The Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) met from 1 to 6 October 2007 to discuss the critical situation in the Union of Burma.

1. Given the extreme suffering of the people of Burma, the ENC sees an urgent need for the violence to be stopped – both in the cities and in the countryside in the seven ethnic states. We call on all parties in the conflict to withhold taking aggressive action and to seek a political solution through a dialogue.

2. The ENC understand that it is not NLD policy to call for sanctions. We further understand that the NLD believes in solving political problems in a non-violent non-confrontational way through a political dialogue. Therefore the ENC would like to encourage Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to seriously consider the offer to meet for talks made by Senior General Than Shwe even though he has set preconditions for the talk. We believe that this is an extremely important development for the future of Burma.

3. The ENC reaffirms its support for UN General Assembly resolutions since 1994 that called for a ‘tripartite dialogue’ – the military, the 1990 election winning parties led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and the ethnic nationalities – to solve Burma’s problems and build a sustainable democracy.

4. Given the call by the people for national reconciliation, the ENC does not deem it appropriate at this time for any party to form a parallel government.

5. We further call on the international community to urgently address the situation in the Union of Burma and assist in the national reconciliation process, either through -

a) The continued good offices of the United Nations General-Secretary as mandated by the UN General Assembly, supported by the UN Security Council; or

b) A ‘Multi-Party’ Talk on Burma including the SPDC, the UN, the US, the EU, the Russian Federation, Japan, and Burma’s neighbours – China, India, and ASEAN; and failing all else-

c) The United Nations Security Council under Chapter 6 provisions of the Charter of the United Nations; and if this does not yield results -

d) The United Nations Security Council under Chapter 7 provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

6. Pending a political solution and given the current situation whereby the people of the Union of Burma are being subject to violent force, the ENC has initiated a program to ‘Protect the Civilian Population’.

7. To promote a political solution and ensure that a sustainable democracy can be established, the ENC has initiated a program to build the capacity of the people and ensure that there is ‘Good Governance’ in the seven ethnic states.

The ENC believes that together with the people of Burma of all nationalities and of all religions, we can achieve our goals for a peaceful, just and prosperous future.

In conclusion, we once again call on the SPDC to stop all violent actions against the people and religious leaders, and begin a dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Executive Committee
Ethnic Nationalities Council (Union of Burma)

Contact Persons:
Dr. Lian H. Sakhong David Taw
General Secretary Joint General Secretary
Tel: 081-029-6100 Tel: 081-306-4351