1. Since 1994 and on, The United Nations General Assembly has uninterruptedly made a resolution on Myanmar urging the Government of Myanmar to engage in a substantive political dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders, including representatives from ethnic groups, as the best means of promoting national reconciliation and the full and early restoration of democracy. (Resolution No. 49/197; date 23. 12. 1994)

2. We, the United Nationalities Alliance – UNA, have welcome and accepted the resolution as the best means of solving current Myanmar political crises which have been reflected the events of political background history of Myanmar. The international community ha also welcome and accepted this resolution. To implement this resolution successfully, the United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan has assigned Mr. Razali Ismail as his Special Envoy to Myanmar to facilitate negotiation between the parties concerned since the year 2001. But the attempts made by Mr. Razali have been found unsuccessful yet.

3. On 30.8.2003, General Khin Nyunt, the Prime Minister of the State Peace and Development Council government declared a seven-point future political programme (Road Map). The Prime Minister proclaimed that government will be implementing in a step-by-step and systematic manner the following programme for building the nation.

(1) Reconvening of the national convention that has been adjourned since 1996.

(2) After the successful holding of the National Convention step by step implementation of the process necessary for the emergence of a genuine and disciplined democratic system.

(3) Drafting of a new constitution in accordance with basic principles and detailed basic principles laid down by the National Convention.

(4) Adoption of the constitution through national referendum.

(5) Holding of free and fair elections for Pyithu Hluttaws (Legislative bodies) according to the new constitution.

(6) Convening of Hluttaws attended by Hluttaw members in accordance with the new constitution.

(7) Building a modern, developed and democratic nation by the State leaders elected by Hluttaw; and the government and other central organs formed b the Hluttaw.

4. We, the United Nationalities Alliance – UNA, have the serious desire to participate in the political main process of nation building. A National Convention that leads to a constitution of politically stable and economically developed democratic nation needs to be a genuine one. So the National Convention to be convened should not be the resumption of the 1993-1996 National Convention;

- had not allowed to attend all of genuine representatives of the people;

- had not only made a prior censorships but also refused to accept genuine presentations of the representatives who attended;

- and had forged and accepted the 104-basic principles favouring the Armed Forces for permanent control of State political power.

And we, the United Nationalities Alliance-UNA, regard those attempts of resuming the adjourned National Convention, which was composed with government's hand-picks neglecting democratic principles and United Nations's General Assembly resolution, as an insulting act of the will of Myanmar people and civilized international community.

5. So, for emergence of genuine National Convention which is the first step to found a modern, developed and democratic nation, we, the United Nationalities Alliance-UNA, here by issue our statement and urge the State Peace and Development Council government:

(i) to engage in a substantive political dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders, including representatives from the ethnic nationalities prior to the National Convention;

(ii) to have the rights to select their own representatives independently from each group;

(iii) and to draw the future political programmes according to the guide lines and principles laid down by the tripartite dialogue.

Note - "Representatives of ethnic nationalities" means representatives selected from the group comprising of ethnical political parties, ethnical cease-fire groups and ethnical armed groups.

United Nationalities Alliance

Date: December 10, 2003.