SSA Brigade-19, SSN SR-7 PNG, HRDWG, Phayagon SRPG KNLPPA and KNPDP issue announcements

NAY PYI TAW, 16 Nov—Mr Gambari, the special adviser to the United Nations Secretary- General, released a statement of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on her behalfin Singapore on 8 November.

Political parties and national race armed groups, which have returned to the legal fold, are releasing announcements to express their disagreement and objection to the points stipulated in the statement.
Among the announcements sent to the dailies, those of Shan State ArmyBrigade (19), Shan State (North) Special Region (7) Palaung Nationalities Group,Homein Region Development and Welfare Group, Phayagon Special RegionPeace Group, Kayan New Land Party Peaceful Association and Kayinni NationalPeace and Development Party are as follows:—

Shan State Army Brigade (19)

Announcement

Letter No. 01/19 Htu/2007

Date: 15 November 2007

Brigade 19 of Shan State National Army realizing the goodwill of the Tatmadaw and supporting its endeavours returned to the legal fold on 11-6-1995.Hand in hand with the Tatmadaw, the Shan State Army has been able to carry out development tasks of its region with added momentum.

The regional development brought about political awareness among national races. Hence, it has abandoned the armed struggle line and exchanged arms

for peace on 27-6-2005. Members of the Shan State Army attended the National Convention as delegates of the national race delegate group.

The Union of Myanmar is home to over 100 national races. The Shan State Army firmly believe that every national race needs to put in the fore Our Three Main National Causes—non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity and perpetuation of sovereignty—for perpetual existence of the State.

The NLD meeting (12-11-2007) resolution quoted Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as saying that the desires of ethnic groups as NLD’s responsibilities. We are against the resolution.

Therefore, we with Union Spirit hereby announce that we will actively participate in the drive for the realization of the seven-step Road Map under the leadership of the Tatmadaw.

Shan State Army

Shan State (North) Special Region (7) PalaungNationalities Group

Letter No. Pa La Nga Pha / Phwint Phyo-1 / 2007

Date: 15 November 2007

Announcement

Shan State (North) Special Region (7) Palaung Nationalities Group returned to the legal fold on 2 May 1991 when it came to understand the government’s benevolent attitude and support the government’s constructive activities. On 29 April 2005, we unconditionally exchanged arms for peace. Now, political awareness has been raised among Palaung nationalities, and we are strongly equipped with Union Spirit.

At the National Convention, representatives of national races constituted the largest number in holding discussions in the delegate group of political parties, the delegate group of representatives-elect, the delegate group of peasants, and the delegate group of workers. In like manner, the majority of the representatives are national races in the national races delegate group. And we were part of the delegate group of national races. Similarly, national races were the majority in the delegate group of intellectuals and intelligentsia and the delegate group of State service personnel. In the delegate group of other invited persons, the delegate group of peace groups who have returned to the legal fold, and the group of experts, the largest number of representatives were national races.

More than 1000 representatives from 325 townships across the nation represented the desire of national races, held discussions comprehensively and cordially and made decisions at the National Convention. So, we believe that the National Convention is only national forum where affairs of national races joined in the discussed.

We, members of Shan State (North) Special Region (7) Palaung Nationalities Group, support the State Peace and Development Council’s appointment of the Commission for Drafting the State Constitution comprising national legal experts under Notification No 2/2007 dated 18 October 2007.

We consider holding talks between Minister for Relations U Aung Kyi and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to be positive measure.

The statement released in Singapore on 8 November on behalf of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by Mr Gambari features some points that imply that they are responsible for the stances and interests of political forces and all ethnic groups. We hereby announce that they did so without seeking the opinion of national races and the people.
The strength of the said party’s representatives-elect is now less than 100 due to the fact that the party has lost public support, many of the members have resigned
from the party with no trust and respect between superiors and subordinates, and it got involved in many cases that were improper for a political party.

The statement is against our stance. So, the Palaung Nationalities Group hereby announces that we will never follow the instructions of any person or party. And we will constantly take part under the leadership of the Tatmadaw in the drive for ensuring national development and transition to genuine and discipline-flourishing democracy.

Shan State (North) Special Region (7)

Palaung Nationalities Group

Homein Region Development and Welfare Group

(Headquarters) Homein

Letter No. 15/Hta-hta (Ha-ma)/07

Date: 14 November 2007

Announcement

Homein Region Development and Welfare Group made peace with the government on 6-1-1996 and since then, it has been performing regional development work. We attended the National Convention and cordially discussed the affairs of the national races including that of ours and the drawing of an enduring constitution for the emergence of a genuine, discipline-flourishing democracy.

At the NC, we held discussions hilighting the national interest and national unity. Therefore, the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles the NC delegates laid down not only reflect the wishes of all the national people but also prove the national unity. The government formed the 54-member Commission for Drafting State Constitution on 18-10-2007. So, the nation has been in a position to steadfastly continue implementing the seven-step Road Map.

As the good conditions like national reconsolidation and democratic transition are prevailing in the nation, we believe that the meeting between U Aung Kyi, appointed as Minister for Relations, and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is a vehicle for achieving national reconsolidation between the government and her only.
However, it is found that the recent statement Mr Gambari issued on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s behalf carries some points implying that she would represent the national races. The statement is found to be illegal as it has been issued according to a person’s wish. So, we hereby categorically announce that we do not accept her offer.

We also announce that we only support the emergence of a constitution that will be written based on the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles adopted by the NC and that we will steadfastly continue participating in implementing the seven-step Road Map.

Homein Region Development and Welfare Group

Phayagon Special Region Peace Group

Announcement

Date: 14th November 2007

The Phayagon Special Region Peace Group has abandoned the armed struggle line of KNU and unconditionally exchanged arms for peace. Therefore, we participated in the National Convention to secure rights of national races legally. The fundamental principles and detailed basic principles laid down at the National

Convention have guaranteed to give national races the legislative power, executive power and judiciary power that were not enjoyed in the past. Laying down the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles at the National Convention proved that the national reconsolidation had been realized.
National legal experts are included in the 54-member Commission for Drafting the State Constitution and it shows that national races also get an opportunity to participate in writing the draft constitution. As the third step of the Seven-Step Road Map has been taken, we believe that efforts for implementing the other steps will continue to be made.

However, while implementing the seven-step Road Map, Mr Gambari released a statement of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on her behalf. We believe that according to the statement, the point implying that she will represent the national races is ignoring the national races’ desire that was expressed at the National Convention. In the interests of the country, we do not need to favour the interests of a person or a party. We must consider the interests of over 50 million people.

Hence, we, the Phayagon Special Region Peace Group, announce that we do not accept the act that harms the basic principles approved unanimously by delegates of eight delegate groups including national races and we will continue to fully cooperate with the government to implement the seven-step Road Map.

Phayagon Special Region Peace Group

Kayan New Land Party Peaceful Association

Announcement

Letter No 6494 Ka La Hta 03/165/2007

Date 14th November 2007

The Kayah State Special Region-3 made peace with the government on 26 July 1994 and has undertaken regional development tasks. We attended the National Convention and held discussions with other delegates to the National Convention for laying down the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles.
We have learnt that Mr Gambari released a statement of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on her behalf on 8 November in Singapore.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is said to be interested in the affairs of the national races. However, we upholding the interests of the Union have already held discussions and made decisions on wishes of the national races in the National Convention.
Out of the eight delegate groups, the number of the representatives of national races constituted the largest. So, the National Convention is a forum of all national races. Therefore, we support the new constitution to be drafted by the Commission for Drafting State Constitution according to the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles.

Kayan New Land Party Peaceful Association

Kayah State

Kayinni National Peace and Development Party (KNPDP)

Announcement

Letter No. Admin (3)/ Ka Pa Hsa (048)

Date: 14th November 2007

Kayinni National Peace and Development Party (KNPDP) made peace with the Government on 23-7-1999. Our party attended the National Convention and participated in the discussions on affairs of national races together with other delegates.
The entire people support the fundamental principles and detailed basic principles that emerged through the discussions based on the their desires and objective conditions.
We support the formation of the Commission for Drafting State Constitution comprising national legal experts by the Government under the Announcement No 2/2007 on 18-10-2007.
While implementing the State’s seven-step Road Map with added momentum, we are undertaking development of the State and our region with our aims and own stand. Hence, our party is not a follower of any party.
Therefore, we hereby announce that we cannot accept any offers that can harm the already-adopted fundamental principles and detailed basic principles, and we will steadfastly continue joining hands with the government in the realization of the seven-step Road Map.

Kayinni National Peace and Development Party (KNPDP)