The Kachin National Organization supports the decision of the United Nations Security Council to formally place Burma on its agenda. This historic decision at the UN Security Council will hopefully force the current Burmese military regime to reexamine its policies and actions and encourage this outlaw regime to “come into the light” and return to the fold of the international community.

We are encouraged by the fact that 10 UN Security Council member nations voted positively to place Burma on its formal agenda. We are encouraged by the leadership of the U.S. and its ambassador John Bolton who sponsored the proposal. The current Burmese regime has hidden too long in a cloak of darkness. Thus, the country and its long suppressed people who long for freedom, democracy and a voice in their political aspirations will benefit from the scrutiny under the UN spotlight. The policies of the current regime have led to political, economic, health, social, education and ecologic disasters throughout the country and many of the same problems have spilled over into neighboring countries.

Discussion of Burma’s “deteriorating situation’ and its “destabilizing” effect on neighboring countries should shed light on the root causes of the country’s problems and terrible state of affairs. Hopefully, this will help to expedite much needed international help and assistance. We have no doubt that our near neighbor countries will take a leading role in promoting free and fair dialogue, debate, and discussion of the concerns of the international community and most importantly the concerns of the freedom loving but oppressed people of Burma. Our concerns, fears, and aspirations need to be heard and given a voice at the United Nations as well.

On behalf of the Kachin people, the Kachin National Organization is grateful to all the free and democratic countries that are supporting this historic move by the UN Security Council to examine the situation in Burma. It is our express hope that this will pave the way for ‘Tripartite Dialogue’ -involving the current military regime, democratic opposition parties, and the ethnic nationalities-that will ultimately lead to peace, democracy and national reconciliation and to a resolution of the many desperate problems that are currently destroying our people, society, economy and ecology.

September 20, 2006