Key Developments and Updates on the Eve of Burma’s Elections

6 November 2010

Dear Friends and Supporters,
With the elections before us, we would like to give a couple of updates and key political developments at this time.
Ethnic and Democratic Leaders Inside Burma Sign Historical Kalay Declaration
Recently a significant grouping of ethnic, democratic, and student and youth leaders inside Burma proposed a plan that could potentially lead to an end of Burma's political stalemate. Known as the Kalay Declaration, this pact has been gathering momentum and support from important political and ethnic leaders, and veteran politicians from across Burma.
The Declaration calls for the formation of a 2nd Panglong Conference “to establish a Federal Union based on democracy and equality for all ethnic nationalities dwelling in Burma, rather than a centralized country or separatist states.”
These leaders are determined to make this 2nd Panglong Conference a reality, as they see it as an absolute necessity in order to begin to rectify the serious flaws in Burma’s 2008 Constitution. This is a process of dialogue that will fulfill the desire of the people of Burma for national reconciliation, peace and equality – something that tomorrow’s elections will fail to do. Read more here.
Ethnic Armed Groups Enter into Historic Alliance 
This past week, leaders of major ethnic armed groups in Burma agreed to a historic alliance to protect each other if attacked by SPDC forces. The alliance is composed of ceasefire armed groups that rejected the regime’s Border Guard Force proposal, as well as non-ceasefire armed groups. Tensions remain high as the SPDC increases forces near areas controlled by ethnic armed groups. Read more here. 
Global Solidarity Actions Against the Elections
There have been so many inspiring protests all over the world in the last 2 weeks, with lots of local media attention. Exile media, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) and Mizzima, have been broadcasting all of these actions inside Burma with our messages of support for the people of Burma in their resistance against the elections. Some photos from these actions are available to view online here.
Many groups will be holding actions tomorrow and in the coming week, which will keep up the momentum. If you are planning an event to express your solidarity with the people of Burma, we are still updating our action calendar here and gathering photos and video for media to use. Please contact jessica@burmapartnership.org for more information about how to use the online file-sharing site to upload photos and video footage from your event, allowing interested media to have direct access for their reporting.
In Solidarity,
Burma Partnership Secretariat