*11.12.2005 

 We, at the Rohingya Youth Development Forum (RYDF), Arakan-Burma would like to express our deep concern on the extedntion of detention for another six months to the Burma’s Democracy icon and Nobel Peace Laureate and leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

 Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained since May 2003, with virtually no contact with the outside world. Her house arrest was last extended by 12 months one year ago. Lastly, on the evening of November 27, 2005, she was officially informed of the six-month extension without any reason.

 It is clear that the military authorities will resume the constitutional National Convention on December 5 will run well into 2006 and they don't want to release her until it's over and done with, while the NLD is boycotting the convention, demanding that the military first release Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. The extention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s continued detention is not in the interest of Burma's national reconciliation and democratization processes.

 The convention has been widely dismissed by the international community for its exclusion of opposition voices, although the military sees it as the first step on its self-declared "road map" to democracy.

 The length of the extension made little difference to the junta that has kept her in detention for 10 of the last 16 years, despite vocal international demands for her release.

 One year of six months doesn't really matter to the regime. The regime could release Daw Suu tomorrow if they felt like it.

 London-based rights watchdog Amnesty International Saturday called her continued house arrest a "travesty of justice", while both the United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Burma for its suppression of the pro-democracy movement.

 Earlier this month the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution slamming systematic human rights violations in Burma, including extrajudicial killings, torture, rape, forced labor and harassment of political op ponents. Ethnic Shan leaders were sentenced for lengthy in earlier of the month, while it was started by imprioning to the ethnic minority Rohingya leader, an elected MP from the National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NHPDR) and a member of Committee Representing for People’s Parliament (CRPP).

 The NLD won 1990 elections but was never allowed to govern. Its regional offices remain shuttered and many of its officers have been detained over the years.

 Since 1962, the Burma has been ruled by the military, which is one of the world's most isolated nations and that suppressed the entire people of Burma, especially the Rohingyas of Arakan whose rights of citizenships were denied, drafting a black law in 1982. Several crackdowns were made against them after the Burma's independent that forced the Rohingya to the displacement in across the world.

 In this reason, we solemnly call upon the SPDC to end the recent extetion of house arrest and release Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo, Hkun Htun Oo including U Kyaw Min and all other political prisoners immediately and unconditionally and cease its arbitrary acts and maltreatment against the people to allow their full participation in a meaningful political dialogue leading to genuine national reconciliation and the establishment of democracy. We also appeal to the UN, EU, ASEAN and International Community to take the issue Burma seriously to act against the regime for the democratic changes in Burma.

 Central Executive Committee

Rohingya Youth Development Forum (RYDF)

Arakan-Burma

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III. Drafting a Rival Constitution

A milestone occurred this week in the history of Burma ’s long struggle toward democracy. The FCDCC_ a group of pro-democracy and ethnic activists drafting a rival constitution in parallel to the military regime's constitution_ completed a draft constitution based on democracy, federalism, equality, and self-determination for all the people of Burma . 

The FCDCC acts with the mandate of the Burma Democracy Movement, including Members of Parliament elected in Burma ’s last free election in 1990, ethnic nationality groups, women’s groups and youth groups. The draft constitution is to be used for open debate and discussion among the people to get their input and feedback. The FCDCC will us e the constitutional process to foster national reconciliation and to initiate talks with the Military Regime, who to date refuse to negotiate with those desiring democratic change in Burma . Importantly it gives expression to eight key principles that reflect the will of democratic forces and Ethnic Nationalities inside and outside Burma . 

The FCDCC represents the exiled Burmese democratic forces and ethnic nationalities political organizations and has strong links within political organizations and grass roots leaders inside Burma . This constitution will allow all Ethnic Nationalities in Burma to freely enter into a Federal Union of Burma. Self-determination is the fundamental basis of the federation, and this historic FCDCC constitutional process is built on this principle. The States representatives, including their Constitutional Drafting Committees and over 100 organizations, launched the constitution writing process by drafting their State Constitutions. The work of this committee has built upon that foundation as the FCDCC proceeds to write a federal constitution. 

Mahn Aung Than Lay, Chairman of the FCDCC of the Union of Burma, today condemned the Military Regime of Burma for proceeding to hold a national constitutional convention that does not represent the people of Burma . Instead, the SPDC’s National Convention seeks to constitutionally mandate military rule. “We challenge Senior General Than Shwe, Burma ’s Supreme leader, to make the national convention inclusive and democratic as we in the FCDCC process have. Our process is free from censorship and control.” “FCDCC knows that for peace to prevail in Burma all political groups must come together to reach a political agreement that can produce a constitutional framework for the democracy and equality that all people desire.” “We invite the international community to reflect upon the contrast between our constitutional process and the military-dominated process taking place at the National Convention. We believe that attention to this contrast demonstrates our preparedness to begin the transition to constitutional democracy.” 

* FCDCC = Federal Constitution Drafting & Coordinating Committe 

Contact to the FCDCC Secretaries: 1. U Thein Oo; Tel-- 09-203 2972 2. Dr. Lian H. Sakhong; Tel- 01-02 96 100 3. Myo Win; Tel-01-03 53 458

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