Politics

A five-day lobby trip to London and Rome, 1-5 July, by two non-Burman representatives, Shan and Karen, had been summed up as a successful one, according to a report received by S.H.A.N. on Sunday (6 July).

Sai Wansai, General Secretary of Shan Democratic Union and Saw Sarky, Central Committee member of Karen National Union, who visited the United Kingdom, 1-3 July, and Italy, 4-5 July, reported the freedom of the National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be the first priority of both countries as well as the European Union.

Mrs. Margherita Boniver, Italian deputy Foreign Minister told them: "It goes without saying we will do everything in our capacity to free Aung San Suu Kyi and push for democratization and reconciliation within the mold of EU. And all pressures will be applied to reach this end."

She also informed "the inseparable duo" of Italy's decision not to send in the Troika team if Aung San Suu Kyi was not released. "She also said she would be pushing for UN Security Council consideration of Burma issue with the EU backing," reports Wansai. "She would talk to Razali (Ismail, UN special envoy to Burma) about this."

Italy has just assumed presidency of the European Union from the outgoing president, Greece.

The two, during their meetings, had also urged international community to ponder the following measures, "if all other options have been exhausted":

Severance of diplomatic relations with the junta

Declaration of the junta as an illegitimate regime with no mandate to govern

Expulsion of the junta's UN mission

Replacement of the junta's UN representatives with those from the democratic and ethnic opposition

Large-scale support for the democratic and ethnic opposition

Apart from the foreign ministry officials, the two-man delegation met, in England, Edward Leigh, MP, who was "willing to help"; Lord Alton, who was "very well informed." and "pushing for the setting up of an international criminal tribunal to try Burma's military regime;" Baroness Caroline Cox, who "invited (us) to the House of Lords Restaurant" and, in Italy, Mr Ugo Papi of the main opposition Left Party.

The BBC World Service, Burmese Section, also interviewed Wansai. In reply to the BBC interview's question, "Why is tripartite dialogue crucial?", he was reported to have said: "The ethnic represents more than 40% of the population and 60% of the landmass and without them there would be no solution."

Saw Sarky's intervew in Karen by the Democratic Voice of Burma, in the meanwhile, is to be aired today, according to the Karen representative.

Non-Burman movements, most of which had started out on a total independence platform, have now declared they are ready to settle for a genuine federal structure. This acceptance has come mainly through the prevailing international mood against dismemberment of the existing state on the one hand and not wanting to fight an uphill battle for international support and recognition for independence on the other, according to the trip report.

Wansai and Saw Sarky had, during the past two years, already covered Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Greece "in their deliberation to build awareness of the non-Burman political position."

For further information, please contact Wansai shan-eu@onlinehome.de.