Letter to Mrs. Bush

Dear Mrs. Bush,

We thank President Bush's administration for its strong commitment to Burmese cause for democracy and freedom. We also thank you for taking a personal interest in helping Burma gains freedom. Even though it is encouraging for the United Nations and specifically the Security Council to take a strong interest in Burma, we are genuinely afraid Burmese generals are not sincere and again deploying delaying tactics.

There are daily reports of continued arrests and torture while junta offers dialogue with insincere preconditions. Revered Buddhist monks are still being forcibly disrobed and subjected to torture while the international community waits. In recent news, a prominent '88 generation student leader Ko Htay Kywe and five other student activists were arrested. An NLD member and two student activists died during interrogation. The military continues both daytime and night time raids and enforces a climate of intimidation.

In the past, Burmese generals released a fraction of detainees just to deflect the world's attention and soften a stepped up measures against them. In the end, there were more political prisoners in the junta's jails and torture centers. We are afraid it is happening again. We again do not want to forget about the murder, rape, forced relocation, destruction of villages and pillaging suffered by various ethnic groups for years under the same murderous military regime.

Mrs. Bush, the world must not let Burmese people down again. United States must take a leading role to save those innocent lives. Time is running out for those detainees. They are dying in the regime's torture centers as the United Nations Security Council waits for the next step. The Security Council must demand that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must be freed first in order to start a genuine dialogue and national reconciliation process. All political prisoners also must be freed immediately. The climate of intimidation must be lifted. Concrete actions must be taken if the regime fails to do so.

Burmese monks, students and people have asked for these things during the last peaceful demonstrations, "Will the United States come and help us?" We strongly ask the United States and its allies to consider a strong unilateral action if necessary to save those innocent lives. It is very important at this juncture to show the world that the United States has the political will and plan to take a strong and unilateral action if necessary. Burmese people are with the United States of America and will be grateful for your help.

Concerned Burmese Physicians and Professionals
October 15, 2007.