Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF) Appeal Letter to Ta'ang National Party and Other Ethnic

Political Parties

The military regime of Burma, State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has been implementing its
roadmap by various manipulative means to extend is precarious military rule. The SPDC recently
announced the general election-- a step of its unilateral 7-step roadmap to democracy-- will be held on
November 7 and deployed various unfair tactics and imposed severe restrictions to other contending
political parties, as their own pro-military party to win in the election.

It is critical juncture for the ethnic political parties, including Ta'ang National Party (TNP) whether to
cooperate with the military junta in the election and to lend legitimacy to their military rule, or to avoid to
be documented as historical culprits who help to prolong military enslavement of the Burmese people, to
stand together with the people.

Even though the ethnic nationality groups had entered into ceasefire agreement for decades and joined in
the military sponsored National Convention, hoping to raise their ethnic aspiration, it didn't work out as a
venue for political dialogue. Nevertheless, many ethnic proposals and demand for rights were turned
down by the junta in the National Convention and the junta adopted a constitution unilaterally, which will
favor lengthening of military supremacy in Burma. Moreover, the junta has been exerting pressure
against the ethnic ceasefire groups to transform into Border Guard Forces (BGF) under the Burmese army
command and to disband ethnic militias without honoring any political and ethnic rights.

The purported State legislatures (Hluttaw) and self-autonomous regions designed after 2010 general
election are merely a sham matter to soothe the ethnic demands for their fundamental rights and it is
apparent the military representatives will be in control in many places. The scheme is just to transform
from overt military rule which control everyday aspect of economic, social and political lives of citizens
to legitimize its rule by allowing a token share of some ethnic representatives. Actually, the ethnic
political parties have no chance to promote interest of ethnic people and betterment of their lives, because
of unjust rule, military dominance and severe restrictions for freedom under the new constitution.

For that reason, the PSLF seriously urges the ethnic political parties including Ta'ang National party
(TNP), unitedly together with the people, to stand against the junta's 2010 election for the benefit of the
people and to avoid repeated deceptions by military dictators.

The PSLF also urges to the Palaung people 'no voting' at the junta's 2010 election and to boycott against
it together with the PSLF.

Central Executive Committee

Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF)
September 6, 2010.

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