Statements & Press Releases

3 February 2012

Youth for a New Society is formed by young activists aiming at achieving freedom, equality and solidarity of all the people of Burma. The founding members view that all the people of Burma have been confronted with oppressions by successive ruling regimes, various forms of social and economic exploitations and discriminations including gender discrimination. Therefore, the mission of Youth for a New Society is to build a peaceful society where all the people of Burma enjoy equality and freedom from oppressions, exploitations and discriminations.

An extra-ordinary meeting of young activists for democracy in Burma was successfully held from 2-3 February 2012 near the Thailand-Burma border. The meeting decided to set up a youth movement for democracy in Burma, namely ‘Youth for a New Society’ with 28- member organizing committee. The meeting democratically elected eleven members for the executive committee and five working committees to lead the organization and implement the organizational programmes.

20 January 2012

The Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS) received yesterday an official invitation for an informal talk with U Aung Min, the Presidential representative of the current Burmese government. In principle, the party agrees to meet with the government representative, but any detail on this regard has yet to discuss among members of the party's central leading committee.

'We see this [their invitation] as a positive sign and it is good to meet him since we have at all times called the regime for dialogue to deal with the political problems of our country' said Aung Moe Zaw, Chairperson of the DPNS. 'However, at this time of moment it is hard to say how it will be taken place and where it will lead to. At the same time, we don't hold any illusion at all and we will try to find any possible way to move ahead with our goals.' he added.

October 14, 2011

We, DPNS, fully support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for her initiative toward democratic opening and national reconciliation. We expect the release of the political prisoners and immediate ceasefires to pave the way to greater progress.''

Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS). We humbly salute those who have sacrificed their lives, those who have been detained in prisons all across Burma, including our leader Min Ko Naing and all those who have remained resolute in continuing the struggle for democracy over the last 23 years.

Today, we, DPNS, particularly remember and pay tribute to Ko Jimmy, Ko Zeya, Ko Thet Zaw and Ko Thet Naing Oo, our leaders and members, still defiant behind prison bars after almost 23 years.

16 September 2011

An analytical report in Burmese titled 'Profound Crisis between Burma's newly-set government and ethnic nationalities' is produced by the Research and Study Centre of Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS). The report made an analysis on the unique situation of Burma's politics of ceased-fires lasting more than 20 years between the military regime and various ethnic armed resistant movements. It argues that facade talks that overlook meaningful political dialogues will not stop the outbreaks of civil war nor ongoing fighting between the military regime and ethnic forces in Burma.

This 145-page report composed of 16 chapters details the context of ceased-fire politics between the military regime and ethnic armed groups which have been since 1989 and the regime's strategy of divide-and-rule in setting terms of agreements with different armed groups. Besides, it discusses the regime's attitudes and behaviours in this politics of over 20 years.

This report in electronic version can be read and downloaded at the DPNS webpage in Burmese (http://www.dpnsburmese.org/?p=2346).

Information and Public Relation Department

Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS)

To

Comrade Eskil Pedersen

President

Arbeidernes Ungodomsfylking (AUF)

Postboks 8863 Youngstorget

2A 0028 Oslo

Date: 25th July 2011

Dear Comrades,

We are so shocked to learn of the terror attack at your AUF camp and the bomb blast in Oslo which caused so many deaths. We, part of Burma's pro-democracy movement and on behalf of the whole movement share your sorrow and mourning and send our sincere condolences to the family members of our comrade-victims and the peoples of Norway.

We know you as a peaceful and natural country, and as a people passionate to peace, justice and democracy, and we cannot imagine how your sentiments at this very dark moment in your history. The atrocious attacks to our comrades at AUF camp and in Oslo are the attacks to the heart of peace and justice loving peoples across the world. These are also the attacks on all of us.

The ultra-nationalist ideologies and xenophobic behaviors will not bring peace, harmony and justice to either Europe or the rest of the world. We, progressive political parties are at the forefront in fighting against such terrorist ideologies and behaviors. Therefore, we are targeted and our comrades had to give their lives in this struggle for equality, justice, peace and freedom. We will never forget them. However, we will win although the struggle is tough and unfinished yet.

30 June 2011

1. On 28 June 2011 the state-owned newspapers in Burma reported that the Home Affairs Ministry had sent a warning letter to the National League for Democracy (NLD) regarding the functioning of the NLD offices nationwide and their activities, including meetings with diplomats and officials from foreign governments and international organizations. DPNS strongly denounces both the contents of such a letter and "Thein Sein" Governments’ political purpose in sending it.

August 8, 2009

"the one voice among all political forces inside and in exile being heard is imperative."

To: All political forces of Burma, both inside and in exile,

We pay due respect to all of those who sacrificed their lives and those who have committed to the movement for democracy for more than 20 years.

July 26, 2009

''We must resolutely prepare ourselves to confront and overcome the challenges ahead''

Aung Moe Zaw, Chairperson

The extraordinary meeting of Central Committee of Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS) was held on the Thai-Burmese border from 20 to 24 July 2009. At the meeting, the participants analysed the current political developments and approved the reports on political situation and party activities presented by the Central Executive Committee.

May 8, 2009

"the responsibility for negative consequence from lack of her [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's] security rests totally with the SPDC government."

1. The Myanmar Ahlin, a state-controlled newspaper in Burma reported that the authorities arrested a foreigner in the Inya Lake of Rangoon early Wednesday while he was returning from the secretly entering Daw Aung Suu Kyi's residency compound.

2. This shows evidently that there is no assurance of her security at all while she is being under house arrest by the Burmese military government, namely the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). The DPNS has grave concerns on her security.

May 27, 2006

May 27th marks the 16th anniversary of the multi-party general election of Burma held in 1990. The entire people of Burma unanimously stated their desire for democratic change through the election.

March 22, 2006

As one of the pro-democracy political parties of Burma, DPNS would like to share our main concerns regarding the forthcoming visit of the Envoy of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to Burma.

We fear that conclusions drawn solely from discussions with the regime will not truly represent the political reality of Burma. Indeed, from past experience, it has been clear that the regime has managed to stall, whitewash and distort the description of political reform processes in the country. We therefore strongly recommend that the Envoy should not undertake this important trip, unless the Envoy has been able to secure guarantees that he will be able to meet privately and independently with key stakeholders in the political reform process, including the NLD.

February 13, 2006

The Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS) fully supports the wise and flexible suggestions, stated in the Special Declaration of the National League for Democracy (NLD) released on the 59th anniversary of Union Day, designed to overcome the severe political, economic, and social crises in Burma.

Firstly, the NLD recognized the role of the Tatmadaw (Army) to initiate the transition to democracy. Secondly, the NLD made suggestions for the emergence of political dialogue between all interested parties, including the Burmese military government, (the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)) and the NLD, which are designed to produce a roadmap to democracy, within a set time-frame. The DPNS acknowledges that the NLD offer to the SPDC aims to create a win-win situation for both parties, whilst upholding the 1990 elections results and the solemn leadership of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

September 9th, 2005

The 1988 generation students recently proposed an idea on how humanitarian assistance could help to tackle the country's worsening health and education. The DPNS respectfully recognizes their view on that issue in Burma where the situation of health and education among the populace has nearly reached a national level crisis.

We consider the approach of 1988 generation students on humanitarian assistance is paving the way not only to meet the basic needs of the people of Burma, but also is aiming to support a process towards national reconciliation in the future. We fully agree that humanitarian assistance should be unbiased, transparent and fully monitored in order to effectively reach the really needy people and it is the responsibility of the regime to ensure that such a mechanism is in place.

All those necessary steps for humanitarian assistance have been reiterated by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD). Such a basic policy of humanitarian assistance is also inline with DPNS' basic policy on humanitarian assistance. Neither DPNS nor NLD oppose humanitarian assistance for the people of Burma, but rather demand an effective operating mechanism.

October 5, 2004

The Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS) humbly salutes the thousands of martyrs who sacrificed their lives, blood and sweat during the 8888 nation-wide people's movement for Democracy in their mother land. In the opinion of the DPNS it was solely due to this people’s uprising in 1988 that the one party dictatorship the State Law and Order Restoration Council had to hold a multi-party general election. Although, the military clique did not have the will to give up their power according to the wishes of the people, the people had proven that their will is a force to be reckoned with.

The National Unity Party(NUP), transformed from the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) that had ruled the country for 26 years was overwhelmingly defeated by the party of the people, the National League for Democracy in these 1990 general elections.

January 10, 2004

An emergency Central Committee meeting of the Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS) was held from January 6 to 8, 2004 at the Thai-Burma border. The Central Committee has discussed recent political development in Burma, its future plans and strategic cooperation among the democratic opposition groups.

1. The DPNS views that the current State Peace and Development Council (SPDC's) 7 Step-roadmap and National Convention as a political maneuver to respond to the crisis of politics, social and economy after the May 30th attack on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s motorcade. Moreover, the ultimate aim of the regime is favoring the military dominance over civilian rule in the future political transformation and military control of state power legitimately. The DPNS, in principle, holds the idea that today crisis in Burma must be solved through the political dialogue. The DPNS urges the military authority that the crisis of Burma could not offer any further options and to procrastinate political dialogue. The DPNS believes that this is the right time for SPDC to open talks with the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Daw Aung San Suu Aung, which won a landslide victory in 1990 multi-party general election.