17.09.2006
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OPEN LETTER
TO THE ASIA-EUROPE MEETING (ASEM) LEADERS
Dear Honorable ASEM and World Leaders,
We are worried because of Your Honours’ change of heart and softened approach on Myanmar by allowing them to attend ASEM in Europe. Our heart sank after reading the following observation made by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia, “THE Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) process removed the divide among member countries — it has now reached a "comfortable" level, with good understanding and appreciation of concerns shown by the more developed Europeans to their Asian partners.”
"Take Myanmar, for instance. Its presence was felt this time around... something that could not be accommodated before and you know why. We are no longer distancing ourselves and talking about someone over this side of the fence.
"Myanmar leaders were given the chance to explain their situation (on human rights issues) and defend themselves. Asem leaders now have better understanding of the overall issues affecting Myanmar."
This was his summing up of the sixth Asem summit, on the 10th anniversary, which ended 12 September 2006 at the Helsinki Fair Centre.
Our heart sank because the Myanmar SPDC Junta seemed to have won, by any means i.e. by hook or by crook, some of Your Honours’ hearts and minds.
May Your Honours kindly allow us to present the true real basic facts seen by United Nations Officials on Myanmar Generals. United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari told the correspondents at a Headquarters press conference on 24 May 2006: _
1. He had carried with him some very clear messages:
(a) facilitate Myanmar’s transition/restoration to democracy,
(b) need for a more inclusive/all inclusive and credible political process, so that
(c) all political parities, their leaders, and ethnic nationalities
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could be represented
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the restrictions on them lifted.
(d) Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders should be released
(e) United Nations should play a powerful and authoritative role in promoting common ground between the Government and the National League for Democracy. .
2. Mr. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro (Brazil) UN’s Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar said on 28 March 2002_
(a) UN asked Myanmar to move rapidly in the direction of an all inclusive democracy
(b) and for the national reconciliation.
(c) Restoration of democracy, which is all-inclusive, (ALL including NLD DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI and Minority Races and Minority Religious Groups.
(d) Full respect for human rights (according UN Human Rights Declarations on all the Christians/Muslims and Ethnic Minorities.
(e) To start a true national reconciliation,
(f) Must include all the relevant parties in the national reconciliation process in Myanmar.
(g) The National Convention should be in:
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a meaningful way and
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amore inclusive or
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all-inclusive and
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all the people of Myanmar,
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NLD and all the oppositions and
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International Community must be acceptable.
Your Honours, now it is obvious that_
1. Junta’s stubborn continuance of Conference for drawing up Constitution in spite of
(a) People’s rejection
(b) Opposition’s rejection
(c) West’s rejection
2. Now, no one except the Military is able to agree with their own convention or political drama to deceive the people of Myanmar and the World Leaders.
3. Fundamental human rights requirements must be fulfilled in the convention
4. Must initiate a genuine process of political transition, real democracy.
5. Is the SPDC’s drawing unilaterally of the constitution could really meaningfully change the political scenario in Myanmar?
6. Delegates to the Convention _
(a) should be freely chosen and must represent:
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the full range of political parties
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ethnic minority groups and
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Minority Religious Groups
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Should proportionally reflect the results of the 1990 elections.
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There must be freedom of speech
(b) allow the delegates to meet others without hindrance,
(c) bringing in and distribution of documents and other materials should be guaranteed.
(d) Delegates should also have freedom of movement
(e) not be confined to their dormitories and
(f) be able to return to their constituencies to consult during the Convention.
(g) They should not be arrested for peaceful activities carried out in relation to the Convention like the Shan Leaders including U Khun Tun Oo.
7. Political parties or other groupings
(a) Should not be expelled from the Convention for what they say or advocate peacefully.
(b) Political parties
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should not be deregistered or
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disqualified.
(c) Daw Suu should not be disqualified
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because of her marriage to the British Academician and
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because of the British PR
(d) Religious groups should not be disqualified,
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with the excuse of not mixing religion and politics,
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with the excuse of not recognizing the religious difference as the basic for the formation of the new races. eg Burmese/Myanmar Muslims, Myanmar Chinese Muslims (Panthays), Rohingyas etc
(e) Mixed Blooded Myanmar citizens should not be disqualified
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As guest citizens
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Nott pure Citizens
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Recent Migrants
8. Human Rights reforms
(a) Some of the Myanmars were arrested and sentenced to jail because they took the translated documents of Declaration of Human Rights from UN local office in Yangon for distribution.
(b) Political rights and freedoms must be respected.
(c) Must create the environment conducive to a successful democratic transition.
(d) Must include or base on the implementation of human rights reforms on:
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Individual Rights
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Rights of Ethnic Minorities
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Rights of Non-military Personals or Civilians.
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Rights of Minority Religious Groups
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Religious Freedom
NCUB Deputy Secretary (4), Min Hla Member of Parliament, U Chit Tin had given the following views on the present Burma Democracy_
1. Present SPDC would just continue adamantly with their ‘Road Map’.
2. Just recently, Burmese Ambassador to Philippines told that the Conference on drafting the new Constitution would finish in December.
3. However, he could not say exactly when the remaining six steps would be ready or finished.
4. We could conclude that SPDC just want to buy time only as usual.
5. They keep on requesting to give more time since this Conference started in 93. It started in 1993 and now it is already 2006.
6. There is never in the history of any country in any part of the world to hold a conference for that long.
7. This is just playing a trick, buying time only or a very clear case of deliberate Procrastination.
He continued_
1. We have to struggle to get more International Pressure on Myanmar,
2. So that UNSC could decide on a powerful, binding resolution on Myanmar.
3. As NCUB and MPU are struggling, other organizations are also working hard on this same agenda.
4. More important thing is the need for a struggling inside Burma.
5. We are going to support as much as possible from abroad for the realization of that most important Mobilization of Peoples Power Movement inside Burma.
6. Only the People’s power could dislodge and overthrow the SPDC Junta.
If the SPDC refuse the negotiation way of solving our impasse, we wish to repeat the question of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s press conference words in 1996.
“There is a choice for SPDC, for the benefit of the country SPDC could choose the way of negotiation or else . . . wish to follow the path of destroying the whole country. Just there are two ways only for the SPDC to choose!”
It is obvious what the SPDC has chosen. Now the SPDC is avoiding NLD and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s dialogue path and is stubbornly heading the way to the absolute annihilation of all.
We wish to plead to the Honorable ASEM and World Leaders not to be fooled by the SPDC Generals. Please refuse to give any more time to them.
SPDC Generals are familiar with the following Military Proverb:
We want water, not the (excuse of) leaking water bottle. In Burmese, “Yae Boo Pauk Tar Ma Low Chinn Bu_ Yae Low Chinn Tae”.
That means, in Military_ we want the job done! No excuses accepted.
If there is a will, there is a way.
But any one could give thousands of excuses if do not want to perform or do the job.
So we, Burmese/Myanmar people wish to ask a kind favour from the UN, UNSG, UNSC, UNGA and the Honorable ASEM and World Leaders not to give any more time for any excuses from Myanmar SPDC.
Please kindly allow us to ask another favour by ordering the SPDC to act according to the guidelines of UN to implement the rapid democratization process. Please kindly use carrot and stick method by promising the rewards only if they made a substantial irrevocable progress but not to reward merely based on false promises.
Thanking Your Honours
Yours Humbly
BO AUNG DIN
On behalf of all Myanmar/Burmese
Your Comments here_
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