ENC reiterates call for tripartite dialogue

Than Htike Oo
Monday, 01 September 2008 22:03

Chiang Mai – The Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) has said that a political dialogue between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, ethnic leaders and the military regime is crucial for Burma.
On the conclusion of the 5th Congress of the ENC held on the Thai-Burma border for five days starting on August 26, it reiterated its call for a tripartite dialogue and rejected the junta's declared 2010 general elections.

"In the current political situation, we need to resolve the political crisis by political means so we badly need this tripartite dialogue. Under such circumstances, we must focus on dialogue," Saw David Taw, spokesman of ENC told Mizzima.




"The junta's constitution is undemocratic and all the powers are vested and concentrated in the hands of the President and Commander-in-Chief. We cannot accept this. At the same time, the would-be government under this constitution cannot implement democratic norms and practices. So we cannot accept the 2010 general election either," he said.

It is learnt that 55 representatives from political parties, women, youth and other civil societies from seven ethnic States attended the congress.

The ENC statement on 'SPDC's planned 2010 general election' issued on August 28 urged the junta to hold political tripartite talks with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic leaders which must lead to legal and a de jure government of the Union of Burma.

The congress urged the 1990 election winning parties to continue their struggle against the junta's roadmap as the 2010 general election is part of it.

The congress also called for 'Multi-Party Talk' on the Burma issue including involving neighbouring countries under the aegis of UN to resolve the political, economic and social crisis in Burma by bringing the ruling SPDC (junta) to the dialogue table.

"The opinion and stance of Burma's neigbours, India and China, are different from the international community. The consultation and coordination involving these neighbouring countries can bring Burma close to a solution. UN's intervention and mediation is not encouraging. The UN envoy could do nothing. And China and Russia always exercise their veto rights at the UN Security Council on Burma resolutions. So we are exploring another tangible solution by coordinating with neighbouring countries especially China in seeking a solution which will be acceptable to China and these neigbouring countries before putting the Burma issue again at the UNSC," U David Taw said.

On the UN's role on the Burma issue, he said, "It is very simple, the UN has no formidable force and no one pays respect to it. That is very clear. So the junta won't heed whatever resolutions the UN adopts and presents to them because China is standing firmly behind them. So we adopted this line", he added.

The UN special envoy Mr. Ibrahim Gambari recently concluded his six-day visit to Burma for political reforms in the country but the opposition forces were not encouraged or pleased with this visit and criticized him for just advocating the junta's planned 2010 general elections.

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