Appeal to Democratic Countries & In

[mandalay@xxxxxxxxxx]

Appeal to the International Community

	In consonant with the present situation of Burma, the NLD has taken the
lead in forming the Representative Committee for Parliament, comprising of
10 members, on 16-9-98, and issued Declaration No. (1), dated of 17-9-98.
One of the points in the Declaration has clearly predicated that the
Committee is to function on behalf of Parliament, until Parliament is
convened pursuant to the Election Law. The most important element is the
"delegation of mandate" for matters affecting the whole country.  The
people are the original possessors of sovereignty of a state. In accordance
with the democratic principle that "Sovereign power shall be derived from
the people," the NLD has been entrusted with the mandate, in May 1990
general elections, by citizens of the Union of Burma, for the establishment
of multi-party democratic system, together with the people's parliament.
The delegation of mandate to the 10-member Committee, by members of
Parliament, whom the people have entrusted with the mandate, is legitimate,
valid and in accordance law, governing democratic practices. As 26 of the
original 485 members of parliament have died, 459 remain alive today. Two
hundred and fifty one members of parliament, inside of the country, from
the NLD, including those arbitrarily arrested by the SPDC, and its
fraternal parties have delegated the mandate to the Committee. Therefore,
the Committee is in a position to legitimately carry out programs, on
behalf of the "Parliament," elected in May 1990 elections, for the
implementation of the election results, stage by stage, including the
convening of parliament.  
	At the time when the democratic system will have become well established
and the military dictatorship will have deceased, parliament will be
convened peacefully. However, at the present time, under the circumstances
when the SLORC/SPDC has been using various kinds of repression, the methods
and strategy for the implementation of the election results, and the
realization of the people's will, cannot be the same as those used in a
normal situation. The time now is most favorable for elimination of the
military dictatorship that has dominated Burma for more than 36 years.
Accordingly, I would like to earnestly appeal the democratic countries of
the world and the international community to support the endeavor of the
Committee to perform urgent and necessary tasks, on behalf of Parliament.

Maung Maung Aye
Member of Parliament (NLD)
Member of NCUB Presidium
September 20, 1998