21/8/2003

National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
National Council of the Union of Burma

A joint meeting of the NCGUB and the NCUB was held at a location in Burma from 18 to 20 August 2003 to review the prevailing political situation in Burma and to explore ways to strengthen the close working relationship and to increase bilateral cooperation.

The two sides viewed the situation in Burma as follows:

1. The people of all nationalities in Burma today are facing the worst political crisis and the situation is bound to worsen even further. The reason that the country is facing such a calamitous situation is because the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) military clique lacks the desire to resolve national problems through peaceful means. The SPDC's massacre of National League for Democracy (NLD) members at Tabayin on 30 May, the continuing detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD leaders, the unceasing offensives launched in ethnic regions, and the refusal to accept constructive suggestions by the international community, including neighboring countries, have all contributed to the demise of the opportunity to peacefully resolve conflicts that have ravaged and divided "kith and kin" within the nation.

2. Neighboring countries to Burma are also being affected by SPDC's failure to tackle Burma's crises and as a result, the country has now become a regional problem. Hence, the NCGUB and the NCUB strongly believe that effective and concerted political action by the international community and efforts to boost the momentum of the democracy movement inside are vitally important to overcome the problems in Burma.

3. The NCGUB and the NCUB believe that it is imperative for the two sides as well as for the international community to take effective and quick action to respond to the political developments in Burma. For that reason, the NCGUB and the NCUB welcome the concept of a roadmap towards national reconciliation and democracy being proposed by the international community and will explore ways to cooperate with parties initiating the roadmap to resolve Burma's problems.

4. The NCGUB and the NCUB reiterate their firm commitment to the adherence of the policy of peaceful change and national reconciliation through dialogue. They also believe that a tripartite dialogue involving democratic forces led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the ethnic nationality forces, and the SPDC is instrumental in resolving Burma's problems.

5. While trying to resolve problems peacefully, the NCGUB and the NCUB will work with determination to explore ways to achieve a national consensus on

(1) Ways to honor the national mandate of the 1990 general elections in accordance with the Burma resolutions unanimously passed by consecutive UN General Assembly sessions,

(2) Fulfilling the aspirations of the ethnic nationalities in Burma, and

(3) The role of the armed forces in the nation building process.

6. When the international community endeavors to find a solution to Burma's problems, it is vitally important that public leaders and political forces which represent people of different nationalities are given the opportunity to play a leading role to resolve the problems. This being the case, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the other NLD leaders must be immediately and unconditionally released. For that to happen, the NCGUB and the NCUB as well as the international community have been calling for the immediate resolution of Burma's problems.

7. To implement the goals mentioned above, the NCGUB and the NCUB will cooperate with each other and work in unity to help the democracy movement inside Burma, in initiating international diplomatic campaigns, and in carrying out other activities.