缅甸风云：Unrepresentative Nations and Peoples Organization UNPO

An international organization formed by rejected and oppressed nations and peoples, as well as minorities, at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union is holding a three-day General Assembly, 24-26 June, in the Netherlands, reports Shan representative to the grouping:

The invitation by The Hague-based Unrepresentative Nations and Peoples Organization,dated 3 June, outlines two main issues to be discussed: guidelines viable to relaunch the UNPO in the main international arena and procedures and tools to reform the Organization. In addition, the covenant signing ceremony for 15 new members will be held on the first day.

Among its 50-plus members from Burma are 4 states from Burma: Chin, Karenni, Mon and Shan.

Armenia, Georgia, Estonia, Latvia and East Timor, its former members, remain as supporting members.

More than 40 UNPO members and 100 representatives from around the world are expected to be present at the event.

Founded in 1991, the UNPO went into a difficult period towards the end of the century. Efforts to save, rebuild and re-invigorate the grouping started only two years earlier under the leadership of Ad Interim General Secretary Mario Busdachin, 49, an Italian citizen of Croatian origins.

The Right to Self Determination, Democracy, Human Rights and Non-violence, the grouping claims, have for years been "the duty and commitment" of its members.

For further information, please contact Sai Wansai, Shan representative to the UNPO (email: , who "hope we could all start with a clean slate."

Related report:Shadow UN to be reactivated (24 December 2003)

For further information, please contact S.H.A.N. at:

Shan Herald Agency for News

P.O. Box 15, Nonghoi P.O, Chiangmai 50007, Thailand.

e-mail:

Ph: 66-1-5312837

http://www.shanland.org

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(S.H.A.N. & Burma’s News Published by Burma’s Chinese 貌强 )

ABOUT UNPO

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) is a democratic, international membership organization. Its members are indigenous peoples, occupied nations, minorities and independent states or territories who have joined together to protect their human and cultural rights, preserve their environments, and to find non-violent solutions to conflicts which affect them. UNPO provides a legitimate and established international forum for member aspirations and assists its members in effective participation at an international level.

Although UNPO members have different goals and aspirations, they share one condition – they are not represented in major international fora, such as the United Nations. As a result, their ability to participate in the international community and to have their concerns addressed by the global bodies mandated to protect human rights and address conflict, is limited.

In today’s world, over 90 percent of conflicts are intrastate. UNPO was founded and designed to fill the gap left by today’s international system and its institutions. Notably, it is the members of the organization, the peoples who are most effected by the shortcomings of the international system, who have created the organization.

UNPO is dedicated to the five principles enshrined in its Charter: Non-violence, Human Rights, Self-determination and democracy, Environmental Protection, and Tolerance.

Members of the UNPO

UNPO at UN

International fora, such as the United Nations, are vital platforms for those peoples, nations, indigenous peoples and minorities facing oppression. Having their voice heard in these arena is often a complex and costly undertaking. The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) was founded by those nations and peoples to help them and others overcome these obstacles and have their voices effectively heard at the United Nations and other international fora.

The primary objective of the UNPO program at the United Nations is to provide UNPO members with assistance in gaining access to and effectively using the different United Nations bodies such as the UN Commission on Human Rights, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Working Group on Indigenous Populations.

Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation

Mailing Address P.O. BOX 85878 2508CN The Hague The Netherlands Tel. # +31 (0)70 3646504 Fax # +31 (0)70 3646608

For general inquiries please write to [email protected]