NCGUB Declaration on Ninth Annivers

[mandalay@xxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: NCGUB Declaration on Ninth Anniversary of Multi-Party  Democratic Election


NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA


Declaration on Ninth Anniversary of Multi-Party Democratic Election

1. The people of Burma, after suffering the repression under the rule of
one-party dictatorship of the Burma Socialist Program Party (BSPP) for 26
years, rose up as one in 1988 and staged a nation-wide movement for
democracy. The massive uprising led to the downfall of the BSPP and the
people came within reach of democracy. Not desirous of this, the military,
the puppet of the BSPP, shot down the people and seized state power on
September 18, 1988.
2. The military junta, after seizing the state power, issued Notification
No. (1/88) with the following terms:
(a) To establish the rule of law and security;
(b) To maintain secure and smooth travel;
(c) To make utmost effort for easing the livelihood of the people and
helping the private cooperatives to function effectively;
(d) To hold a multi-party democratic general election, after achieving the
above objectives. 
The notification further said that "in order to perform the task of holding
multi-party democratic general election successfully, the current
Multi-party Democratic General Election Commission shall be maintained
further. Parties which will practice true democracy may start preparations
so that they may be ready at the time of the general election." Chairman of
the SLORC, General Saw Maung, signed the notification.

3. Subsequently, the Multi-party Democratic General Election Commission
issued the Political Party Registration Law. In accordance with the law,
235 political parties were given recognition. The Political Party
Registration Law designated a political party as an organization that
accepted and practiced true multi-party democratic system and stipulated
that only the political parties, which had been recognized in accordance
with this law, could stand in the election. However, at the time of
election, only 93 parties were allowed to stand in the election. Under
various pretexts, such as the inability of the party to field candidates in
3 electoral constituencies, for having connection with the BCP, voluntary
withdrawal etc. the Commission disqualified 142 parties. 

4. On May 27, 1990 the SLORC military junta held the multi-party democratic
general election. In the election, there were 2209 candidates, representing

political parties, and 87 independents, forming a total of 2296 candidates.
Balloting was successfully carried out in 485 constituencies out of a total
of 492.  Out of 20,818,313 eligible voters, who had attained the age of 18
years, 15,112,524 voted. The voting public as well as the election
candidates believed that a parliament and a political system based on
multi-party democracy would emerge, as a result of the election.
5. Since Article (3), in Chapter 2, of the People's Parliament Election Law
provides that " the Parliament shall be formed of members of parliament
elected in accordance with this law," and Article (2) (f) defines that "
Member of Parliament is the person elected to the Parliament," and Article
(2) (a) defines that " Parliament is the People's Parliament," and Article
(2) (d) defines Election as " the Multi-Party Democratic General Election."
The May 1990 election was an election held for the formation of a
parliament representing the people, and it was a promise to convert to the
practice of a political system based on multi-party democracy. 

6. It has now been 9 years that leaders of the military junta have
blatantly ignored the election result and broken their words repeated
several times at interviews with the domestic and international Media, the
promises made to the people on several occasions, and articles of the
Election Law. This period is well over two regular terms of the parliament.

7. The negative impact upon the people, caused by failure of the military
to realize the election result, and the rule of force and coercion imposed
by it is as follows: 
(a) Economy: As a result of mismanagement by the generals who have no
knowledge of economics, the economy of the country is becoming increasing
worse, the rate of inflation has increased rapidly, prices of commodities
have risen to a new high, consumer goods are becoming scarce, the foreign
exchange reserve has dwindled progressively, the inability to service debt
adequately has forced foreign companies to cease operation in the country
and the growing deficit in foreign trade have together pushed the country
to the verge of bankruptcy.
(b) Social Situation: As the economic hardship has increased, there is an
increase in the number of children abandoned by the parents, an increase in
reliance on unsystematic abortion methods have increased the fatality of
young mothers and infants and there is an increase of waif and stray in
urban areas. In the two urban centers of Rangoon and Mandalay alone, there
are reportedly more than 70,000 waif and stray youths. Unbelievably, the
evidence of moral degeneration can be seen everywhere and child
prostitution is on the rise day by day.
(c) Health Situation: For the cure of common ailments, an injection would
cost from 180 to 200 Kyat. There is no medicine at the government hospitals
and clinics. In case of hospitalization, the patient has to buy, with his
own money, such common items as bandages, cotton wool, spirit etc.
Hospitals severely lack equipment and instruments used in surgery or in the
laboratory. The program for health education are inadequate or below
standard, the education regarding AIDS, which could wipe out large sections

of the population, cannot be done on a nation-wide scale and there is no
laboratory at blood banks in the districts, to test blood for HIV virus.
(d) Education Situation: In the 11 years of military rule, there have been
only 2 years and 4 months of learning at the universities. Up to now,
universities cannot be reopened. There are more than 1,000 students in
jails and some students have been sentenced to death or long-term
imprisonment. The standard of education has fallen to a very low level, and
an educational certificate can be bought without difficulty. The value of
education has dropped, as there has been widespread bribery and corruption
in the field of education. 
(e) Law and Order Situation: The SPDC military junta has been ruling the
country arbitrarily, without a constitution, by issuing orders and
notifications, as the situation may suit it. The military holds all the
sovereign powers pertaining to the executive, legislature and judiciary,
and the military officers are above the law. The judicial pillar has tilted
sharply because of the prevalence of summary trials where the accused is
not allowed any form of defense, sentences disproportionate to the offence
and compliance with the whims of the military officers. Not only  those who
have money but also those who committed greater offence usually win the
case, in the court of law. The common people, instead of enjoying the
protection of law, are suffering under the oppressive law. The entire
machinery of state administration has become the tool of repression of the
people. 
(f) Foreign Affairs: In the era of the SPDC, it is the prestige of the
country that has suffered enormously. There is an increase in the number of
people who do not want to sit at the same table as the SPDC officials. The
SPDC has to continue to bear the indignity of trade sanctions and the
refusal of entry visa by many countries. Acceptance of the SPDC in the
membership has caused the ASEAN to face the possibility of tarnishing its
own image seriously. Countries, which associate themselves with the SPDC,
have been plagued with crises. As there is an increase in the number of
countries, which do not want even to have a casual friendship with the
SPDC, it has to grovel at the feet of a big neighbor, for friendship, to
the extent of harming the honor of the country. Burma, which at one time
held its own, internationally, as a founding member of the non-aligned
movement, has fallen in prominence to the level of nothingness. All these
serve as evidence of the dismal failure of the SPDC in the arena of foreign
relations.
(g) Armed Forces Situation: In the 1988 uprising of the people, the
military brutally crushed it with guns, in cold blood, littering the
streets with thousands of dead bodies. In the border areas, the SPDC troops
are looting, killing, raping women and burning down villages, on a wide
scale. As no action is taken against these perpetrators of serious crimes,
the SPDC troops are becoming bolder in their acts of crimes and atrocities.
The military, which at one time bore a good name, has lost all respect and
honor among the people, due to the systematic spoiling of it by the BSPP,

SLORC and now by the SPDC.  As the brutality, destruction and depravity of
the military are colossal acts of shame among the people of the world, they
have caused irreparable damage to the honor of the country and national
heritage. 

8. Ignoring the results of May 1990 election has caused the negative
effects, mentioned above.  Instead of materializing the election result,
the SPDC currently is jailing and torturing, in some cases to the point of
death, the NLD members and elected NLD members of parliament, who had won
82 percent of the seats, in the election. The country has suffered
immensely because of more than 10 years of rule by force. The country will
suffer more than ever, if the rule by force is continued. On the other
hand, the people should notice that if they wait until the time when the
military would take pity on them, the country would be turned to ashes.
9. In order to change the bad situation, it is urgently necessary for the
people's parliament to come into being. We should make the emergence of the
people's parliament our most important task. In order to fulfil this task,
the Committee Representing the People's Parliament was formed with the
approval of NLD, MNLD, ANLD, SNLD etc., the political parties that had won
seats in the election. This Committee has been endeavoring for the
establishment of democratic political system desired by the people.
Currently, it is making the effort for the abolishment of the repressive
laws for the substitution of them with laws protecting the people. It is
also trying for the emergence of the people's parliament at the earliest
date. It is important for the people to support and assist the Committee
Representing the People's Parliament. 

10. We, the NCGUB, pledge to struggle on for the termination of the
military dictatorship, for the establishment of democracy and genuine
federal union, and for the restoration of high honor to the country. We
also pledge to struggle on, together with the people, for achievement of
security of life, human dignity, amity and security of livelihood for the
people. For the achievement of these objectives, at the earliest date, the
support and participation of the people is vitally necessary. Therefore, we
earnestly urge the people to join in the struggle and cooperate with us
actively, so that we may reach the goal of democracy earnestly yearned for
by the entire people.     
   
May 27, 1999