UN must press junta to embrace the NLD’s gesture of goodwill(01/05/2009)

01 May 2009

UN must press junta to embrace the NLD’s gesture of goodwill

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) warmly welcomes the National League for Democracy (NLD)’s Shwegondaing Declaration issued on 29 April 2009.

We embrace the NLD’s gesture of goodwill in an effort to resolve the crisis in Burma. The door is open for reconciliation and hopefully both the NLD and the Military Junta can come to amicable terms in a timely and progressive way.

Due to unfortunate events in the past (BDC) cautiously anticipates that junta will come to a positive resolution with the proposal made by the NLD with only 8 months left before 2010 time is of the essence. When both parties come to terms with proposal there will be much work to do before the election. In earnest we urge the junta to respond to this most important matter with all sincerity.

“The International Community must work progressively with Senior General Than Shwe to establish a genuine dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and democracy factions during the remainder of 2009”, said Myo Thein, Director at the Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) in United Kingdom.

The International Community should be made aware of the hopelessly irreconcilable contents of the constitution adopted in 2008. The referendum was ushered into existence under questionable conditions summarily giving the military junta 25% of the parliamentary seats, unbridled authoritarian control and legitimizing the military dictatorship. This is incomprehensible and totally unacceptable.

It should not be forgotten that in spite of promises made by the military junta in 1990 they did not relinquish power when they lost the election. Even though Aung San Suu Kyi and her party won a landslide victory the junta chose to ignore the election results and the voice of the people of Burma.

Concerns are being raised that even if the NLD were win the 2010 elections are we to assume that junta will relinquish power? Or will this be a repeat of the disaster that occurred in 1990? And if the junta does not accept the election results what, if any, recourse will International Community take?

“In light of the harsh realities of the past we cannot automatically assuming that junta will quietly hand over power to the NLD if they win the next election. Though this would be most welcome it would be more like day dreaming in reality”, added Khin Maung Win, Director at the Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) at United States.

NLD also declared its road map, striving to have progressive dialogue, and established a protocol for the 2010 election.

"If the military junta doesn’t agree to the NLD’s counter proposals intensifies its harassment and arrests of its membership then declares the organization illegal what will the UN, EU, and International Community do?", said Kyaw Lin Oo, Director at the Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) in Thailand.

For more information contact on

Myo Thein
00 44 787 788 2386
[United Kingdom]

Khin Maung Win
00 194196126 22
[United States]

Kyaw Lin Oo
00 6684107 9352
[Thailand]