ENC: SPDC To Stop Repression And Start Tripartite Dialogue
15 June, 2009: Consistently advocating for a peaceful resolution of political conflict through a meaningful dialogue, the Ethnic Nationalities Council (Union of Burma) once again urged Burma’s SPDC to end its repressive activities against its own people which has been going on for years and to start a tripartite dialogue with a clear goal to solve Burma’s current crisis.
In the statement issued last week, the ENC stressed: “SPDC military operations in territories of the ethnic nationalities including that of the Karen National Union, and the human rights violations including the forcible recruitment of child soldiers, not only make innocent civilians into war refugees but also affect the stability of the region and that of neighbouring countries.”
“Furthermore, these activities clearly demonstrate that recent SPDC’s offers for peace talks are not genuine,” continued the statement, strongly calling on governments and the international community including the United Nations to take action for the emergence of a tripartite dialogue.
The ENC believes the only way to resolving the present political crisis in Burma is by peaceful and political means, and a tripartite dialogue which should be held between the military, the democracy advocates and the ethnic nationalities.
In its statement, the ENC also condemned the current trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Insein Prison, saying it is ‘unlawful’ and based on trumped-up charges.
In its 4th Central Executive Committee Quarterly Meeting held on 8-12 June 2009, the ENC also highlighted that the announcement of the 2010 elections under the constitution drafted by the SPDC’s sham National Convention and forcibly adopted by an unfair national referendum, is not the way to solve Burma’s current crisis. Instead it will strengthen military dictatorship, it added.
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 in Burma.
