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NCGUB and NCUB Statement





<bold>NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA

</bold>

Statement on Trip of SPDC Chairman, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, to Thailand


	It is learnt that on the invitation of the Thai Government, the military
leader of Burma, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, will be visiting Thailand for the
first time, as the prime minister, on March 8 and 9, 1999, and discuss
about border demarcation problems, cooperation in the areas of economic
development, agriculture, and narcotic drug suppression. 


1. The SPDC military clique, led by Senior Gen. Than Shwe, is an
illegitimate government that came to power in 1988, by shooting down
thousands of the people and seizing the state power by force. It is the
military government that has been refusing not only to transfer power to
the representatives of the people, who were duly elected in the free and
fair elections in 1990, but has also imprisoned or detained more than 150
representatives of the people, arbitrarily.


2. We are very much distressed by the invitation, made officially as a
prime minister, of Senior Gen. Than Shwe, leader of the SPDC military
clique, which has ignored the true will of the people of Burma and which
has been solely engaged in the perpetuation its power.


3. Instead of making effort to improve relation with the military regime
that has managed to control the power by force of arms, the Government of
Thailand should give priority to the establishment of long-term
friendship and mutual trust between the peoples of Thailand and Burma.
The issues relating to border demarcation, narcotic drug suppression,
improvement of trade, illegal migrant workers and the refugees can only
be resolved by negotiation with a democratic government supported by the
people. The SPDC military clique does not have the right to legally
settle any dispute relating to border demarcation, which is a question of
sovereignty. It is a matter, which can be settled only when there is a
parliament and only by the decision of a parliament.


4. A democratic government like that of Thailand, having relation, on
equal footing, with the military clique of Burma, which has usurped power
by force, would surely tarnish the prestigious image of the country. All
concerned should carefully reflect upon the negative effect on the image
of ASEAN and the economic crisis brought on by the acceptance of the SPDC
military clique as a member of the ASEAN. It is for every one to see that

the ASEAN still has to try and settle problems and disputes originating
from its dealings with the SPDC, which is more like a plague. 


5. The SPDC military clique is deeply involved in the cultivation,
production and trafficking of the narcotic drugs. The most evident fact
is that the SPDC is still giving protection, up to this day, to the
notorious drug lords known the world over. One of the factors that
contribute to the stability of the SPDC in the seat of power is the
revenue obtained from the illicit drug business and the support of the
cease-fire groups who are involved the illicit drug business. It would be
impossible absolutely to eradicate narcotic drugs, so long as the SPDC
remains in power. 


6. Unless there is political stability and a democratic government
supported by the people in Burma, the problems relating to Burma will
continue to have repercussions on Thailand, however hard it tries to
appease the regime in power. Hence, if Thailand is desirous of seeing the
restoration of genuine democracy and human rights in Burma, it should
refrain from acts tantamount to endorsing the SPDC, and stand firmly on
the side of the people of Burma.


February 28, 1999


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<bold>NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE UNION OF BURMA

</bold>

<bold>Statement on the Visit of Dictator Gen. Than Shwe to Thailand

</bold>

March 8,1999


1. The SPDC military clique is a regime that is regarded by the World not
only as an illegitimate regime not elected by the peoples of Burma but
also as one of the worst dictatorships remaining on the face of the
earth.


2. The SPDC regime has been using brutal force to suppress and destroy
the NLD Party, which has won the May 1990 general election. Using the
most vulgar language, the SPDC has been shamelessly attacking,daily,the
NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Daily, it has been oppressing, enslaving
and killing the people from all walks of life, and trying to eliminate
the ethnic nationalities by its war of genocide.


3. The SPDC military clique is not only directly involved in the largest
cultivation, production and trafficking of narcotic drugs in the world,
but it has also been openly giving protection and the status of high
honor to 4 of the most notorious drug barons of the world, with all the
worldly comforts.


4. For those reasons, the visit of Gen. Than Shwe to Thailand is not only
an inauspicious matter, but it is a matter that seriously tarnishes and
denigrate the honor of Thailand and its people.


5.In conclusion, we the NCUB, totally denounce and protest the visit of
Chairman of the SPDC, Gen. Than Shwe, as it is not only dishonorable and
detestable but also diametrically opposed to the will and interest of the
people of the two countries, Thailand and Burma.


[ SPDC = State Peace and Development Council ( Military dictatorship of
Burma ); NLD = National League for Democracy ( The political party that
won more than 85% of the seats contested in the May 1990 general election
) ; Daw Aung San Suu Kyi ( Gen. Sec. of the NLD ); NCUB = National
Council of the Union of Burma ( A coalition representing the

pro-democracy and ethnic nationality forces of Burma )]