LETTER FROM NLD TO GAMBARI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001559 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, IO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BM SUBJECT: LETTER FROM NLD TO GAMBARI REF: RANGOON 1528 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Chairman and Secretary of the National League of Democracy (NLD) asked the Embassy to pass copies to Secretary Rice and Ambassador Bolton of a letter they sent to SIPDIS Ibrahim Gambari, Under Secretary General at the United Nations. We have abridged the text to focus on the specific NLD requests, but complete copies are now circulating on the internet. The NLD requests the release of NLD leaders Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) and Tin Oo; reopening of NLD offices; and the initiation of a political dialogue that includes ASSK. In addition, the NLD requests Gambari meet with a broad spectrum of pro-democracy supporters when he next visits Burma, and that he arrange for the senior leaders to meet together with ASSK and Tin Oo in advance of Gambari's visit. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Begin abridged text: Excellency, We understand that Your Excellency will be visiting this country for a second time. Before your visit, we, on behalf of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and of Nation League for Democracy (NLD),would like to appraise the situation in this country as extensive as possible for Your Excellency's information. Therefore please except our apologies for this relatively long letter since we could not have discussed thoroughly the issues during our meeting in May 2006. The NLD is of the opinion that the current problems of political, economic and social nature (especially of health in respect of diseases such as malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS) are the consequences of the refusal by the State Peace and Development Council (SLORC) (presently the State Peace and Development Council - SPDC) to recognize the outcome of the free and fair Multi Party Democracy General Election held in 1990 according to the "Pyithu Hluttaw Election Law" enacted by themselves (the SLORC) in 1989. The results of the Election portrayed that almost the entire people yearned for democracy and human rights in Burma. In fact this definitely the sincere desire of the mass. We would suggest that, when the time comes for negotiation for national reconciliation and for democratic transformation, decision makers from both sides should participate in the process without fail. The request is made from the 18 year's experience of the NLD. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who has been striving for the national reconciliation and dialogue from the beginning, who gets the overwhelming mandate of the people for the democratic transformation in Burma, who can make changes through political compromises and who has achieved the confidence of the ethnic nationalities, should participate in all the political processes. We would also suggest that the UN Security Council try the utmost for the realization of a substantial political dialogue and also for adoption of a binding resolution. On September 26, 2006, at the present 61st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, U Nyan Win, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Burma stated in his address on policy that Myanmar will step up its efforts in close cooperation with friendly countries and international organizations and that cooperation to the United Nations is a corner stone of Myanmar's Foreign Policy and track record that had proven that Myanmar has invariably extended its cooperation to the United Nations. The first urgently needed step for the establishment of democracy and national reconciliation is the political dialogue. Recent actions of the authorities which include closing and sealing of the offices of various levels of organizational committees of the NLD, forced the League members by various means of pressure to resign leading to the obliteration or inactivity of the organizational committees show that they are not leading towards democracy. Moreover, for a fair political environment and national reconciliation, we would like to request for the immediate and unconditional release of U Tin Oo, Vice Chairman, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, General Secretary of the NLD and all other political prisoners and also for the reopening offices of the organizational committees of various levels and rights to organize freely according to the law. Hence we would like to suggest, for the cause of democracy and human rights in Burma, that during the trip to Burma, Your Excellency should meet, besides with the authorities and RANGOON 00001559 002 OF 002 NLD, other ethnic nationalities parties including the deregistered parties which won the elections in 1990, the veteran politicians, 88 generation student leaders to gain more extensive opinion regarding the political situation as well as the general crisis of the country. We also would like to request Your Excellency's help in getting permission for the full CEC meeting of the NLD including U Tin Oo and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for preparation before meeting with Your Excellency. We also suggest that Your Excellency should meet with the full 9 member CEC of the NLD at the same time. Summing up the above: - To hold substantial political dialogue making mutual compromises for the transformation to democracy and national reconciliation in Burma. - To call up the People's Parliament to transform the State Peace and Development Council into a legitimate "de jure" council. - The 104 principles laid down by the National Convention shall be points to be considered and not binding principles. - Since Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the leader of the democratic cause in Burma, she should participate in all the political processes. - The UN Security Council shall try to get a binding resolution. NLD does not ever think to propose any kind of sanction. - The offices of the state/divisional and township organizational committees shall be reopened and be permitted to function freely in accordance with the laws. - Immediately and unconditionally release U Tin Oo, Vice Chairman, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, General Secretary of the NLD and all other political prisoners. - Meet and discuss with representatives from political parties which won in the 1990 Election, veteran politicians and 88 generation student leaders. Yours truly, U Aung Shwe, Chairman-NLD U Lwin, Secretary - NLD VILLAROSA