An appeal from the
exiled MP to EU governments
Dear Honourable EU governments,
As you are well aware, the newly appointed Prime Minister of Burma’s
illegitimate military regime is advocating a Road Map. In reality,
the Road Map by the regime is a tactic to avoid international pressure
and; it is the old same tune to hold on the state power by calling
a national convention. After a bloody military coup in 1988, General
Saw Maung promised that the State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC) would transfer power to the winning party in the 1990 general
election.
Secretary-One of the SLORC Khin Nyunt said that those elected would
be able to participate for drafting a national constitution in the
National Convention. However, the junta has never honoured their
promise and the result of the election. Only 16% of delegates were
from the elected MPs at the Convention and the remaining was from
the military personals and their selected members.
Even though the SPDC junta claims that Burma’s economy is
developing in peace and stability, there are about 200,000 refugees
at the Thai-Burma border alone.
Deteriorating economy and inflation rates cause many people to work
in abroad. Even foreign investments were not present, there were
no more than a hundred
migrant labours in Thailand who came from Burma in the past.
Nowadays, there are about one million Burma's migrant workers in
Thailand and Malaysia. Several people are leaving their homes every
day to seek jobs in neighboring countries and to avoid human rights
violation such as land confiscation, forced porter, forced labour
for road and military camps and various
taxes. The most serious violation is organized land confiscation
by the junta in Mon State. Since 1995 about 10,000 acres of land
have been confiscated by
the Burmese Army.
From the profit of foreign investment, the junta buys more weapons,
expands military base and operation to suppress its own civilians.
Only military elite,
business partners and their children are taking advantages in the
business and education. Under the present rule of the military junta,
economic assistance from the international community does not reach
the civilian population. The economic sanctions will give lessons
to the junta and will not affect the people in general.
The SPDC regime is not sincere by ignoring the release of all political
prisoners and drawing its own Road Map. If the junta is willing
to work for a genuine road map, it should state an accurate time
frame and the partners involved in the process. It is clear that
the Road Map by Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt is only to gain
international attention and to hold on the state power.
The crisis in Burma can only be solved by holding a tripartite dialogue
comprise of democratic forces led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, ethnic
nationalities and the
military regime. All politicians, political parities, exiled communities,
cease-fire and non cease-fire armed forces are urged to work for
national reconciliation with Aung San Suu Kyi.
On behalf of the suffeing people in Burma, I would like to request
all EU governments to apply a strong international pressure including
economic sanctions and involvement of the UN Security Council for
the regime change in Burma.
Nai Thaung Shein (exiled MP)
Mon National Democratic Front
The Netherlands |
