KNO Condemns Junta’s National Convention
September 27, 2006

The Kachin Post

The Kachin National Organization, KNO, has denounced the Burmese junta’s national convention which will be reconvened on October 10th, saying that the military regime is a sham and makes a mockery of the whole concept of democracy.

The overseas based Kachin organization urges all political parties and ethnic ceasefire groups to withdraw from national convention before the time is too late, according to the KNO statement released on September 25. “The Burmese military junta is trying very hard to legitimize its role in the political system of Burma by implementing its seven objectives and 104 principles in the national convention.”

KNO also calls on all Kachin ceasefire groups—Kachin Independence Organization, KIO, New Democratic Army-Kachin, NDA-K, and Kachin Defense Army, KDA—to walk out and boycott the national convention. The organization does not give support or endorsement the representatives from Kachin ceasefire groups and other individuals who will be attending national convention as representatives from Kachin State, said in the statement.

“We reject their decisions because they do not and cannot truly represent the Kachin people because they are not elected by the Kachin people and have not been given a mandate.” KNO declares that the decision of whoever attends the national convention as representative from Kachin State will be unacceptable and future consequences will be their own responsibilities.

Meanwhile, five members of delegates from Kachin Independence Organization are on route to Yangon to attend national convention.