The military government of Myanmar has unleashed brutal repression on the masses of people protesting against its anti-people policies. Since August, when the regime doubled the prices of petrol and diesel, causing untold hardship to the people, protests have been taking place daily on the streets of the major cities of Yangon and Sittwe and other places. Since the middle of September, the number of people participating in the protests have increased substantially. On 24 September, troops were sent to launch a bloody crackdown. They have spared nobody, including thousands of monks who were pulled out of their monasteries and beaten and killed. The army has been firing straight into the crowds; it has been entering homes and beating and arresting people in large numbers. MEL/PV strongly condemns this ruthless repression unleashed by the regime in Myanmar, and expresses support for the just struggle of the people of Myanmar for their rights.

For several decades, since the early 1960s, the people of Myanmar have been subjected to the arbitrary and brutal rule of generals. These generals have ruled the country as their personal fiefdom. They have ruthlessly suppressed all opposition. Their policies have caused great suffering among the people, and have turned the country, which was once known as the rice bowl of South East Asia, into a land of chronic food shortages. They have also sought to crush through military force the aspirations of various nations and peoples such as the Kachins, Karens, and Shan peoples. The people of Myanmar have risen in protest on several occasions. The last major uprising was in August 1988, when masses of people, led by students, erupted in protest all across the country. That uprising was crushed, leading to the killing of at least 3,000 people.

Myanmar is a neighbouring country of India, and there is a long history of close ties between the people of India and Myanmar. The British colonialists ruled both India and Myanmar under a joint administration. The people of Myanmar, like the people of India, fought a courageous struggle of their own for their liberation from colonial rule, achieving independence on January 4, 1948. Unlike in India, Myanmar (or Burma, as it was then called) chose not to join the Commonwealth led by the former British colonial rulers after independence.

Both China and the Indian ruling class have built close relations with the Myanmar military rulers. They have been competing with one another to exploit the oil and gas wealth of Myanmar. At this time Indian government has been coordinating with the Myanmar rulers, the military suppression of the struggles of the peoples of North East India and the bordering peoples of Northern Myanmar US imperialists as well as sections of the Indian ruling class are also looking at possibility of organizing “regime change” in Myanmar by manipulating the struggle of the people in their own favour. In these complicated international conditions, the fighting people of Myanmar will have to chart their own course of struggle, vigilant about the role of different imperialist powers.

The working class and people of India have the greatest sympathy for the proud people of Myanmar, who have shown the greatest courage and resilience to come out on the streets and battle the overwhelming force of the military government. We are convinced that through their own persistence and strength, the people of Myanmar will ultimately triumph in their just struggle.