For Democracy & Human Rights
Web Site of National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma

National League for Democracy
97 B West Shwegondine Road
Bahan, Rangoon

Statement

I. The Chairman of the National League for Democracy sent a letter to the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) on 2 December 2004. That letter is reproduced herewith for public information:

"Begin"
Subject: Dialogue

1. The National League for Democracy (NLD) is a legal political party constituted under the provisions of Law No 4/88, dated 27 September 1988, of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (presently the SPDC).

2. It is the official policy of the NLD to work toward national reconciliation, national unity, and the emergence of a Union of Burma wherein democracy is practiced. Toward achieving that goal, the NLD has adopted and persistently been practicing the following seven-point guiding principle:
a) To be open, sincere, and mutually respectful of obligations
b) To seek national reconciliation
c) To resort to peaceful and amiable means
d) To look toward general concordance free from any retribution
e) To achieve reciprocal cooperation
f) To establish mutual understanding, and
g) To build mutual respect

3. In addition, the NLD, to the best of its intellectual and physical capacities, has been striving toward the objective of "laying the foundation for the emergence of a longlasting Union where democracy flourishes and in accordance with the will of the people."
The NLD believes that for such a Union to be durable, it needs to be built with unity among all ethnic nationalities and races in the country (including all ethnic political parties, armed ethnic ceasefire groups, and all armed ethnic nationalities that have not concluded ceasefire agreements).

4. Similarly, the NLD is fully aware of the statement by the Chairman of the SPDC made at the Annual Meeting of the Union Solidarity and Development Association on 17 November 2004:
"The government unequivocally believes that national unity is the most vitally needed element in striving to develop the nation..."
"...the government firmly believes that national unity serves as the foundation based upon which such important tasks as dynamically developing the nation and the people, and establishing a peaceful, tranquil, and modern democratic nation can be implemented. It must be emphasized here that the government will strive to safeguard national unity and make it stronger than ever in the interests of the nation and the entire people."

5. Hence, it is evident that both the NLD and the SPDC equally share sincere goodwill and noble objectives for the nation and the people.

6. Such being the case, we wish to express our sincere and frank opinion that with national unity as well as the present and future interests of the nation and the people in mind, the NLD and the SPDC should first and foremost hold talks and inevitably find a solution for the general hardships facing the country. We believe that face-to-face talks will not be seen as a win or loss situation nor will it hurt either party but will only further the interests of the nation and the people.

7. By having a dialogue, individuals and organizations from both sides can conjoin their desires, agree on common future tasks and advance in unity toward the common goal together. The situation in the country urgently demands and the time is also right for sincere and open talks. We believe that the future of the Union of Burma depends on the fruitful outcome of seeking a solution through talks.
This letter is prepared in acccordance with the decision made at the Central Executive Committee meeting on 29 November 2004.

"End"

II. The contents of this letter were also approved by Committee Representing the People’s Parliament (CRPP) which comprises elected representatives from ethnic nationality political parties and independent elected representatives.

III (a) We profoundly believe that national unity will be the outcome of national reconciliation and consensus derived from dialogue, and from that stage onwards the interests of the national and the people will advance without fail, and a longlasting genuine Union will be established through the practice of democracy. To be able to do that, it is vitally important for all the ethnic nationality groups to participate without fail.
(b) "National Unity" which was raised as the main emphasis of the SPDC Chairman’s speech is in essence identical to the "National Reconciliation" goal of political parties. Hence, dialogue is a win-win process which will genuinely open a new chapter in history. It is the most appropriate and vitally needed process under the present political situation. Hence, in accordance with the desire of the people, we wish to suggest that the dialogue be held prior to the auspicious occasion of Independence Day on 4 January 2005.

According to the decision made at the NLD Central Executive Committee on 7 December 2004.

Central Executive Committee
NLD
Rangoon
9 December 2004

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