National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma

&

National Council of the Union of Burma

Building a Roadmap toward Democracy and Federalism in Burma

"Framework of Scenarios"

August 20, 2003

“Framework of Scenarios” for a Roadmap toward Democracy and Federalism in Burma

In light of crisis situation in Burma, political intervention from the international community is needed to help Burma avert the impending confrontation and bloodshed. And, that intervention should come in the form of a comprehensive road map for national reconciliation and democratization in Burma. The UN Secretary-General should therefore take a lead in formulating a roadmap in consultation with key international actors, taking into account visions and opinions of all stakeholders in Burma and the democracy and exile movements abroad. Immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders are instrumental to begin a participatory consultation process for the formulation of a road map.

There are several essential objectives that should be taken into consideration when developing a comprehensive “roadmap” toward democracy and federalism in Burma.

1. To achieve a national consensus on:

· Ways to honor the national mandate of the 1990 general elections commensurate with the free will of the people of Burma and in accordance with resolutions unanimously passed by consecutive UN General Assembly sessions,

· Fulfilling the aspirations of the ethnic nationalities in Burma, and

· The role of the armed forces in nation building during the transition period.

2. To develop a process of national reconciliation and reconstruction on a phase-by-phase basis without affecting the national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political stability of the nation with assurances and commitment from the international community.

3. To achieve an enabling environment that will permit the development of a new constitution and political and legal institutions through a participatory and inclusive national consultative conference and on the basis of which the people of Burma can ultimately choose a democratic federal government under free and fair elections.

Possible Sequence of Scenarios to be considered in a Roadmap

1. Immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD executives.

2. Declaration of a nationwide cease-fire and conclusion of cease-fire agreements with ethnic nationality forces

3. A national agreement through a tri-partite dialogue process concerning the possible sequences of reciprocal and step-by-step reconciliation process as well as matters of local governance in ways that satisfy considerations of both popular will and practicalities.

4. The convening of the Parliament comprised of elected representatives of the 1990 elections to ratify the legality of the National Coalition Government as well as all other transitional arrangements including flexible procedural options that can address the military prerogatives set by the armed forces, that guarantees ethnic aspirations for inclusion and autonomy, and others that emerge during the dialogue process.

5. The establishment of a “National Reconciliation Government” from a wide range of institutional and practical options by 2006. The NRG aims to meet the basic needs of the people of Burma within a cooperative framework of shared responsibility among the leaders of the SPDC, ethnic nationalities and the NLD.

6. The formation of a National Advisory Council consisting prominent citizens and ethnic and political leaders.

7. The convening of National Consultative Conference to discuss the detailed options for negotiating the process of constitutional and institutional development of future democratic Union of Burma, which would ensure that future elections in Burma are constitutionally mandated, free and fair, and that all parties will accept any outcome as genuinely representing the wishes of the people of Burma.

1. National Referendum of the new constitution

2. Founding Elections

Role of International Community

Broad involvement of international community in endorsing and implementing the comprehensive roadmap plan is needed. The modality of international engagement in comprehensive political settlement of Burma should be a step-by-step approach with a view to secure specific objectives for each phase of transition and carefully monitoring time-bound progress of the implementation of the roadmap in four phases: Rehabilitation, normalization, reform and reconstruction. There should also be a set of UN monitoring mechanisms to assure adherence of all parties to agreements and obligations to the comprehensive political settlement. The Office of the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy should be permanently set up inside Burma to facilitate human rights monitoring, cease-fire and truce monitoring, labor protection and promotion of workers’ rights, and new general elections.