constitution and draconian election laws the regime has excluded Burma’s democratic leadership and ethnic minorities from their rightful place in government. Political prisoner, such as many in the National League for Democracy’s leadership, have been bared from running, the ethnic minority groups have not been granted autonomy in their own homelands, and Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is prohibited from holding office due to a law in the constitution that prohibits people who have ever been married to foreigners from holding office.

All this while the regime continues its brutal crackdown against ethnic minority groups that has resulted in the destruction of over 3,500 villagers and earned them the condemnations of governments around the world.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s party and the ethnic leadership have decided to say no to continued military rule by boycotting these sham elections. The world must rally to their cause!

Some have suggested that the international community should abandon Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma’ democracy movement in order to support the junta’s sham elections. But having an election in Burma without the participation of Aung San Suu Kyi is the equivalent of a civil rights movement without Martin Luther King, as argued by U.S. Campaign for Burma Executive Director, Aung Din. We must ensure that the world still stands with Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma in their struggle for justice and freedom.