Concern over NMSP Ceasefire

August 5, 2008

By HURFOM:

In mid-May, the ruling regime SPDC officially announced that they won the Peoples Referendum with 92% of the vote. However many opposition and ceasefire groups in the country have reported the referendum as a sham.

The SPDC will move forward with its 7-point road map and will soon call for the registration of political parties to contest the 2010 Elections. Since many opposition parties and armed ceasefire groups do not trust the Referendum or the Constitution, it is likely they will oppose the elections.

Another main concern is that the SPDC will pressure ceasefire groups to lay down their arms or to put their armies under the command of regional Burmese Army commanders. It is likely that if pressure is put on ceasefire groups to disarm, those committed to fight for the establishment of the Democratic Federal Union of Burma will break the ceasefire. Civil war will resume.

In this situation, there is serious concern that conflict generated human rights violations will be widespread in ethnic areas. As a result, a new cycle of internal displacement will occur in many border areas of Burma. In order to prevent this situation, the help of the international community is necessary.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under Commentary