FromByElectionstoNationWideCeasefire

2012,April03. The Federation of Trade Unions Burma (FTUB) congratulates the National League for Democracy (NLD) and the people of Burma for the successful election campaign and the courageous show of strengthduringthebyelectionof2012April1. FTUBalsoacknowledgesPresidentUTheinSeinandhisgovernmentontheircouragetoupholdthe spirit of reconciliation and restraining the forces of evil that had wanted to spoil both the reconciliationandtheelectionprocess. ThepeopleofBurma,regardlessofrace,religionorregionexpressedtheircallforchangeandbelief inapoliticalpartythroughasystemlaiddownbythegovernment. Thesystemmaybeflawedbutthevoteswerenot.Thefor/against/voidlistsdoshowtheparty alliances as well as the fact that regardless of change in the logo and leadership, the people do supporttheNationalLeagueforDemocracyNLDforitspoliticalplatform. Thefalteringstepstakenbyallpartiesthatwantlastingpeace,reconciliationandchangetowardsa modernsocietyinBurmahastakenanotherstep. The spirits of the people and the country are high. This momentum must be pushed forward to anotherlevel. AlevelwherefairplaywithintheParliamentarysystemisobserved,wherePresidentUTheinSein stops the military attacks in the Kachin State, Shan State and a nationwide ceasefire called and amnestybedeclaredforall. Thelevelwhereceasefiretalkswiththeethnicnationalitiesproceedstowardspoliticaldialogue. Thisisthetimeforboththegovernmentandthepoliticalpartiestostartpreparingconcretelyfor the2ndPinlongconference. Atthesametime,theinternationalcommunitythatwantstohelpBurmashouldalsomakesurethat the Official Development Assistance (ODA)s are aimed at infrastructure developments that will findemployment/jobsforthepeopleimmediately,strengthenpublictransportationintheInland waterways and Railways systemswhich in tune support the urban planning and export and distributionsectors. Ourcountryisresourcerich.Weremindallinvestorsthatrushinginfortheextremegainswillnot onlyhaveabacklashtothecountryandthepeoplebutalsoinpossiblelitigationsforviolationsof HumanRights,WorkersRights,EnvironmentaldamageandChemicalwastedamage. Haste,inbothliftingofsanctionsaswellasinvestingwithoutRuleofLawinplaceisthepotionfor disaster. To avoid this, FTUB urges President Thein Sein to practice what he preached and initiate LegalReformwithallstakeholders. Contact:66860549152