Opposition heavyweights, who were attending the consultation meeting hosted recently by the Chiangmai-based National Reconciliation Programme (NRP), rejected the 2010 General Elections, being planned by Burma's ruling military junta.
They also dismissed statements by some of the participants that the upcoming event would be "the final struggle" with the military rulers, who have been in power for almost five decades.
"It will certainly be a turning point but definitely not the final struggle," said Dr Naing Aung.
Others including Khun Ohnmar, Yi Tun, Than Gay, the Reverend Indriya, Dr Kyaw Nyunt, Hkun Okker and Dr Khin Maung were no less vehement.
* It will only be a repetition of the 2008 Constitutional Referendum (where the ruling junta "unilaterally" declared victory) –
Than Gay
* I'm not interested in 2010, only in 2009 – The Reverend
Indriya
* Supporting the elections amounts to granting legitimacy to the military regime – Khun Okker
Col Yawdserk, leader of the non-ceasefire Shan State Army (SSA) South, also spoke out against the elections on the same day in a written statement.
Most of the participants instead called on the NRP to focus more on a timely reconciliation within the country's opposition camp and support a well-concerted nationwide movement against its rulers:
* We have already agreed upon Democracy and Federalism – Khin Ohmar
* A common (opposition) political roadmap has been agreed on. What remains is implementation – Dr Kyaw Nyunt
* Movements inside constitute the determining force, those outside the driving force and the international community the auxiliary force. All should work together – Dr Khin Maung.
The two day consultation, November 19 and 20, also discussed political and constitutional campaigns, capacity building, enhanced women and youth participation and support for environmental advocacy.
The NRP, the outcome of the 1994 UN resolution calling for a tripartite dialogue between the country's military rulers, the democratic opposition led by Aung San Suu Kyi and non-Burmese ethnic states, was formed by exiles led by the late Chao Tzang Yawnghwe (1939-2004), son of Sao Shwe Thaike, the first President of independent Burma (1948-52) in 1999.
The programme since then has grown from a mere Euro 100,000 per year set-up to a Euro 1 million per year enterprise with some 100 recipients. With the slogan, "Unity in Diversity," it has claimed to have provided Voice for the Voiceless: Ethnic people, women and youth.
