FBR REPORT: Message
of Solidarity from the People of Shan State
Shan State, Burma
27 September 2007
On September 27, 2007 hundreds of Shan, Pa'O, Palaung, and Lahu villagers gathered
in a internally displaced persons site in Shan State, Eastern Burma as an act
of solidarity with those demonstrating in the larger cities of Burma. Villagers
expressed their common desire for the restoration of a free and democratic Burma,
in which people of every ethnicity are guaranteed fundamental rights. Much of
Shan State continues to be a warzone, where the Burma Army regularly commits
atrocities against the civilian population, and any act of overt civil disobediance
would most like result in a swift and brutal punishment. The villagers who gathered
today announced their unity of heart and purpose with those demonstrating in
the larger cities against this oppression.
Ethnic peoples of Burma have been under direct attack by the dictators for
years. They hope that the demonstrations in the cities of Burma will draw international
attention and help for those under attack. They also hope that all the oppressed
people of Burma will soon be free.
The Free Burma Ranger’s (FBR) mission is to provide hope, help and
love to internally displaced people inside Burma, regardless of ethnicity
or religion. Using a network of indigenous field teams, FBR reports on human
rights abuses, casualties and the humanitarian needs of people who are under
the oppression of the Burma Army. FBR provides medical, spiritual and educational
resources for IDP communities as they struggle to survive Burmese military
attacks.
