All Burma Federation of Student Unions
Encyclopedia
The All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) is the umbrella organisation for all the student unions in Burma (also Myanmar
) and is an active voice for academic freedom
s and student rights throughout the country. ABFSU offers a reliable source of information to the outside world, reporting regularly on the attempts of the military government (SPDC
) to intimidate and silence those involved in the pro-democracy movement.
Since 1988 a new arm of ABFSU has been working outside Burma specifically to inform the international community of rights violations in the country and of the crisis in education taking place there . The ‘All Burma Federation of Students Unions - Foreign Affairs Committee’, or ABFSU-FAC, hopes to expose issues (for example ) in Burma to a wider audience, accelerate the development of international student organizations and promote worldwide student activism
.
, and to the current military dictatorship. Over time the group’s interests have inevitably shifted focus from the struggle for independence to one for democracy, justice
and national reconciliation.
The roots of ABSFU extend back to the Burmese independence movement of the 1930s . In 1931, the Rangoon University Students’ Union (RUSU) was formed as a social organization by Aung San
, the later military General and so-called ‘father of Burmese independence’ , and, indeed, paternal father of 1991 Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi
(see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1950505.stm).In 1931, the Rangoon University Students’ Union (RUSU) was formed as a social organization. In 1935, our independence hero Aung San
and his friends U Nu (later the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Burma), U Thein Pe (later the General Secretary of Communist Party of Burma),UBa Swe (later the Prime Minister)and U Kyaw Nyein (later the Deputy Prime Minister) became the leaders of the RUSU and led the second university students’ strike against British colonial rule. Myoma U Than Kywe (vice president of both the Rangoon University Student Union and the All-Burma Students Union ), was one of the delegates who attended the 1947 panglong Conference
with Burma National Leader General Aung San. Myoma U Than Kywe was one of the leaders who participated in the struggle for the independence of Burma(1938-1948)(later one of the leaders of theAnti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL ) .
In 1935, RUSU leaders led the second university students’ strike against British colonial rule (the Pacific War
hampered progress but independence finally arrived on January 4, 1948). On May 8, 1936 the first students’ conference was held in Rangoon. Organized by RUSU, it marked the formation of the All Burma Students’ Union (ABSU). In 1951, the All Burma Students’ Union (ABSU) changed its name to the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) to represent all students in Burma. ABFSU became active in both educational reform and peaceful campaigning for the establishment of democracy and protecting the right to education. During the Sixth Conference of the ABFSU in 1960, the so called ‘five policies’, and ‘three flags’ of the organization were adopted unanimously in order to work towards a democratic educational system , safeguarding student rights, democracy, and national peace and reconciliation.
Burma's fledgling democratic process came to a grinding halt in 1962 when General Ne Win
(see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1581413.stm) staged a bloody coup d'etat
in which hundreds of protesting students were killed . The turbulent political situation since this time, characterised by kleptocratic and paranoid authoritarian rule, has forced ABFSU and its members underground on a number of occasions .
In 1988, as calls for democratic change brought civil unrest and mass demonstrations to the streets of the capital Rangoon once more, ABFSU publicly re-emerged under the direction of leading dissident Min Ko Naing
(a nom-de-guerre meaning ‘conqueror of kings’), where the group helped to coordinate waves of pro-democracy action, culminating in the '88 Uprising (see 8888 Uprising
, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7543347.stm, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/19/AR2008071901609.html and http://www.johnpilger.com/page.asp?partid=101).
Since 1990 ABFSU have thrown their support behind the National League for Democracy
(NLD), Burma’s foremost political party which won a landslide victory in the general election of that year. The Generals were not prepared to hand over power, however, and instead chose to place the party leader, Aung San Suu Kyi
, under house arrest
.
Some within the ranks of Burma's student protestors have criticised the NLD for not implementing a strategy for taking control after the 1990 elections and, despite overwhelming support, allowing the Generals to continue acting with impunity.
Some of the more notable individuals associated with ABSFU over the years are:
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
) and is an active voice for academic freedom
Academic freedom
Academic freedom is the belief that the freedom of inquiry by students and faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy, and that scholars should have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts without being targeted for repression, job loss, or imprisonment.Academic freedom is a...
s and student rights throughout the country. ABFSU offers a reliable source of information to the outside world, reporting regularly on the attempts of the military government (SPDC
State Peace and Development Council
The State Peace and Development Council was the official name of the military regime of Burma , which seized power in 1988. On 30 March 2011, Senior General Than Shwe signed a decree to officially dissolve the Council....
) to intimidate and silence those involved in the pro-democracy movement.
Since 1988 a new arm of ABFSU has been working outside Burma specifically to inform the international community of rights violations in the country and of the crisis in education taking place there . The ‘All Burma Federation of Students Unions - Foreign Affairs Committee’, or ABFSU-FAC, hopes to expose issues (for example ) in Burma to a wider audience, accelerate the development of international student organizations and promote worldwide student activism
Student activism
Student activism is work done by students to effect political, environmental, economic, or social change. It has often focused on making changes in schools, such as increasing student influence over curriculum or improving educational funding...
.
History
A forum for debate and a platform to those speaking out for the rights of students, ABFSU has been at the forefront of resistance to the forces of political oppression in its various guises for more than 70 years . In that time hopes of achieving democracy have taken shape and been strengthened through resistance to British colonialism, to fascismFascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
, and to the current military dictatorship. Over time the group’s interests have inevitably shifted focus from the struggle for independence to one for democracy, justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
and national reconciliation.
The roots of ABSFU extend back to the Burmese independence movement of the 1930s . In 1931, the Rangoon University Students’ Union (RUSU) was formed as a social organization by Aung San
Aung San
Bogyoke Aung San ; 13 February 1915 – 19 July 1947) was a Burmese revolutionary, nationalist, and founder of the modern Burmese army, the Tatmadaw....
, the later military General and so-called ‘father of Burmese independence’ , and, indeed, paternal father of 1991 Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained...
(see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1950505.stm).In 1931, the Rangoon University Students’ Union (RUSU) was formed as a social organization. In 1935, our independence hero Aung San
Aung San
Bogyoke Aung San ; 13 February 1915 – 19 July 1947) was a Burmese revolutionary, nationalist, and founder of the modern Burmese army, the Tatmadaw....
and his friends U Nu (later the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Burma), U Thein Pe (later the General Secretary of Communist Party of Burma),UBa Swe (later the Prime Minister)and U Kyaw Nyein (later the Deputy Prime Minister) became the leaders of the RUSU and led the second university students’ strike against British colonial rule. Myoma U Than Kywe (vice president of both the Rangoon University Student Union and the All-Burma Students Union ), was one of the delegates who attended the 1947 panglong Conference
Panglong Conference
The Panglong Conference , held in February 1947, was an historic meeting that took place at Panglong in the Shan States in Burma between the Shan, Kachin and Chin ethnic minority leaders and Aung San, head of the interim Burmese government...
with Burma National Leader General Aung San. Myoma U Than Kywe was one of the leaders who participated in the struggle for the independence of Burma(1938-1948)(later one of the leaders of theAnti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL ) .
In 1935, RUSU leaders led the second university students’ strike against British colonial rule (the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
hampered progress but independence finally arrived on January 4, 1948). On May 8, 1936 the first students’ conference was held in Rangoon. Organized by RUSU, it marked the formation of the All Burma Students’ Union (ABSU). In 1951, the All Burma Students’ Union (ABSU) changed its name to the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) to represent all students in Burma. ABFSU became active in both educational reform and peaceful campaigning for the establishment of democracy and protecting the right to education. During the Sixth Conference of the ABFSU in 1960, the so called ‘five policies’, and ‘three flags’ of the organization were adopted unanimously in order to work towards a democratic educational system , safeguarding student rights, democracy, and national peace and reconciliation.
Burma's fledgling democratic process came to a grinding halt in 1962 when General Ne Win
Ne Win
Ne Win was Burmese a politician and military commander. He was Prime Minister of Burma from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1974 and also head of state from 1962 to 1981...
(see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1581413.stm) staged a bloody coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
in which hundreds of protesting students were killed . The turbulent political situation since this time, characterised by kleptocratic and paranoid authoritarian rule, has forced ABFSU and its members underground on a number of occasions .
In 1988, as calls for democratic change brought civil unrest and mass demonstrations to the streets of the capital Rangoon once more, ABFSU publicly re-emerged under the direction of leading dissident Min Ko Naing
Min Ko Naing
Paw Oo Tun is the President of Universities Student Union of Burma and a leading democracy activist and dissident. He has spent the majority of the last 22 years imprisoned by the state for his opposition activities.-Biography:...
(a nom-de-guerre meaning ‘conqueror of kings’), where the group helped to coordinate waves of pro-democracy action, culminating in the '88 Uprising (see 8888 Uprising
8888 Uprising
The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests was a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma...
, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7543347.stm, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/19/AR2008071901609.html and http://www.johnpilger.com/page.asp?partid=101).
Since 1990 ABFSU have thrown their support behind the National League for Democracy
National League for Democracy
The National League for Democracy is a Burmese political party founded on 27 September 1988. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi serves as its General Secretary. The party won a substantial parliamentary majority in the 1990 Burmese general election. However, the ruling military junta...
(NLD), Burma’s foremost political party which won a landslide victory in the general election of that year. The Generals were not prepared to hand over power, however, and instead chose to place the party leader, Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained...
, under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
.
Some within the ranks of Burma's student protestors have criticised the NLD for not implementing a strategy for taking control after the 1990 elections and, despite overwhelming support, allowing the Generals to continue acting with impunity.
ABFSU’s prominent leaders
Many of those associated with ABFSU over the years have been hugely influential in Burma’s ongoing political struggles: a continuing pedigree of politically astute and socially responsible individuals, committed to social justice and freedom. However, their links to ABFSU make them increasingly ‘marked men’. Always the target of the military government , the outspoken leaders of ABFSU are regularly imprisoned where they are invariably beaten, tortured and denied medical treatment . Such human rights violations are reportedly widespread in Burma today but, significantly, they appear not to have had the desired affect of permanently silencing or disbanding ABFSU or, indeed, given Burma’s recent Saffron Revolution, quelling the wider calls for democratic change.Some of the more notable individuals associated with ABSFU over the years are:
- Aung SanAung SanBogyoke Aung San ; 13 February 1915 – 19 July 1947) was a Burmese revolutionary, nationalist, and founder of the modern Burmese army, the Tatmadaw....
(became military General and known as the ‘independence hero’, father of the nation and paternal father to Aung San Suu KyiAung San Suu KyiAung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained...
)
- Ko U NuU NuFor other people with the Burmese name Nu, see Nu .U Nu was a leading Burmese nationalist and political figure of the 20th century...
(became first democratically elected Prime Minister of Burma)
- Ko Thein Pe Myint(became General Secretary of Burmese Communist Party)
- Myoma U Than Kywe (became one of the leaders of the Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League (AFPFL ) )
- Min Ko NaingMin Ko NaingPaw Oo Tun is the President of Universities Student Union of Burma and a leading democracy activist and dissident. He has spent the majority of the last 22 years imprisoned by the state for his opposition activities.-Biography:...
(currently imprisoned) leader of ABFSU and Burma's leading political dissident)
External links
- All Burma Federation of Student Unions: http://abfsu.net/
- Burma Campaign UK: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/
- US Campaign for Burma: http://uscampaignforburma.org/
- All Burma IT Students’ Union: http://www.abitsu.org
- You Tube - ABFSU anthem and photo gallery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9WZhIKxtcg
- Facebook - Min Ko Naing info and supporters page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Min-Ko-Naing/26868008342