SDU’s Statement on KIO 19 Points Proposal
27 July 2007
- The KIO’s 19 points proposal is a bold initiative and a breath of fresh air within Burma’s political arena, given that the Constitutional Convention, which has been being stage-managed, prescribed and manipulated by the SPDC all these years.
- The proposal pointed out the crucial need to adhere to the real Union structure and recognise the birthright self-determination and administrative rights of the non-Burman ethnic nationalities.
- It further touches the need to uphold the check and balance of the three institutions, which are legislative, executive and judicial powers.
- The KIO’s proposal of cultural rights and residual power, combined with the right to control security forces by the state authorities and elect their own state Chief Minister, which must be approved by the Federal government clearly spells out the non-Burman ethnic nationalities’ position.
- So far, only the New Mon State Party and Arakan League for Democracy have endorsed the KIO’s proposal. But, many more are following the lead of the two parties.
- The SDU, on behalf of the people of Shan State, would like to heartily welcome the KIO’s 19 Points Proposal, which is in line with reconstructing a genuine federal union in words and deeds.
- Furthermore, the SDU believes that only viable way out from this decades long, ongoing ethnic and internal conflicts is none other than the rebuilding the union through democracy, equality and rights of self-determination, which the KIO has clearly spelled out in its proposal.
source: Sai Wansai - General Secretary - Shan Democratic Union
