Ban stresses vital role of South-East Asian nations regarding Myanmar

26 September 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed the important role of South-East Asian nations in encouraging Myanmar to do what is in the best interests of its people and of the wider region.
Addressing a gathering at UN Headquarters of the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Mr. Ban said Myanmar has an opportunity to demonstrate to its people and to the international community its clear commitment to an inclusive political transition.
“It is an opportunity Myanmar should not miss,” Mr. Ban said, adding that ASEAN countries have an important role to play in this effort – first and foremost to ensure the well-being of the people of Myanmar, but also in the wider interest of peace and security in the region.
In a report released this week, Mr. Ban voiced disappointment and concern that meaningful steps have yet to be taken by the Myanmar Government following the recent visit by his Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari, and called the house arrest of opposition leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi “a serious setback to the prospects of genuine national reconciliation, democratic transition and the rule of law.”
He told ASEAN leaders that it is important that Myanmar responds to the concerns of the international community in a timely and concrete manner.
“The recent release of a number of political prisoners as part of the larger amnesty announced last week, while a step in the right direction, falls short of expectations,” he stated.
“Our collective interest is to find ways to encourage Myanmar to free Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners, start a genuine political dialogue and create conditions conducive to credible elections.”
In addition, he stated that next year’s election – the first in two decades – must be held in an inclusive and credible manner if they are to advance stability, democracy, reconciliation, national development and respect for human rights.
“The international community must send a strong, unified message,” he stated.
Mr. Ban made a similar call earlier in the week when he convened a meeting of the Group of Friends on Myanmar, comprising 14 countries and the European Union.
Participants at today’s meeting had a “productive, frank and wide-ranging exchange of views” on a range of issues of common concern, according to a joint press statement issued after the gathering.
“The meeting stressed the importance of nurturing an effective partnership between ASEAN and the UN that will help both organizations address effectively the challenges affecting Southeast Asia and the world.”

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Myanmar must act now to promote democracy or face years of instability – Ban

24 September 2009 – The time has come for Myanmar’s leaders to make “clear and fundamental choices” – release democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners and hold legitimate elections or else face generations of instability and poverty – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today.
“It is up to them to choose how to respond to the aspirations of their people and to the expectations and encouragement of the international community,” he says in his latest report on the situation of human rights in Myanmar to the General Assembly. “I believe that this choice may determine the prospects for peace, democracy and prosperity for the coming generations.”
Mr. Ban voices disappointment and concern that meaningful steps have yet to be taken by the Myanmar Government following the recent visit by his Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari, calling the house arrest of Ms. Suu Kyi “a serious setback to the prospects of genuine national reconciliation, democratic transition and the rule of law…
“The Government’s failure to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is a missed opportunity for Myanmar to signal its commitment to a new era of political openness,” he adds, laying out three immediate concerns that must be addressed to ensure the credibility of the political process, with elections scheduled for next year.
These are: the release of all political prisoners and their free participation in political life; the commencement of dialogue between the Government, the opposition and ethnic stakeholders; and the creation of conditions conducive to credible and legitimate elections.
“Now is the time for the Myanmar Government to address these concerns in order to ensure that the political process serves the interest of all of the people of Myanmar, in a way that is unifying rather than divisive and that is broadly acceptable to the international community,” he writes.
“In this regard, I expect that the Government will take the necessary steps consistent with its commitments to ensure that the elections are fully inclusive, participatory and transparent, and are prepared and conducted in accordance with international standards.”
He also calls on the Government, in cooperation with the international community, to move from ceasefire agreements with a majority of armed ethnic groups to durable peace.
“This requires the exercise by both sides of maximum flexibility in negotiations that must be responsive to their respective concerns and interests, including those on the future status of armed groups, addressing of local development needs and curtailment of criminal activities in border areas,” he says.
“Equally important to the prospects of durable peace and democracy is the need to address the pressing humanitarian and socio-economic challenges facing the people of Myanmar,” he adds, calling for unlocking the country’s economic potential and harnessing Myanmar to rapid advances taking place elsewhere in the region to overcome poverty, raise living standards, promote social peace and pave the way for broader change.
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Myanmar: Ban calls for international action to help ensure credible elections

23 September 2009 – Myanmar’s friends and neighbours must “do more in the best interests of Myanmar and its people” by persuading the Government to hold credible elections next year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.
“We will work hard for democracy, national reconciliation and human rights in Myanmar,” Mr. Ban said as he convened a meeting of the Group of Friends on Myanmar, comprising 14 countries and one regional bloc.
“The year 2010 will be a critical year for Myanmar. The first planned election in 20 years must be held in an inclusive and credible manner to advance prospects for stability, democracy and national development,” he added in a statement read to the media by his Special Adviser, Ibrahim Gambari.
Mr. Ban cited three important aspects for action by the Friends. First, they should urge Myanmar to work with the UN to ensure an inclusive process of dialogue and create the necessary conditions for credible elections.
Second, they should uphold the UN role with regard to Myanmar’s immediate and long-term challenges since the Organization has invaluable experience in fostering national reconciliation, promoting respect for human rights, supporting sustainable development and helping countries make the transition to democracy.
Finally, they should signal the international community’s willingness to help the people of Myanmar address the political, humanitarian and development challenges they face.
As he did last week, Mr. Ban called the recent release of some political prisoners a step in the right direction, but one that did not go far enough. All political prisoners must be released, including democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, he said.
The Group of Friends, founded in December 2007, represents a balanced range of views on Myanmar and was established to hold informal discussions and develop shared approaches to support UN efforts. Its members are Australia, China, the European Union, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Russia, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Viet Nam.

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SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON MYANMAR

The following Security Council press statement on Myanmar was read out today by Council President John Sawers ( United Kingdom):
The members of the Security Council reaffirm their statements of 11 October 2007, 2 May 2008 and 22 May 2009 on Myanmar, and reiterate the importance of the release of all political prisoners.
In this context, the members of the Security Council express serious concern at the conviction and sentencing of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and its political impact.
The members of the Security Council note the decision of the Government of Myanmar to reduce Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s sentence and urge the Government of Myanmar to take further measures to create the necessary conditions for a genuine dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all concerned parties and ethnic groups in order to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation.
The members of the Security Council reiterate their support for the good offices role of the Secretary-General.
The members of the Security Council affirm their commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar, and in that context, reiterate that the future of Myanmar lies in the hands of all of its people.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Secretary-General, in Statement to Media Following Meeting on Myanmar,Calls for Prisoners’ Release, Reconciliation, Human Rights

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s statement to the media on the high-level meeting of the Group of Friends on Myanmar, read by Ibrahim Gambari, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General, in New York today, 23 September:
Today I convened the second meeting of the Group of Friends on Myanmar at the level of Foreign Ministers. The high turnout demonstrates the strong collective interest of all the Friends in the future of Myanmar, and reaffirms the broad support for my good offices.
The year 2010 will be a critical year for Myanmar. The first planned election in 20 years must be held in an inclusive and credible manner to advance prospects for stability, democracy and national development.
As I said today in my address to the General Assembly, we will work hard for democracy, national reconciliation and human rights in Myanmar. The release of some political prisoners last week is a step in the right direction, but it falls short of our expectations. All political prisoners must be released -- including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Our meeting today has given the Group of Friends an opportunity to consolidate unity of purpose and action in three important respects, and I call on the Friends, especially Myanmar’s friends and neighbours, to do more in the best interests of Myanmar and its people.
First, to urge Myanmar to work with the United Nations to ensure an inclusive process of dialogue and create the necessary conditions for credible elections consistent with the five-point agenda that the Group of Friends has endorsed, and with the proposals that I left with Myanmar’s senior leadership during my recent visit.
Second, to uphold the role of the United Nations with regard to Myanmar’s immediate and long-term challenges. The United Nations has invaluable experience in fostering national reconciliation, promoting respect for human rights, supporting sustainable development and helping countries make the transition to democracy.
Third, to signal the international community’s willingness to help the people of Myanmar address the political, humanitarian and development challenges they face, in parallel and with equal attention, and in particular to advance the Millennium Development Goals. But, Myanmar needs to help us to help them.
I am encouraged by the constructive spirit of the discussions so far. I welcome the willingness of the Friends to make joint efforts towards national reconciliation, a democratic transition and genuine respect for human rights in Myanmar.

Secretary Clinton's remarks on engagement with Burma while at the United Nations

Remarks At United Nations After P-5+1 Meeting

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateUnited Nations
New York City
September 23, 2009
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SECRETARY CLINTON: (In progress) to give you brief readouts on two meetings this afternoon. The first was a meeting I participated in called by Security Council Ban Ki-moon about the policies and approaches toward Burma. A number of countries were represented, and I reported that our policy process, which has been underway for some time now, is almost complete, and I gave a preview.
I had announced this review back in February, and the major messages are as follows. First, the basic objectives are not changed. We want credible, democratic reform; a government that respond to the needs of the Burmese people; immediate, unconditional release of political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi; serious dialogue with the opposition and minority ethnic groups. We believe that sanctions remain important as part of our policy, but by themselves, they have not produced the results that had been hoped for on behalf of the people of Burma.
Engagement versus sanctions is a false choice, in our opinion. So going forward, we will be employing both of those tools, pursuing our same goals. And to help achieve democratic reform, we will be engaging directly with Burmese authorities. This is a policy that has broad consensus across our government, and there will be more to report as we go forward.
Secondly, most of you were here when Foreign Minister Miliband read out the statement that has been negotiated among the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, China, Russia, and of course, the European Union as represented by the High Representative Javier Solana. Let me just make four points about this statement, which I hope you will get a copy of and peruse, because I think it’s a very powerful statement that expresses these specific agreements.
First, the group remains united in pressing Iran to comply with its international obligations on its nuclear program, and it has serious concerns about Iran’s lack of compliance to date, particularly on the unanswered questions about the possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program.
Secondly, the countries remain united in support of a dual track of engagement and pressure as a means of persuading Iran to comply with its obligations.
Thirdly, the ministers expressed a clear expectation that Iran should come to the talks on October 1st, ready to engage in serious and substantive discussions with a sense of urgency and a review of the practical steps that need to be taken on the nuclear issue, and that we will decide next steps on the basis of the meeting’s outcome.
And finally, we are committed to this dual-track policy. No one should underestimate our intention to follow through on either or both of these tracks. It depends on Iran’s response. And some of you have heard me say this numerous times – this process is now firmly up to Iran. It is Iran’s choice as to how they choose to proceed. And we are looking to the meeting on October 1st to get a clear indication of their intentions.
So those are the two meetings that I know have particular interest to a number of you, that I wanted to give you quick readout.

Mark

QUESTION: Secretary Clinton, did you discuss in any detail enhanced sanctions, and did you sound out the Chinese and the Russians as to their willingness to join, if necessary, the first part if your dual strategy doesn’t produce results?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Mark, we have agreed among us that we’re not going to go beyond what is in this statement, because the statement represents a very significant level of agreement among all of us. It clearly references the dual-track policy, and it clearly references consequences. So I think that we will now await the results of the October 1st meeting and take stock at that time.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, how exactly --
SECRETARY CLINTON: Matt – Matt?

QUESTION: How exactly do you intend to engage directly with the Burmese authorities?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, again, we will be offering more specifics about that. But I wanted to preview this policy for our partners in the Friends of Burma group, and also to signal that the United States will be moving in a direction of both engagement and continued sanctions, to be sure that the Burmese leaders – some of whom, as you know, are in our country or about to come to our country – understand where we are in our policy review process.

Yeah.

QUESTION: Secretary Clinton, what specifically do you need to see from Iran after this talk for them to avoid consequences? When you say you want a clear indication of their intentions, what do you need to see?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I will speak for myself and for our Administration. As we have said consistently, we want to see a serious effort by Iran to discuss the nuclear issue, which we are putting on the table, as we have made clear in this statement. And we are also looking for Iran to recognize that they are at a turning point. They have a choice to make. We have consistently said that Iran is entitled to peaceful nuclear power. They are not entitled to a nuclear weapons program. They do have rights, which we are willing to respect and recognize. But they also have responsibilities.
And as we set forth in this agreement, the serious concerns of the international community have been set out in five separate Security Council resolutions. So it is time for Iran to engage with the international community – this process is set up to do that – and for them to accept the opinion of the international community as referenced in this statement that they need to make clear their nuclear program, invite the IAEA in to see everything, and work toward peaceful nuclear energy that can be verified and completely accepted by the international community. Thank you.

Myanmar's Suu Kyi said to welcome new US approach

YANGON, Myanmar – Detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi welcomes a U.S. initiative to step up contacts with Myanmar's military government, a spokesman for her political party said Thursday.

Nyan Win, spokesman for the National League for Democracy party, said Suu Kyi agreed with plans announced by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Obama administration to engage in direct high-level talks with the junta as part of efforts to promote democracy in Myanmar.

Washington has for many years taken a hard-line approach toward the junta, applying political and economic sanctions while trying to keep it isolated.

Nyan Win spoke after he met Suu Kyi at her home, where she is serving her latest term of house arrest. He and other lawyers are involved in her appeal of her 18-month sentence for violating the terms of her previous house arrest by allowing an uninvited American visitor in May to stay for two days.

Suu Kyi "said she accepted the idea of engagement by the U.S. administration. She said she has always espoused engagement, however, (she) suggested that engagement had to be done with both sides _ the government as well as the democratic forces," Nyan Win said.

Clinton announced the new U.S. approach Wednesday at the United Nations after meeting with counterparts from a number of countries that are trying to convince Myanmar's authoritarian regime to reform, allow dissent and release thousands of political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi.

Clinton said U.S. sanctions against members of Myanmar's leadership would remain in place but that those measures would now be accompanied by outreach. For months, Clinton had lamented that the sanctions alone were having little impact.

"We believe that sanctions remain important as part of our policy, but by themselves they have not produced the results that had been hoped for on behalf of the people of Burma," Clinton told reporters, using the country's traditional name.

"Engagement versus sanctions is a false choice in our opinion," she said. "So, going forward we will be employing both of those tools, pursuing our same goals."

AP - Friday, September 25

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Burmese Opposition Supports New U.S. Approach
By SETH MYDANS
Published: September 24, 2009

BANGKOK — The decision by the United States to engage the ruling junta in Myanmar drew the endorsement Thursday of the nation’s most high-profile dissident, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, but analysts cautioned that the change would not have a significant effect in the near term.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said that the United States would pursue engagement but maintain the economic sanctions that have been put in place to punish the government of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, for its human rights abuses and restrictions on political freedom.

“Engagement versus sanctions is a false choice in our opinion,” she said. “So, going forward we will be employing both of these tools, pursuing our same goals. To help achieve democratic reform we will be engaging directly with Burmese authorities.”

The shift in policy was the result of a review that was first announced by Mrs. Clinton in February when she said neither the sanctions imposed by Western countries nor the “constructive engagement” of Myanmar’s Asian neighbors had succeeded in affecting the government’s behavior.

It represented the most significant modification of administration policy toward Myanmar in decades. But analysts said it was likely to face opposition in Congress, where many members strongly support an unflinchingly antagonistic approach to the junta.

Analysts and activists said the new policy entailed a difficult balancing act between carrot and stick, and they said they did not expect it to produce significant effects in the near term.

Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi has been a long-time advocate of sanctions but has also tried to engage the ruling generals in a dialogue and has said any future government would have to include the military.

“She said she accepts direct engagement but it must be on both sides,” said her lawyer, U Nyan Win, after visiting her Thursday. By both sides, he said she meant both the government and the opposition.

Speaking at the United Nations, Mrs. Clinton did not provide specifics and some analysts voiced concern that the new policy would be only cosmetic, while others said it could undermine the pressure that the West has brought to bear on the ruling generals.

“I think we have to keep our short-term expectations fairly low,” said Thant Myint-U, a Burmese historian who is the author of “The River of Lost Footsteps.”

“I don’t think talking to the generals will influence much their plans for next year’s elections or will lead anytime soon to dialogue between them and Aung San Suu Kyi,” he said. “But we have to look at the long-term picture, and the more engagement there is from the outside world, especially from the United States, the more quickly we’re going to see the country move in the right direction.”

Debbie Stothard, coordinator of Altsean-Burma, a regional human rights group, said many Burmese activists were concerned that the junta could take the new policy as a tacit endorsement of its current behavior, giving it “a honeymoon in terms of moving forward with reform.”

“It’s a very tough balancing act if you want to moderate between a big carrot and a big stick,” she said. “It requires a lot of mindfulness and a lot of finesse, and, speaking to the generals, a clear sense of principle.”

She pointed to the failed policy of engagement by Myanmar’s neighbors in Southeast Asia who, in their desire to maintain a working relationship, had allowed the junta to “deliver token gestures instead of genuine and irreversible reform.” Over the years, the junta has carried out a policy of promises and gestures toward the outside world while maintaining a strong grip over its own people, crushing pro-democracy demonstrations by force.

The generals have not been moved by ever-tighter economic restrictions and diplomatic pressure, which have been undermined by continuing trade from Myanmar’s neighbors and have pushed the country into a closer embrace with its biggest trade partner, China.

The generals clung to power in 1990 after losing a parliamentary election to the National League for Democracy and since then have jailed thousands of political opponents, including the monks and their supporters who demonstrated in the streets two years ago. Washington imposed additional sanctions at that time, to little evident effect.

Most recently, the regime convicted Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi of violating the terms of her house arrest after an American intruder spent two days at her villa. She was sentenced to house arrest for the next 18 months, a period that will ensure that she is out of the public eye during a parliamentary election scheduled for early next year.

Josef Silverstein, an expert on Myanmar who is an emeritus professor at Rutgers University, has grown skeptical over the years as he has watched the world try one futile policy after another to influence the junta.

“How are you going to engage and whom are you going to engage and, if they can say it, what subject are they going to take up first?” he said.

He added: “We are not going to go to war with them. And if we are not going to war with them, we haven’t figured out a peaceful means, not only to get them to listen to us but to get them to respond in a positive way.”

News of 23 SEP 2009

General Debate of the 64th session of the UN General Assembly

We will work hard for freedom and democracy in Myanmar. The release of somepolitical prisoners last week falls short of what is needed. We call on Myanmar's friends and neighbors to do more, much more, in the best interests of Myanmar and its people. If next year's elections are to be accepted as credible and inclusive, all political prisoners must be released — including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

By Ban Ki-Moon , Secretary General of the United Nations (New York,23 SEP 2009)

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Suu Kyi party seeks meeting of detained leaders

YANGON : The party of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Tuesday it had urged the chief of the ruling military government to allow a meeting between its detained leaders so they can discuss upcoming elections.
The Nobel Laureate's National League for Democracy (NLD) has not yet said if it will participate in next year's polls, which critics say are a sham designed to legitimise the military regime's iron grip on power.
"We wrote a letter to Senior General Than Shwe on September 16," party spokesman Nyan Win told AFP, referring to the reclusive military leader.
"The main thing we urged for is permission for a get-together of the detained party leaders Aung San Suu Kyi, Tin Oo (vice chairman) and our central executive committee members," he said.
He said they wanted to lay down NLD policy for the future and make "important decisions according to the recent political situation".
"I cannot say whether they will decide for (participating in) the forthcoming elections or not. But the elections matter will be included in their consideration at the meeting," Nyan Win said.
The NLD won a landslide victory in the country's last elections, in 1990, but was never allowed to govern, and pro-democracy icon Suu Kyi has been in detention for 14 of the past 20 years.
She had her house arrest extended by 18 months in August, when she was found guilty of breaching her detention rules after an American man swam uninvited to her home in May.
Her sentence, which keeps her off the scene for the elections, provoked international outrage and she has appealed against the ruling, with a verdict due in October.
Tin Oo has also been under house arrest since 2003.
Myanmar's military government announced that it would hold the elections in 2010 after approving a controversial constitution in May 2008, just days after devastating Cyclone Nargis hit the country.
The military government released a batch of political activists earlier this month as part of an amnesty for more than 7,000 prisoners, but UN chief Ban Ki-moon has
pressed the government to free those still being held, including Suu Kyi. AFP/ms
Posted: 22 September 2009 1711 hrs

Singapore banks reject Myanmar junta cash report

SINGAPORE (AFP) - - Two Singapore banks have rejected a report by a US-based rights group that said Myanmar's ruling junta deposited billions of dollars with them.

DBS Group Holdings and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC) said in separate statements late Thursday that there was no truth in the report by EarthRights International (ERI).
"ERI's report is categorically untrue and without basis," a DBS spokesperson said in the brief statement.
A spokesperson from OCBC also rejected the report.
EarthRights International had said in a report released Thursday that energy giants Total and Chevron were propping up the Myanmar military regime with a gas project that allowed the junta to stash almost five billion US dollars in the two Singaporean banks.
The report said the junta had kept the revenues earned from the project off the national budget and stashed almost all of the money offshore with DBS and OCBC.
"Total and Chevron's Yadana gas project has generated 4.83 billion dollars for the Burmese regime," one of the reports said, adding that the figures for the period 2000-2008 were the first ever detailed account of the revenues.
"The military elite are hiding billions of dollars of the peoples' revenue in Singapore while the country needlessly suffers under the lowest social spending in Asia," said Matthew Smith, a principal author of the report.
French energy giant Total has also rejected the report, saying the document was riddled with errors and false interpretations.
AFP - Friday, September 11

090909

Suu Kyi's party hopeful for her release
Posted: 09 September 2009 0053 hrs

YANGON : The party of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Tuesday it was hopeful that she would be unconditionally released after a court agreed to hear an appeal against her recent conviction. Lawyers for the Nobel laureate and the country's ruling military are due to present legal arguments on September 18, after Suu Kyi challenged last month's guilty verdict for sheltering an American man who swam to her lakeside home. The regime has ordered her to spend another 18 months under house arrest, softening the original sentence of three years' hard labour. But the order still keeps her off the political scene during elections scheduled for 2010. "There could be changes as the court has accepted our appeal," said Nyan Win, her lawyer and a spokesman for her National League for Democracy (NLD), referring to Yangon divisional court's decision on Friday to hear the case. "We are hoping for her unconditional release, which is also what we wanted," he told AFP. "We will meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi this week after we get permission from the authorities. We need to get last instructions from her for the final arguments," Nyan Win said. Daw is a term of respect in Burmese. The appeal would focus on the fact that a 1974 constitution under which the 64-year-old was originally detained had been superseded by a new constitution approved last year, her lawyers have said. The guilty verdict sparked international outrage and the imposition of further sanctions against Myanmar's powerful generals, who have already kept Suu Kyi locked up for 14 of the past 20 years. Suu Kyi insisted on her innocence during the trial held at Yangon's notorious Insein Prison, saying that she allowed US military veteran John Yettaw to stay for two nights at her home because he was ill. Yettaw was sentenced to seven years' hard labour for the stunt in early May, but was freed after a visit by US senator Jim Webb last month on what the regime said were compassionate grounds because of health problems. The move raised expectations of a possible thaw in the tense relations between Myanmar and the United States, which has reviewed its policies towards the country under the administration of President Barack Obama. But in a sign of the lingering suspicions, the government mouthpiece New Light of Myanmar newspaper noted Tuesday that US and British diplomats visited the NLD's Yangon headquarters 28 times in August alone. The diplomats met with party leaders "and presented small and big envelopes to them," the state-run daily said. "As National League for Democracy has kept in contact with embassies of the United States of America and Britain and has carried out their instructions, people have criticised the party for its actions and have kept a watchful eye on it," it added. - AFP /ls

An 'Election' Burma's People Don't Need

By U Win Tin

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Much attention has been focused on Sen. James Webb's recent visit to my country and his meetings with Senior Gen. Than Shwe and incarcerated Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi. I understand Webb's desire to seek a meaningful dialogue with the Burmese ruling authorities. Unfortunately, his efforts have been damaging to our democracy movement and focus on the wrong issue -- the potential for an "election" that Webb wants us to consider participating in next year as part of a long-term political strategy. But the showcase election planned by the military regime makes a mockery of the freedom sought by our people and would make military dictatorship permanent.

In our last free election, the Burmese people rejected military rule in a landslide, awarding our National League for Democracy party more than 80 percent of the seats in parliament. Yet the military has refused to allow the NLD to form a government. In the 19 years since that election, Burmese democracy activists have faced imprisonment, intimidation, torture and death as they have peacefully voiced demands for justice, individual and ethnic rights, and a democratic form of government that is representative of all Burma's people.

While never ending our struggle for democracy, the NLD has continually sought to engage the regime and open a dialogue -- based on peace and mutual respect -- that could address Burma's critical political as well as social problems. Make no mistake -- these two issues are linked. Burma was once the rice bowl of Asia. Today, because of the regime's destructive economic policies and its use of oppression to maintain military rule, Burma is a shattered, poverty-stricken country.
The regime is seeking to place a veneer of legitimacy on itself through showcase "elections" and claiming that "disciplined democracy" will be instituted next year. Yet in May 2008, just days after a massive cyclone devastated Burma and killed more than 100,000 people, the regime used a farcical process to claim that 93 percent of voters chose to adopt a constitution that permanently enshrines military rule and prevents those with undefined "foreign ties" from holding public office -- catch-all provisions that would bar Suu Kyi and democracy activists from seeking office.
Some international observers view next year's planned elections as an opportunity. But under the circumstances imposed by the military's constitution, the election will be a sham. We will not sacrifice the democratic principles for which many millions of Burmese have marched, been arrested, been tortured and died to participate in a process that holds no hope whatsoever for bringing freedom to our country.
The demands of the NLD are reasonable. In April we issued another declaration to encourage engagement with the military that called for the release of all political prisoners, a full review of the constitution, reopening of all NLD offices and the right to freely organize. The regime's answer is the continued jailing of Suu Kyi and 2,000 other activists, massive military offensives against ethnic groups and the enforcement of rules to gag democracy.
How can the international community play a meaningful role? First, officials such as Webb should stop fear-mongering about China. His language about containing China, and working with Burma's regime to do so, is based on an outdated and unrealistic thesis. Suu Kyi rejected such notions by informing Webb that "we will not deal with anyone with fear and insecurity. We will deal with anyone, China, America, India, equally and friendly. As we can't choose our neighbors, we understand that we need to have a good relationship with China." Second, the NLD encourages other countries and international organizations to engage with Burma's military leaders to persuade them to engage with us and Burma's ethnic groups. The United States and many other nations have imposed sanctions on Burma. That is their decision and in keeping with their justified solidarity with the democratic values that we all hold so dear. If the regime genuinely engages with the NLD and ethnic representatives, releases political prisoners, ceases attacks against ethnic minorities and takes additional steps to build a true democratic state, these sanctions will be repealed at the right time.
In the meantime, let no one doubt our resolve. The NLD is a reflection of Burmese society. We will not be cowed or coerced into participating in a fatally flawed political process that robs the Burmese people of the freedom for which we struggle. We stand ready to engage, but we are more than willing to continue our struggle for the democratic values that so many have given their lives and their freedom to achieve.

U Win Tin is a member of the Central Executive Committee and a founder of Burma's National League for Democracy party. He was a political prisoner from 1989 to 2008.