AN APPEAL FOR THE CONVENING OF PYITHU HLUTTAW
(PARLIAMENT)
Unofficial translation.
1. Greetings and good wishes to all citizens of Burma.
2. The authorities that assumed all powers of government promulgated Order 8/88. The holding of multi-party election was one of the four assurances given to the people by them in that notification.
3. With full knowledge of the none -existence of a constitution they promulgated a Pyithu Hluttaw Law and Pyithu Hluttaw Election Rules which are deemed to be valid and remain in force as they have not been overruled or abolished.
4. The definitions given in the Pyithu Hluttaw Law are clear and unequivocal.
Section 2(a) " Hluttaw means the Pyithu Hluttaw "
Section 2(d) " Elections means that multi-party democratic election "
This clearly means that the people could exercise their democratic right and elect their representatives.
Section 2(f) " Hluttaw representatives means a person elected to the Hluttaw"
Section 3 states that "The representatives elected from the constituencies in accordance with the law must from the
Hluttaw"5. The above stipulations in the law which was promulgated by the authorities is a pledge to the people. They have a bounden duty to comply with the terms of the undertaking . All the political parties, all elected representatives of the people, and all the people who exercised their right to vote accepted and firmly believed that the authorities would fulfil their pledge.
6. For the above reason 2209 candidates from the National League for Democracy and 92 other political parties , and 87 independent candidates participated in the general elections held in May, 1990. Accepting the democratic principle that "sovereignty lies with the people of a country", the people elected their representatives and in so doing
empowered them to govern the country.
7. It is now over eight year since the multi-party election was held. The authorities have failed to abide by the provisions of the law and have broken their pledge to the people. This will create a bad precedent for the future generation and will be a black spot in Burma's history which can never be erased. This is tantamount to flouting the people's will and should not happen. To achieve peace and prosperity the people's wishes must be respected and appreciated.
8. All the member countries of the United Nations have unanimously passed resolutions in their General Assemblies observing that no progress has been made for the implementation of the results of the 1990 elections. Burma is a member of the United Nations and as a signatory to the declarations that have been made the authorities are legally bound to abide by its decisions.
9. No individual or party will be disadvantaged by the convening of the Pyithu Hluttaw. The country will benefit . The organisation that assembles parliament will be respected and the country will gain esteem and respect in the eyes of the would.
10.Therefore, the National League for Democracy , which has been empowered by an overwhelming majority of the people through their votes in the multi-party general elections has given due notice to the authorities to fulfil their pledge and duty to the people by convening the Pyithu Hluttaw. More than eight years have passed since the elections and many requests have been made to the authorities with a view to achieving peace and tranquility in the country. Currently, the country is in deep crisis with the people facing grave problems. These problems can not be solved with guns. We are motivated mainly by a deep desire to solve our political problems by political means.
10. The political parties that participated in the general elections, the candidates who stood for elections, the representatives who were elected by the people. The voters themselves, in fact the entire country eagerly await the convening of the Pyithu Hluttaw.
11. The main duty of the Pyithu Hluttaw is to promulgate laws that will be for the progress and benefit of the country. Legislative, judicial and administrative matters must be in accordance with the laws made by this body by which the people will abide.
12. The wishes of the people was expressed in the multi-party general elections. It is the duty of the authorities who made the law for the people to so express their wishes to fulfil those wishes now. A country that ignores the wishes of the people will never flourish. This is indisputable.
13. Because they have been empowered by the people in the general elections, all elected representatives of the people in the NLD as well as other parties have a duty to make the convening of a Pyithu Hluttaw happen. Likewise we wish to remind all the people who gave their votes and empowered their representatives in accordance with a valid election law that is still in force that they have a duty to continue supporting those representatives in every way possible so that they can perform their legal tasks. This is a matter of great concern for every person.
14. The centre of strength, the focal point of every democracy is their parliament (equivalent to Burma's Pyithu Hlrttaw) and adds respectability to the country. The National League for Democracy is determined to create a democratic system that will be strong and respected by all and a Pyithu Hluttaw that will shine in all its glory.
15. The birth of a Pyithu Hluttaw is equivalent to the birth of democracy. There is a craving for democracy in the heart of every individual regardless of their race, nationality, status in life, profession, religion and sex. Therefore we make this urgent plea sincerely and honestly to all elected NLD members of parliament, all elected members of the other political parties and all independent elected representatives to do their utmost and support this call for the
convening o f the Pyithu Hluttaw.
(xxxxxx) (xxxxxx) ( )
U Aung Shwe U Tin Oo U Kyi Maung
(xxxxxx) (xxxxxx) (xxxxxx)
Daw Aung San Suju Kyi U Lwin U Than Htun
(xxxxxx) (xxxxxx) ( )
U Hla Pe U Soe Myint U Lun Tin
(Note)
1. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Hla Pe are presently blockaded on their peaceful mission to Bassein.
2. U Kyi Maung is on leave.
3. U Lun Tin is out of the country.
