and KNGY
The 2010 elections will neither resolve the political crisis nor will it lead to national reconciliation and democracy. - Min Bone Kyew, Secretary General, Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF) and Secretary General, National Democratic Front (NDF)
The National Democratic Front (NDF) composed of Arakan Liberation Party( ALP), Chin National Front (CNF), Karen National Union (KNU), Lahu Democratic Union ( LDU), New Mon State Party (NMSP), Pa-o National Liberation Organization (PNLO), Palaung State Liberation Front( PSLF) and the Wa National Organization (WNO) reaffirm their statement calling for the boycott of the 2010 elections.
The NDF boycotts the 2010 elections because the 2008 Constitution was adopted by force in order to perpetuate military dictatorship. People have no liberties to exercise their political and social rights. It provides no democracy and there is no guarantee for ethnic rights. There is no freedom of expression and no freedom to organize political parties. The 2008 Constitution gives possession and control of natural resources to the State. It provides for excessive centralization of power instead of providing federal rights in Member States. The 2008 Constitution perpetuates the rule of military dictatorship. The Military government controls the power through the National Security Council which can usurp power from the government anytime.
We see therefore the 2008 Constitution as un-acceptable. We propose instead a Federal constitution.
We call then for a dialogue with the SPDC government to address issues of the 2008 Constitution including release of political prisoners. If it takes a dialogue to talk about our proposal for a federal government, then a dialogue is in order.
We are promoting our calls through the media to the NLD and to ethnic parties. People continue the call for democracy in Burma following the 2004 arrest of Khu Too Oo chairperson of Shan National League for Democracy (SNLD) sentenced for 96 years; and Sai Nyew Lwe, secretary of SNLD sentenced for 80 years.
We ask the international community including the UN, ASEAN, EU to apply more effective pressure upon the SPDC through dialogue and negotiation. We urge the international community to call on SPDC to cease its acts against ethnic nationalities, impose UN arms embargo, block capital investments, impose sanctions, and call on SPDC to hold an inclusive political dialogue for national reconciliation.
(NDF on Border Guard Force: “The position of the main ceasefire organizations, rejecting the SPDC’s proposal to transform their armies into Border Guard Force, is the same as our (NDF) position on the matter.”-Re-affirmed NDF Statement)
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If there is no release of political prisoners and no review of the Constitution, NLD will boyc
ott the 2010 elections. - Khun Myint Tun, Labor Minister, National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB); member of Parliament, Thaton Constituency, National League of Democracy; Member of Secretariat, National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB).National League of Democracy (NLD) leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyii rightly stated “ holding a new election without recognizing the 1990 election results is like playing a dangerous game with the country’s future. That is why we cannot accept a new election”
The NLD won 82% of seats in Parliament during the 1990 elections but their legitimacy was not recognized with the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi. State Law and Order restoration Council (SLORC) did not convene the Parliament 60 days after the elections. The NLD then met two months after the 1990 elections and passed the Ghandhi Declaration calling for the transfer of power to the NLD as the winning party and convening of the Parliament. In response, the junta issued State Order 1/90 stating that SLORC has the right to exercise legislative, executive, and judicial powers. The State Order also called for the elected Representatives to draft the Constitution and People’s Assembly to be convened. But the SPDC did not convene the Parliament till now.
Recently in April, 2009, the NLD issued the Shwe Gon Daing Declaration which demands release of all political prisoners, review of the 2008 Constitution, and a dialogue. The dialogue calls for the recognition of the 1990 elections and transfer power to the elected members of Parliament. The minimum that we demand from SPDC is to review and amend the 2008 Constitution.
Calls for a dialogue and release political prisoners had been on- going since the 1988 Uprising. Yet, the SPDC never granted a dialogue up to now despite repeated requests. It is obvious that they want to continue their own military rule. In November 11, 2009, NLD sent to General than Shwe reiterating the calls of the Shwe Gon Daing Declaration. Up to now, we did not get a response. Last January 4 on Burma’s Independence Day, General than Than Shwe declared that the SPDC government will continue their military roadmap.
We want to change the system but the SPDC does not want. We want to call for a dialogue for a democratic Burma and ethnic recognition, but the SPDC does not want.
The international community’s help is needed. A recent symposium in Japan in November 23, 2009 on the “Shwe Gon Daing Declaration; Gateway to National Reconciliation on the Union of Burma”, attended by some Japanese Government officials, called for a dialogue with the SPDC government.
The NCGUB on its National Reconciliation Program also sent their intentions to the UN calling for meaningful dialogue to happen with the military regime.
We call on the international community not to recognize the 2010 elections if meaningful dialogue is not granted.
At the same time, we are calling for legal action against the SPDC in the US Federal Court and UN’s International Criminal Court (ICC). Military abuses of persons in power are separately dealt with from the call for meaningful dialogue from the SPDC as the ruling go
vernment.The people in Burma are also getting more enlightened on their rights, and what the 2008 Constitution is as compared to our envisioned Federal Constitution.
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The 2010 elections is not the solution for a democratic change in Burma.- Khin Ohmar, Chairperson, Network for Democracy and Development (NDD), Foreign Affairs Secretary, Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB); Coordinator, Burma Partnership.
It is up to us, the people of Burma to come together and work for a common cause. We see ethnic nationalities with people from mainstream Burma coming together. We have diverse youth members from the Students Youth of Burma (SCYB), Nationalities Youth Forum (NYF) and the Women’s League of Burma (WLB). We have members from different parts of Burma joining in the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB); and other networks joining in the call for a principled boycott of the 2010 elections.
If all people combine efforts, we keep the same energy and pace. We continue to cherish and praise diversity.
This overarching issue of democratic rights places a challenge to ethnic identity. I take this struggle for ethnic identity as a normal cause because there is a need for it by the ethnic population. That they should be safe as they have suffered for so long. It is important for people to have that right of self identity. Identity to who they are and to where they belong. But not to confine ourselves in our own ethnic identities. If we confine ourselves to our own particular group and not open up to other groups, then our vision can become limited.
If we see this holistic picture of Burma and if we have a wider perspective, we can see this as a challenge. If, to reach out is the objective of the Federal Union, we step out of our ethnic identities then we can be able to see a common ground among the diversities. It is still a challenge to work and overcome differences to build mutual trust among each other.
We continue to keep fighting. I should be able to do the most that I can for those in prison who fought for democracy in our country. I think of the hope and keep up the struggle if it is the right call for life.
(FDB is a member of the Movement for Democracy and Rights of Ethnic Nationalities composed of 10 alliances including NYF, SCYB, WLB, NCGUB, MPU, NLD-LA, NDF, DAB, and NCUB. Together, the Movement sees the 2010 elections , under the rule of the military’s 2008 constitution will not only fail to address the root cause of Burma’s crisis but will in fact further entrench military rule sowing the seeds for further instability and armed conflict. The Movement then calls for (1) the release of all political prisoners, (2) cessation of all hostilities against ethnic groups and pro-democracy forces, and (3) inclusive dialogue with key stakeholders from democracy groups and ethnic nationalities including a review of the 2008 Constitution. The Movement sees the 2008 Constitution systematically entrenches injustice that will prolong conflict and instability in ethnically diverse Burma.)
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We call for the boycott of the 2010 elections and oppose the 2008 Constitution which provides for the legitimacy of the Generals to stay in power.- Naw San, Secretary General, Students and Youth Congress of Burma (SYCB) The SYCB oppose the 2010 elections because the 2008 Constitution which shall be adopted by the Parliament after the 2010 elections, is not democratic and does not grant equality rights for ethnic minorities of Burma.
Also, the election is not inclusive. There is no freedom to organize among political parties. What we see clearly is that there are no political parties joining the election. The National League of Democracy (NLD) is rethinking their position if they will join or not dependent on the following conditions adopted in the Shwe Gon Daing Manifestion in April 29, 2009. These are (1) Release of political prisoners, (2) Review 2008 Constitution and (3) Free and fair elections. If these are not granted, NLD will oppose the 2010 elections. But am sure the regime will not release the political prisoners and they will not review 2008 Constitution.
The SPDC might invite UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and project that elections is the step for democratic change which may lead international leaders to support SPDC. But, we have to look back at the past and take note that the root cause of the problems of Burma is rooted in a Constitution which does not provide democratic rights and equality rights for ethnic minorities. This is noted in the 1974 Constitution and now in the 2008 Constitution. We are slaves to the regime forever if the Constitution will not be changed.
We call for the boycott of the 2010 elections and oppose the 2008 Constitution which provides for the legitimacy of the Generals to stay in power.The Generals want to be ensured of their businesses and their repressive power on the lives of the people.
To boycott the 2010 elections, youth are actively campaigning against the 2010 elections in Burma. They spray the walls in the main cities calling for boycotting the 2010 elections. In the country sides, the youth are active doing education and organizing activities particularly in Shan and Arakan States.
The movement for change and the need for democratic change are felt more so after the Saffron Revolution in 2007. In 2007, there are some 1000 political prisoners. Now, there are 2100 political prisoners.
Even among the military group, unrest is growing. This is very visible on the house arrest of General Khin Nyunt. Police also want increase of salary.
Since the 2008 Constitution is unacceptable, SYCB calls for a Federal Constitution which basically enshrines a democratic Burma and equality rights for ethnic minorities.
SYCB together with the Women’s League of Burma (WLB), National Youth Forum (NYF), FDB (Forum Democratic Burma), National Democratic Front (NDF), DAB ( Democratic Alliance of Burma), MPU (Member Parliament Union) and NCGUB re-affirm a statement calling for the boycott of the 2010 elections.
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KNGY enjoins the international community not to support the 2010 elections as it does not lead to meaningful democratic change in Burma.-Khun Francis, Foreign Affairs Office, Kayan New Generation Youth (KNGY) In behalf of KNGY, I don’t support the 2010 elections because there is no guarantee for ethnic people’s rights in the 2008 Constitution which is to be adopted by the winning party. The 2008 Constitution has many weak points for people’s democratic rights. The military is ensured of 25% legislative seats in Government. This makes the military government ensured of its power.
The 2008 Constitution requires that the President should have military experience. Anyone should be qualified to run as President provided he is capable to run the country but not necessarily to place military experience as a qualification for one becoming President of the country.
Also, ethnic peoples are the ones who know what they need so they should have the right to have their own State Constitution and draft their own laws within the context of Federal Union of Burma.
KNGY joins other ethnic groups and political democracy groups to keep on working for democratic rights and gain Federal rights for ethnic peoples.
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KWYO calls for the review of the 2008 Constitution. That there shall be women’s rights i
ncluded in the Constitution as to equality on employment, education, and participation in politics.-Mu Iris, Chairperson, Kayan Youth Women’s Organization (KYWO)
KYWO does not accept the 2010 elections because it will be conducted in the same way as how the 2008 Referendum was done. Besides, the 2008 Constitution does not provide for ethnic rights and rights for women.
Because of this, KYWO will be conducting media campaigns to call for non-participation in the 2010 elections. Education about the 2008 Constitution among women in the Kayan Region shall be done also.
We especially call for women representatives in legislative seats in government because the present patriarchal culture makes it difficult for women to get into political leadership.
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I want the government to have peaceful dialogue with the people on their concerns. But if the SPDC will be violent, I will join the armed group to fight the SPDC.-
Khun Petpot, Migrant Worker
I am against the 2010 elections. Just like the 2008 Referendum done under fraudulent and coercive conditions, the 2010 elections will also be done in the same manner.
Most people in the ethnic regions say they don’t want to join the 2010 elections but they can’t go against it because they are afraid if the SPDC will hurt them.
Nonetheless, people are getting organized and know more about the political situation in Burma, and learning what the 2008 Constitution is all about in comparison to the Federal Constitution.
LINKS
Northern Philippine Times
Burma Partnership
Burma Democratic Concern
Northern Philippine Times
All Voices
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