DVB ( 11 Dec 2003 )

The United Nationalities Alliance, UNA, formed with nine ethnic political parties that won seats in the 1990 elections, is the alliance that is firmly opposed to the SPDC (State Peace and Development Council) road map and the 104 basic principles of the National Convention.

The statement issued on 10 December says the UNA believes the meaning, objective, and procedure of Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt's road map is to revive the adjourned 1996 National Convention and to implement the 104 basic principles prescribed at that Convention. Just as genuine people's delegates were not allowed to be represented in full at the National Convention, they were also unable to present and discuss their views freely.

Furthermore, the 104 basic principles prescribed at the National Convention clearly indicated the military's anticipation of further grip on power and a place in future national politics. That is why attempts to revive the National Convention not only contravene the resolutions adopted consistently by the UN but also gravely ignore the mandate of the entire Burmese populace.

Thus, to convene a genuine National Convention for the emergence of a democratic nation, the democratic forces including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, representatives of the national races, and the relevant SPDC authorities must hold preliminary discussions first, adopt a resolution, and then convene a National Convention in accordance with that resolution.

When DVB contacted Pu Cin Sian Thang, a UNA spokesperson, regarding the
statement he said the UNA had to issue the statement in time for the current ASEAN-Japan Summit in Tokyo and the forthcoming 10-nation forum on Burma in Bangkok so that the local people and the international community would know about their views.

DVB : As far as we know, about 17 ceasefire groups have met with Prime Minister Gen Khin Nyunt in Rangoon and have already chosen the delegates to attend the National Convention. Furthermore, the KNU (Karen National Union) is also in the process of discussing a ceasefire but so far we are not certain of the final outcome. Since these delegates will be joining the National Convention unlike the previous one, what is your opinion of that?

Pu Cin Sian Thang : Well, you cannot say that things have changed. We do not know what principles they are going to apply. All the members of the National Convention Convening Commission were handpicked by the SPDC.The Commission will issue the rules and the procedures and if the National Convention is convened in accordance with such rules and procedures then we cannot say that things have changed.

The next interview was with NLD (National League for Democracy) acting spokesperson U Nyunt Wai.

U Nyunt Wai : We are not worried. They invited the people they want and the people responded. That is their doing. As for us we have to work for our benefit. We also have our own political programmes.

DVB : Yes. According to the news reports the National Convention woul be convened next month. There is also a forum in Bangkok and some national races are expected to attend the National Convention. It seems they are planning to convene the National Convention without the NLD and the UNA, meaning without the representatives elected by the people. If that is the case, how would you proceed?

U Nyunt Wai : First we must decide whether it should or should not be done. The world knows and the UN has already warned the SPDC that for the stability and future development of the country it could not be done by a single person or a group. That condition remains the same. We must act together and we acknowledge that.

Although the views of the elected representatives inside the country are the same, there have been varying views among the opposition groups outside the country. This is the view of Dr Zarni from the Free Burma Coalition (FBC), the group that surprisingly supports the SPDC's road map.

Dr Zarni : Well, we did not support all the seven points of the road map. It is targeted only towards the National Convention because we believe it could lead to the participation of all parties concerned. Moreover, the Burma problem has reached an international level because over 10 countries are coming to Bangkok to discuss the issue.

DVB : We have learned that the UNA, formed with nine ethnic political parties, believed the National Convention is to rejuvenate the one adjourned in 1996. The SPDC also reiterated that. So the UNA said it is unacceptable. The NLD, on the other hand, also said if it is the same like before they will not accept. Does the FBC have the right to support the convention? Will it attend the convention if invited? Does it have the mandate to support it?

Dr Zarni : If the SPDC continue to convene the National Convention with deception like before, it is evident we could not support it. We are not blatantly declaring that we support the National Convention.

When DVB asked Dr Sein Win, prime minister of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, also in Washington, he replied as follows:

Dr Sein Win : Before touching on the subject, we had a conference at Fort Wayne in Indiana attended by 33 groups. The resolution passed at the conference has three points. The first point is we accept the leadership of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD. The second is we would not accept any political change in Burma that is not based on the results of the 1990 elections. The third is we support the CRPP,
Committee Representing People's Parliament. We have all agreed on these three points. The National Convention cannot replace the dialogue process. What is currently lacking in Burma is the dialogue process. If the SPDC continue to detain Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD leaders and the NLD party members, close all the NLD offices, control all the remaining political parties, and persecute the politicians then you just cannot proceed.

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 11 Dec 03

BBC Monitoring Service