Activists Call for Economic Boycott

Phanida
Mizzima News
February 19, 2008

Chiang Mai - The Mass Movement Committee issued a statement yesterday calling for an economic boycott against government owned economic enterprises under the slogan 'Boycott the brutal junta who killed monks'.

The list of business interests targeted for sanctions includes the government lottery, Htoo Trading Companies, London Cigarettes, Myanmar Beer, Dagon Beer and Korea's Daewoo Company.

"The junta ignored the will and desire of the people and international community by drafting their constitution unilaterally, and now they are seeking approval for this undemocratic constitution by holding a referendum. So we urge everyone to boycott all their economic enterprises along with the companies of their cronies," said Ko Soe Tun, a member of the 88 generation students.

"We will boycott only government run economic enterprises. The junta misuses all revenue from their economic enterprises, buying arms used in suppressing the people's movement and killing monks. So we appeal to everyone not to buy food from their shops and not to use the products produced by these companies," Ko Tayza of Rangoon's Mass Movement Committee said.

Key industries and lucrative businesses are commonly monopolized by the ruling junta and its cronies while much of the population of Burma confronts unbearable economic hardships.

"Our country is facing a general crisis. The people called on the government to resolve these economic, social and political crises. But these calls fell on the deaf ears of the generals. The people are struggling hard for their daily livelihood while the families of the generals are enjoying a lavish lifestyle. The people are suffering from a blatant violation of human rights and injustice," Ko Tun Myint Aung, from 88 generation students, told Mizzima.

The Mass Movement Committee's statement claims: "We will not cease our economic boycott until the junta meets our demand of resolving the crises of the country – livelihood, economics, health and education – through genuine dialogue."

"I'd like to urge all people to join the economic boycott called by the 88 generation students and Mass Movement Committee. If the junta prospers they will use their wealth in the suppression of the people's movement," commented Ashin Pyinyarwuntah of the All Burma Monks Alliance.

"Therefore I'd like to urge all the people to join hands with the Mass Movement Committee and unanimously boycott the government run economic enterprises and businesses," he continued.
The Mass Movement Committee is comprised of twelve civil societies and was formed in the wake of the September 2007 Saffron Revolution.