Youths Preparing for More Protests in Yangon: To Overthrow Military Regime and Establish Democracy

Source: http://dvn.no

September 30^th, 2007

In many places in Yangon, youths are preparing to stage protests. According to them, people are especially motivated by the expected return of UN Representative Ibrahim Gambari to Yangon in the evening.

Due to the presence of heavy security forces throughout Yangon which makes it impossible for full-scale demonstrations, the youths plan to carry out 'ambushes';.

Their eagerness to oust the ruthless regime led by the junta, and to install, in its place, a democratic system in accordance with the people's desire, has prompted them to act without any regards to the merciless crackdown by the troops, said a youth who also said they were prepared to sacrifice their lives.

"We have to do something to change, to end this atrocious regime, this black era. We are not willing to continue tolerating this any longer. We have suffered so much; monks have died, students have died, people have died."

"Having invested so much, it will be a shame to stop now. This time, we must fight to abolish this regime, whatever it takes. It must be completely eradicated. We must establish a democratic country. We have vowed to make this happen before the end of 2007."

"The people hope to stage more protests during Mr Gambari's visit. This government thinks nothing of beating, arresting, or killing monks. This is not the kind of government we, the people, want. The demonstrations will continue, if not by us, then other youths, other people."

A youth from Yangon said that while it was not easy to bypass the heavy security forces to organize rallies, they are trying many ways and means to continue with the revolution, and that people are also waiting for such rallies to happen.

"It's like a wound full of pus, all swollen, and ready to burst. People are expectant, waiting for someone (to start)."

One youth said that he first got involved in the demonstrations last week when he witnessed the junta troops beating scores of monks at the foot of Shwedagon pagoda, regarded as the country's most holy shrine. Since then, he had searched out rallies to participate in. He was merely a 3-year old toddler when the infamous 1988 uprising erupted.