Seminar
on National Solidarity
Thoo Mweh
klo Agreement
Date: December
14, 1998
Burma is a
country inhabited by many indigenous ethnic nationalities.
In the modern Burmese history, even though the
consensus agreement between General Aung San and
the leaders of indigenous ethnic nationalities
had achieved national solidarity and obtained
independence, this solidarity deteriorated along
with the death of general Aung San.
As
a consequence of long years of oppression under
the military dictatorship, the national solidarity
is in a vulnerable state of total disintegration.
The immediate need of the people of all the nationalities,
being the abolition of the military dictatorship
and the building of a modern society with lasting
peace and prosperity, could be achieved only through
a consolidated national strength. Thus, the building
of national solidarity is the main task of the
people of all the nationalities, today. Just as
the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and the political parties
representing the nationalities, jointly and actively
have been undertaking the said task, we, the 23
organizations, whose signatures appeared below,
successfully held the "Seminar on National
Solidarity," from the 12th to
14th of December, 1998, at Thoo Mweh
Klo, Kawthoolei State, and unanimously reached
the agreement given below.
1. The
Seminar recognized that the 1947 Panglong Agreement
and pledges contained in the Agreement, the 1990
Bo Aung Kyaw Street Declaration, the 1992 Marnerplaw
Agreement and the 1997 Mae Tha Raw Hta Agreement
are the historic agreements representing the fundamental
interest of the ethnic nationalities and the people.
2. The
Seminar unanimously determined that the conflict
prevailing in Burma is a conflict between the
oppressive military dictatorship, on the one side,
and the oppressed people of all the nationalities
on the other, and as it has been intensifying,
day by day, it is now approaching a decisive stage.
3.
As a result of domination of the SLORC/SPDC
military dictatorship, there was lack of democratic
rights and loss of the rights of the nationalities,
in present day Burma. Therefore, it was unanimously
decided that the abolishment of the military dictatorship
was the principal and common task of the country.
4.
It was decided that all political parties,
organizations and individuals, irrespective of
race, religion and political ideology, were to
join hands and work together, starting from the
lowest possible stage, in the struggling for the
abolition of the SLORC/SPDC military dictatorship.
5.
The SLORC/SPDC has no right to lead in
organizing and convening the National Convention.
Therefore, the Seminar unanimously decided that
the National Convention of the SPDC could absolutely
not be accepted.
6.
The Seminar unanimously decided to promote
and practice the multi-party democratic system,
in accordance with aspiration of the entire people
of all the Nationalities.
7.
The Seminar unanimously decided to establish
a genuine federal union, composed of national
states, having national equality and full right
of self-determination.
8.
The Seminar decided to support the demand
for the convening of parliament, formation of
the Committee Representing People's Parliament
and the Parliamentary Affairs Committees by the
victorious parties in the 1990 election, the National
League for Democracy (NLD) and the 4 political
parties representing the ethnic nationalities.
9. This Seminar decided
to cooperate in the struggle for the emergence
of tripartite dialogue, as an immediate task.
10.
The Seminar welcomed and supported the
active involvement of the United Nations and the
international organizations for the establishment
of peace and democracy in Burma. Since the 1998
UNGA Resolutions on Burma were correct, the Seminar
unanimously demanded that they be implemented,
in practice, by the responsible authorities.
11.
The Seminar strongly condemned the involvement
of the SPDC military dictatorship, as a principal
partner, in the cultivation, by the responsible
authorities.
12.
The Seminar called upon foreign investors
not to invest in Burma, so long as the SPDC military
dictatorship was in power.
13.
The Seminar decided that all the organizations
attending the Seminar were to take the responsibility
for the maintenance and implementation of the
decisions and to form a Coordinating and Organizing
Committee in order to continue for the implementation
the decisions.
Signatories
1.
U Tin Maung thet
President
All Burma Muslim Union (ABMU)
2.
U Myo Win
Secretary (2)
All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF)
3.
U Myat Thu
President
All Burma Students' League (ABSL)
4.
Ashin Kaymar Sara
Chairmonk
All Burma Young Monk's Union (ABYMU)
5.
U Tha Noe
Secretary
Arakan League for Democracy (ALD)
6.
Khaing Myo Min
General Secretary
Arakan Liberation Party (ALP)
7.
S'lai Shwe Khar
Secretary, Foreign Affair Department
Chin National Front (CNF)]
8.
S'lai Tha Nei Luai
Representative
Chin National League for Democracy (CNLD)
9.
Saw Jacob
Central Organizing Committee
Communist Party of Burma (CPB)
10.
U Zaw Naing Oo
General Secretary
Democratic
Party for a New Society (DPNS)
11. Saw Shwe Hser
Vice-President
Karen National Union (KNU)
12.
B. Kyah Oo
General Secretary
Lahu Democratic Front (LDF)
13.
U Soe Lwin
Vice-Chairperson
Myeik-Dewai United Front (MDUF)
14.
U Kyaw Hla
President
Muslim Liberation Organization (MLO)
15.
U Deniel Aung
Member
Members of Parliament Union
16.
U Than Htut
Secretary
National League for Democracy-Liberated
Area (NLD-LA)
17.
U Kyaw Htet
President
People
Defense Force (PDF)
18.
U Aye Saung
Secretary General
People's Liberation Front (PLF)
19.
Khun Okker
President
Pa-O People's Liberation Organization (PPLO)
20.
U Aung Myint
General Secretary
People's Patriotic Party (PPP)
21.
Mai Aik Pong
Joint-Secretary
Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF)
22.
Khun Kyar Nu
Representative
Shan Democratic Union (SDU)
23.
Maha San
President
Wa National Organization (WNO)
24.
U Maung Maung Latt
Member
Members of Parliament Union
