1. In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (Burmese Program) on 1-8-2003, the SPDC Foreign Minister U Win Aung said that it is necessary to resolve the internal political problems of the country through the National Convention (NC).

2. Regarding the more than ten-year old SPDC NC, it is on the record that member of parliament of Pekong Township constituency, Khun Marco Ban, and member of the NC Presidium as well as member of parliament from Lahu National Party, Daniel Aung, have rejected the basic principles of the NC as unacceptable. In addition, Chairman of Shan Nationalities League for Democracy and a participant of the NC, Khun Tun Oo, said on 12-6-2003, that it was impossible to revive the NC and no one would attend it, and that there should only be a tripartite dialogue held under the aegis of the UN.

3. The most important event was the recall of representatives on 27-11-1995, by the NLD, which had won 82% of the seats in 1990 elections. At that time, the NLD declared that it had to take the action of recall as the NC was not going to fulfill the 3 national requirements of genuine national reconciliation, establishment of genuine multi-party democratic system and a legitimate constitution. The NCUB is firmly convinced that the action of NLD is in consonant with the desire of the oppressed people, including the various indigenous nationalities.

4. U Win Aung was lying when he said that the NC was still being held. The sham NC met its demise on the day when the NLD recalled its representatives. Accordingly, we, the NCUB, reject the SPDC Foreign Minister U Win Aung's call for resolution of internal political problems of the country through NC, and all attempts to revive the deceitful NC of the SPDC, and we affirm our belief that only the tripartite dialogue under the facilitation of the UN and realization of the results of May 1990 elections will lead to true national reconciliation.

National Council of the Union of Burma
NCUB

August 4, 2003