Exiled opposition group to push for new approach

by Mungpi
Monday, 03 August 2009 20:38

New Delhi (Mizzima) – For a way out of the political imbroglio that has left the country totally devastated and pushed its people into an abyss of poverty, the fractious Burmese opposition groups said they have a new proposal for the ruling junta to mitigate the suffering of the people.

With a meeting fixed for August 12 and13, at the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, the Seven Alliance, a broad-based alliance of political parties, women and students groups said they will finalize a proposal titled “Proposal for National Reconciliation”, that will be forwarded to the junta.

Dr. Thaung Tun, the Burmese government in exile’s permanent representative to the United Nations, on Monday said the convention will for the first time draw together members of diverse groups of the opposition including ethnic nationalities, students, and women.

“Given the current situation of political deadlock, national reconciliation is urgently needed and for this, we have come up with a plan,” said Dr. Thaung Tun, adding that the convention in Jakarta will approve a final “proposal for national reconciliation”.

The landmark conference will be attended by members of Seven Alliance, which includes umbrella groups the National Coalition Government of Union of Burma (NCGUB), National Council of Union of Burma (NCUB), Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC), Women’s League of Burma (WLB), Students and Youth Congress of Burma (SYCB), Nationalities Youth Forum (NYF) and Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB).

Civil sector support, electoral and constitutional reforms, military demobilisation, ethnic relations and social infrastructure are among the central areas addressed in the proposal.

Dr. Thaung Tun said, besides members of the Burmese opposition, Members of Parliaments from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will join the meeting.

“The proposal will be put forward to both the ruling regime as well as the international community, including the United Nations. The conference is not a one-time meeting but it is a process and we will continue having such meetings in US and Europe,” Dr. Thaung Tun said.

Dr. Sein Win, Prime Minister of the Burmese government (NCGUB) in exile, in a statement has called the meeting, which will gather all sectors of the opposition, as ‘history in the making’.

“The last time all major ethnic and pro-democracy organizations forged a common position was in 1947, when all forces agreed to seek independence from the British,” Dr Sein Win said.

“As such, this is the first time an indigenous coalition has agreed to work together against a home-grown power,” he added.

However, no matter what the size of the meeting or the coalition of opposition forces and how inclusive and pragmatic the proposal may be, the question remains – will the junta accept any proposals at all?

With Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the opposition group, on trial and due to be handed down a verdict on August 11, the junta has proven its stubbornness in the past 20 years and had never made any gestures that might suggest their slightest interest in holding talks with the opposition.

But Dr. Thaung Tun said, “We have thought of how the junta is likely to respond and are keeping a close watch for the verdict on August 11. Anyway, we have to start moving and have to find a way to bring the junta on the road to reconciliation.”

The military junta has announced that it will hold general elections in 2010 as part of its seven-step roadmap to usher in democracy in the country. But critics say unless the junta amends its 2008 constitution, the election and the whole process will be illegitimate as it lacks inclusiveness and transparency.