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The Official Version of the Statement
The Third Ethnic Nationality Seminar
(1) The Third Ethnic Nationality Seminar was successfully held from January 28, 2004 to February 2, 2004 at Law-hkee-la Camp in Kawthoolei. Sixty-one delegates and observers from the ethnic nationality alliances, parties and organizations attended the Seminar and participated in free and frank discussions.
(2) The Ethnic Nationalities Solidarity and Cooperation Committee (ENSCC) submitted its report covering two years of its activities and the various alliances, parties and organizations submitted papers expressing views and opinions on the Tripartite Dialogue and the Solidarity of the Ethnic Nationalities.
(3) The Seminar agreed to firmly uphold the aims and objects of agreement reached at the First Ethnic Nationality Seminar at “Mae-the-raw-ta” in 1997, being the resolution of political problems of the Union of Burma through tripartite dialogue and the establishment of a true Federal Union.
(4) The Seminar observed that the SPDC’s 7-stage “road map” and the attempt to reconvene its National Convention, temporarily suspended in 1996, would not lead to democratization and establishment of a federal union but only sustain a military dictatorship in the country.
(5) For peace in the country, the flourishing of democracy, the establishment of a federal system, and the speedy and timely emergence of democratic transition, the ethnic nationalities will launch the “Rebuilding the Union of Burma” initiative consisting of the following points.
(a) To hold, at the earliest date, the tripartite dialogue, as called for by the UN resolutions annually since 1994;
(b) To form an interim government comprising of representatives, proportionally, of the SPDC, the NLD and other political parties, victorious in the 1990 elections, and the ethnic nationalities, based on the agreement arrived at the tripartite dialogue;
(c) The interim government is to convene a legitimate “National Convention”;
(d) To form various commissions, with approval of the National Convention, to draft constitutions of the Federal Union and the constituent States;
(e) To hold national referendum for adoption of the Federal Constitution and to hold referendum in various constituent States for adoption of respective State Constitutions;
(f) To hold elections at national level and state level for the formation of Federal government and State governments in various States in accordance with the newly adopted Federal and respective State Constitutions;
(g) Subsequent to the elections, the Federal and State parliaments (legislatures) are to be convened and the respective election-winning parties are to form the Federal and various State governments;
(6) In addition to welcoming and supporting involvement of the international community, including the UN, in the affairs of Burma, the Seminar welcomes and supports efforts by the Thai government for national reconciliation in the Union of Burma.
(7) In accordance with requirement of the political situation of Burma, the delegates to the Seminar successfully established the “Ethnic Nationalities Council,” a coalition for proceeding towards a “United Ethnic Nationalities Voice and Platform” for the Tripartite Dialogue. In addition, the Seminar decided to continue with maintaining the existence of the ENSCC.
(8) Since complete solution to protracted and multifarious problems facing the Union of Burma, and lasting peace and stability, can be gained only through the tripartite dialogue process demanded by the UN resolutions, this Seminar calls upon the SPDC to unconditionally cease all military offensives against the ethnic nationalities, declare a nationwide cease-fire, release all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and hold tripartite dialogue at the earliest date.
We, the ethnic Nationalities, solemnly urge the democratic and ethnic forces, at home and abroad, for unanimously support and to make concerted effort to realize the aspirations of the people of the Union of Burma.
February 3, 2004
Media contact
(1) Rimond Htoo
Tel: 053-611 573
Cel: 01-884 5441
Email: <rphtooms@cscoms.com>
(2) Hkun Okker
Tel: 053-620 260
Cel: 01-950 2158
Email: <hkunbwar@hotmail.com
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