Statement of Extraordinary Meeting of the UNFC

By United Nationalities Federal Council • May 10, 2012

The extraordinary meeting of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC) attended by the UNFC central executive committee members and top leaders of the member organizations was held from May 8 to 9, 2012, at a certain place on the Thai-Burma border. At this meeting, serious discussion was held on Bamah Tatmadaw’s military offensive against the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), as the main target.

The objective of Bamah Tatmadaw’s offensives in Northern Shan State and Kachin State with excessive military force is to protect foreign investments’ mega business projects. We, the UNFC members, oppose and object violent military offensives and the killing of fellow citizens, for the benefit of foreign interest. On the other hand, we support and view as correct the action of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Kachin people’s militia and their allied forces, which inevitably have to resist transgression of the hostile forces.

For building our country, composed of various nationalities, into a peaceful and developed one, it is essential for us to maintain ethnic unity. For that reason, it will be necessary for us to resolve the political problems arising among the nationalities of the land, by political means, through dialogue and negotiation. In resolving the problems, it is impossible for us to accept President U Thein Sein’s proposal calling for the armed ethnic forces to set up political parties, contest the elections and carry out changes in the parliament according to majority decision and law, as it is not in the way of fair dialogue and negotiation.

As all the non-Burman nationalities have faced the same fate and gone through the same experience of oppression, they have developed the same aims and objects. To achieve them, they collectively join hands in the UNFC. It is the conviction of our UNFC members that an attack on a member is the same as an attack on all the members. Accordingly, the concern of the KIO is the concern of all the UNFC members.

It is necessary for the international community to oppose and pressure Bamah Tatmadaw for its wrong actions. Accordingly, we would like to request the international community not to suspend or lift the remaining political, military, financial and economic sanctions but to wait and see, if the Bamah Tatmadaw does not stop its transgression and military offensives in Kachin State by June 10, 2012. Also, our UNFC members, who have agreed ceasefire with U Thein Sein government, have decided to review the peace process and future programs, including the preliminary ceasefire agreements reached.

With the actions and attitude of the Bamah Tatmadaw and government mentioned above, it is impossible for us to correct the dreadful situations in the country. It is necessary for the NLD members, members of the fraternal ethnic parties and members of the democratic parties in the parliament, the experts, intellectuals and the people, and the international forces, supporting and pushing for change of the political system in Burma, to carry on the struggle by rejection and opposition, like the UNFC members,.

We appeal to all the forces concerned to collectively oppose Bamah Tatmadaw’s war of aggression, which does not benefit the State as well as the people, and correct the wrong political programs of U Thein Sein’s government.

The 4th Waning Day of Kahsong, May 10, 2012 1374
Central Executive CommitteeUnited Nationalities Federal Council