Joint Statement of ARNO and BROUK on the Burma Union Day
On the occasion of the 64nd anniversary of Union Day Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) and Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) jointly state as follows:
1. 64 years ago the Panglong Agreement was signed between Gen. Aung San and leaders of the several ethnic groups in Panglong, Shan State, on February 12, 1947, in order to take the independence together from Britain and to build a Federal Union of Burma ensuring political equality and self-determination of ethnic nationalities.
2. Although this Agreement, based on the agreed upon principles of Unity in diversity, is known as Union Treaty and the event is recognized as the Union Day of Burma, the true spirit of the Panglong or Union Day has never been realized since independence on 4th January 1948.
3. The hastily written Constitution of 1947 was semi-federal and it failed to guarantee equal rights, autonomy and self-determination of the ethnic nationalities. Because of that resentment developed among all the ethnic peoples giving birth to civil war continuing till today.
4. To add salt to the injury, Gen. Ne Win seized the power in 1962 and ended the Union Treaty and destroyed all democratic structures while promoting the assimilation policy.
5. The SPDC military clique, through a sham election held on 7 November 2010, is establishing a civilianized military regime, and the situation is taking a turn for the worse, where there will be no democratic and political reform in the country.
6. The people of Burma have been suffering in the morass of deteriorating political, economic, educational, health and social conditions. Grave human rights violations that amount to crimes against humanity have been perpetrated across the country, particularly in the ethnic areas, and the Rohingyas are the worst victims.
7. It is high time to revitalize and translate the true spirit of Panglong, through tripartite dialogue, with inclusive political and democratic process, in order to reach an acceptable national accord for establishing genuine federal democracy that guarantees autonomy and equal rights for every people and ensure respect for and promotion of human rights in Burma.
8. We urge upon UN with the international community, ASEAN, EU, USA and neighbouring countries to put pressure on the new regime to honour the true aspiration of the people of Burma.
2. Although this Agreement, based on the agreed upon principles of Unity in diversity, is known as Union Treaty and the event is recognized as the Union Day of Burma, the true spirit of the Panglong or Union Day has never been realized since independence on 4th January 1948.
3. The hastily written Constitution of 1947 was semi-federal and it failed to guarantee equal rights, autonomy and self-determination of the ethnic nationalities. Because of that resentment developed among all the ethnic peoples giving birth to civil war continuing till today.
4. To add salt to the injury, Gen. Ne Win seized the power in 1962 and ended the Union Treaty and destroyed all democratic structures while promoting the assimilation policy.
5. The SPDC military clique, through a sham election held on 7 November 2010, is establishing a civilianized military regime, and the situation is taking a turn for the worse, where there will be no democratic and political reform in the country.
6. The people of Burma have been suffering in the morass of deteriorating political, economic, educational, health and social conditions. Grave human rights violations that amount to crimes against humanity have been perpetrated across the country, particularly in the ethnic areas, and the Rohingyas are the worst victims.
7. It is high time to revitalize and translate the true spirit of Panglong, through tripartite dialogue, with inclusive political and democratic process, in order to reach an acceptable national accord for establishing genuine federal democracy that guarantees autonomy and equal rights for every people and ensure respect for and promotion of human rights in Burma.
8. We urge upon UN with the international community, ASEAN, EU, USA and neighbouring countries to put pressure on the new regime to honour the true aspiration of the people of Burma.
For more information, please contract
Nurul Islam Phone + 44-794785 652
Maung Tun Khin + 44-788714866
Dated: 12th February 2011