On October 13, 450 supporters of the Burmese democracy movement, including members of Sydney's Burmese community, trade unionists, and members of the Greens and the Socialist Alliance, rallied in Martin Place.
Protest organiser Maung Maung Than explained that the rally was to demand that the Australian government directly appeal to the Burmese military regime to negotiate with the Burmese opposition; end the training of Burmese military and police personnel by Australian officers; impose visa, scholarship, and financial sanctions on Burmese military officials and their families; and for Australian companies to withdraw from conducting business in Burma.
Than said that there had been thousands of arrests of protesters and democracy activists in Burma. He also called for Burma's membership of the Associqation of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) to be suspended.
Unions NSW representative Amanda Tattersal called for sanctions to be imposed against any company that deals with the Burmese regime.
An former political prisoner of the Burmese regime addressed the protesters saying: "The Australian government's targeted sanctions are not enough. It's a very important moment to step up our movement to demand [the regime] free Aung San Suu Kyi, negotiate with the National League for Democracy, and to demand international pressure."
Indigenous activist Jakalene X expressed Aboriginal solidarity with the Burmese people and Caroline Laurie from PEN, an international organisation of poets, essayists, and novelists, called attention to the imprisonment of writers in Burma who "mocked" the regime.
The protest concluded with a march to the Botanical Gardens, where a Buddhist ceremony was held.