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A Burmese democratic mission in Eur



Subject: A Burmese democratic mission in Europe concluded its task successfully.

A Burmese democratic mission in Europe concluded its task successfully

 " But if you don't stand up and speak out against injustice, you will be 
encouraging that injustice." said Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
It is one of the major aims of the Burmese democratic mission to stand up and 
speak out  injustice and lawlessness in Burma under the rule of the military 
dictatorship SLORC. 
The Burmese democratic mission to Europe has been annually organised by the
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) with the intention 
to cultivate the existing good relationship with the European governments,
political 
parties, parliamentarians,supporting foundations and NGOs, trade unions and 
Burmese expatriates. As in previous years the democratic mission is led by 
Prime Minister Dr. Sein Win with the cooperation of tne mission's secretary 
Dr. Thaung Htun, the head of the Burma-UN Affairs in New York.
The democratic mission has been warmly received and cordially welcomed by the 
leading politicians, parliamentarians, political parties, governmental
officials, 
supporting foundations and NGOs, trade unions and Burma expatriates of the 
European countries such as Belgium, Danmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway,
Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, European Council and European Parliament. The 
mission has been given friendly atmosphere to discuss present political, social
and 
economic situation in Burma. It is noteworthy to mention that the Republic of
Poland 
is a new friendly nation this year that invited  Dr. Sein Win's democratic
mission to 
the Parliament in Warsaw. Last year, the democratic mission was invited to the 
Parliament of the Czech Republic in the capital of Praha.
The final and significant task of the Burmese democratic mission has been
fulfilled 
in Geneva at the 52nd. session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission 
from March 18 to April 28, 1996 with the cooperation of the leading ethnic
representatives 
such as Dr. Zahleithang (elected representative of Chin and NCGUB minister in
Burma-
India border), Col. Khun Okker (Member of the NCUB-Secretariat & NDF)& Saw Nadah
Mya 
(Representative of the KNU). In addition to the various friendly organisations
in Geneva 
the democratic mission has been fully supported by the Burmese expatriates such
as 
Harn Yawnghwe (Canada), George Khan (Chairman, Burma Bureau/Germany), U Kyaw 
Win (KNU-Representative in Germany), Salai Kipp Kho Lian (Chairman, European 
Burmese Association), Salai Thawm Hlei Mang (Chairman, Restoration for Chin
Democracy 
Committee/Switzerland), U Maung Maung Yan (Association France Burma), U Ko Ko
Oo, 
U Htay Aung & U Khin Maung Win ( Burma Youth Volunteer Association/Germany), U
Sein 
Win & U Shwe Win (Restaurant Palais de Chine, Geneva) and U Nwe Aung
(NCGUB/Europe).
Once again the Burma democratic mission had a chance not only to meet and
discuss with 
the delegates of the countrys' representing missions to the UN Human Rights
Commission, 
but also with the UN officials and UN Special Rapporteur on Burma Prof. Yozo
Yokota as well 
as accredited NGOs to the UNHRC. 
The UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva has adopted a strong-worded resolution
on 
SLORC rule in Burma which can be noted as "probably the harshest" any UN body
has issued 
on the situation in the Southeast Asian country. One of the most significant
points recommended 
by Prof. Yokota in his final report is that the UN HRC request the UN High
Commissioner for 
Human Rights to consider placing a team of human rights field officers in such
locations as 
would facilitate improved information flow and assessment and would help in the
independent 
verification of reports on the situation of human rights in Burma. Interventions
were made by 
Prime Minister Dr. Sein Win, Dr. Thaung Htun and Karen Human Rights activist
Kevin Heppner 
to the statement made by the SLORC group.
 
One of the highlights of this year's events in Geneva was the videotaped message
from Nobel 
Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi sent to the UN Human Rights Commission. In
her 
message to the international community, she clearly stated that :

+ It is time the world knew what is going on in Burma today. It has come to the
point when we 
   have to worry, not simply about the violations of human rights in Burma, but
about the lawless 
   activities of the authorities.
+ But even those who do not believe in human rights must certainly agree that
the rule of law is 
   most important. Without the rule of law there can be no peace. Either in a
nation, a region or 
   throughout the world. In Burma at the moment there is no rule of law. Unless
there is rule of law 
   there can be no peace or justice in this country.
+ It is no use saying that Asian people are not interested in democracy when the
people of Burma,
   who are of course Asians have expressed so very clearly that what they want
is a democratic 
   government that will guarantee their rights fully.
+ Our request to the international community is in fact a quite simple one. We
would simply like 
   them to be aware of the fact that situation in Burma is a threat not only to
its own people, but to 
   the region and to the world. Injustice and lack of peace in the country means
injustice and lack 
   of peace for the rest of the world because it threatens peace and injustice
everywhere else.
+ We are confident that we shall achieve our goal of building a genuine
democratic state in Burma.
   However, we also wish the international community to take part in our
struggle, and to be 
   supportive of our endeavours. We would like the whole world to join us in our
call for justice in 
   Burma and for the quick implementation of the terms of the General Assembly
resolution with 
   regard to human rights in Burma. 
   
 Another highlight during the UN Human Rights Commissino in Geneva was the
launch of the 
International Network of Political Leaders Promoting Democracy in Burma. The
goal of the network 
is to promote the democratisation process in Burma. The International Network of
Political Leaders 
is composed of a President,a Prime Minister, Ministers, Parliamentarians,
Members of House of 
Councillors, Congressmen and leading politicians from Asia, Europe and the USA.
The Network 
considers the democratic opposite leader and the winner of the Nobel Peace
Prize, Aung San Suu 
Kyi, to be the legitimate leader of Burma.
The chairman of the political network, former Foreign Minister of Norway, Mr.
Kjell Magne Bondevik 
presented a five-point strategy to promote the democratisation process in Burma
:

1. Contribute to increasing contact between countries and institutions so that
they improve
    coordination of their policies in relation to Burma.
2. Persuade Japan and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to
intensify 
    their efforts to promote the democratisation process in Burma.
3. Work for increased political and financial support of the democratic
opposition in and 
    outside of Burma, as well as contribute to improving the opposition's
international contacts 
    with political leaders and representatives of authorities, prioritizing
Asian countries and 
    important trading partners.
4. Contribute to increasing interest in, and knowledge of, the political
situation in Burma 
    among important international decision-makers, prioritizing Asian countries
and 
    important trading partners.
5. Exert influence in decision-making processes in order to maintain sufficient
international 
    pressure on the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), as well as
counteract 
    the SLORC's attempts to legitimise its regime.

On behalf of the Burmese democratic mission Prime Minister Dr. Sein Win
expressed his 
heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation to all the persons concerned for
the cordial 
cooperation and support that have been given during the recent visit in Europe.

Nwe Aung / Germany / April 28, 1996.