July 13, 2012
The National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB), the largest umbrella political entity, welcomes the United States Executive Order issued for Burma.
Stakeholders in the democratic movement, including the NCUB, have seen major advances in the Burmese (Myanmar) democratic reform process in the last year. The goal of the new executive order is to encourage continued reforms, thereby promoting increased prosperity for all Burmese. We support this goal. Although we believe that the policy changes advanced through the executive order will support reform, we call on all stakeholders to work closely with the Burmese government, democratic and ethnic nationality leaders to ensure that democratic reforms continue.
The NCUB also calls on the United States administration to fully implement effectively also the executive order targeting those that are threatening Burma’s security, stability, and peace. The current Specially Designated Nationals list for Burma is incomplete. There many individuals who are clearly obstructing the current reform process who are not included on the list. Those who are obstructing reforms are threatening Burma’s security and stability. In particular, the government’s ongoing war in Kachin State and recent military offensives in eastern Shan State are key examples of military actions that obstructing the reform process. Despite international condemnation, the human rights violations and attacks are ongoing in Kachin State. And in Shan State, the status of the initial ceasefire agreement is unclear because of a recent military offensive. These military activities are violating the President orders. They are the main issues that are denying peace and stability in the country and their architects should be included on the Specially Designated Nationals list.
Because of the ongoing wars in the ethnic nationality areas and continued human rights abuses in the country, as a key part of the enforcement mechanism for change, we call also on the U.S. Congress to support the proposed Import Ban.
Today, the Naypyitaw government has made many advances in showing willingness to support dialogue and enter into positive agreements with the ethnic nationality and democratic leaders. However, it is in the interest of the NCUB and other ethnic nationality organizations that the government does not loose momentum in promoting reforms.
The NCUB fully supports reform efforts and will continue to stand with Burma’s ethnic nationality leaders and organizations, in their united approach to democracy, self-determination, and a federal state. Until there are solutions to the political goals of the ethnic nationality leaders, there will not be national reconciliation. With determination and patience, we call for the international community to keep the remaining enforcement mechanism in place and to also monitor the developments vigilantly. The NCUB will continue to work hand-in-hand with our ethnic nationality leaders in support of current and future reform.
For more information, please contact – (1) U Maung Maung; Mobile: +66 860549152
– (2) U Myint Thane; Mobile: +66 844565583
– (3) U Moe Chan; Mobile: +1 6466438689
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