Today Friday, 8 August (08 08 08) marks the twentieth anniversary of the 1988 Burmese uprising, when over 3000 people staging pro-democracy demonstrations were killed or taken as political prisoners.

“I saw a close friend shot right in front of me and then my brothers, sister and I were taken into custody,” said Noelene, a Burmese refugee now living in Perth, who was a 15 year old student when the uprising took place.

“Other students were attacked with machetes; many were killed by the soldiers of the Burmese Government. Students were holding placards and calling for democracy and they were shot by the Junta. Six years later my family had to flee the country as the situation worsened,” Noelene said.

“The brutal shooting of peaceful protestors led by Buddhist Monks in the ‘Saffron Revolution’ last September, demonstrates that the situation has not improved in 20 years of struggle,” said Senator Scott Ludlam, who recently joined the Australian Parliamentarians for Democracy in Burma.

“It is time that Australia took a stand. Australian companies must withdraw their financial interests from Burma, until such time that democracy is restored and the military Junta ends its violent and uncivilised oppression of the Burmese people.”

Hundreds of Western Australians have signed postcards stating that “human rights are more important than gas and oil profits” and are calling on Twinza Oil, whose director is Perth-man William Clough, to end their financial dealings with the Burmese Government.

Noelene and other pro-democracy campaigners will join Senator Ludlam to deliver the postcards to the Clough business office in Nedlands on Friday 15 August.

“We encourage anyone who values democracy and freedom more than profits to join us in to call for an end to Australian companies from financially supporting the military Junta and its inhumane practices,” Senator Ludlam said.

Campaigners and will deliver this message on signed postcards to William Clough at his office,

117 Broadway, Nedlands on 11.30am Friday 15 August.