Burmese democracy groups back call for UN council intervention

CRPP Statement and Former Student Leaders' Remarks on the Havel-Tutu Report

2 October 2005 - Democratic Voice of Burma (opposition radio in Oslo, Norway)

All democratic forces in Rangoon have expressed support for and welcomed the call on the United Nations Security Council by former Czech president Vaclav Havel and Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu to take action to resolve Burma's political problems.

The Committee Representing People's Parliament [CRPP] formed by elected representatives of election-winning political parties, veteran politicians who were part of the struggle for independence, and 8888 [ 8 August 1988] Generation of Students all issued statements to express their support today.

[CRPP Secretary U Than Tun] The CRPP held a special meeting on 29 September and thoroughly discussed the report presented to the UN Security Council by former president of Czech Republic Vaclav Havel and Nobel Peace Laureate Bishop Desmond Tutu and decided to release this special statement.

The report is a realistic analytical observation of the real conditions in Burma and it is done with a positive attitude and with goodwill and sincere motives. Furthermore, since the report takes the correct attitude in calling on the UN Security Council to overcome the general hardships that need to be resolved immediately in Burma through dialogue - but without economic sanctions and pressure - it reflects the desires of all the democratic forces, including the political parties and ethnic political organizations, and all the people of Burma, including the monks and students. [End of recording]

That was U Than Tun, a secretary of the CRPP, reading the first part of the statement released by the CRPP today. The second part of the statement says that there was no other option but for the UN Security Council to intervene since the SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] had failed to abide by the decisions of the UN General Assembly.

[CRPP Secretary U Than Tun] The SLORC [State Law and Order Restoration Council - before the name was changed to SPDC] and the SPDC had refused to implement the consecutive resolutions and recommendations of the UN General Assembly and had even ceased cooperation with UN special envoy Razali Ismail. They have continued to ignore the UN resolutions and recommendations and are observed to be going ahead with plans made unilaterally on their own. The future of the nation and the people of all nationalities are at grave risk should the authorities decide to continue pursuing the programmes they have unilaterally decided upon. [End of recording]

The statement concluded with an appeal to all world leaders not to object to the proposal by the two world renowned leaders for the UN Security Council to intervene.

[U Than Tun] We deeply respect and appreciate former president of the Czech Republic Vaclav Havel and Nobel Peace Laureate Bishop Desmond Tutu for their call on the UN Security Council to help resolve the problems of Burma. The CRPP profoundly requests the UN Security Council member nations to show goodwill and cooperate with the proposed suggestion by the two leaders and, particularly to refrain from exercising their veto powers. [End of recording]

That was a statement by the CRPP. Similarly, the veteran politicians also held a meeting today and released a statement calling on the UN Security Council to intervene.

[Nai Ngwe Thein] Yes, we had a meeting today to discuss the proposal by Bishop Tutu and Vaclav Havel calling on the UN Security Council to mediate. Since they did not call for action but for mediation by the United Nations, we believe that it can be successful. Because of that belief, we decided that we will continue to push for it. [End of
recording]

That was Nai Ngwe Thein, one of the veteran politicians. The 8888 Generation of Students also expressed their support for the call and said this was a common course of action for all the political forces inside and outside the country.

[Min Ko Naing] Since our release [from prison] all of us have been asking for a common course of action and this report happens to be acceptable by
all. We may take different approaches when tackling problems but once we have a common course of action, we should all follow that route. We have been saying this repeatedly for many times. I have given an example before. If we try to push, say a boulder, from all directions, it will go nowhere. But we have now arrived at a juncture where everyone can join in the push and make it move. So, we should all join in and push from one direction. If we look at the issue now, we are still within the framework
of dialogue, and the United Nations needs to play a bigger role here. [End of recording]

That was Min Ko Naing, a student leader of the 8888 new generation. Ko Ko Gyi, a colleague of Min Ko Naing, further clarified on the common course of action.

[Ko Ko Gyi] The cardinal point is to find a common position, and we found two points that meet the criteria in the report. The first point concerns all the forces that are working in the interests of Burma. Some of them are arguing about whether they are for or against sanctions. But the proposal under discussion here does not contain punitive action or actions and only about enhancing the role of the United Nations to bring about a dialogue. We see it as a focal point where all the forces can come together to work. The second point concerns the democracy forces and the military working together on humanitarian assistance. We also see that as a focal point where everyone can work together. Since the common courses of action are well defined here, we want to invite all forces to
participate in the endeavours. [End of recording ]

That was Ko Ko Gyi. When asked what he will do if some major countries close to the SPDC decide to exercise their veto powers even though the common courses of action are well defined in the report, Ko Ko Gyi said:

[Ko Ko Gyi] My earnest appeal to the countries wielding veto powers as well as to the international community at large is that when they making decisions to please give serious consideration to the role of the forces [in Burma] which are supporting the call of Vaclav Havel and Desmond Tutu. These forces are: The National League for Democracy, which has won the 1990 elections and is mandated to represent the people; the veteran politicians; the ethnic leaders and the ethnic political parties; and the students of the 8888 generation, all of whom have wide representation and are principal forces of the future nation. [End of recording]

That was a compiled report about the views of the CRPP, the veteran politicians, and the 8888 Generation of Students with regard to the report of Vaclav Havel and Desmond Tutu calling for UN Security Council action in Burma.