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Veteran Politicians Urge Reconciliation

By ARKAR MOE Monday, November 30, 2009
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A group called Veteran Politicians has sent a letter to Burmese junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe urging him to promote a policy of national reconciliation and unity leading up to the 2010 election.

Burmese political veterans and leading analysts  sent the letter on Saturday also urging him to open talks with relevant civic and political groups.

A theme stressed in the letter was the importance of national unity.

The letter said: “It is obvious that Burma is one of the least developed countries and the country deteriorated in all areas."  Similiar letters were sent to Than Shwe in 1995 and 1999, but received no response. 

The letter urged Than Shwe to discuss Burmese issues with relevant parties based on the Buddhist principle of metta, or goodwill.

Ohn Kyaing, a member of the National League for Democracy (NLD), told The Irrawaddy on Monday, “National reconciliation and national unity are very important for the stability and peace of the country. So the NLD urged the Burmese generals to do their best for national reconciliation. We can learn from Burmese history. Burma gained its independent when the Burmese people were united.”

Ohn Kyaing said: “This is a crucial time for Burma." Most decisions are made solely by the Burmese military regime, he said, and the recent overture sent to Than Shwe by Aung San Suu Kyi, saying that she was willing to work with the government to have Western sanctions lifted, was an example of how different parties could work together for the country.

Than Shwe told the annual general meeting of  the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) on Friday: "Stability and peace are the focal points of the drive to create a better future for the nation," according to a story in the state-run The New Light of Myanmar  on Saturday.

“Free and fair elections will be held in 2010 in keeping with the publicly approved Constitution. Political parties, formed on the basis of their different beliefs,  will be involved in political activities,” he said.

Ohn Kyaing noted that stability based on the absolute control of a single party or group can lead to conflicts and long-term instability. 

Thakin Chan Tun, a retired Burmese ambassador and a political veteran, told The Irrawaddy on Monday: “Although Snr-Gen Than Shwe said that the election will be held in 2010, there are many doubts about whether it will be a free and fair election. The National League for Democracy (NLD) headquarters is open in Rangoon, but most of the NLD offices in other areas of Burma are still closed.”

Thankin Chan Tun said, “To be a free and fair election, Snr-Gen Than Shwe should allow other parties to organize, deliver speeches and discuss the issues freely.”

Win Min, a Burmese political analyst in Thailand, said: “The Burmese regime still has  not passed laws concerning the 2010 election. It shows they are not sure about the outcome and are not well prepared.”

 “I don’t think that 2010 election will be free and fair election if the Burmese junta does not release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, student leader Min Ko Naing, and other ethnic leaders and political prisoners," said Win Min. "Moreover, the regime has not allowed freedom of speech and organization."

In his speech to the USDA, Than Shwe said: “In 1988, the nation had to experience anarchy and tragedy because of the riots created by some people and parties that wanted to seize power through short-cuts on the pretext of democracy and human rights and because of  the instigation of some organization from outside."

Ohn Kyaing said, “We all know that the 1988 uprising broke out because of Gen Ne Win’s one-party system and the poverty of the country.”



COMMENTS (11)
 
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Moe Aung Wrote:
08/12/2009
plan B,

So it's back to half a loaf is better than none, even if it's been dunked in the sewer. You are also saying the junta can't be trusted, but at the same time the military domination of the country and a form of dictatorship should last forever, for they will have a 'Thousand Year Reich' outgunning and outmanoeuvring all comers.

Pragmatism taken too far and twisted beyond incredulity, I reckon. I can't wait for another brainwave of yours.

plan B Wrote:
06/12/2009
Ko Moe Aung
The worst situation will be Than Shwe putting the 2010 election on hold forever.
The junta showing sincerity? That's too logical an expectation.
The same with releasing all political prisoners.
As for the West being a sucker, their hurt ego pales compared to the suffering of the citizenry that resulted from their negligently applied pressure on the SPDC.
I can assure you unequivocally using the immediate past that polling will not be fair and free.
Even with this kind of odds, the people can still come out ahead.
It need to happen, sham or not.

Moe Aung Wrote:
03/12/2009
plan B

Woh, woh, hold your horses! The sham elections may still happen, but I'm sure they have a plan B, in more ways than one.

How can you be so sure the polling won't be free and fair? Free and fair enough last time, only the result got binned by the generals. Now that was a plan B. Why do you think they've rigged the constitution and parliament this time? Lessons from 1990.

The West is a sucker for elections but the junta needs to show some sincerity by freeing ASSK and all the political prisoners, and allow them, I repeat allow them, to contest, whether they choose to do so or not. Your manifest wish of having them sidelined is simply disgraceful.

George Wrote:
03/12/2009
Than Shwe will never allow the NLD or any other party apart from the military organized party to win in the coming 2010 election. Why this happened is because they have the backing of China and Russia in the UN and are able to park their money in ASEAN banks, finally having money laundered automatically. Unless the western world can block this money flow, democracy will never come to Burma. Unfortunately, Chevron from the US, Total from the EU, as well as some companies from Singapore, are getting lucrative gas deals for the benefit of China. Our fight for democracy will take decades to achieve.

plan B Wrote:
02/12/2009
Ko Moe Aung
As you indicated in your first post, the uncertain dynamic the 2010 election might create "my generals" having second thoughts. Are you now worried that it might happen?
You know for sure:
1) It will not be free and fair by any standard.
2) You know 25 percent of the seats will be reserved, no matter what.
3) You know well that the NLD will be sidelined.
However, any flux created will entail some form of changes unless all determining factors are the same.
So far so good. Let's not allow the West to repeat the same nonsense that got us nowhere, cheered on by you know who.
Any kind of legitimacy will entail another layer of justification. Even it will be manipulated to the hilt:
http://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=17265
At least now there is ground for challenge beyond Guns.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=49473
Meanwhil,e if even some good will apolitical suggestion is taken, all for the better. I hope you are not disappointed.

timothy Wrote:
01/12/2009
Here comes the truth about Than Shwe`s ideals and plans. Make no mistake, Than Shwe means business when he says peace and stability. It means zero tolerance of discontent, complete annihilation of opposition and maiming of any public resistance with brute forces. No one should doubt Than Shwe`s success with the optimistic views of the civilised world. Whenever Than Shwe goes, China will be there to cheer him. What can the USA/ free world do to help the oppressed? MILITARY INTERVENTION. WAKE UP!!!!!!

Moe Aung Wrote:
01/12/2009
plan B

A free and fair election that leads to a rigged parliament that legitimizes and perpetuates military rule (still by whim) forever? If half a loaf is better than none, it's still soaked in the sewer. You may relish it if you want.

George Than Setkyar Heine Wrote:
01/12/2009
Veteran Politicians should know better than playing harp to a buffalo like Than Shwe to get things straightened out in Burma.

Today the monk murderer is playing golf even after Hu Jin Tao guaranteed that things would go his (Than Shwe's) way in return for the green light to lay pipelines to China and build railroads into Burma.

Even Obama is quieting down realizing that the bridge has been blown since saying sanctions would be still in place.
Hence he might be even pondering to play ball with Hu Jin Tao and Than Shwe for a slice of the pie instead, who knows.

Hence Daw Suu's freedom before 2010 would be as real as a dream that would disappear with the dawn.

Hoping for a free and fair election in 2010 is simply idiotic, if not lunatic as well.
And yelling for reconciliation and unity holds no water than denying the Holocaust nor refuting the fact that China is playing ball with despots in Burma, Zimbabwe, Sudan and elsewhere for world hegemony and replace US as the super power, I say.

Oo Maung Gyi Wrote:
01/12/2009
2010 election is not compulsory, this is merely a trump card for Junta. They might not hold election until and unless they are sure to get majority vote, or they might stay with 25% of house members from both chambers and go back to the barracks.

Snr.General Maung Aye being a professional soldier wants to go back barracks and also wants the soldiers not to be involved in politics.

Therefore the two senior generals have a bit conflicts of idea at present moment. We have to wait and see what they are going to do for the 2010 election matter.

Moe Aung Wrote:
01/12/2009
The longer they delay the announcement of the election laws and polling day, the greater the speculation and the weaker their position since it will be seen as indecision and lack of confidence on the part of the junta.

Are those who rule by the sword getting election jitters? This despite the fact that the dice are fully loaded for the future parliament by the sham constitution.

There's the Border Guard Force issue still up in the air. Will they defer the elections if the conditions do not prove ideal for them? Are they simply going through the motions to pacify the US and the rest of us, and marking time to gain some breathing space? Only this time China is not amused and won't hurry to their aid.

What about the inevitable power struggle among the generals over the spoils of office in the new administration and the Tatmadaw? A 'reforming' government is certainly at its most vulnerable. We are living in interesting times. Watch this space.

plan B Wrote:
01/12/2009
If the NLD's aim is to have a fair and free election their Shwegondaing Declaration surely does not support that aspect. In fact it impedes even the timetable of SPDC's own planned 2010 march to legitimacy.

If 2010 election is permanently tabled and SPDC continue to rule by decree, then the status quo ensues. Is that what NLD seeks?

The Irrawaddy has already stated more than enough reasons for NLD participation to shift present intolerable SOS.





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