NCUB, NCGUB NEWS DESK

7 February 2004

The Military's 'Roadmap' as a Catalyst

Help comes from unexpected quarters. As the Burmese saying goes, "A yay jee yin thway see", unity comes in time of need.

The State Peace and Development Council announced a "seven-point future policy program" or a seven-phase roadmap on 30 June. It came at a time when the international community was strongly condemning the military for the brutal crackdown and massacre of members of the National League for Democracy near Tabayin on 30 May. Nevertheless, the knee-jerk reaction paid off and pressure eased on the generals who promised to the world, particularly neighboring and regional countries, that they were bringing democracy to Burma.

The generals previously had also tried to impose military domination over Burma's political future with its version of "disciplined democracy" through constitutional principles drafted by a National Convention attended by delegates of its own picking but the process was suspended in 1996 when the NLD demanded that the National Convention be more democratic and representative and decided to stay away from it unless its demands were met. That convention which dismissed the NLD had already prescribed what is known as the "104 principles" which were to be used in drafting a constitution that would legitimize military rule in Burma.

The generals' pledge once again to steer Burma to "disciplined democracy" under the same "104 principles" naturally became a cause for concern to all legal political parties, and ethnic nationality and democratic forces. Even the ceasefire groups, which, under intense pressure from the generals, have pledged support for the National Convention, are saying they want to see reforms in the process.

All political parties, organizations, and politicians that have legal standing inside Burma as well as others beyond the reach of the military and in exile are openly voicing their opposition to the roadmap. And that voice of opposition has become a unifying and rallying cry for all dissident forces.

Unifying the Visions

The Third Ethnic Nationalities Seminar, which was held recently (from 28 January to 2 February) at the Burma border and attended by 61 delegates and observers from the ethnic nationality alliances, parties, and organizations, agreed that the resolution of political problems in Burma must be through a "tripartite dialogue" and the establishment of a true Federal Union. The participants said the "road map" and "the attempt to reconvene its National Convention would not lead to democratization and establishment of a federal union but only sustain a military dictatorship in the country."

They said, "tripartite dialogue, as called for by the UN resolutions annually since 1994", must be held "at the earliest date" to form "an interim government" comprising of representatives, proportionally, of the SPDC, the NLD and other political parties victorious in the 1990 elections, and the ethnic nationalities, based on the agreement arrived at the tripartite dialogue." They believe that that interim government should convene a legitimate National Convention.

The Seminar also called upon the junta "to unconditionally cease all military offensives against the ethnic nationalities, declare a nationwide cease-fire, release all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi."

The ethnic nationality leaders expressed their conviction that constitutions of the Federal Union and the constituent States must be drafted by commissions formed "with the approval of the National Convention" and these constitutions must be adopted through "national referenda" held in various constituent States before elections can be held to form Federal and state parliaments which then would elect Federal and state governments.

A major accomplishment of the Third Ethnic Nationalities Seminar is that all the organizations were able to agree on a single plan involving different phases in particular order that Burma needs to go through to achieve democracy and long-lasting peace.

Another important achievement is the decision to form an "Ethnic Nationalities Council" which will no doubt contribute greatly in helping resolve the nagging question of who will represent the ethnic nationalities in the "Tripartite Dialogue" given the diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and political leanings of different ethnic nationality forces.

The results of the Third Ethnic Nationalities Seminar also put to rest all speculations that ethnic and democratic forces are at odds over the military's roadmap. Like all struggles, anomalies are bound to emerge from time to time, but the main goal remains as clear as ever for the democratic and ethnic forces.

Bringing Ethnic Rights to the Fore

In fact, the concept of "tripartite dialogue" first appeared in the United Nations resolution on Burma in 1994 when it was proposed by the NCGUB delegation at the United Nations in recognition of the importance of ethnic nationalities having an equal voice in the decision-making process of the country.

The ultimate objective of all political organizations in the ethnic and democracy movements, including the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, has always been the establishment of a democratic federal union that would guarantee democratic and equal rights to all nationalities in Burma.

Hence, the clarion call made by the Third Ethnic Nationalities Seminar on the democratic and ethnic forces, at home and abroad, to unanimously support and make concerted efforts to realize the aspirations of the people of the Union of Burma is bound to be answered with a resounding yes.

The united front of the ethnic and democratic movements of Burma will also expect world nations, particularly neighboring and regional countries, the United Nations, and the international community to respond favorably to this call and help bring democracy to Burma.