Jul 25, 2008 (DVB), Five 1990 elected people's parliament representatives have declared their opposition to the upcoming 2010 elections and said they will only participate in a political process based on dialogue.
Pu Cin Siang Thang, elected PPR for Chin state's Tee Tain township and member of the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament, Kant Balu township PPR U Thein Pe and National League for Democracy representatives Dr Myint Naing from Kant Balu, U Nyint Pu in Arakan's Taunggok and Dr Tin Min Htut from Pantanaw, Irrawaddy, said current international policies towards Burma were misguided.
The five said they appreciated calls by world leaders for the Burmese junta to allow all political parties to participate in the 2010 election and to ensure it was conducted in a fair and independent manner, but said the calls betrayed a lack of understanding of the real situation and the need for dialogue.
The representatives have drafted a letter to United National secretary-general Ban Ki-moon expressing their concern about the weakening of the UN's stand on Burma, citing the change in 2003 from the UN's original aim of bringing about national dialogue to now urging all groups to join the government's road map to democracy.
Pu Cin Siang Thang said the situation had worsened since this change of policy and called for a strengthening of the UN's role in Burma issues.
He said that even though the letter to Ban Ki-moon had only been signed by five of them, the opinions expressed were shared by more than 100 other PPRs.
"We did not have time to collect all their signatures as we wanted to send this before the UNSC and ASEAN meetings as well as the ASEAN Regional Forum," said Pu Cin Siang Thang.
"The letter was also sent to the office of the UN deputy secretary, to Mr Gambari, to the US secretary of state and to the US first lady."
The group said in their statement that the elected representatives had a vital role in developing national reconciliation and democracy in Burma, but would not recognise the new constitution or play any part in the government's seven-step road map.
Reporting by Htet Aung Kyaw
