PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY PARTY
GHQ (Liberated area)
Burma
Dear Members, Supporters, and Friends,
The PDP would like to congratulate you for your dedicated support and co-operation in our struggle for re-introducing 'multiparty democracy' in Burma. It is everybody's responsibility and the PDP represents the interest of all the people of Burma. PDP is organising its activities with the willingness to offer its services for the welfare of the country and its citizens. The PDP's main objective is 'to reintroduce multiparty democracy in Burma'.
It is now forty-one years since Burma came under the brutal military regime. Our people are still suffering under the long shadowy dark cloud of the military boot and arbitrary power.
Brief PDP History
The PDP was formed as a political party by ex-primer U Nu together with other prominent leaders at the beginning of 1970. It had the intention to restore democracy by overthrowing the military regime, at that time the Burmese army was led by Gen.Ne Win, who usurped the power by carrying out a coup-de' tat in 1962. The PDP had political and military wings with over twenty thousands members. In the early years of its formation, the party launched active political and military campaigns. The party's activities were impeded in 1978. The name also was changed from PDP (Parliamentary Democracy Party) to PPP (People Patriotic Party) in 1974 according to the astrological calculation. In 1988, the party joined the DAB (Democratic Alliance of Burma) composed of Burmese and ethnic political parties. At the end of 1997, the original name PDP (Parliamentary Democracy Party) was re-used and Bo Aung Din became the Chairman until now. At the present moment, the PDP has bases in several areas in liberated areas, along the Thai-Burma borders, and branches abroad. The PDP branches abroad launch political campaigns regularly. Military clashes between the PDP armed-wing and SLORC's followers had occurred along the borders since the PDP reorganised its activities in 1997.
(Note: The actions of the PDP are restricted, as it has not enough resources. PDP has confidence that it would achieve its aim and object eventually, if it has enough resources.)
PDP World Wide Campaign
The PDP re-launches its active political campaigns since the party was reorganised in 1997. As mentioned above, the PDP has its branches abroad as well, and those branches also launch political campaigns accordingly. The first political campaign was launched by the UK branch PDP on 2nd March 2002, during the anniversary when Gen.Ne Win seized power from U Nu's democratically elected government. At that time, the PDP London Chapter demonstrated in front of the Burmese Embassy in London. They distributed political leaflets and asked political demands to the SPDC regime.
Now, members of the PDP branches from Thailand, USA, UK, and Netherlands are organising political campaigns respectively. Before the end of the year 2003, one more PDP chapter was formed in the Southern part of the US, and one more new chapter of the PDP Thailand emerged and held a political gathering in early November at the central area of Thailand during a religious celebration. The PDP GHQ instructed all the PDP branches and chapters to engage in peaceful political campaigns.
The PDP expects that in the year 2004, more new PDP chapters will emerge in many other countries, and launch more political campaigns, as political pressures to the SPDC regime..
PDP'S CURRENT POLITICAL TREND
The PDP current policy is asking for - Multiparty dialogue and a New General Election - since the PDP reorganised its activities. The reason the PDP has to ask the above requirements is, because there are other political parties, which are also contributing their services for the same cause ' reintroducing democracy'. We should therefore consider their contribution as well. It is a fact that the NLD won the 1990 elections but its mandate has expired. It is over 13 years, since the NLD won the elections but it should not continue to pretend that it still has the mandate. It should not ask for tripartite dialogue, where NLD, SPDC and ethnic are the only groups talking about the future of Burma. They have to consider the contribution of the other participants for the 'National Cause' too. The NLD members should realise that they are not the only people who were put behind bars by the military, but the members of the other parties were also imprisoned. Because of this, they should ask for 'multiparty dialogue and a new election', which is the remedy and key to the solution to Burma problems. A multi-party General Election will bring to an end the illegal military regime.
It is also important to point out about the UN resolution of 1st December 2003. At Section (5) paragraph (h) and (i) the UN mentions about 'democratisation and National Reconciliation' and 'road map'. It did not mention about -mandate - 'to hand over the power to the NLD' anymore. For 'democratisation & National Reconciliation', the UN asked dialogue between the SPDC,and NLD and then included other political leaders, including representatives of the ethnic groups. For 'Road Map', the UN mentioned the 'lacking of concrete timing and adequate plan' to ensure that the process is transparent and inclusive.
PDP WOULD LIKE TO PREDICT THE NEXT MOVE OF SPDC
The SPDC regime is shrewd. It is planning for the long run. It wants to continue to hold on the power by one way or another. With the current one-sided 'Road Map', it will take the support from the ethnic communities, who are making a truce with it. It does not need NLD to participate in materialising its 'Road Map'. That also depend on the SPDC, how sure it can arrange a thorough plan to be able to remain in power. They can apply dirty tricks in this connection in any so-called election which they organise. The reason is, once the election is held with the ethnic and some Burmese opposition parties, to which the SPDC can associate with, the result of the elections will be accepted by the world. Fair or not fair these are internal affairs. Outside countries would not interrupt in detail to the internal affairs of the other countries. That is the way the world is working.
Because of that, people of Burma, especially those who are dissidents and call themselves patriots, must search for right solutions. There is not much time left. The SPDC has the upper hand and is moving fast. If we cannot stop it, the SPDC will run the country with a new name again. This is the critical moment, we have to find the right solution for everybody sake. Whoever wants to discuss more in this connection, please contact the PDP through the following email address: emlmpdp@aol.com.
PDP AND RFA (Radio Free Asia)
The PDP is very much concerned about the radio stations particularly RFA attitude towards the other opposition parties' contribution for reintroducing multiparty democracy in Burma. The PDP has on a number of times experienced negative feedback with the RFA that it did not release the news of the PDP's activities and interview sent by their JOURNALISTS. We can say and have proved that their behaviour benefits only the SPDC and not the Burmese people. That experience has led to doubt their objectivity and whether they are professionals releasing all news which reach the station or acting as censor for the benefit of some unknown entity or who? Do they have the right to do so like this or who are they? Are they working as pure Professionals or belonging to a particular group, with the special task to block the news of other opposition parties who are also sacrificing their lives in the jungles, may be since before some of them were born?
Please remember that, even the world leaders from the USA, UK, EU and ASEAN are talking about the role of other opposition parties to participate in re-introducing multiparty democracy in Burma. At the same time, among the current young members of the PDP, many of them have been born in the jungle by their parents who are also PDP members and came to the jungle from Rangoon or many other parts of Burma since 1970 or earlier than that with the intention of fighting for democracy. Those children are born among the revolution, grown up in the revolution, fight in the revolution and die in the revolution. Many of them do not have personal identity cards to prove their nationalities. Your negligence of the reality in the struggle for democracy should be corrected.
SPDC'S 'ROAD MAP'
The PDP would like to remind people that they should analyse these events very carefully and take preventive measures ahead. If the PDP has to criticise the - road map - drawn by the SPDC, the PDP sees that the military regime is not sincere. It is twisting the people's eyes by organising the 'Road Map' to hold a new election with the satellite groups only, without inviting all the rest of the opposition parties. Although the world is talking about the concrete timing, and many of them are saying that the military regime will drag its feet for a long time in implementing - Road Map - the PDP do not share the same concept. The PDP thinks that the military regime will try to shorten the timing as much as they can, since they are going to cheat the world by holding a false election, to which outsider could not say much but to recognise and do business with them. At the same time, even if there are some countries who will oppose the result of the election held by the military, they have some countries who will tolerably accept the result of the of election and work with them. Because of that, they do not need to invite all the opposition parties and individuals as the PDP has presented in the previous letters to solve the Burma political problem. Anyhow, until we do see the sincerity among the SPDC leaders, by analysing the way they are organising the - Road Map -. Because of that the PDP would like to continue to make political demands, such as all parties, which are engaging to restore democracy in Burma, must be included for multiparty dialogue… The illegitimate military regime must not participate in drawing constitution, as it has no right to do so, except the representatives of the elected Members of Parliament.
If the military regime wants to show their sincerity, they can hold the election without pursuing for drawing constitution first for their security and prosperity. That means a new election can be held based on the 1947 constitution. Only after that new election, the winning representatives of the people have to form a Constitution Drawing Committee to draw a new constitution. That way, people will enjoy the essence of the democracy and country will be able to engage for the redevelopment project while the process of drawing new constitution is going peacefully. All the ethnic groups will also get a chance to solve the problem peacefully on the table, without overloaded responsibilities.
The PDP therefore makes the following political demand having regard to the current political developments in Burma.
We want multiparty dialogue,
We want a new election,
and
We oppose that the illegitimate military regime has no right to draw the constitution -.
Comment on the UN Resolution in December 2003
The SPDC regime should comply with the UN resolutions. People from the whole
country are expecting peace and prosperity. Their minds are very much unsettled
under the present political situation. The military regime is the one they are
blaming for the cause. They want someone to help solve the problem. If fact,
it is a great opportunity for the military regime to welcome the UN officers
who are helping the Burmese political situation. If we analyse the contents
of the UN resolutions, we could see all are acceptable. Definitely it will help
promote Human Rights, peace, freedom and eventual introducing of democracy in
Burma. Because of that the PDP would like to ask the SPDC regime to comply with
the resolution. If the SPDC regime delays in preparing the democratising process
or revealing the timing for the road map, this is up to them. For the people,
they will give credit if the SPDC regime does appropriately and correctly. They
will condemn if evade the truth.
'Depaying Massacre' and the PDP View
The 'Depaying Massacre' is a bold attempt committed by the SPDC regime, killing mass since after the military regime killed ten of thousand of demonstrators in 8-8-88 uprising. That sort of crime is unforgivable and unforgettable. We the citizen of Burma, do not want to see another time again the SPDC regime killing the people. If you continue to commit these crimes against the innocent people, you will definitely get the retaliation by the people one day. Because of that, the PDP condemns you for your sanguinary crime and demands that you stop such barbaric act.
It is not right to run the country by expending war machine and bullying its own people
Although some defeatist people count the number of your soldiers and lost their gut and perception, the PDP has a clear vision. Our intelligence must not be over powered by the physical strength. Our aim is, people have to associate one another by mutual respect, mutual support and mutual understanding. There should not be two classes, one above the law and the other under. We all have to obey the law, not to man. People should be allowed to compete one another for their daily welfare with athletic spirits, not controlled by guns.
Burma, under your army control, was not praised by the world. They condemn. People wanted you to fulfil their wishes, but many times, they lost their hearts, as you did not. Now again, you are moving towards - road map -. Another trick?. Unless you prove it, we do not trust you. The reason is, you can tell lie some people some times, but you cannot tell lie all the people all the times. The PDP reorganised its position since 7 years back with the intention of fulfilling the people's wishes. If you prove yourselves, the PDP would give you credit. If not, condemn you.
Another thing is, as the PDP had mentioned in the previous letters, we would like to request you to release all the political prisoners before you do good deed. You do not need to afraid of their evil repercussion. If they do bad and if you can witness them, you can put those desperadoes back behind bars. The PDP believes that if you are going to the right track, the world will see who is right and who is wrong. You do not need to worry. You will be praised.
Outside Response to the PDP's Achievement
Since the PDP reorganised at the end of 1997, it applies a two pronged strategy, political wing and armed wing. At the present moment it is concentrating on political activities than armed movement. The armed movement is especially applied to give protection to its members working in the liberated areas, and to defence the enemy's attack. Politically the PDP organised world wide, protesting the SPDC regime for its violation of Human Rights, arresting innocent people, torturing political prisoners, and killing and raping the innocent villagers along the front lines. The PDP also campaigned for multiparty dialogue and a new multiparty election. It is over thirteen years since the NLD had won the elections. However, the PDP sees that the NLD should not ask for the mandate to form a government anymore. Instead, it should ask for a new multiparty election only. The country belongs to nearly 50 million dwellers, and the rights of other people, who are not the NLD members, and who are and have been campaigning for multiparty democracy with their own agendas, should be considered as well. This is the essence of democracy and the PDP tries its best to open the eyes of the rest of the people. With the date of 9th April 03, the PDP wrote a letter to the UN General Secretary Mr.Koffi Anan. In that letter, the PDP's 'Road Map' was presented. For the SPDC leaders to be able to leave power safely, the PDP mentioned- Amnesty - in that letter, with the special intention of protecting their welfare as well. When the Thai Prime Minister Mr.Taksin Shanawatra was talking about introducing a road map, the PDP released a letter with the title of - To the World Leaders and the SPDC leaders -.. In that letter, the PDP mentioned that it supported the PM's 'Road Map', with the extra details, which also give suggestion, how the 'Road Map' should lead for the future of Burma. Many people responded their support to these letters.
That way, the PDP tried its best to be able to solve the Burma political problems, by presenting its political concepts to the UN and to the world leaders. The responses from the world are encouraging. Previously those world leaders asked the SPDC regime to hold tripartite dialogue, or to hand over the power to the winning party NLD only. Since the beginning of 2003, terminologies used by the world leaders changed. They have become more in accordance with the PDP demands. They did not use the words - tripartite dialogue - anymore. They mentioned about dialogue among the opposition parties including NLD, SPDC and ethnic. This is a first successful political achievement for the PDP. When ASEAN leaders, SPDC leaders, and the world leaders were talking about the 'Road Map', the PDP made the second demand - to hold a new election -. That is the second successful political achievement for the PDP. In fact, the PDP's successful achievements can be counted as the successful achievements of all Burmese people. The reason is, we are fighting for democracy, and our political trends must accord with the requirements of the basic principles for democracy. That means, after 4 years term, there must be a new election. For the present Burmese political situation, we can tolerate to accept another 4 years (that means, total 8 years) for the NLD to act as a winning party, which has mandate to form a government. But we should not allow it to permanently claim the mandate without any time limit. At the moment, we are fighting against the SPDC as it is and has violated the democratic principle. If the NLD is swaying from the democratic principle, we must tell them too to correct themselves. If not, we are sacrificing and fighting for democracy in the wrong way by encouraging undemocratic tendencies.
The reason the PDP has to apply the above mentioned political actions is, the PDP is working for multiparty democracy and it wants to reintroduce democracy in Burma. The PDP tries to avoid personality and ideological cult. Because of that it has no extreme view to support a particular person, with an extreme belief that he or she is the one who only would be able to run the country efficiently. The PDP is more dedicated to the rule of law. The PDP believes that, if there is a good value of law, and if the people obey the law, that country will be successful. In other words, the rule of law is a requirement for democracy.
Because of this, if we support only one person and one party, that country will be under one person and one party again. This time, although they are not in army uniform, still the country will be ruled by one big party under one leadership, which will look like despotism. If Burma is going to be like that, what we had sacrificed by fighting for so many decades for democracy, will not be able to fulfil the real goal. One big party will dominate the other again like despotism. The essence of competing two or three big parties under the democratic system would be negated. That is the reason, while we still have time to cure those pitfalls, the PDP have to be brave to ask for those political requirements, and the result of the PDP effort is visible now.
On the other hand, most Burmese patriots and intellectuals living abroad, who were once pursing only one trend without daring to analyse the political reality of Burma, have now begun contributing more wider versions of the political spectrum than before. It is a very good positive sign. Where there is a will there is a way. Necessity is the mother of invention. The PDP salutes them in that they have begun to search for the truth and the PDP believes that they will find the solution soon. In fact, this is the message to them that, the PDP always has an open door to them to search for the truth together.
Because of the above political developments, based on the PDP's initiative, not only numbers of old activists, who had engaged the struggle for democracy in Burma since 8-8-88 period, new numbers of those, who had never been involved in politics before, also have joined the PDP. More new PDP branches also have emerged abroad. As a result, the PDP has become much stronger than before.
Those old and new members were also proud of their status as being members of the PDP party. For them, to be associated with the PDP achievement is a great privilege and they are quite happy with the brilliant achievement the PDP had done. They want to be in the vanguard of the political struggle to free our Motherland from the odious and illegal military regime.
Central Committee
Parliamentary Democracy Party
GHQ (Liberated area) Burma
E-mail address: emlmpdp@aol.com
PDP web page: www.pdp-burma.net