Global Leaders Call for Dialogue on Burma

Created: 17th October, 2007 11:39 | Last updated: 29th October, 2007 16:01	print	send

Organized by the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, the letter encourages China to stand in solidarity with the international community's support for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma.

It also encourages China to press Burma to engage in a peaceful tri-partite dialogue, as called for by the UN General Assembly, and to support Security Council agreement on a peaceful binding resolution to strengthen political efforts and to impose an immediate arms embargo on Burma.

"We believe China can play an increasing constructive role in convincing Burma's military regime to participate in peaceful dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for democracy, as well as the country's ethnic groups," said former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, President of The Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights. "The international community has spoken loudly," added Bondevik, and "China needs to listen and play a pivotal and constructive role in a peaceful transition to democracy in Burma."

The letter:

October 05, 2007The Honorable Hu JintaoPresidentPeople's Republic of ChinaBeijing, China Dear President Hu:

We are writing to ask you to support a peaceful and inclusive dialogue for national reconciliation in Burma, in light of nationwide demonstrations and shooting on the streets of Burma's major cities. We believe China could play an increasing constructive role in convincing Burma's military regime to participate in peaceful dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy, as well as the country's ethnic groups.

These "tripartite" national reconciliation talks are called for by the UN General Assembly and strongly supported by the Secretary-General. Importantly, China can galvanize the international community's collective ability to work with Burma in a forward-looking and modern spirit of cooperation, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions China is in a uniquely powerful position to encourage Burma's military regime to engage in such a tripartite dialogue. With China's support, the UN can facilitate these talks between all parties in Burma. Without China's support, UN efforts are likely to fail and Burma could continue to spiral into the status of a failed state, with unfortunate regional implications in the short and long term. The recent nationwide demonstrations underline the permanent instability caused by a military regime with limited and decreasing popular support. The United Nations Secretary-General, the UN General Assembly, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan, Australia, the European Union, and 59 former Presidents and Prime Ministers throughout the world are all urging the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma.

We invite China to stand in solidarity with the international community to join in this effort. Mr. President, We encourage China's policy on Burma to be carefully reviewed taking into account the following proposed areas of action:

(1) Support the international calls for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma;

2) Utilize fully China's unique position to facilitate/support a peaceful tri-partite dialogue, as referred to above and as called for by the UN General Assembly; and 3) Support Security Council agreement on a peaceful binding resolution designed to strengthen the multilateral political efforts and impose an immediate arms embargo for Burma. We believe such forward-looking steps would serve to strengthen Burma at this critical juncture in the country's history, on the basis of a firm and collective position by the international community, to which China is in a pivotal leading position of influence.

Thank you for your careful consideration. Sincerely,

1. The Honorable Corazon C. Aquino, Former President of the Philippines (1986-1992)

2. The Honorable Valdis Birkavs, Former Prime Minister of Latvia (1993-1994)

3. The Honorable Kjell Magne Bondevik, Former Prime Minister of Norway (1997-2000, 2001-2005)

4. The Honorable Gro Harlem Brundtland, Former Prime Minister of Norway (1986-1996)

5. The Honorable Vlado Bučkovski, Former Prime Minister of Macedonia (2004-2006)

6. The Honorable Armando Calderón Sol, Former President of El Salvador (1994-1999)

7. The Honorable Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Former President of Brazil (1995-2003)

8. The Honorable Philip Dimitrov, Former Prime Minister of Bulgaria (1991-1992)

9. The Honorable Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, Former President of Iceland (1980-1996)

10. The Honorable Elbegdorj Tsakhiagiin, Former Prime Minister of Mongolia (1998, 2004-2006)

11. The Honorable Václav Havel, Former President of the Czech Republic (1990-2003)

12. The Honorable Paavo Lipponen, Former Prime Minister of Finland (1995-2003)

13. The Honorable Lionel Jospin, Former Prime Minister of France (1997-2002)

14. The Honorable Zlatko Lagumdžija, Former Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2001-2003)

15. The Honorable Davíð Oddsson, Former Prime Minister of Iceland (1991-2004)

16. The Honorable Viktor Orbán, Former Prime Minister of Hungary (1998-2002)

17. The Honorable Andrés Pastrana Arango, Former President of Colombia (1998-2002)

18. The Honorable Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland (1990-1997)

19. The Honorable Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé, Former President of the Republic of Bolivia (2005-2006)

20. The Honorable Casam Uteem, Former President of the Republic of Mauritius (1992-2002)