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Unofficial Translation by The Burma Fund
September 17, 1998 Speech by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

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Broadcast by The Democratic Voice of Burma, 
Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America
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Daw Suu Seeks 'Recognition' from World Parliaments

/// begin tape recorded translation ///

The National League for Democracy and an elected representative who
represents four parties of different nationalities held a meeting on
September 16. The Committee Representing the People's Parliament Elected by
the 1990 Multiparty Democratic General Elections was formed at that
meeting. The reason it was formed was because the authorities had detained
elected representatives in order to prevent them from convening the
Parliament. Since the elected representatives were being detained, a
Committee to perform the duties of the Parliament was formed.

The Committee had been given the power of authority or the mandate by 251
elected representatives to work on their behalf. The Committee therefore
represents more than 50 percent of all the representatives elected and,
hence, has the right to work on behalf of the Parliament. We will,
therefore, carry on the work in the name of the Parliament.

Some resolutions were passed at our first meeting. One of the important
decisions concerns the tenure of the Parliament.

The Committee decided that: 

- the tenure of the Parliament elected in 1990 will cease only when a state
constitution, which is in accordance with democratic principles as well as
the wishes of the people, has been ratified, 

- the constitution must be approved by the Parliament, 
 
- the Parliament will continue to function until the time the constitution
is ratified, and

- the laws passed without the approval of the Parliament are not legal.

Our Committee also decided that it would continue to act on behalf of the
Parliament until a parliamentary session attended by all the elected
representatives is convened. We have made these decisions because we are
responsible to the people. We will continue to do whatever needs to be done.

Another decision we made concerns the Tatmadaw (Defense Forces). It is as
follows: 

The Tatmadaw is an institution that is essential to the nation. The
responsibility of the Tatmadaw is to defend the nation and the citizenry
and to safeguard the state constitution. The modernized Tatmadaw must be
trusted, respected and loved by the people, and its sole purpose must be to
perform defense duties. It must maintain high standards and be an integral
part of the people. It must always uphold and respect the wish of the people.
This is our opinion toward the Tatmadaw. Please consider the prestige such
a Tatmadaw would have both in our country and the world over. Hence, we
wish to make it very clear that the tasks we are undertaking are not aimed
at discrediting the Tatmadaw but at enabling it to live with honor.

Today, the authorities are using all means to attack our organization and
the democratic tasks that we undertake. We have seen them resort to
different accusations and charges to make the members of the Tatmadaw
misunderstand us. Creating misunderstanding is not good for the country,
and it is not us who are trying to cause disunity. The people responsible
for it are the ones who have been resorting to different means to make
people misunderstand us.

We have no grudges against the Tatmadaw. But, I must stress that the
Tatmadaw has the duty to join and support the tasks we are undertaking.

We are a body that represents the Parliament elected by the majority of the
people. We are a body that has been given the mandate by more than half of
the parliamentary representatives. I therefore wish to appeal to all the
people, including the members of the Tatmadaw, to support our tasks. 

I also appeal to all the democratically elected Parliaments of the world to
give due recognition to our Committee and to support the work we are
undertaking.

The problems of the country today can be resolved only when democracy comes
to Burma. Soaring commodity prices, students unable to attend schools,
hospital lacking medicines, the economy deteriorating in every sector, and
the other problems will only go away when a government that is supported by
the people and which dutifully works for the people emerges.

Hence, I wish to appeal to the people, who really have national interests
at heart, to stop blaming and pointing their fingers at the others and
instead start working for the benefit the nation. 

While we continue to do all the work that needs to be done in the name of
the Parliament, I wish to make it very clear that our door for a dialogue
will continue to remain open. We have time and again been calling for a
dialogue with the people who do not wish to talk. And, we do this because
we care about the people. But, let it be known that don't expect us to be
sitting down and taking it easy just because we are calling for a dialogue.
We will continue to do the things that need to be done.

Today, our duty calls that we form the Committee Representing the
Parliament. We have done that and the Committee has started to function. We
hope to gain support from the people of Burma and all the citizenry of the
world who understand and respect democracy and human rights. 

/////End Translation////