UNA Letter to Mr. Banki-Moon

Posted by: "Zomi News Network" zominews@yahoo.ca zominews
Tue Sep 9, 2008 6:12 pm (PDT)
To: H.E. Mr. Banki-moon The Secretary-General United Nations Organization New York, U.S.A.From: United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar).Date: September 8, 2008. Subject: Submission of suggestions upon H.E. Mr. Ibrahim A. Gambari’s visits as a Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of United Nations Organization to Burma (Myanmar). Your Excellency,1. We, United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), have the honour to present this letter of suggestions to help you think out of the effectiveness of your good offices mandate and efforts for restoration of democracy and reconstruction of national reconciliation in Burma (Myanmar). Our organization (UNA) is a coalition alliance of (12) ethnic political parties which have contested and won (67) seats altogether in 1990 general elections. The political objective of our organization (UNA) is to set up a genuine Federal Union in which democracy, equality, self-determination and human rights are prevailed among all nationalities. 2. State Peace and Development Council (then State Law and Order Restoration Council) has made a general election in 1990 declaring that any party which won majority vote has the right to draw the State Constitution. National League for Democracy (NLD) Party and our ethnic nationalities parties have won 392 and 67 seats respectively. Election was recognized free and fair. United Nations has called upon the junta in its General Assembly resolutions to restore democracy and respect the results of the 1990 elections. But the junta has refused to honour the results of the elections. Since then political deadlock between the junta and democratic forces has begun in Burma (Myanmar). 3. Instead of calling for National Convention with elected representatives to draft a State Constitution, the junta called for a sham National Convention with its hand-picks in 1993 and drafted a constitution which leads to a militarized authoritarian dictatorship one-sidedly in 2007. Then, the junta has ratified its draft constitution through a false referendum by force and fraud while people are suffering from lost of lives and properties by the Cyclone Nargis in May, 2008. The junta claimed that the constitution has been approved by 92.4 per cent of the voters.4. Many ethnic nationalities have been living in Burma (Myanmar) since pre-historic times. Among them Burman ( Bamar), Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakhaing (Arakanese) and Shan are major races. Political problems in Burma (Myanmar) are connected with not only political instability itself of taking State’s Power but racial problems of equality and self-determination among the national races. 5. In order to solve these deeply rooted problems including for political stability and national reconciliation, negotiations among all nationalities, political parties and State authorities are unavoidable necessity. For this purpose, the United Nations General Assembly has made successive resolutions since 1994 “to make tripartite dialogue between the government (State Peace and Development Council), democratic forces led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and leaders of ethnic nationalities” . But the junta has never touched with it and totally ignored. We, United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) strongly believe that there will be no peace and tranquility unless the national reconciliation could be built. To build the national reconciliation in Burma (Myanmar), the tripartite dialogue is the first and foremost importance of all. So, UN should use some appropriate pressure on the junta to make an engagement for tripartite dialogue.6. H.E. Mr. Ibrahim A. Gambari has been appointed as the Secretary-General’ s Special Adviser on Burma (Myanmar) since 2005. He has visited Burma (Myanmar) six times altogether. He had met with the Government authorities. He had observed the sessions of the junta’s sham National Convention. He had met and discussed with the junta affiliated organizations as well as opposition party leaders including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi except ethnic political parties and leaders. But his visits have not yielded any tangible outcome yet. We, United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), are aware of believing that the UN’s envoy is applying the different course with the UN’s mandates. We strongly believe that H.E. Mr. Ibrahin A. Gambari is responsible to work and act according to the UN’s mandates assigned upon him instead of talking about to cooperate the SPDC’s proposing elections in 2010.7. Then, what are the UN’s mandates assigned upon H.E. Mr. Ibrahim A. Gambari? As far as we can reach, The UN’s mandates are to build a national reconciliation in Burma (Myanmar) according to the ways prescribed by the UN bodies: i.e.(i) Successive resolutions made by the consecutive General Assemblies.(ii) Presidential Statement of the Security Council and (iii) The Secretary-General’ s message to the junta.8. As far as above mentioned paragraph (7) is concerned, we had sent a letter and warned to H.E. Mr. Ibrahim A. Gambari to take concentration on the above mentioned mandates assigned upon him by the UN. The out lime notes of letter sent by us to H.E. Mr.Ibrahim A.Gambari are:(1) The National Convention, which drew the draft constitution almost about 14 years, had not included the real representatives elected in 1990 general elections.(2) All of the representatives in the National Convention were the hand-picks of the junta. (3) Even the ceased-fire groups, most of them are ethnic nationalities but not standing as legal political parties, are not legitimate groups and they can not represent the ethnic nationalities. (4) This constitution does not guarantee democracy, human rights and national reconciliation. (5) This constitution has been written against the will of people of the country and international community. And it is leading to a militarized authoritarian dictatorship rule to suppress the people of the country.(6) And finally, this constitution has been one-sidedly ratified through the referendum by force and fraud. And we have mentioned some suggestions of: (a) The recent ratification of the constitution is null and void as it has been conducted against the will of the people of the country and lack of international norms.(b) To respect the Presidential Statement of the United Nations Security Council issued on (11-10-2007) , resolutions laid down by the General Assembly and follow the Secretary-General’ s messages.(c) To release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally.(d) To undertake a tripartite dialogue among the junta, democratic forces led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Hkun Htun Oo and representatives of ethnic nationalities as it has been resolved in consecutive General-Assemblies.9. Honestly speaking we, United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), truly worry to be broken the engagement of United Nations Organization of its efforts upon democratization, national reconciliation and human rights. So we, United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), would like to request you to reconsider the most effective ways and means appropriate for settlement of political situation in Burma (Myanmar).We thank Your Excellency very much indeed and wish for your Excellency’s well being and success. United Nationalities Alliance (UNA)Copies to(1) President, Security Council, United Nations Organization.(2) H.E. American Ambassador, Permanent Member of UNSC.(3) H.E. Ambassador of UK, Permanent Member of UNSC.(4) H.E. French Ambassador, Permanent Member of UNSC.(5) H.E. Ambassador of Federation of Russia, Permanent Member of UNSC.(6) H.E. Chinese Ambassador, Permanent Member of UNSC.(7) H.E. Mr. Ibrahim A. Gambari, Secretary-General’ s Special Adviser to Burma (Myanmar). Contact Persons; (1) Pu Chin Sian Thang (2) Nai Ngwe Thein Member of Presidium, Spokesman Member of Secretariat, Spokesman No.34, First Floor, 52nd Street Room No.27, Building No.221 Botataung T/S, Rangoon. Yankin T/S, Rangoon. Ph: 293585 Ph: 555180 (Ext:280)