'Free Burma, boycott Pacrim!'
By Adam Baker
BRISBANE — "Free Burma, boycott Pacrim!" was the demand of a small but lively group of picketers outside the head office of Pacrim Energy Australia (PEA) in the inner-city suburb of Spring Hill on October 9.
The protest action was called after a meeting on the day previous day between PEA management and Maung Maung Than and Pa-Par representing the All Burma Students Democratic Organisation (ABSDO). The Burmese activists called the meeting to protest against PEA's dealings with the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the military regime which rules Burma.
There are now an estimated 3000 political prisoners in Burma. The regime continues to refuse to allow the National League for Democracy parliament (NLD), elected with 83% of the vote in the 1990 national election, to convene.
PEA began investing in Burma after the 1990 election. It continues to invest there despite the withdrawal from Burma of Pepsi, Levi Strauss and BHP under pressure from human rights groups.
When PEA management asked the picketers to leave because they were trespassing on private property, the picketers replied that PEA was trespassing in Burma.
The police were called and the protesters listened to speeches while waiting for the police to arrive. Maung Maung Than condemned PEA's support for a repressive regime and described the lack of democracy in Burma, which has forced both the NLD and ABSDO underground.
When three cars full of police arrived (outnumbering the picket!) the protesters agreed to leave, chanting "Free Burma, boycott Pacrim!".
The Burmese students are currently touring Australian universities to raise students' awareness of the situation in Burma.