Third Force offers third roadmap

Third Force offers third roadmap

Politic

Representatives of non-Burmans, after a 5-day closed door meeting, disclosed today the two-stage roadmap, with time frame of 3-6 years, coming right after Thailand proposed the first draft blueprint to Rangoon followed by Burmese generals' own proposal last Saturday (30 August). 

The plan, titled 'Roadmap for rebuilding the Union of Burma' and worked out at an undisclosed location along the Thai-Burma border, 29 August-2 September, envisions a two-stage process for the transition to democracy. 

The first stage, 1-2 years, sees the convening by Rangoon's generals a Congress for National Unity composed of three parties: 1990 election winning parties, the ruling military council and the ethnic nationalities. Its tasks are threefold:

• to draft a National Accord under which a Government of National Unity will be formed

• to constitute independent "National" Constitution Drafting and "State" Constitution Drafting Commissions

• to call upon the international community to increase humanitarian aid to Burma

The second stage, 2-4 years, anticipates the establishment of the Government of National Unity, under which a referendum will be conducted and, afterwards, general elections will be held. During this period, "economic sanctions, including import bans and the ban on new investments, could be lifted," it says. 

Six basic conditions, if accepted by all parties concerned, would warrant a safe passage to a stable, peaceful and prosperous nation: 

• A peaceful resolution of the crisis in the Union, 

• The resolution of political problems through political dialogue, 

• Respect for the will of the people,

• The recognition and protection of the rights of all citizens of the Union, 

• The recognition and protection of the identity, language, religion, and cultural rights of all nationalities,

The recognition and protection of the rights of the constituent states of the Union through a federal arrangement. 

The non-Burmans, regarded as the Third Force in Burma's politics, also calls for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy, who had been under custody since May. 

Harn Yawnghwe, 55, organizer for the workshop, in response to a question whether he believed Aung San Suu Kyi would support the new roadmap, replied in the positive. "The main principles and guidelines have already been agreed by all," he said. 

He also took pains to explain the proposal should not be considered a rejection of the newly-appointed prime minister of Burma Gen Khin Nyunt's 'Myanmar roadmap to Democracy', announced on 30 August. "The new roadmap only attempts to improve and fill out what has already been proposed," he said. 

The Congress for National Unity also would not act as a pseudo parliament as power would still be held by the military during the first stage and the CNU's decisions will be made by consensus and not by votes, although laws that do not confirm to the six basic conditions would have to be repealed, he added. 

Commenting on the roadmap, Wansai, General Secretary of the Shan Democratic Union, an umbrella organization of exiled Shans, said: "The ethnic initiative is a good posturing and excellent PR. If we could sell this to the UN,US, EU and China, we might become one of the main players." 

The press conference, attended by foreign and local news media, lasted two hours, 10:00-12:00.