DAB Supports 10-Member Committee

[lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Media Release
September 28, 1998

DAB Fully Supports 10-Member Representative Committee

The Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB) heartily welcomes and
fully supports the recent formation of a 10-member Representative
Committee by the National League for Democracy (NLD).  Further,
the DAB calls on the Burmese military regime to begin a process
of dialogue with the Committee if it wishes to avoid
confrontation.

The DAB also fully supports the plans of the Committee to carry
out functions on behalf of Burma's detained MPs and the people of
Burma until a "People's Parliament" can be convened.

The DAB is in full support of the first statement of the
Committee issued on September 17, announcing the formation of the
10-member Representative Committee. The statement announced the
election of Dr U Saw Mra Aung, Member of Parliament and Chairman
of the Arakan League for Democracy, as the President of the
People's Parliament.  The statement also declared invalid the
repressive laws implemented by the military regime since 1988.

251 Members of Parliament (MPs), the majority of whom are being
detained by the military regime, also support the Committee.

The Burmese military has ignored the results of the 1990 election
for the past eight years. Despite this, calls for the
implementation of the election results have been renewed
repeatedly.

As the winning party of the 1990 election, the National League
for Democracy (NLD) has a mandate from the people of Burma.  The
NLD has steadfastly called for the convening of parliament. The
continued repudiation of the election results by the military has
led the NLD finally to initiate actions to convene parliament
itself.

The success of the convening of the People's Parliament rests
entirely with the people of Burma. The DAB calls on the people to
support the plans, functions and actions of the 10-member
Representative Committee in its endeavor to successfully convene
parliament. 

The DAB is a coalition of ethnic nationality groups and
democratic forces founded in 1990 and based in Burma.  It is the
first alliance between ethnic nationalities and Burman
pro-democracy groups.

Central Committee
Democratic Alliance of Burma 

For more information please contact 01-308 2398