Analysis and Position Statement on the Burmese Military Junta’s Constitution and their planned Referendum
The present SPDC military junta inherits the power derived from the 1962 BSPP military regime that came to power through coup de dat.
The military clique that took the political power by force in 1962 had done so to block the emergence of a Constitution that reflected a genuine Federal Union envisioned by General Aung San and the leaders of the ethnic nationalities in the historic Panglong Agreement. Likewise, they cited in thei r declaration, at that time, their disgust for federalism as the main reason for staging a coup.
The military clique also tricked the ignorant masses by interpreting federalism as “separatism” and credited themselves by claiming to have saved the Union from disintegration.
The successive military clique, aware of the fact that establishment of a genuine Federal Union will mean the end of civil war and that the relevancy of their holding the state power will eventually wane, has consistently suppressed democracy and Human Rights. They are aware that the existence of democracy and Human Rights will open all the chances to establish a peaceful Federal Union. In a way federalism and democracy are inseparable in our country. Hence, the military clique that opposes federalism will never allow democracy to flourish.
Today’s Constitution drafted by the military clique clearly opposes federalism and democracy, aspirations that have been demanded by the general masses with their blood, sweats and often ultimately with their lives.
The 1974 Constitution was one-sidedly drafted by the military clique and forcefully “promulgated” despite the peoples overwhelming vote against it in the referendum.
They further ruled the country with the cooperation of BSPP opportunists. But the 1974 Constitution that opposed the people’s aspirations did not last long. The peoples overwhelmingly rejected the military rule with their blood, sweats and lives during the Four Eights Democracy Revolution and the Constitution was abolished in humiliation. It is a very fresh historical lesson the present military clique should learn.
Today’s SPDC military clique is no different to the BSPP clique. They are unable to learn their lesson from history. Paucity of ideas gives them no other chance but to follow the old BSPP way that had miserably failed them. They are now intimidating the people to vote in favour of their draft Constitution in the upcoming referendum on 10, May. They are planning to enslave the country with a parliament made up of 25% military clique and 75% USDA neo-opportunists. There is no other way for them but to face the same fate as the BSPP Constitution and end again in humiliation. The so called road map of the military clique will lead them to a very dangerous course instead of leading them to any kind of solution.
Today’s military clique, in their dire attempt to enslave the country, is not only opposing its own people in the Union of Burma but are also opposing the international community by ignoring their consistent demand to pursue the path of national reconciliation.
Throughout the history of the world there never has been a dictator who opposed his own people and the people of the world and then ended up peacefully. Either Hitler, Musolini, Marcos from the outside world or the home grown dictators like Ne Win, Saw Mau ng, Kyaw Ba, Tun Kyi and even Khin Nyunt have already ended up their last days in humiliations. These are not fantasies but evidence and facts.
Now Than Shwe, Maung Aye, Shwe Man military clique, who oppose the people in the most brutal and vehement way, are digging their own graves and slipping nooses around their own necks by pursuing their road map.
Hence, we encourage all peoples of the Union of Burma to courageously vote against the military cliques’ Constitution in the upcoming referendum on 10th of May.
SOURCE : The Chin Forum ( http://www.chinforum.org )
April 21, 2008
