Burmese Monks and Students Call on the Regime to Stop Use of Violence against Ethnic Minorities and Forcibly Enacting of its 2008 Constitution through Showcase Elections in 2010
No: 5/2009
We Oppose the Military Regime’s Use of Violence against Ethnic Nationalities, and Demand That the Regime Stops Forcibly Enacting of the 2008 Constitution, Which Is Not accepted by the People of Burma——through the 2010 Election
(1) The battles that occurred in Kokang Region of Shan State in late August clearly highlighted the insincere attitude of the regime over the ceasefire agreement between it and ethnic revolutionary groups, which lasted over 20 years. Furthermore, by attacking and defeating Kokang troops and occupying the Kokang Region, the regime has threatened other ceasefire groups to choose one of the two options, “subordinate to the regime, or being defeated”.
(2) Building peace requires mutual respect and trust, as well as basic sincerity, understanding, discussion and compromise with patience among the parties concerned. All parties concerned must take responsibility to keep the existing peace. The eruption of violence in the Kokang Region abundantly demonstrated that the Burmese military regime has unilaterally abolished the ceasefire agreements, and that it has willingness to use force in solving political problems and ethnic national affairs, instead of working through a peaceful dialogue.
(3) The regime has been pressuring all ethnic ceasefire groups to abandon their troops and prepare to participate in the 2010 election. However, most of the ceasefire groups have refused to abandon their armed forces and are reluctant to participate in the election.
(4) The ethnic ceasefire groups refuse to abandon their troops and join in the election because the regime’s 2008 Constitution fails to grantee the fundamental rights of ethnic nationalities and equality among all. Therefore, the National League for Democracy, United Nationalities Alliance, and ethnic revolutionary forces have demanded that the regime reviews and revises the Constitution to really grant the fundamental rights of ethnic nationalities, equality among all, democracy and human rights.
(5) While the whole people of Burma have refused to accept the 2008 Constitution, written unilaterally by the regime and approved by force, the regime uses violence, threats, bullying tactic and arbitrary arrest to put the Constitution into effect through its 2010 elections. We demand that the regime stops these abuses immediately.
(6) We also demand that the regime releases all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, announces a nationwide ceasefire and stops preparation for war. We also call on the regime to start a meaningful and time-bound dialogue with the National League for Democracy, led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and ethnic representatives. This is the best way to solve Burma’s problems, including politic, economic, social and ethnic nationality affairs, peacefully.
(7) The use of violence by the regime destroyed the peace and broke stability and security in the region. The continued pressure and attacks by the regime against ethnic ceasefire groups will increase the loss of lives, lands, and personal belongings of ethnic nationals, and create more instability and insecurity in the region. The regime’s current policy towards the ceasefire groups will lead to more human rights violations and more refugees.
(8) Hence, we will continue to work together with all the people of Burma for emergence of democracy and human rights, as well as equality among all ethnic nationalities, and self-determination.
At the same time, we seriously appeal to the international Community, including countries in the region, and especially the United Nations Security Council, to effectively intervene in our country in time to stop the violence and unilateral acts pursued by the Burmese military regime, and to realize peaceful negotiation among all parties concerned.
All Burma Monks’ Alliance
The 88 Generation Students
All Burma Federation of Student Unions
Rangoon, Burma