As a result of the Pang Long Treaty – on 4 January 1948 , the great Union of Burma won an autonomous independence amid the world with pomp and dignity. But instead of the national unity in the great union growing stronger at this time, we are sadly facing the near collapse of the unity of ethnic nationals. Moreover, the people of the country's business, health – due to HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis – and standard of living, in particular, are deteriorating. As there are no material resources to tackle these social problems and dire conditions in our own country, we are still specially requiring humanitarian helps from other countries and organizations.
Therefore, in order to honor this auspicious day (or) the day that the national unity was built – with the view for national reconciliation – it is especially needed for the State Peace and Development Council to seriously fulfill the following suggestions of the National League for Democracy for the benefit of the country and the people.
(a) In order to convene and form the Pyithu Hluddaw (People's Parliament), formerly – the State Law and Order Restoration Committee / currently – the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), on 31 May 1989, laid down order No. 14/89 which is the law for the election of Pyithu Hluddaw.
(b) Under one heading under that law is (the subject of) the formation of a Hluddaw, and in Section – 3 of the law, it is decreed that Hluddaw must be formed with Hluddaw representatives who were elected in accordance with the laws.
(c) The multi-party general election was successfully held on 27 May 1990. Those Pyithu Hluddaw representatives who were elected during that free and fair election were officially declared by the multi-party general election supervising commission. They were also recorded in Burma's national archive as Pyithu Hluddaw representatives. Therefore, it is for the State Peace and Development Council to convene and form a Hluddaw by the law it itself lay down officially.
(d) This Pyithu Hludaw is needed to declare the State Peace and Development Council as a governing council according to judicial laws – because only the Pyithu Hluddaw has the right and power to declare that. No other organization has the right and power to declare thus. The present ruling State Peace and Development Council, is a council which is ruling the country in practice without the de facto law.
(e) This suggestion (means that) the State Peace and Development Council will become a government in charge of the transitional period only until the emergence of a (new) government formed with Pyithu Hluddaw representatives who are elected during an election by the free will of the people. It will be needed for the two sides to discuss and cooperate on how long that democratic transitional period should be.
(f) At the same time, for the national reconciliation, as proposed originally, the National League for Democracy General Secretary Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must be allowed to take part in the discussions of political reforms in Burma. Therefore, she must be released unconditionally from the detention which started on 30 May 2003, and she must be included in political dialogues with freedom of the spirit and freedom of the body.
(g) Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been leading the people and the National League for Democracy for the re-emergence of democracy in Burma, is the leader of the National League for Democracy which was supported by the majority of the people during the multi-party election (in 1990), and moreover, she is a democracy leader trusted and recognized by all pro-democracy groups including ethnic national groups.
(h) She is someone who has the ability to carry out reforms through political 'give-and-take' (negotiation?). Moreover, there had been some 'talks' between the State Peace and Development Council and the National League for Democracy for confidence-building process. But they, in fact, were not political dialogues. Even the confidence-building period was suspended due to the unfavorable condition. Dialogue is a path beneficial to the country and all national groups.
(i) If it is decided that a negotiator is needed during the talks for the national reconciliation, that person must be of a prominent leader from the Association of South East Asian Nations, who is trusted and respected by the majority of the people.
(j) The situation of the country from every perspective necessitates the speedy crossing of the transitional period, for the sakes of the country and the people. Therefore, we want the State Peace and Development Council to assess the suggestions and create the first step for good political conditions (or) the national unity, so that the people of the Union of Burma will feel glad and proud, and utter blessings on (by?) 17 April 2006, on the auspicious first day of the Burmese New Year 1368."
Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy