No National Unity without Reconciliation: NLD on Burma’s Independence Day
4 January 2010: On the occasion marking the 62nd anniversary of Burma’s Independence Day, the National League for Democracy (NLD) has said that national unity cannot be realized without reconciliation in Burma.
In its commemorative statement issued today the NLD said that it was national unity built around the historic Panglong Agreement that led to Burma’s independence from Britain on January 4, 1948.
Invoking the speech of Burma’s independence architect General Aung San who envisioned a united yet pluralistic society, the NLD said that a nation’s sovereignty and independence cannot be sustained without national unity.
The NLD held a commemorative ceremony of Burma’s Independence Day at its headquarters at Shwegondian in the former capital Rangoon. It was attended by about 300 people including party members and foreign diplomats from France, United States and Britain, among others.
A three-page commemorative statement, the first of such official statement issued by the NLD party in 2010, puts up a lengthy list of demands asking for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners. Also in the demands are the loosening of restrictions on political freedoms and allowing political parties that have been outlawed to freely organize.
“Present circumstances call for transparent and sincere dialogue participated by all stake holders. The true essence of dialogue is to make reciprocal compromises aiming only for the interests of the country and people,” the statement reads.
The NLD said that it is up to the ruling military regime to create a ‘fair political climate for the realization of politically meaningful dialogue towards national reconciliation.’
Chinland Guardian
