19 October 1999
The South African Communist Party has been shocked to learn that trade representatives of the military junta in Burma (Myanmar) are participating in the South African International Trade Exhibition (SAITEX) currently taking place at NASREC in Johannesburg. As the SACP, we condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the presence of representatives of a fascist, repressive and murderous regime that has stopped at nothing to deprive the people of Burma of their basic human rights and dignity.
We are also deeply disturbed by the comments of Johan Theron, SAITEX exhibition director, to the effect that “We are pleased to have attracted Myanmar. This is a breakthrough, a link up from Africa to a potentially lucrative developing country that until now has been a closed book to us”. This is said without at the same time pointing out that to promote trade and economic relations with the Burmese military junta is to prop up a regime that is no different from the apartheid regime. South African business cannot make the same mistake twice.
The Burmese junta, which forcibly overthrew and repressed the previous, democratically elected government, has engaged in forced slave labour, child labour, extra-judicial killings and the suppression of basic human rights. The junta has banned all opposition political and labour organisations, and has held Nobel Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, under house arrest for several years.
Given that the Burmese junta represents one of the most repressive, corrupt and immoral “governments” anywhere in the world, the SACP strongly believes that the presence of any of its representatives in our country is an affront to the dignity and struggles of the Burmese people as well as to South Africa’s own principles of respect for human rights, justice and democracy.
The SACP calls for all political, economic and trade ties with the Burmese junta to be halted with immediate effect. South Africa can have no further dealings with such a regime until such time as the people of Burma have their most basic democratic and human rights restored.
We call on all progressive forces in our country to let their voices be heard on this matter and send a strong protest to the organisers of SAITEX E-mail:saitex@icon.co.za
BLADE NZIMANDE SACP GENERAL SECRETARY
Issued by the SACP Department of Information & Publicity
Dr. Blade Nzimande SACP General Secretary
E-Mail: sacp1@wn.apc.org
South African Communist Party Head Office
COSATU House
No. 1 Leyds Street - 7th Floor
Braamfontein 2001
Republic of South Africa
(Tel: 27 11 339-3621/2)
(Fax: 27 11 339-4244)