Federation of Trade Unions Burma

Responsibilities & Rights

International Contact Burma Office - Japan 101-0062 3F, Sohyo Kaikan 3-2-11, Kanda-Surugadai Chiyoda-Ku Tokyo Japan Tel: 81 3 5296 3010 Fax: 81 3 5296 7903

President's orders disobeyed, legal enforcement needed

On 2011 Dec 12 the AFP reported in the Bangkok Post that U Thein Sein, the president "instructed the military on Saturday not to start any fighting with the KIA (Kachin Independence Army) in Kachin State, except for self defence. All military commands were sent the president's instruction," referring to the President's office in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. On 2011 Dec 15, The Irrawaddy reported that on Thursday, fighting continues to rage on unabated near the KIO's headquarters of Laiza, on the Sino-Burmese border. I just returned from Laiza and as of late last night they were still fiercely fighting just outside of Mai Ja Yang, a few kilometers away as the crow flies, referring to a Western observer. The KIA and the Burmese army had been struggling over the mountaintop post of Mu Bum. Late in the afternoon, three Huskies could be seen circling and dropping supplies and some think perhaps even bombs, as major ground-shaking explosions could be heard and felt all the way to Mai Ja Yang. So it seems the president's orders are falling on deaf ears, he added. FTUB condemns the use of Chemical weapons, airplanes against the Kachin people by the military. FTUB calls for the Parliament to set up a commission of inquiry to investigate the authorization of chemical weapons and airplanes and take appropriate actions so that the development and the use of chemical weapons will be stopped forever. The authorizing person/s should also be given appropriate penalties so that no one will take the law into their hands and act above the constitution. The parliament must also provide enforcement to the President's orders to stop attacking the ethnic nationalities by taking legal action against those who refuse to listen to the President orders and violate the reconciliation policies of the government. FTUB reminds that the Parliamentarians are responsible to evaluate the actions of the individual ministries against the peace and reconciliation efforts of the government. FTUB reminds the parliamenterians that as those who endorsed the cabinet, they have the right to recall their endorsement should any cabinet member refuse to work within the rue of law. FTUB once again states that as long as the Parliament is afraid to ask questions to the military on the budget, the projects and the cooperation with the government, and taking appropriate actions, no initiative by the Government and the parliament will be taken seriously. 2011 December 17 Contact : U Maung Maung Dr. Zaw Win Aung +66 8 6954 9152 91 987 157 8569