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NLD denies using mediaThe National League for Democracy (NLD) has rubbished allegations by the state owned media, which has alleged Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD have created confusion by... |
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Collective Statement Calling for National Reconciliation
Before 2010 Elections
Before 2010 Elections
| Burma Partnership "Strengthening Cooperation for a Free Burma" |
| Collective Statement Calling for National Reconciliation Before 2010 Elections Dear friends and supporters, On International Human Rights Day, civil society groups from Burma and around the world stand united in their demand for genuine political reconciliation before Burma’s elections next year. The one hundred and nineteen groups call on the international community to insist that the junta meet key benchmarks:
Please see the full statement in English below or download here. The Burmese version is available here. In Solidarity, Burma Partnership Secretariat --- COLLECTIVE STATEMENT ON 2010 ELECTIONS Calling for Genuine Political Reconciliation Before Elections in Burma December 10, 2009 We, the united voice of people, communities, and organizations from Burma and around the globe, strongly reaffirm the necessity for genuine political reconciliation before the 2010 elections and call on the international community to take immediate action to ensure viable democratic change occurs in Burma. The people of Burma are entitled to have a genuine choice and the international community has an obligation to ensure that the people get this choice. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 21) states, “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government”; however, the military regime in Burma continues to use coercive measures to hold onto power. Activists, community leaders, journalists, and monks continue to be arrested and harassed for voicing independent thought. Villages continue to be subjected to crimes against humanity under the regime’s brutal policy of controlling ethnic communities. The regime continues to manipulate the political sphere in order to secure their victory in the 2010 elections – based on the 2008 Constitution that was crafted by the military regime in order to perpetuate impunity and prolong their hold on power. Inclusive solutions proposed by democracy and ethnic leaders have been discarded with severe persecution. Once again, the regime is poised to repeat its systematic use of force, manipulation, and corruption during the 2008 constitutional referendum. We call on the international community to insist that the regime meets crucial benchmarks in order to bring peace and stability to Burma before the elections, i.e.:
If the election is allowed to go ahead without these changes, then it will only serve to institutionalize one-party rule, with military still holding the strings of power. Even in the unlikely event that the elections are free and fair, they will not bring any real change to Burma because the fundamentally flawed Constitution that allocates vast powers to military, lacks any checks and balances, allows for the ongoing discrimination and persecution of ethnic nationalities, gender discrimination, and lacks protection of human rights. Such a Constitution is dangerous for a country emerging from conflict and post-conflict situations, and will continue to push Burma’s vast problems into neighboring countries and throughout the region if necessary measures aren’t taken. The inclusion of genuine democratic opposition parties in the democratic and constitutional process would not only assure political pluralism and a more effective representation of the people of diverse ethnicity, it would offer a sustained solution to decades-long political crisis. The Burmese opposition forces on Burma border’s area and across the world in reflecting the position of ethnic nationalities leadership and pro-democratic forces inside Burma, have developed a Proposal for National Reconciliation which offers solutions for the country to move forward, proposing ways that all groups, including the military can work together to finally bring democratic transition to Burma. We urge the international community to be united in their support for the will of the people of Burma, and act with firm resolve not to allow this sham election to proceed until national reconciliation is realized. Actions Birmanie – Brussels All Burma Democratic Lusei Women Organization Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma) Arakan League for Democracy (Exile - India) Arakan Liberation Party ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition Association Suisse-Birmanie Austrian Burma Center Back Pack Health Worker Team Birmania por la Paz (Burma Campaign Spain) Burma Action Ireland Burma Aktion Germany Burmese American Democratic Alliance Burma Campaign Australia Burma Campaign Korea Burma Campaign UK Burma Centre Delhi Burma Community Resource Center Burma Democratic Concern Burma Info (Japan) Burma Information Team Burma Lawyers Council Burma Lusei Union Burma Medical Association Burma Mobilize Burma Partnership Burma Point Burmese Women's Union Canadian Friends of Burma Chin Human Rights Organization Chin Students and Youth Federation Chin Women Organization Chin Youth Conference Christian Solidarity Worldwide Danish Burma Committee Dictator Watch Ethnic Nationalities Council Falam Chin Women Development Forum for Democracy in Burma - All Burma Federation of Student Unions - Foreign Affairs Committee - All Burma Student Democratic Front - Burmese Women’s Union - Democratic Party for New Society - Network for Democracy and Development - People Defense Force - Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association Foundation for Media Alternatives (Philippines) Free Burma Campaign (Korea) Free Burma Campaign Singapore Free Burma Campaign, South Africa Free Burma Coalition-Philippines Friends of Burma, Malaysia Friends of Burma, Thailand Friends of the Third World Health Equity Initiatives, Malaysia Hong Kong Coalition for a Free Burma Info Birmanie (France) Initiatives for International Dialogue International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) International Women’s Partnership for Peace and Justice (IWP) Jamalpur Gandhi Ashram Karen Women’s Organization Kuki Students Democratic Force Kuki Women Human Rights Organization Lamkang Naga Students Union Lamkang National Council League for Democracy in Burma (Japan) Members of Parliament Union Naga National League for Democracy Naga Senior Citizens' Forum Naga Students Union Delhi Naga Youth Organization National Council of the Union of Burma – New Zealand Office National League for Democracy (Liberated Area) National League for Democracy (Liberated Area) – Korea Branch Nationalities Youth Forum - All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress - All Kachin Students and Youth Union - Arakan Youth Network Group - Chin Students' Union - Karenni National Youth Organization - Karen Youth Organisation - Mon Unity League - Pa'O Youth Organisation - Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization - United Lahu Youth Organization - Zomi Students and Youth Organisation Norwegian Burma Committee Patriotic War Veterans of Burma Peace for Burma Peaceful Burma People in Need People's Forum on Burma (Japan) Social Upliftment Through Rural Action (SUTRA) Solidaritas Indonesia untuk Burma (Indonesian Solidarity for Burma) Student and Youth Congress of Burma - All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress - All Burma Students’ Democratic Front - All Burma Students League - All Kachin Students and Youth Union - Arakan League for Democracy - Youth Wing (Exile) - Democratic Party for a New Society - Youth - Karen Youth Organization - Kayan New Generation Youth - Kuki Students Democratic Front - Mon Youth Progressive Organization - National League for Democracy – Liberated Area, Youth - Naga National League for Democracy – Youth - Pa-O Youth Organization - Ta'ang Students and Youth Organization - Tavoyan Youth Organization - Zomi Students and Youth Organization Student Federation of Thailand Shwe Gas Movement Taiwan Free Burma Network Women League of Chin-land Women Rights and Welfare Association of Burma Zanniat Youth Organizations Zomi Community Committee Zomi National Congress Zomi Reunification Organisation Zomi Women Union |
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