(Petaling Jaya, Saturday): DAP welcomes the dramatic turnaround of the Burmese military junta in releasing the 18 foreign pro-democracy activists after sentencing them to five years in jail with labour.
This shows that the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) is finally amenable to regional and international opinion and pressure, and I call on the SPDC to build on the goodwill it has gained by opening up a dialogue with Burmse Opposition Leader, Aung San Suu Kyi and other pro-democracy forces in Burma.
With the release of the 18 foreign activists, the DAP national signature campaign for the immediate and unconditional release of See Chee How, Chong Kok Ywei and Ong Ju Lin, started in Miri and Kuching in the past two days, will come to an end.
See Chee How, Chong Kok Ywei and Ong Ju Lin should be given a heroes� welcome when they return to Malaysia, for they have done Malaysia proud in making their contribution towards the promotion of democracy and human rights in Burma, and they should be an example for more Malaysians to come forward to work for the end of military rule and the restoration of democracy in Burma.
(15/8/98)