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Junta uses the talks to divert inte



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      Junta is using the current ?talks? to divert the internal and
                        international pressure:

  Junta must release all political prisoners, stop military hostilities
                    and allow freedom of organization
                                                            May 27, 2001
            Today is the 11th Anniversary of the 1990 general elections
in which Burma?s democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi-led National League
for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory, securing more than 82
percent of the parliamentary seats. However, the military regime refuses
to recognize the people?s verdict till today.

Although there have been secret ?talks? going on between Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and the Burmese junta since October last year, the talks remain
shrouded in mystery with the secrecy taken more time than what it should
be. The talks should be transparent to the peoples of Burma so that
people?s participation in the nation-building processes is guaranteed.

Meanwhile, some countries in Asia have initiated steps to relent the
pressure on the Burmese regime without seeing any concrete result from
the ?talks?. The recent announcement of the Japanese government to
consider giving a $24 million aid package to Burmese junta is a
dangerous and premature decision, which will help strengthen the
military dictatorship in Burma.

Therefore, Burma democratic forces around the world are launching a
Global Protest on May 27 calling for more international pressure against
the Burmese junta. As a part of this Global Protest, Burma?s democratic
forces, ethnic nationalities and supporters around the world have issued
the following Joint Statement on the current ?talks? and the 1990
election result.

Apart from political organizations, many individuals including Ko Win
Moe who is one of the founders of ABSDF, have expressed their full
support to the Joint Statement. Political parties, students and youth
organizations of India have also extended their support to the
statement.

Protest rallies and demonstrations are being organized against the
Burmese military regime in some countries including India and USA. In
India, the Burma democratic forces and ethnic nationalities will
organize a public protest in New Delhi on May 27. They will also send a
memorandum to the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi (50-G, Shantipath,
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi ? 110021) in protest of Japanese government?s
recent announcement to consider giving aid to Burmese government.
______________
         Position on the ?talks? (between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the
              military Junta) and the 1990 election verdict

1. We, Burma?s democratic forces who are outside the country, once again
affirm our support to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who is leading and
representing all the Burma?s democratic forces in the ongoing ?talks?
with the Burmese military regime. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the genuine
representative of the entire peoples of Burma, who are struggling for
democracy and human rights in the country.

2. It is now eleven years that the people?s verdict of 1990 general
elections has been denied by the ruling military junta in Burma. The
National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi won a
landslide victory in the elections, securing more than 82 percent of the
parliamentary seats. However, we do not see any sign of implementing the
election?s result by the military junta until today. Unless the verdict
of the peoples shown in the general election is not implemented, we
believe that the general crisis and problems the country facing today
cannot be solved. The Burmese military clique has responsibility for not
implementing the election?s result.

3. The talks, which started in October last year between Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and the Burmese junta, were initially expected as a way out to
implement the result of the 1990 election. The people of Burma and the
international community in general welcomed the talks with cautious
optimism. However, as the talks remain shrouded in mystery, secrecy of
the talks have taken more time than what it should be and there is no
time-frame set, the expectations are gradually on the wane.

4. We can conclude that the present talks do not have any more
difference than the ?talks? which had taken place in the country in 1963
and 1980/81 between the military clique and opposition groups. The then
military establishment also used the talks as to divert the political
crisis it had faced rather than to solve the country?s political
problems. Its main objective has been to continue to hold on power
indefinitely. However, what the Burmese military generals should realize
is that the internal and international situations have changed and it
will not be able to continue to seize power with the ways it did in the
past. The country will be definitely devastated if the ruling military
junta continues to hold on power with force.

5. We strongly believe that the current ?secret talks? between Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi and the military regime is NOT a political negotiation; it
is just a meeting to break the political deadlock. In a political
negotiation, both sides have equal opportunities and can discuss the
matters freely. The developments of the talks should be transparent to
the public. However, the military regime continues to put Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi under house arrest and opposition political leaders are either
being detained or jailed.

6. The National League for Democracy (NLD), which was voted to power,
represents the peoples of Burma. It is illogical to say that the
political ?talks? are going on while the elected Members of Parliament
and leaders of people?s representatives are being detained. The general
crisis the country faces is not because of the conflict among the
individuals or political forces, it is the conflict between the military
clique on one side and the entire peoples of Burma on another side.

7. Therefore, the leaders of NLD have to be allowed to freely talk and
discuss with the people of Burma who voted it to power. Only then that
the people of Burma can participate in nation-building processes. The
people?s participation is crucial in solving the general crisis of the
country. Attempting to solve the country?s problems by ?secretly?
talking and meeting will cause more problems unnecessarily. No political
problem can be solved in a group of people in secret. Only through
transparent and free discussions, a permanent solution to the country?s
problems can be achieved.

8. We believe that the economic and political crisis in the country and
the concrete pressure of the international community including of the
International Labor Organization (ILO) had forced the Burmese military
regime to start the current so-called ?talks? with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
By not making any announcement on the development of the talks, the
Burmese military regime is attempting to get hold of power continuously
rather than wanting to solve the country?s political problems, as the
way it had done in its history of four decades. Therefore, the
democratic forces of Burma, the governments and international community
need to continue and increase pressure and sanctions against the
military junta. Relenting any pressure or extending any assistance to
the military regime without seeing any concrete result from the ?talks?,
in fact, can hamper the process of evolving genuine political dialogues
in Burma. The recent announcement of the Japanese government to consider
giving a $24 million aid package to Burmese junta to help repair a
hydroelectric dam and power project is a dangerous and premature
decision which will help strengthen the military dictatorship in Burma.

9. Therefore, We Burma?s democratic forces in exile urge the followings
to have genuine ?political dialogues? in Burma:

(A) To make the current ?talks? transparent to the peoples of Burma;
Have the peoples the right to freely and openly   discuss about the
talks which are to be based on the result of 1990 elections,
(B) To increase the political pressure within and outside the country
against the Burmese military junta,
(C) To demand the military junta to release all the political prisoners
unconditionally and cease all the military hostilities in the whole
country,
(D) To demand the junta to officially allow all the political parties
function and organize freely.

The statement is endorsed by:

1. All Burma Federation of Student Unions?Foreign Affairs (based in
Thailand) oway@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
2. All Burma Students League (based in India) abslhq1@xxxxxxxxx
3. All Burma Democratic Lushai Women Organization (based in India)
nununge@xxxxxxxxx
4. All Arakan Students and Youth Congress (based in India)
aasyc@xxxxxxxxx
5. All Kachin Students and Youth Union (based in India)
6. All Burma Young Monks? Union (India)
7. Arakan League for Democracy ? Exile (based in India)
8. Burma Democracy Movement Committee (based in Malaysia)
minnkyaw@xxxxxxxxxxx
9. Burma Watch International (based in Canada) alice.khin@xxxxxxxxxxx,
freebury@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
10. Chin National League for Democracy (based in India)
cnld@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
11. Chin Students Union (based in India)
12. Chin Women Organization (based in India) kyikyi7@xxxxxxxxxxx
13. Chin Women Organization / Central (Based in India)
14. Civil Society for Burma (based in USA) hag2_cornell@xxxxxxxxxxx
15. Federation of Trade Unions - Burma ? Western (based in India)
drzaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
16. Free Burma Action Committee (based in Australia) maungt@xxxxxxxxxx
17. Free Burma Coalition - Washington D.C (based in USA)
aungdin@xxxxxxxxxxx
18. Kuki Students Democratic Front (based in India)
19. Kuki Women Human Rights Organization (based in India)
20. Women Rights and Welfare Association of Burma (based in India)
wrwab@xxxxxxxx
21. Zomi Reunification Organization (based in India) zoinfo@xxxxxxxxxx
22. All India Students Federation (Support by Indian students)
23. All India Youth Federation (Support by Indian youth)
24. Students Federation of India (Support by Indian students)
25. All India Forward Bloc (Support by Indian political party)
26. All India Students Bloc (Support by Indian students)
27. All India Youth League (Support by Indian youth)
28. Communist Party of India -Marxist-Leninist -(Liberation) (Support by
Indian party)
29. Samata Party (Support by Indian political party)
30. Democratic Youth Federation of India (Support by Indian youth)



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<center><b><u><font color="#3333FF"><font size=+1>Junta is using the current
?talks? to divert the internal and international pressure:</font></font></u></b>
<p><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+1>Junta must release all political
prisoners, stop military hostilities and allow freedom of organization</font></font></center>

<div align=right>May 27, 2001</div>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Today
is the 11th Anniversary of the 1990 general elections in which Burma?s
democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy (NLD)
won a landslide victory, securing more than 82 percent of the parliamentary
seats. However, the military regime refuses to recognize the people?s verdict
till today.
<p>Although there have been secret ?talks? going on between Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and the Burmese junta since October last year, the talks remain
shrouded in mystery with the secrecy taken more time than what it should
be. The talks should be transparent to the peoples of Burma so that people?s
participation in the nation-building processes is guaranteed.
<p>Meanwhile, some countries in Asia have initiated steps to relent the
pressure on the Burmese regime without seeing any concrete result from
the ?talks?. The recent announcement of the Japanese government to consider
giving a $24 million aid package to Burmese junta is a dangerous and premature
decision, which will help strengthen the military dictatorship in Burma.
<p>Therefore, Burma democratic forces around the world are launching a
Global Protest on May 27 calling for more international pressure against
the Burmese junta. As a part of this Global Protest, Burma?s democratic
forces, ethnic nationalities and supporters around the world have issued
the following Joint Statement on the current ?talks? and the 1990 election
result.
<p>Apart from political organizations, many individuals including Ko Win
Moe who is one of the founders of ABSDF, have expressed their full support
to the Joint Statement. Political parties, students and youth organizations
of India have also extended their support to the statement.
<p>Protest rallies and demonstrations are being organized against the Burmese
military regime in some countries including India and USA. In India, the
Burma democratic forces and ethnic nationalities will organize a public
protest in New Delhi on May 27. They will also send a memorandum to the
Japanese Embassy in New Delhi (50-G, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi
? 110021) in protest of Japanese government?s recent announcement to consider
giving aid to Burmese government.
<br>______________
<center>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <b><u><font color="#3333FF"><font size=+1>Position
on the ?talks? (between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the military Junta) and
the 1990 election verdict</font></font></u></b></center>

<p>1. We, Burma?s democratic forces who are outside the country, once again
affirm our support to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who is leading and representing
all the Burma?s democratic forces in the ongoing ?talks? with the Burmese
military regime. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the genuine representative of
the entire peoples of Burma, who are struggling for democracy and human
rights in the country.
<p>2. It is now eleven years that the people?s verdict of 1990 general
elections has been denied by the ruling military junta in Burma. The National
League for Democracy (NLD) led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi won a landslide
victory in the elections, securing more than 82 percent of the parliamentary
seats. However, we do not see any sign of implementing the election?s result
by the military junta until today. Unless the verdict of the peoples shown
in the general election is not implemented, we believe that the general
crisis and problems the country facing today cannot be solved. The Burmese
military clique has responsibility for not implementing the election?s
result.
<p>3. The talks, which started in October last year between Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and the Burmese junta, were initially expected as a way out to
implement the result of the 1990 election. The people of Burma and the
international community in general welcomed the talks with cautious optimism.
However, as the talks remain shrouded in mystery, secrecy of the talks
have taken more time than what it should be and there is no time-frame
set, the expectations are gradually on the wane.
<p>4. We can conclude that the present talks do not have any more difference
than the ?talks? which had taken place in the country in 1963 and 1980/81
between the military clique and opposition groups. The then military establishment
also used the talks as to divert the political crisis it had faced rather
than to solve the country?s political problems. Its main objective has
been to continue to hold on power indefinitely. However, what the Burmese
military generals should realize is that the internal and international
situations have changed and it will not be able to continue to seize power
with the ways it did in the past. The country will be definitely devastated
if the ruling military junta continues to hold on power with force.
<p>5. We strongly believe that the current ?secret talks? between Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi and the military regime is NOT a political negotiation; it
is just a meeting to break the political deadlock. In a political negotiation,
both sides have equal opportunities and can discuss the matters freely.
The developments of the talks should be transparent to the public. However,
the military regime continues to put Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest
and opposition political leaders are either being detained or jailed.
<p>6. The National League for Democracy (NLD), which was voted to power,
represents the peoples of Burma. It is illogical to say that the political
?talks? are going on while the elected Members of Parliament and leaders
of people?s representatives are being detained. The general crisis the
country faces is not because of the conflict among the individuals or political
forces, it is the conflict between the military clique on one side and
the entire peoples of Burma on another side.
<p>7. Therefore, the leaders of NLD have to be allowed to freely talk and
discuss with the people of Burma who voted it to power. Only then that
the people of Burma can participate in nation-building processes. The people?s
participation is crucial in solving the general crisis of the country.
Attempting to solve the country?s problems by ?secretly? talking and meeting
will cause more problems unnecessarily. No political problem can be solved
in a group of people in secret. Only through transparent and free discussions,
a permanent solution to the country?s problems can be achieved.
<p>8. We believe that the economic and political crisis in the country
and the concrete pressure of the international community including of the
International Labor Organization (ILO) had forced the Burmese military
regime to start the current so-called ?talks? with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
By not making any announcement on the development of the talks, the Burmese
military regime is attempting to get hold of power continuously rather
than wanting to solve the country?s political problems, as the way it had
done in its history of four decades. Therefore, the democratic forces of
Burma, the governments and international community need to continue and
increase pressure and sanctions against the military junta. Relenting any
pressure or extending any assistance to the military regime without seeing
any concrete result from the ?talks?, in fact, can hamper the process of
evolving genuine political dialogues in Burma. The recent announcement
of the Japanese government to consider giving a $24 million aid package
to Burmese junta to help repair a hydroelectric dam and power project is
a dangerous and premature decision which will help strengthen the military
dictatorship in Burma.
<p>9. Therefore, We Burma?s democratic forces in exile urge the followings
to have genuine ?political dialogues? in Burma:
<p>(A) To make the current ?talks? transparent to the peoples of Burma;
Have the peoples the right to freely and openly&nbsp;&nbsp; discuss about
the talks which are to be based on the result of 1990 elections,
<br>(B) To increase the political pressure within and outside the country
against the Burmese military junta,
<br>(C) To demand the military junta to release all the political prisoners
unconditionally and cease all the military hostilities in the whole country,
<br>(D) To demand the junta to officially allow all the political parties
function and organize freely.
<p><b><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+2>The statement is endorsed by:</font></font></b>
<p>1. All Burma Federation of Student Unions?Foreign Affairs (based in
Thailand) <font color="#3333FF">oway@xxxxxxxxxxxxx</font>
<br>2. All Burma Students League (based in India) <font color="#3366FF">abslhq1@xxxxxxxxx</font>
<br>3. All Burma Democratic Lushai Women Organization (based in India)
<font color="#3333FF">nununge@xxxxxxxxx</font>
<br>4. All Arakan Students and Youth Congress (based in India) <font color="#3366FF">aasyc@xxxxxxxxx</font>
<br>5. All Kachin Students and Youth Union (based in India)
<br>6. All Burma Young Monks? Union (India)
<br>7. Arakan League for Democracy ? Exile (based in India)
<br>8. Burma Democracy Movement Committee (based in Malaysia) <font color="#3333FF">minnkyaw@xxxxxxxxxxx</font>
<br>9. Burma Watch International (based in Canada) <font color="#3333FF">alice.khin@xxxxxxxxxxx</font>,
<font color="#3333FF">freebury@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx</font>
<br>10. Chin National League for Democracy (based in India) <font color="#3333FF">cnld@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</font>
<br>11. Chin Students Union (based in India)
<br>12. Chin Women Organization (based in India) <font color="#3333FF">kyikyi7@xxxxxxxxxxx</font>
<br>13. Chin Women Organization / Central (Based in India)
<br>14. Civil Society for Burma (based in USA) <font color="#3333FF">hag2_cornell@xxxxxxxxxxx</font>
<br>15. Federation of Trade Unions - Burma ? Western (based in India) <font color="#3333FF">drzaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</font>
<br>16. Free Burma Action Committee (based in Australia) <font color="#3333FF">maungt@xxxxxxxxxx</font>
<br>17. Free Burma Coalition - Washington D.C (based in USA) <font color="#3333FF">aungdin@xxxxxxxxxxx</font>
<br>18. Kuki Students Democratic Front (based in India)
<br>19. Kuki Women Human Rights Organization (based in India)
<br>20. Women Rights and Welfare Association of Burma (based in India)
<font color="#3333FF">wrwab@xxxxxxxx</font>
<br>21. Zomi Reunification Organization (based in India) <font color="#3333FF">zoinfo@xxxxxxxxxx</font>
<br>22. All India Students Federation (Support by Indian students)
<br>23. All India Youth Federation (Support by Indian youth)
<br>24. Students Federation of India (Support by Indian students)
<br>25. All India Forward Bloc (Support by Indian political party)
<br>26. All India Students Bloc (Support by Indian students)
<br>27. All India Youth League (Support by Indian youth)
<br>28. Communist Party of India -Marxist-Leninist -(Liberation) (Support
by Indian party)
<br>29. Samata Party (Support by Indian political party)
<br>30. Democratic Youth Federation of India (Support by Indian youth)
<p>&nbsp;</html>

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