1. The Kachin National Council (KNC) and the Kachin National Organization (KNO) believe that the “National Convention” soon to be convened by the current Burmese military regime is a sham and makes a mockery of the whole concept of democracy. The “National Convention” is being organized, directed and convened under the watchful eye of the Burmese military regime and is an attempt to enshrine the Burmese military and their policies into a national constitution that lacks a free and fair voice of the people of Burma. Thus, on behalf of the Kachin people, the KNO strongly denounces the reconvening of the “National Convention” by the Burmese military.

2. Along with our allies in the Ethnic Nationalities Council and other democratic forces, the KNC and the KNO strongly support the concept of “Tripartite Dialogue” that has been promulgated in a United Nations General Assembly Resolution which calls for free and fair discussion between the democratically elected leaders, ethnic national leaders, and the current military regime.

3. We strongly call upon all political parties and ethnic ceasefire groups to withdraw totally from the “National Convention” before it is too late. As is plainly evident, the Burmese military junta is trying very hard to legitimize its role in the political system of Burma by implementing its “7 objectives and 104 principles” in the “National Convention”.

4. For the sake of the people of Kachinland, we earnestly call on all the Kachin ceasefire groups (KIO/KIA, NDA-K and KDA) to walk-out and boycott the “National Convention” which will reconvene on 10 October 2006.

5. The KNC and KNO cannot support or endorse the representatives of the Kachin ceasefire groups and other individuals from Kachin State who will be attending the “National Convention” being convened by the Burmese military against the will of the people. 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. We declare that their decisions in the “National Convention” will be null and void and that they bear full responsibilities for any future consequences.

Kachin National Council
Kachin National Organization

September 25, 2006.

Media contact:
Mr. Hkun Sa, Deputy Foreign Affairs, Email: KNOinfo@gmail.com, Mobile: 00 44+ 794 628 8121