KIO Welcomes National Convention (English Version)

The Kachin Post

September 11, 2003—The Kachin Independence Organization has signaled its positive position on Junta’s road map, welcoming the national convention only if the new one would be different from the previous one, which was initiated in 1993.

The main ethnic arm organization, which signed cease fire agreement with junta, delivered a letter to Rangoon two days after Prime Minister Khin Nyunt announced Junta’s version of seven steps road map to democracy at the end of last month.

The letter to the Prime Minster said, the national convention should be invited delegates, who are selected by ethnic groups and political parties.

Col Zau Seng, a leading member of the organization, said its organization support the national convention, which allows space for all ethnic groups and political parties. However, KIO will attend the national convention “if it can be participated broadly by all ethnic groups and political parties,” he said.

Junta’s national convention invited KIO delegates as an observer after signing the cease fire agreement.

The process of National Convention delayed since 1996, after delegates from the National League for Democracy party, it won 80 percent of vote in 1990 general election, walked out form the convention.