MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
YANGON

Information Sheet
N0. C- 2987(I/L) 4th April, 2004

Government of Myanmar urges dissident-and-activist groups to be a
constructive force in Myanmar's transition to democracy

It is with much disappointment to read about the latest allegations
launched at the Government of Myanmar by some dissidents who have
already decided to continue their confrontation, black propaganda
campaign and armed conflict while the whole nation is preoccupied in
working towards a lasting peace, stability and prosperity of the
country.

In the recent years, the Government has made peace with all but one
of the remaining armed insurgent groups and talks are continuing with
this group, the Kayin National Union (KNU) to ensure that all are
included in working towards developing a peaceful, prosperous and
democratic Myanmar.

The vast majority of the Kayin people live in the delta area of
Ayeyarwaddy, Yangon, and Bago Division. The population of Kayin
people is much higher in the Ayeyarwaddy Division than in the Kayin
State itself. All these Kayin people have been living peacefully and
harmoniously within the nation together with the other national races
and are against any seperatist movements or acts that are detrimental
to the interest and unity of the nation.

While the whole country is preoccupied in the building of a unified
and peaceful nation some individuals and interest groups based in
foreign countries are resorting to malicious allegations in the
derailment of the positive steps being taken in the country.

These groups seem very much bent on continuing, in high gear, a
negative propaganda campaign with the support and financing from the
so-called NGOs formed by the political activists abroad. Their latest
ploy such as "Rape used as weapon of war" against the Kayin women is
not only absurd, but regretful to realize that nothing will stop
these `die-hards', as some chose to describe them, in their attempt
to discredit the Government and to derail its systematic transition
to a sustainable democracy the country is heading today.

While the Government and the KNU are now positively engaged in peace
talks accompanied by good-will, sincerity and understanding, a
desperate attempt to derail this process has also come into existence
by dissidents and activists along the Myanmar-Thai border and abroad,
who have more to gain by keeping the armed conflicts alive in the
country.

It is our hope that some day in the near future these misled groups
and individuals would come to realize that cooperation rather than
exploitation of sensational and sensitive issues such as religion and
ethnic differences with preposterous theories is the road to real
progress.


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