TUI NEWS
The Freedom of Dublin was conferred on Aung San Suu Kyi last March (2000) for her stand on hu-
man rights in Burma. She is the leader of the National League for Democracy which won 82% of
the vote in 1990. The brutal military dictatorship, which rules the country, has kept her under
house arrest for the last eight years. In 1988, a peaceful student protest against the military re-
gime was put down with such a show of force that over 3000 protestors were killed, many more
than in Tiananmen Square in 1989.
The present regime views the students as a threat to their totalitarian rule, due to their outspo-
ken nature and protest over the denial of fundamental rights. Therefore, the military dictatorship
has deliberately undermined education in order to deprive the people of knowledge. So when we
are all gearing up for the start of another school year, the children and teenagers of Burma are
being forced into slave labour. The educational system has deteriorated to such an extent that it
is no longer recognised by world standards.
The Campaign Committee for Open Schools was set up on behalf of Burma's future generations to
open the schools of Burma and to improve the future educational system. It is being supported by
Burma groups in several European countries. Burma Action Ireland is one such solidarity group
which aims to raise awareness of the repressive nature of the ruling regime in Burma, and to as-
sist in the establishment of a democratic government there.
We would like to hear from any teachers who might want to interest their students in getting in-
volved with the Open Schools Campaign through letter campaigns, having speakers from Burma
Action Ireland visit them, or raising awareness at local and national levels all in an effort to
forge a mass campaign aimed as opening the schools of Burma. The peak of the Campaign is ex-
pected at the end of October when there will be a Global Action Day.
For further information, contact:
Kathleen Forde,
Secretary,
Burma Action Ireland,
P.O. Box 6786,
Dublin 14.
Tel: 01-8377914
Email: ba-i@yahoo.com
OPEN SCHOOLS
CAMPAIGN IN BURMA
The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) represents 11,000 Teachers
and Lecturers in the Irish Public Education Sector from Vocational
Schools, Community Colleges, Community & Comprehensive
Schools, Youthreach, VTOS and Institutes of Technology.
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