Statement on the Declaration of Shan State Independence
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April 29, 2005
We, Monland
Restoration Council of USA, firmly believe that all ethnic nationalities in Burma have the right to determine their own
destiny. If the Shan people decide to secede from the so-called Union of Burma and choose to live independently, it is
their right to do so. Their secession only means that they exercise their right. When they are determining their own
destiny by exercising their own right, it is unfair for us to oppose their decision. We fully sympathize with the Shan
leaders who were forced into making such a decision. Our Mon people are in the same boat as the Shan and other ethnic
non-Burman nationalities, living in the so-called Union which is essentially a Unitary State being ruled by the Burman
military dictatorship, officially known as the State Peace and Development Council or SPDC.
We are
unhappy with the NLD’s statement of opposition against the Shan State independence as it clearly shows that the
Burman-dominated popular National League for Democracy does not want to recognize the right of the non-Burman peoples to
determine their own destiny. Disintegration of the Union is not just the the Burman’s concern, it is the concern of
all the non-Burman peoples. Historically, the Burman’s concern of disintegration of the Union has always been mixed
with their desire for keeping the non-Burman peoples under their ethnocentric rule. It is now the time for NLD and the
Burman to show their real good will towards the non-Burman peoples so the non-Burman peoples will put their trust in
them.
The
declaration of Shan State independence is a result of SPDC’s intransigent attitude and stubborn refusal to solve the
prevailing political problems by peaceful political means, as well as a direct result of its increased oppression of the
Shan people. The so-called “National Convention” being held by SPDC is nothing but a sham one as it does not allow
full representation and free participation of the democratic and ethnic opposition parties. It has flatly rejected the
proposal for establishment of a genuine democratic federal Union of Burma – common proposal put up by ethnic
non-Burman ceasefire groups. We firmly believe that only a genuine tripartite dialogue between SPDC, NLD and ethnic
non-Burman groups is the best and wisest way of resolving the nation’s political crises.
We strongly
urge SPDC to stop its military expansion in the ethnic non-Burman territories by immediate withdrawal of all its troops,
and to stop immediately all its human rights violations in the areas. We also urge SPDC to release immediately all
political prisoners, including the Shan leaders, and to announce a nation-wide ceasefire and start negotiating with the
NLD and the ethnic non-Burman leaders. We appeal to the international community and the United Nations to increase
pressure on SPDC so that it will speed up the process of democratic transition in the country.