Include NLD, Ethnic Minorities in Dialogue: US Sen

WASHINGTON — A key US senator has called for the National League for Democracy (NLD) and ethnic minority groups to be included in the US-Burma talks.

"I believe that this interaction should not be limited to talks merely with the SPDC but should also include discussions with the National League for Democracy and representatives from Burma's ethnic minorities," Sen. Mitch McConnell said on the floor of the Senate.

Sen. Mitch McConnell

He said he is "not sanguine" about the prospects for engagement with the Burmese regime, because the military junta has not shown any ability to compromise on any issues that might jeopardize its hold on power.

"According to news reports, in July of this year, just weeks before the unveiling of the new Burma policy, the state department at the highest levels offered to drop the US investment ban against Burma if the regime released Aung San Suu Kyi," he said.

"This was a major test of how the regime would respond to diplomatic engagement, providing a golden opportunity for the SPDC to demonstrate that it had indeed changed its spots. Instead of accepting this offer and freeing Suu Kyi, the regime promptly sentenced her to an additional 18 months of imprisonment. That does not augur well for diplomatic engagement," he said.

He said there are three significant tests of whether or not the junta's relationship with the US has improved to the degree that it should consider moving away from a sanction policy: first, the release of all political prisoners, including Suu Kyi; second, a free and fair 2010 elections; and third, Burma's compliance with its international obligations to end any prohibited relationships with North Korea.

"Short of tangible and concrete progress in these areas, the removal of sanctions seems to make little sense,” said Sen. McConnell. “It is after all the most significant leverage our government has over the SPDC. Sanctions make clear that the military junta has not achieved legitimacy in the eyes of the West."

He said the 2010 Burmese elections are fraught with problems. As a preliminary matter, for the elections to be meaningful, the new Constitution should be amended to provide for a truly open electoral competition and democratic governance, he said.

"As it stands now under the junta's charter, if Suu Kyi's party, the NLD, won 100 percent of the contestable parliamentary seats in next year's election, it would still not control the key government ministries: defense and home affairs. No matter what, they will remain firmly under military control. Moreover, the NLD cannot amend the Constitution to improve the charter because the military is guaranteed a quarter of the parliament's seats," he said.

"That means the junta can block any Constitutional change. Finally, Suu Kyi may not even hold a position in the government. She is excluded from office by the charter. I would say to my Senate colleagues, this is hardly a prescription for democratic governance," McConnell said.

He said there would need to be a profound change in the political environment in Burma for the 2010 election to be meaningful.

"With respect to next year's balloting, the NLD, the clear winner of the 1990 elections which the regime abrogated, faces a Hobson's choice,” he said. “It can either participate in the elections which are almost certain to be unfair and thereby legitimize the flawed Constitution or boycott the elections and be treated as a member of an unlawful organization," he said.

"Participation means casting aside its 1990 victory. Nonparticipation means becoming outlaws. I am likely to support the NLD in whatever decision the party makes in this regard though I am not blind to the profound dilemma it faces," McConnell said.