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Government in exile urged to negotiate with opposition groups |
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by Solomon
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Monday, 26 January 2009 22:12 |
New Delhi (Mizzima) - Burma's government in exile – the National Coalition Government of Union of Burma (NCGUB) – will need to prove its worth by encompassing all opposition forces and assume a leadership role in bringing about a break through in Burma's politics, said a leader of Burmese opposition's largest alliance group – National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB).
Myint Thein, General-Secretary (1) of the NCUB said the government in exile in the past, has failed to take a leading role in the opposition movement and that it is time for the NCGUB to take serious action and lead the struggle for democracy at home.
"In the past, they [NCGUB] have not been able to take a leading role in political movements both inside and outside. We are continuing to watch them," Myint Thein said.
Myint Thein's comment comes after exiled Burmese Members of Parliament Union (MPU), during its fourth congress held in Dublin, Ireland, re-elected Dr. Sein Win as the Prime Minister of the NCGUB.
The members of the MPU, formed with MPs elected in Burma's last general election in 1990, formed the government in exile by electing a seven-member cabinet including a Prime Minister.
Dr. Sein Win, a cousin brother of detained opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has served the NCGUB as Prime Minister since its formation in 1990.
The government in exile, which excludes none of the MPs from being its member, however, came under some form of criticism that questions its effective role in leading the Burmese movement for democracy.
On New Year's Eve, Myint Thein, on the letterhead of the NCUB, an umbrella organization of several students, women and ethnic political and armed groups, released a statement saying another government in exile will be formed soon as a parallel to the NCGUB.
The statement triggered off speculation among opposition groups with several people opposing the idea of having two exiled governments. However, some favoured the idea as they felt the current NCGUB had failed to provide a leading role and does not encompass the various other opposition members including ethnic groups.
Myint Thein said the idea was "rather than forming another government in exile we want to try to establish the government, which can practically lead the way."
He said, he will be pressing for negotiations with the NCGUB on the possibilities of expanding the government in exile in order to encompass all opposition groups including ethnics, students and women and take a leading role as a united front.
"We need to discuss a lot of things on this," Myint Thein added.
Meanwhile, David Takarpaw, Vice-Chairman of one of Burma's longest operating rebel, the Karen National Union, said he hopes the NCGUB will do what it can to represent the people's aspirations.
Takarpaw, however, said, "This is not the time for a single group or a few people to decide for others, the movement should be inclusive and widely involved."
Similarly, Lway Aye Nang, General Secretary of Women's League of Burma, an umbrella women's group, said with Burma's political trend nearing the ultimate point, time is crucial and the NCGUB should work for unity of all opposition groups.
"This year and 2010 is very important for all, so the opposition government in exile needsto build unity among all opposition groups," Lway Aye Nang said.
"We hope if they [NCGUB] negotiate with all other groups then we can achieve some kind of unity for the cause," said Aye Nang.
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