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Fw: 'Letter to UN Secretary-General

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-----Original Message-----
To: Reg.burma@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <Reg.burma@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: aung <aung@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wednesday, March 04, 1998 9:26 PM
Subject: Fw: 'Letter to UN Secretary-General'


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                                                                         =
                                        36 Phillips Street
AUBURN NSW 2144
Sydney Australia
Ph:/Fax: 61 2 9646 1015
=20
=20
2 February 1998
=20
His Excellency Kofi Annan
Secretary-General
United Nations
New York =20
NY 10017 USA
=20
Dear Excellency,
=20
I wish to thank you for your sincere efforts to date to assist the =
peaceful resolution of the political crisis in Burma, caused by the =
military dictarship's refusal to hand over power to those democratically =
elected in the 1990 general elections.
=20
As a past Chairman of my political party (Lahu National Development =
Party) and MP-elect for Mong Ping Constitutency, I wish to give my =
opinion on a matter concerning the UN, and to provide information on the =
strtucture and the process of the National Convention.

I was surprised and gravely concerned to read that the UN Assistant =
Secretary-General Alvaro de Soto, who recently visited Burma, was going =
to urge the State Peace and Development Council to speed up the drafting =
of the new constitution as a prelude to holding free and fair elections.

It is my understanding that these reported intentions as cited above =
were not discussed with the democracy parties, including the National =
League for Democracy and the ethnic nationalities representatives.  They =
did not form part of the resolution passed recently at the UN General =
Assembly.

Even though the then SLORC refused to transfer power after the 1990 =
elections and they manipulated the make-up of the Natonal Convention to =
maintain control, I and others including my good friend and political =
colleague Khon Mahn Ko Bahn, the NCGUB Minister for Ethnic Affairs, =
participated to show our good will.

This was abused and the National Convention was and is still nothing =
more than the generals' attempt to legitimise their illegitimate rule.  =
Others and I have condemned it as a sham.  (Please see my enclosed =
analysis of this.)

 Delegates were denied freedom of speech at all levels of the Convention =
and we were denied information and expertise, which would have =
facilitated the process.  Dialogue was not and is still not  something =
they want to embrace.
=20
I reached a point where I could no longer participate because of the =
absolute farce that was the National Convention.  Because of my decision =
I then feared for my family's and my own safety, and had to flee Burma =
on foot.  After trials and tribulations we have now settled in =
Australia.
=20
So in essence, I cannot see a constitution emanating from the National =
Convention enjoying the support of the people and peoples.

The information I currently have and which has previously been forwarded =
to the UN and other bodies is that the military's manipulation of the =
National Convention structure and process remains as it was when I =
abandoned it.  It is the experience of mine plus that of others that =
leads me to conclude that if the military were to have the endorsement =
of the UN to promulgate their constitution the peoples would feel =
betrayed.=20

I refuse to believe that the UN would pursue the other reported option =
of the holding of fresh "free and fair' elections.  This report did =
astonish me.  Again the people would feel betrayed by the UN, which is a =
body that they do look up to for moral leadership.

As politicians we know there are practical issues about transferring =
power to those democratically elected in the 1990 elections, as some =
have died (the generals had a helping hand with some) and others have =
resigned.  Moreover, there are ways this can be done, with genuine =
dialogue.

Is genuine dialogue too much to ask?  I request that you continue to =
vigorously pursue this course of option.  Without this there will not be =
lasting peace in Burma.

If the reports are correct I strongly ask you to reconsider pursuing =
this course of action, partricularly without tripartite agreement.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Daniel Aung


(The following is the response):

UNITED NATIONS   XXX   NATIONS UNIES
=20
                                                                         =
                                                                         =
                              17 February 1998=20


Dear Mr. Aung,

We are in receipt of your letter dated 2 February 1998 addressed to the =
Secretary-General expressing your concerns over the Secretafry-General's =
Envoy, Mr. Alvaro de Soto's visit to Myanmar=20

I would like to assure you that Mr. de Soto has not  urged the State =
Peace and Development Council to speed up the drafting of the new =
constitution nor discussed about elections in Myanmar.  We have stuck to =
discussisng matters raised in the General Assembly resolution on the =
situation of human rights in Myanmar.  I am aware that there have been =
media reports which have inaccurately reported on what discussions we =
have with the government of Myanmar.

I thank you for your support to the Secretary-General's  good offices =
efforts in Myanmar.

Sincerely yours,

Hiroko Miyamuyra=20
Political Affairs Officer
Asia and Pacific Division=20
Deparrtment of Political Affairs


Mr. Daniel Aung=20
Auburn, New South Wales
                                                                         =
                 =20


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<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><B>-----Original =
Message-----</B><BR><B>From:=20
</B>aung &lt;<A =
href=3D"mailto:aung@xxxxxxxxxx";>aung@xxxxxxxxxx</A>&gt;<BR><B>To:=20
</B><A =
href=3D"mailto:Reg.burma@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx";>Reg.burma@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</A>=
=20
&lt;<A=20
href=3D"mailto:Reg.burma@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx";>Reg.burma@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</A>=
&gt;<BR><B>Cc:=20
</B>aung &lt;<A=20
href=3D"mailto:aung@xxxxxxxxxx";>aung@xxxxxxxxxx</A>&gt;<BR><B>Date: =
</B>Wednesday,=20
March 04, 1998 9:26 PM<BR><B>Subject: </B>Fw: 'Letter to UN=20
Secretary-General'<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
36 Phillips Street</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>AUBURN NSW =
2144</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Sydney =
Australia</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Ph:/Fax: 61 2 9646=20
1015</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT size=3D3>2 February =
1998</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT size=3D3>His Excellency Kofi=20
Annan</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT size=3D3></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3>Secretary-General</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT size=3D3></FONT><FONT =
size=3D3>United=20
Nations</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT size=3D3></FONT><FONT =
size=3D3>New=20
York&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT size=3D3></FONT><FONT =
size=3D3>NY 10017=20
USA</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT size=3D3>Dear=20
Excellency,</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT =
color=3D#000000=20
size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT size=3D3>I wish to thank you =
for your=20
sincere efforts to date to assist the peaceful resolution of the =
political=20
crisis in Burma, caused by the military dictarship's refusal to hand =
over power=20
to those democratically elected in the 1990 general=20
elections.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2><FONT =
size=3D3></FONT></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>As a past Chairman of my political party (Lahu National Development =
Party)=20
and MP-elect for Mong Ping Constitutency, I wish to give my opinion on a =
matter=20
concerning the UN, and to provide information on the strtucture and the =
process=20
of the National Convention.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>I was surprised and gravely concerned to read that the UN Assistant =

Secretary-General Alvaro de Soto, who recently visited Burma, was going =
to urge=20
the State Peace and Development Council to speed up the drafting of the =
new=20
constitution as a prelude to holding free and fair elections.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>It is my understanding that these reported intentions as cited =
above were=20
not discussed with the democracy parties, including the National League =
for=20
Democracy and the ethnic nationalities representatives.&nbsp; They did =
not form=20
part of the resolution passed recently at the UN General Assembly.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Even though the then SLORC refused to transfer power after the 1990 =

elections and they manipulated the make-up of the Natonal Convention to =
maintain=20
control, I and others including my good friend and political colleague =
Khon Mahn=20
Ko Bahn, the NCGUB Minister for Ethnic Affairs, participated to show our =
good=20
will.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>This was abused and the National Convention was and is still =
nothing more=20
than the generals' attempt to legitimise their illegitimate rule.&nbsp; =
Others=20
and I have condemned it as a sham.&nbsp; (Please see my enclosed =
analysis of=20
this.)</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3>&nbsp;<FONT color=3D#000000>Delegates were denied =
freedom of=20
speech at all levels of the Convention and we were denied information =
and=20
expertise, which would have facilitated the process.&nbsp; Dialogue was =
not and=20
is still not&nbsp; something they want to embrace.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000><FONT size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3>I reached a point where I could no longer =
participate because=20
of the absolute farce that was the National Convention.&nbsp; Because of =
my=20
decision I then feared for my family's and my own safety, and had to =
flee Burma=20
on foot.&nbsp; After trials and tribulations we have now settled in=20
Australia.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>So in essence, I cannot see a constitution emanating from the =
National=20
Convention enjoying the support of the people and peoples.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>The information I currently have and which has previously been =
forwarded to=20
the UN and other bodies is that the military's manipulation of the =
National=20
Convention structure and process remains as it was when I abandoned =
it.&nbsp; It=20
is the experience of mine plus that of others that leads me to conclude =
that if=20
the military were to have the endorsement of the UN to promulgate their=20
constitution the peoples would feel betrayed.&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>I refuse to believe that the UN would pursue the other reported =
option of=20
the holding of fresh &quot;free and fair' elections.&nbsp; This report =
did=20
astonish me.&nbsp; Again the people would feel betrayed by the UN, which =
is a=20
body that they do look up to for moral leadership.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>As politicians we know there are practical issues about =
transferring power=20
to those democratically elected in the 1990 elections, as some have died =
(the=20
generals had a helping hand with some) and others have resigned.&nbsp; =
Moreover,=20
there are ways this can be done, with genuine dialogue.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Is genuine dialogue too much to ask?&nbsp; I request that you =
continue to=20
vigorously pursue this course of option.&nbsp; Without this there will =
not be=20
lasting peace in Burma.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>If the reports are correct I strongly ask you to reconsider =
pursuing this=20
course of action, partricularly without tripartite agreement.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>I look forward to hearing from you.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Yours sincerely</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Daniel Aung</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>(The following is the response):</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><STRONG>UNITED NATIONS&nbsp;&nbsp; XXX&nbsp;&nbsp; =
NATIONS=20
UNIES</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dcenter><STRONG></STRONG>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV align=3Dright>&nbsp;<FONT color=3D#000000=20
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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 17 February 1998</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV align=3Dright>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV align=3Dright>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Dear Mr. Aung,</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>We are in receipt of your letter dated 2 February 1998 addressed to =
the=20
Secretary-General expressing your concerns over the Secretafry-General's =
Envoy,=20
Mr. Alvaro de Soto's visit to Myanmar&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>I would like to assure you that Mr. de Soto has not&nbsp; urged the =
State=20
Peace and Development Council to speed up the drafting of the new =
constitution=20
nor discussed about elections in Myanmar.&nbsp; We have stuck to =
discussisng=20
matters raised in the General Assembly resolution on the situation of =
human=20
rights in Myanmar.&nbsp; I am aware that there have been media reports =
which=20
have inaccurately reported on what discussions we have with the =
government of=20
Myanmar.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>I thank you for your support to the Secretary-General's&nbsp; good =
offices=20
efforts in Myanmar.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Sincerely yours,</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000><FONT size=3D3>Hiroko =
Miyamuyra</FONT></FONT><FONT=20
size=3D3></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000><FONT size=3D3></FONT></FONT><FONT =
size=3D3>Political=20
Affairs Officer</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D3></FONT>Asia and Pacific Division&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Deparrtment of Political Affairs</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Mr. Daniel Aung </DIV>
<DIV>Auburn, New South Wales</DIV>
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