Statement by the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) | November 12, 2015

  1. We would like to mention that we have to put on record and express our special thanks to the government led by President U Thein Sein for holding a free and reasonably transparent general election on November 8, 2015, and the people of all the nationalities, who have eagerly cast their ballots. We, the UNFC, recognize, take pride and are delighted for the National League for Democracy (NLD), which has achieved substantive victory and all the ethnic political parties and the representatives. We also feel pleased and satisfied with the political parties and their representatives’ respect for and acceptance of the decision of the people by vote, in accordance with the democratic practices.
  1. Though the Election Commission still cannot release the final election results up to this day, the exit vote has indicated that the NLD is in a position to form the government and has gained a landslide victory, like in the 1990 election. We, the UNFC, hope and believe that the authorities concerned would recognize, respect and honor the election results and would transfer power peacefully and in a dignified manner.
  1. We would like to urge the NLD, after formation of the government and in resolving the country’s multifarious problems in consultation and cooperation with relevant forces, parties and organizations, to give priority to the programs of ending the civil war, nurturing national reconciliation, amending the 2008 constitution, establishing democracy and a federal union, with full guarantee for national equality and self-determination.
  1. Though the current government led by the Union Solidarity and Development Party has signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with some Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAO), many organizations are left out. Military clashes are still taking place in the Kachin and Shan States. As the Myanmar Tatmadaw has been launching furious offensives against Wanhai Headquarters of the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), with the use of ground forces and air power, many local people have been killed, many hearths and homes have been destroyed and many thousands have to flee and hide in the jungles and hills. Moreover, we have learnt that some civilians have been interned as hostages. If such attacks are taking place, internal peace and national reconciliation will not be able to be realized.
  1. For that reason, we seriously call on the current government and the government coming next into power, to halt immediately the Myanmar Tatmadaw’s resolution of problem by military means and call for political dialogue and negotiation, keeping the objectives of internal peace and national reconciliation in mind.
  1. We, the UNFC, would like to affirm our readiness to continue discussions and consultations with the current government, as well as the government coming next into power, for the establishment of internal peace and a genuine and democratic federal union.

 

Central Executive Committee

United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC)

Contacts:

Nai Han Tha – Vice President Phone: +66(0)80-503-0849

Khu Oo Reh – General Secretary Phone: +66(0)84-805-1344

Download this statement (PDF) in English | Burmese

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