AS THE DEADLINE for the National League for Democracy’s offer of national reconciliation with the military junta in Burma expire today (April 17), regional activists under the Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC) and Free Burma Coalition-Philippines today said that ignoring the NLD’s offer will isolate the junta further internationally.

AS THE DEADLINE for the National League for Democracy’s offer of national reconciliation with the military junta in Burma expire today (April 17), regional activists under the Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC) and Free Burma Coalition-Philippines today said that ignoring the NLD’s offer will isolate the junta further internationally.

It will be remembered that on February 12, the NLD, the biggest political party in Burma led by Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, called on the military regime to allow convening the winners of the last 1990 elections into a “people’s parliament,” while the junta remains as a transitional government.

Saying that Burma’s continuing social, economic and political problems require an immediate resolution, the NLD challenged the junta to convene the parliament according to results of the 1990 general election, which were denied by the regime after the NLD won by a landslide. In return, the parliament would recognize the regime as a de jure, transitional government.

The NLD said that only the “people’s parliament” is vested with the power to recognize a transitional government. The parliament will recognize the SPDC de jure only if it accepts the conditions under the said offer including the immediate release of Suu Kyi and allowing her participation in talks on political reform.

“The generals have been ruling Burma in various guises since 1962. It’s almost 44 years and Burma remains a garrison state where democracy and human rights are like extinct commodities. The NLD’s offer deserves attention if the junta is really sincere in pushing for democratic reforms. But if the junta will remain stubborn, we have no other choice but to escalate our protest actions against this ruthless regime,” Gus Miclat, regional coordinator of APSOC and convenor of the FBC-Phils said.

“Though we can say that the junta already mastered the art of self-isolation courtesy of then General Ne Win, we feel that the junta right now is standing on very shaky ground. It doesn’t have the respect of the international community and it doesn’t have the trust of its own people. Responding positively to the NLD offer may help redeem its image,” Miclat added.

The NLD proposal also mentioned that if it is decided that that a mediator is needed for the talks, with the presence of Suu Kyi, a prominent leader from the ASEAN who is trusted and respected by the majority of the people must be assigned the task.

“Now it’s up to the junta to decide. If they remain silent on this issue, it is a loud indication of their lust for perpetual power. But the efforts of the international community and all democratic forces will not end unless meaningful reforms and genuine peace and justice are achieved, Miclat ended.