The NCGUB welcomes the latest developments at the United Nations Security Council which has been urged to have a formal briefing by a senior member of the UN Secretariat on the situation in Burma.

The request for a formal briefing by the United States and several other members of the UN Security Council which are concerned over the deteriorating situation in Burma is the culmination of the call made in the report, entitled: A Threat to the Peace: A Call for the UN Security Council to Act in Burma”, commissioned by Former President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, and Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu which was released in September and has since gained growing support among governments, legislators, international trade unions, human rights organizations, the international community in general, and particularly among all pro-democracy and ethnic forces in Burma.

Intense diplomatic interaction has been taking place behind the scenes among UN Security Council members for almost two months before enough votes were secured to place Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council and His Excellency Mr. John R. Bolton, permanent US representative to the United Nations, formally sent a letter to H.E. Mr. Andrey I. Denisov requesting the formal briefing on Burma.

The concerns raised in the formal letter were about the flow of drugs, the spread of HIV/AIDS, the deteriorating human rights violations, including destruction of villages, the persecution of ethnic minorities, and forced relocation leading to large internal displacement and exodus of refugees in Burma, as well as the regime’s attempt to become a nuclear power, its failure to initiate democratic reforms, and repression of political opponents, including the detention of more than 1,100 political prisoners and the recent extension of the house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Dr. Thaung Htun, representative for UN Affairs of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) said, “We are delighted to see the response of United States and other UNSC members to the call of Burmese people to urgently address the deteriorating situation in Burma. It is the result of the joint efforts of various organizations around the world and we are much grateful to Vaclav Havel and Desmond Tutu for their valuable contribution in making this happen.”

The NCGUB is of the view that the briefing on Burma will be by the UN Secretary General since he has been engaged in the process to bring national reconciliation in the country for many years and urges all UN Security Council members to bypass the technicalities of bringing the Burma issue on the agenda and instead focus on helping alleviate the suffering of the people of Burma by making powerfully persuasive decisions that will eventually lead to a UN facilitated political settlement in Burma.