Nationalities hold out olive branch

Nationalities hold out olive branch

Burma Summit, Denmark 

A separate meeting was held on the side line of the International Burma Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 22 September, after which a statement was issued declaring the nationalities' readiness to cease hostilities against the Burma Army, said Sai Wansai, General Secretary of Shan Democratic Union. 

The meeting, reaffirming 'our commitment to a Tripartite Dialogue as the best means to achieve national reconciliation and democracy', also announced on behalf of the eight constituent states of Burma that it was 'ready to cease hostilities against the Burma army, if the Burmese military is willing to declare a nationwide ceaefire'. 

The Copenhagen Declaration was signed by Khaing Myo Min, Arakan State; Salai Lian H. Sakhong, Chin State; Mahkaw Khun Sa, Kachin State; Saw David Htaw, Karen State; Hte Bupeh, Karenni; Nai Banya, Mon State; Sai Myo Win, Shan State and Dr Sein Win, National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma. 

The statement denied the military's claim that there were 135 races in Burma, each with an agenda to establish a separate nation, a situation that called for the existence of a strong military 'to save the nation from disintegration'. 

"There are only eight constituent states in the Union of Burma and we primarily want to military to recognize the basic human and political rights of the people of Burma ...," it argued. It also maintained that 'there is no military solution to Burma's problem', pointing out that successive military regimes' efforts to suppress the ethnic nationalities 'who make up at least 40% of the population and whose homelands cover 60% of the nation' was without success. 

The meeting further expressed disappointment that 'there has been no political progress nearly 2 years since the confidence building talks began' in October, 2000. 
The Burma Summit had called for increased economic and political pressure on Rangoon in order to affect rapid change in Burma. It also heard testimony on the latest conditions within Burma including the abuse of women, forced labor and political prisoners. 

An observer who returned from the Summit summed up the campaign as "regular". "It could be because of ASEM 4 (Fourth Asia-Europe Meeting, held simultaneously in Copenhagen), "he remarked, "except for the rape case that had some media attention." 

Follow-up:

Dr Sein Win was later labelled a traitor for adopting the eight states position. However, "8 states is the NLD position," according to Harn Yawnghwe, advisor to Sein Win.