Source:Asian Correspondent
www.asiancorrespondent.com
Nov. 03 2010
By Zin Linn
Burmese people are not perfectly paying attention in the first election in 20 years as they see it’s a cheat of the junta prolonging its power grid in cunning means. All at once, people show disgust China for supporting the inhumane junta and exploiting the natural resources of their country.
China always used to say not to interfere in the Burma’s internal affairs while it has been exploiting various natural resources of the military-run nation and leaves Burmese people under economic drought.
The Burma question seems unresolved within the short-term as Asian leaders – China, India and ASEAN - have no sympathy towards the people of Burma who have been suffering hellish troubles under an inhumane military dictatorship. Particularly, China may be the worst in protecting the undisciplined junta of Burma by using its veto in the UN Security Council. If China were a well-mannered and evenhanded nation, the question of Burma could simply be sorted out.
Burma is setting up for November 7 polls that critics have dismissed as a charade due to the exclusion of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party. The junta has announced that democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi may be freed after November 7 elections, as it attempts to avoid a salvo of criticism over the discredited polls.
As a matter of fact, the UN and the ASEAN must strike a chord of warning that they will not honor the 2010 election result of the Burma’s military regime as the procedures are totally unfair. The ASEAN should follow its well-founded principles and stop giving shelter to the dictators. It is the time for Asian leaders to revise their manners and show compassion on the people of Burma rather than the dictators.
Many critics are unconvinced, saying the regime has made promises of the release of Aung San Suu Kyi for reconciliation in the past without honoring them. Human rights groups estimate that around 2,200 political prisoners remain in custody in the junta’s dungeons, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Putting the opposition in prison and banning the media from covering the elections, one cannot say these elections are free, fair and inclusive. The Philippines says the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will be damaged if next month's elections in military-ruled Myanmar or Burma are a sham.
Currently, inside Burma, very important event has been taking place. It was the emergence of a landmark declaration. It was ’The Kalay-Declaration’ which was delivered during the occasion of the 22nd Anniversary of the Zomi National Congress on October 24. The Kalay Declaration states all over again the importance of a conference similar to historic Panglong meeting to create the country populated with different ethnic nationalities with a genuine federal union system based on social equality and civil liberties, which has to keep away from a unitary system or a structure of pro-secession.
The Kalay-Declaration also calls attention to the importance of a dialogue, and the importance of Aung Kyi Suu Kyi's role, indisputably regarding her as the sole potential creator for a “Second Panglong.” The idea for a Second Panglong Conference was expressed by Suu Kyi on Feb. 11, 1989, as she visited the historic town of Panglong in Shan State. The town was a landmark where her father Aung San met with ethnic leaders in February 1947 and signed an accord known as the “Panglong Agreement.”
All leaders from ceasefire and non-ceasefire groups or parties strongly support this significant declaration immediately. Political leaders inside and outside of the country unanimously welcome the timely declaration. People from all walks of life see it as a suitable answer to the Burma’s political impasse.
The most important situation is that there is no law and order at all in Burma. People cannot find justice under the military regime which violates various crimes against humanity under the daylight throughout the country. Moreover, during this election campaign, the military-backed USDP commits lots of misuses of law and it does not follow the rules and regulations made by the election commission. But, other parties have been facing with various restrictions and they cannot even meet their voters to explain who they are.
While neighboring countries are supporting the Burmese military regime so as to exploit economic benefits, Burmese people are living in a poverty trap created by the regime. Although the world is entering into the age of dialogue, the international community, including the UN, EU, ASEAN, China and India, ignores making a concerted-effort to start a dialogue in support of proper political change in Burma.
Now, Burmese democratic and ethnic forces are declaring that they need peaceful talks or dialogues to achieve positive change in their poor country. In their ‘Kalay-Declaration’, they call for an all-inclusive Second Panglong Conference to build a genuine democratic Burma. The declaration was signed by the genuine representatives of the respective nationalities in Burma.
In brief, the 7-November polls will not sort out the political crisis of Burma. The international community needs to respect the Kalay Declaration which represents the true political aspiration of people of Burma. The spirit of this declaration will take place to struggle against the military dictatorship in near future.
Thus, leaders of the world today should take into account people of Burma as members of global family and give protection of their human rights. They should support the Burmese people’s political will rather than unfair polls plots by the military dictators.
www.asiancorrespondent.com
Nov. 03 2010
By Zin Linn
Burmese people are not perfectly paying attention in the first election in 20 years as they see it’s a cheat of the junta prolonging its power grid in cunning means. All at once, people show disgust China for supporting the inhumane junta and exploiting the natural resources of their country.
China always used to say not to interfere in the Burma’s internal affairs while it has been exploiting various natural resources of the military-run nation and leaves Burmese people under economic drought.
The Burma question seems unresolved within the short-term as Asian leaders – China, India and ASEAN - have no sympathy towards the people of Burma who have been suffering hellish troubles under an inhumane military dictatorship. Particularly, China may be the worst in protecting the undisciplined junta of Burma by using its veto in the UN Security Council. If China were a well-mannered and evenhanded nation, the question of Burma could simply be sorted out.
Burma is setting up for November 7 polls that critics have dismissed as a charade due to the exclusion of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest, and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party. The junta has announced that democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi may be freed after November 7 elections, as it attempts to avoid a salvo of criticism over the discredited polls.
As a matter of fact, the UN and the ASEAN must strike a chord of warning that they will not honor the 2010 election result of the Burma’s military regime as the procedures are totally unfair. The ASEAN should follow its well-founded principles and stop giving shelter to the dictators. It is the time for Asian leaders to revise their manners and show compassion on the people of Burma rather than the dictators.
Many critics are unconvinced, saying the regime has made promises of the release of Aung San Suu Kyi for reconciliation in the past without honoring them. Human rights groups estimate that around 2,200 political prisoners remain in custody in the junta’s dungeons, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Putting the opposition in prison and banning the media from covering the elections, one cannot say these elections are free, fair and inclusive. The Philippines says the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will be damaged if next month's elections in military-ruled Myanmar or Burma are a sham.
Currently, inside Burma, very important event has been taking place. It was the emergence of a landmark declaration. It was ’The Kalay-Declaration’ which was delivered during the occasion of the 22nd Anniversary of the Zomi National Congress on October 24. The Kalay Declaration states all over again the importance of a conference similar to historic Panglong meeting to create the country populated with different ethnic nationalities with a genuine federal union system based on social equality and civil liberties, which has to keep away from a unitary system or a structure of pro-secession.
The Kalay-Declaration also calls attention to the importance of a dialogue, and the importance of Aung Kyi Suu Kyi's role, indisputably regarding her as the sole potential creator for a “Second Panglong.” The idea for a Second Panglong Conference was expressed by Suu Kyi on Feb. 11, 1989, as she visited the historic town of Panglong in Shan State. The town was a landmark where her father Aung San met with ethnic leaders in February 1947 and signed an accord known as the “Panglong Agreement.”
All leaders from ceasefire and non-ceasefire groups or parties strongly support this significant declaration immediately. Political leaders inside and outside of the country unanimously welcome the timely declaration. People from all walks of life see it as a suitable answer to the Burma’s political impasse.
The most important situation is that there is no law and order at all in Burma. People cannot find justice under the military regime which violates various crimes against humanity under the daylight throughout the country. Moreover, during this election campaign, the military-backed USDP commits lots of misuses of law and it does not follow the rules and regulations made by the election commission. But, other parties have been facing with various restrictions and they cannot even meet their voters to explain who they are.
While neighboring countries are supporting the Burmese military regime so as to exploit economic benefits, Burmese people are living in a poverty trap created by the regime. Although the world is entering into the age of dialogue, the international community, including the UN, EU, ASEAN, China and India, ignores making a concerted-effort to start a dialogue in support of proper political change in Burma.
Now, Burmese democratic and ethnic forces are declaring that they need peaceful talks or dialogues to achieve positive change in their poor country. In their ‘Kalay-Declaration’, they call for an all-inclusive Second Panglong Conference to build a genuine democratic Burma. The declaration was signed by the genuine representatives of the respective nationalities in Burma.
In brief, the 7-November polls will not sort out the political crisis of Burma. The international community needs to respect the Kalay Declaration which represents the true political aspiration of people of Burma. The spirit of this declaration will take place to struggle against the military dictatorship in near future.
Thus, leaders of the world today should take into account people of Burma as members of global family and give protection of their human rights. They should support the Burmese people’s political will rather than unfair polls plots by the military dictators.
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