British Government: As long as the elections are contested on

the current constitution, whatever the outcome they cannot be

recognised by the international community

01 February 2010

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) today welcomes the British

Government stands on Burmese junta’s 2008 constitution and
planned 2010 election.

Written in the Hansard, Mr. Ivan Lewis, the Minister of State,

Foreign and Commonwealth Office said that “The constitution
that underpins the election is deeply flawed. It is designed to
perpetuate military rule in Burma. As long as the elections are
contested on the current constitution, whatever the outcome
they cannot be recognised by the international community.”

And he went on saying that “It must be clear that without the
release of political prisoners and a commitment to an inclusive
process in respect of opposition and ethnic groups, the
forthcoming elections in Burma will not be recognised by the
international community-indeed, they will be entirely
illegitimate.”

Mr. Lewis said that “We continue to call for the release of Aung
San Suu Kyi. We have made it clear that the elections cannot be
credible if political prisoners are not free and able to engage in

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) is the global campaigning and lobbying organisation to restore democracy, human rights and rule of law in
Burma where everyone can enjoy the freedom of speech, press, beliefs, assembly and rule of law that emphasizes the protection of individual
rights. It is the registered company in UK and register number is 6496926. Register address is 2nd Floor, 145-157 St. John Street, London, United
Kingdom, EC1V 4PY
an inclusive process. We have lobbied China, India and
Association of South East Nations members to recognise that
only free and fair elections will lead to a stable and secure
Burma. We support the UN Secretary-General's continued
engagement. Tough EU sanctions will remain in place in the
absence of any progress. It is equally important that the entire
international community gives a united response to any
election outcome. If there were any suggestion that some
members of the international community attempted in any
way to legitimise that outcome, that would be very dangerous in
terms of strengthening the regime. What we seek to achieve is
maximum unity of response on the basis that the election will
be fought on a flawed constitution.”

Myo Thein, the Director at the Burma Democratic Concern

(BDC) said, “We are very glad to learn British Government’s
clear stand on democratisation of Burma and significantly they
do not playing into the junta’s illegal 2010 election. We hope
that other democratic countries around the world would follow
the lead of British Government listening to the genuine voices
of people of Burma.”

Junta plotted the ploy and imprisoned Aung San Suu Kyi which
is tantamount to turning back on dialogue and ultimately
national reconciliation.

With reference to United Nations’ responsibility on

democratisation of Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi said that “United
Nations should demand the military regime to do national

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) is the global campaigning and lobbying organisation to restore democracy, human rights and rule of law in
Burma where everyone can enjoy the freedom of speech, press, beliefs, assembly and rule of law that emphasizes the protection of individual
rights. It is the registered company in UK and register number is 6496926. Register address is 2nd Floor, 145-157 St. John Street, London, United
Kingdom, EC1V 4PY
reconciliation first before holding the 2010 election. Otherwise
the elections will be illegal, unjust and lack of credibility if it is
held before facilitating to take place the national
reconciliation”.

A tremendous responsibility rests upon the United Nations

Organization to a far better end, and we are looking for a more
positive and bolder lead of the United Nations as military
regime is trying to nullify the results of the 1990 elections by
planning to hold sham election in 2010 even though National
League for Democracy (NLD) clearly stated their position in the
“Shwe-Gone-Dine” declaration that need to place in order to
have genuine national reconciliation in Burma.

Khin Maung Win, the Director at the Burma Democratic

Concern (BDC) said, “The vital issue here is that 1990 election
results are still yet to be honoured and the planned elections
will be held in accord with 2008 constitution. The essence of
the 2008 Constitution is to guarantee impunity indefinitely and
the 2010 election will implement it. Moreover, it is
systematically designed to entrench military rule in Burma.”

U Tint Swe Thi Ha, the Patron at the Burma Democratic

Concern (BDC) said, “As long as military regime is in power in
one form or another, Burma will not be a peaceful state and
moreover it will threaten regional stability leading to
destabilizing of peace in the world at large since junta has the
ambition of possessing nuclear weapons.”

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) is the global campaigning and lobbying organisation to restore democracy, human rights and rule of law in
Burma where everyone can enjoy the freedom of speech, press, beliefs, assembly and rule of law that emphasizes the protection of individual
rights. It is the registered company in UK and register number is 6496926. Register address is 2nd Floor, 145-157 St. John Street, London, United
Kingdom, EC1V 4PY
Daw Khin Aye Aye Mar, the Patron at the Burma Democratic
Concern (BDC) said, “In addition, the suffering of people of
Burma will be never-ending since junta will always extinguish
democratic principles and ethnics’ rights with brutal force in
order to hold on power. The free and democratic world has a
moral responsibility to intervene on behalf of humanity. We
want to build democratic Burma prevailing peace, prosperity
and progress in the country where everyone can enjoy the
freedom of speech, press, beliefs, assembly and rule of law that
emphasizes the protection of individual rights.”

For more information please contact Burma Democratic

Concern (BDC) at;

Myo Thein 00-44-787-788-2386

Khin Maung Win 00-1-941-961-2622
U Tint Swe Thi Ha 00-1-509-582-3261
Daw Khin Aye Aye Mar 00-1-509-586-8309

Notes to Editor:

1. Burma Constitutional Conference was held in UK, London

on 19/20 December 2009 organised by Burma Democratic
Concern (BDC) and FBE-UK attended by delegates based
in UK
http://www.youtube.com/user/bdcburma#p/u/6/8uuqPL
AkKGU

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) is the global campaigning and lobbying organisation to restore democracy, human rights and rule of law in
Burma where everyone can enjoy the freedom of speech, press, beliefs, assembly and rule of law that emphasizes the protection of individual
rights. It is the registered company in UK and register number is 6496926. Register address is 2nd Floor, 145-157 St. John Street, London, United
Kingdom, EC1V 4PY
 2. Burma Constitutional Conference unanimously adopted
the working strategy resolution
http://www.scribd.com/doc/25605089/Burma-
Constitutional-Conference-Working-Strategy-Resolution

3. Burmese delegation from NLD-LA-UK, Burma Lawyers’

Council, Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) and Women
of Burma (UK) met with FCO officials on 21 December
2009 in order to explain current situation of Burma, the
importance of 1990 election results, junta’s 2008
constitution, and planned 2010 election after the Burma
Constitutional Conference

4. Gordon Brown has sent a letter to Aung San Suu Kyi on 30

Dec 2009 by saying that “If the scheduled elections
proceed under a rigged constitution, with opposition
leaders excluded and with no international oversight, the
military rulers will be condemning Burma to more years of
diplomatic isolation and economic stagnation”
http://www.bdcburma.org/NewsDetails.asp?id=550

5. Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) launched “Yes We

Can” Campaign on 4th January 2010 in order to speed up
to implement 1990 election result in Burma, to change
junta’s sham 2008 constitution and to Boycott junta’s
planned sham 2010 election
http://www.bdcburma.org/Statements.asp?Id=71

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) is the global campaigning and lobbying organisation to restore democracy, human rights and rule of law in
Burma where everyone can enjoy the freedom of speech, press, beliefs, assembly and rule of law that emphasizes the protection of individual
rights. It is the registered company in UK and register number is 6496926. Register address is 2nd Floor, 145-157 St. John Street, London, United
Kingdom, EC1V 4PY
 6. Hansard (the Official Report) is the edited verbatim report
of proceedings in both Houses. It is an edited record of
what was said in the British Parliament
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/c
mhansrd/cm100119/debtext/100119-
0002.htm#10011957001031

7. Global Action for Burma (GAB), the coalition of 141

Burmese democratic and ethnics organisations around the
world based inside and outside Burma working collectively
together to bring about genuine democracy, human rights
and rule of law in Burma, on 26 January 2010 call for
United Nations Security Council to declare junta’s 2008
constitution as NULL & VOID
http://www.bdcburma.org/Statements.asp?Id=72

8. 14th Forum of Burmese in Europe was held in Germany,

Frankfurt on 16/17 January 2010 attended by Burmese
delegates from around the Europe. The FBE conference
adopted the Burma Constitutional Conference working
strategy resolution unanimously

9. Foreign office minister Bill Rammel said on 01 May 2009

that “The regime has pressed ahead with its flawed
roadmap process, which looks set to bring about elections
in 2010 that entrench military rule”
http://www.bdcburma.org/Statements.asp?Id=44

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) is the global campaigning and lobbying organisation to restore democracy, human rights and rule of law in
Burma where everyone can enjoy the freedom of speech, press, beliefs, assembly and rule of law that emphasizes the protection of individual
rights. It is the registered company in UK and register number is 6496926. Register address is 2nd Floor, 145-157 St. John Street, London, United
Kingdom, EC1V 4PY
 10. Aung San Suu Kyi said on 24 July 2009 that “United
Nations should demand the military regime to do national
reconciliation first before holding the 2010 election.
Otherwise it will be illegal, unjust and lack of credibility if
it is held before facilitating to take place the national
reconciliation”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIcwVs7XJwc

Burma Democratic Concern (BDC) is the global campaigning and lobbying organisation to restore democracy, human rights and rule of law in
Burma where everyone can enjoy the freedom of speech, press, beliefs, assembly and rule of law that emphasizes the protection of individual
rights. It is the registered company in UK and register number is 6496926. Register address is 2nd Floor, 145-157 St. John Street, London, United
Kingdom, EC1V 4PY