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Burmese exiles in Jakarta announce proposal for democratic reform
Jakarta Globe - August 13, 2009
Ismira Lutfia – After enduring a police raid on Wednesday, exiled Burmese pro-democracy leaders in Jakarta managed to meet again on Thursday and agree on a proposal for reconciliation and democratization in the military-governed country.
The Movement for Democracy and Rights of Ethnic Nationalities, an alliance of Burmese groups opposed to the country's ruling junta, was forced to meet at the offices of the National Commission for Human Rights.
On Wednesday, the Jakarta Police essentially shut down the group's meeting at the Sari Pan Pacific Hotel, telling its members to leave voluntarily or be removed. At least one lawmaker claimed the move was made at the request of the Foreign Ministry, which was concerned the meeting would damage relations with the Burma.
On Thursday, the group issued a communique stating that "national reconciliation is a primary requisite for advancement toward democracy and development."
The 23-page reconciliation proposal included measures for building trust, reforming security infrastructure and affairs, and social and economic reforms – all conditions for implementing a constitutional dialogue aimed at achieving the recognition and protection of the rights of minority ethnic groups.
"The 2008 Constitution is full of provisions that are contrary to democratic principles," said Bo Hla-Tint, foreign minister of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, a self-proclaimed government in exile.
"We are aiming for a real democratic transition in Burma and we have to stick to democratic principles."
Bo said the group intended to circulate its proposal among world leaders in the coming months.
"We need the international community to use our proposal [as a basis] for talking to the regime and facilitating the dialogue that we need," said Khin Ohmar, of the Forum for Democracy in Burma. She also called for an international arms embargo against the regime.
Sein Win, the prime minister of the government in exile, criticized the sentencing earlier this week of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to 18 additional months of house arrest for allegedly breaking the terms of her house arrest. She was charged after allowing an American intruder to remain in her home for two days in May.
"Without her release and that of all other political prisoners, the process of national reconciliation cannot begin, nor can the planned 2010 elections be credible," said Sein, who is a cousin of Suu Kyi.
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