Press Release of the Burma UN Servi

[burma1un@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Democracy Leaders On Role of UN,  Dialogue for Reconciliation

United Nations, New York, September 26 - The Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United 
Nations sponsored the World Federation of UN Associations at a press conference on Burma 
today. The conference, held at the UN Press Conference Room S-226, was addressed by U Bo 
Hla-Tint, minister for South and North American Affairs of the National Coalition Government 
of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), and Dr. Thaung Htun, NCGUB Representative for UN 
Affairs.

U Bo Hla-Tint pointed out that the military rulers in Burma - the State Law and Order 
Restoration Council (SLORC) -- have yet to give up their evil scheme against the National 
League for Democracy (NLD). He said, "the reason that the military regime is committing these 
crimes with a vengeance against the NLD is because it naively believes that the NLD is 
responsible for its unpopularity. The actual cause behind people's dissatisfaction lies in the 
regime's refusal to honor the will of the people expressed in the 1990 elections."
 
 "If any solution is to be found in Burma, the generals must look at the NLD as a partner and not 
as an enemy," said Bo Hla-Tint who is also a member of the NLD.  He added, "The process of 
national reconciliation can be achieved through dialogue - a dialogue without any precondition. 
The recent call for dialogue by the generals is a step in the right direction.  But the condition 
that talks must be held without Daw Aung San Suu Kyi lacks sincerity and foresight.  

"The NLD leadership has already given assurances that any dialogue that takes place with Daw 
Aung San Suu Kyi will be a success.  The ball is in the generals' court and not in the NLD's."
Expressing confidence that "eventually there will be a dialogue acceptable to all parties," U Bo 
Hla-Tint urged the international community "don't let up on the pressure" because "real 
dialogue wasn't there yet."

Commenting on the speech delivered to the United Nations General Assembly by SLORC 
Foreign Minister Ohn Gyaw, Dr. Thaung Htun said it was not true that the generals "have 
cooperated with the United Nations to the fullest extent possible." The NCGUB representative 
pointed out that the SLORC has "blindly denied all human rights violations and has closed its 
doors to the UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur." 

On Ohn Gyaw's claim that "never in our post-independence history have we enjoyed in 
Myanmar such economic growth," Dr. Thaung Htun said SLORC's claims of economic growth 
are "grossly exaggerated."  The common people in Burma live in "impoverished conditions" 
and "only the generals and their close associates are getting filthy rich."

Dr. Thaung Htun said, "There is no substantial foreign investment in sight, the effort to increase 
rice exports has failed, the 'Visit Myanmar Year 1996' fell flat and the economy is once more in 
a crisis."

The NCGUB representative also criticized Ohn Gyaw for claiming that SLORC has "a 
comprehensive legal framework to combat drug abuse, including money laundering." Dr. 
Thaung Htun said, "SLORC is promoting the drug trade by giving drug warlords like Lo Hsing-
han and Khun Sa safe haven and special privileges and has allowed their drug money to be 
invested in legitimate businesses and in state infrastructure projects."  

On the role of the United Nations, Dr. Thaung Htun said the UN secretary-general has already 
been mandated by the UN to work for national reconciliation in Burma. "He must be assisted by 
a 'Formal Consultative Body' of nations. These nations can meet regularly, monitor the 
situation in Burma and even formulate a coordinated international strategy to bring national 
reconciliation and democratization in Burma."

# # #