ETHNIC NATIONALITIES COUNCIL

ETHNIC NATIONALITIES COUNCIL
(Union of Burma)

INTRODUCTION

The Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) was originally established as the “Ethnic Nationalities Solidarity and Cooperation Committee” (ENSCC) in August 2001. It was entrusted with the task of fostering unity and cooperation between all ethnic nationalities in preparation for a ‘Tripartite Dialogue” and a transition to democracy. The National Democratic Front (NDF) and the United Nationalities League for Democracy – Liberated Area (UNLD-LA) who co-founded the ENSCC, resolved that the ENSCC would:

• Undertake pro-active and constructive actions to bring about a peaceful resolution to the political conflict in Burma through a dialogue process involving the SPDC, the NLD led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and the ethnic nationalities, as dialogue partners;

• Consult widely, cooperate, and work closely with all stakeholders in Burma and with the international community, international bodies and agencies, the United Nations, and humanitarian organizations, to resolve the grave humanitarian crisis in Burma, which most seriously effect the ethnic nationality populations;

• Strive to facilitate an orderly and peaceful democratic transition in Burma, and to rebuild the country in accordance with the spirit of Panglong, based on the principle of Equality, Self-determination, Democracy, and Justice.

At the 3^rd Ethnic Nationalities Seminar in January 2004, the ENSCC was transformed into the Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) with a broader mandate. At that time, the ENC represented non-Burman political fronts, parties and organizations such as the United Nationalities League for Democracy - Liberated Areas (UNLD-LA) and its 11 member political parties; the National Democratic Front (NDF) and its 8 member organizations; other ethnic nationality organizations  like the Karenni National Progress Party (KNPP) and others who are not members of either the NDF or the UNLD-LA; and some ethnic nationality organizations that have cease-fire arrangements with the Burmese military regime.

As the process progresses, at the 4^th Ethnic Nationalities Conference in April 2005, a new structure for the ENC was adopted. ENC became State–based. In this new structure the representation to ENC were reconstituted based on the existing Arakan, Chin, Kachin, Karen, Karenni (Kayah), Mon and Shan States. This decision was taken to facilitate the establishment of a future Federal Union of equal states and also to ensure the participation and representation of all parties and all ethnic nationalities within each state. In addition to the state representatives, ENC includes representatives from the National Democratic Front (NDF) and the United Nationalities League for Democracy -Liberated Area (UNLD-LA).

It was also decided in this meeting that each of the seven states should send 5 representatives to ENC i) Three State representative elected to represent all political parties, groups and peoples within the State; ii) A woman State representative elected to represent all women within the State and; iii) A youth State representative elected to represent all youth within the State. As a special case for Shan State which is home to numerous ethnic nationalities, it was agreed that Shan State would send 8 representatives to the ENC thought the voting rights will be same as other states. NDF and UNLD-LA would send 3 representatives to the ENC. However, due to current political conditions and circumstances, UNLD and NDF are not sending representatives to ENC.

BURMA’S PROBLEM

The Ethnic Nationalities Council believes that the political crisis in the Union today is not just an ideological confrontation between democracy and a military dictatorship or totalitarianism. The problem is rooted in a constitutional problem, which came about because the 1947 Panglong Agreement, which formed the basis of the Union of Burma, was never fully implemented.

OBJECTIVE

The ultimate goal of the Ethnic Nationalities Council is to establish a genuine Federal Union of Burma based on the principles of the Panglong Agreement, which was signed on February 12, 1947, by Bogyoke Aung San, Chief Minister of the Interim Government of Burma (British colony); and the leaders of the Federated Shan States and the Frontier Areas - the Chin and Kachin Hills.

The aims and objectives of ENC are

1.      To establish a genuine Federal Union;
2.      To guarantee democratic rights, political  equality, and self-determination;
3.      To promote a democratic system of government;
4.      To abolish all types of totalitarianism, including military dictatorship in Burma.

THE SOLUTION

The Ethnic Nationalities Council strongly believes that the best means to resolve the political crisis in the Union of Burma is through a negotiated settlement, i.e., through a political dialogue, negotiations and compromise.

The ENC believes that the question of democracy, military rule and the constitutional arrangement between the constituent states of the Republic of the Union of Burma are intrinsically intertwined and cannot be resolved one without the other.

Therefore, the ENC strongly endorses the successive United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions that call for a ‘Tripartite Dialogue’ – the military led by the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); democracy advocates led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD); and the ethnic nationalities – in order to resolve Burma’s long-standing problems and establish a sustainable democracy.

THE SPDC’s NATIONAL CONVENTION

The Ethnic Nationalities Council believes that the SDPC’s seven-point ‘road map’ and its National Convention will not lead to democratization and the establishment of a federal union. The current Convention as it stands will only serve to legitimize the military dictatorship.

The ENC supports the modifications to the National Convention that the ethnic nationalities armies that have cease-fires with the military, proposed on 14 May 2004:

1.   Objective No.6 of the National Convention (the military’s leading role in politics) is not compatible with a democracy. It should be discussed and revised;
2.   The 104 articles adopted by the previous National Convention that are not compatible with democracy should be discussed and revised;
3.   While the National Convention is in progress, the delegates must be able to freely meet and consult with all individuals and groups that have recommendations that will benefit the Union of Burma;
4.   While the National Convention is in progress, the delegates must be able to freely communicate, discuss and exchange ideas with their mother organizations;
5.   All the Members of Parliament elected by the people in the 1990 elections should have the right to participate in the National Convention;
6.   Only organizations with cease-fire arrangements that truly represent their people, should be allowed to participate in the National Convention. Peace with ethnic nationality organizations that do not have cease-fire arrangements should be concluded as soon as possible so that they can participate in the National Convention;
7.   Law No.5/96 that was enacted on 7 June 1996 to protect the 1993-96 National Convention should be repealed.

The Ethnic Nationalities Council regrets that instead of using the recommendations as positive input for developing a mutually acceptable plan for national reconciliation and a transition to democracy, the military authorities rejected the proposals.

A TRANSITION PLAN

In order to facilitate a speedy and timely transition to democracy, federalism and peace, the Ethnic Nationalities Council proposes the following outline for a transition plan -

• Initiating an inclusive process of political dialogue;
• Cessation of hostilities or a mutual declaration of a nation-wide cease-fire;
• Release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Hkun Htun Oo.
• Formation of an interim government comprising of representatives of the SPDC; the NLD and other 1990 election winning parties; and the ethnic nationalities. The proportion and time frame will be based on the outcome of the political dialogue;
• The interim government convenes a legitimate and democratic ‘National Convention’ to ratify transition agreements, and discuss the future of the Union of Burma and the role of the military in politics;
• Formation of various independent commissions to draft constitutions of the Federal Union and the constituent States;
• Holding a national referendum for the adoption of the Federal Constitution and holding referendums in the constituent States for the adoption of their respective State Constitutions;
• Holding elections at the national and state levels;
• Convening of Federal and State parliaments (legislatures);
• Formation of the Federal and State governments;

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

The Ethnic Nationalities Council welcomes the support and involvement of the international community especially the United Nations, ASEAN and neighbouring countries in the transition process in the Union of Burma;

The ENC welcomes the May 2006 visit of Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, the UN Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs, to Rangoon and his meeting not only with Senior General Than Shwe but also with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; and endorses the call for the SPDC to:

• Release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Hkun Htun Oo and other political prisoners;
• Engage the NLD and other political parties in a substantive dialogue; and
• Work out an agreement with the ethnic groups.

The ENC also warmly welcomes the resolutions of the US Senate and the US House of Representatives calling on the UN Security Council to take action on Burma.

The Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) is concerned about the political deadlock in Burma, the continuing systematic violence by the Burmese military against the civilian population in the ethnic states of the Union of Burma, and the deteriorating humanitarian situation. The ENC calls on the international community, especially China, India, ASEAN, and Bangladesh to -

A. Urgently stop the systematic violence by the Burmese military against the civilian population in the seven ethnic states of the Union of Burma resulting from the military’s “Four Cuts Strategy” to deny - food; human resources;  intelligence / information; and communications / transportation - to the ethnic resistance;

B. Urgently find ways and means to deliver humanitarian aid directly to the people of Burma especially to the most vulnerable populations in the ethnic states. The aid must be delivered from inside Burma and from neighbouring states to areas not accessible from the inside.

C. Urgently mediate a reconciliation process that is inclusive, democratic and comprehensive, to break the political deadlock in Burma, and to facilitate a transition to democracy.

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