7 August 2008 – Bangkok: A day before the US president leaves for Beijing, the Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) urges President Bush to initiate a "Multi-Party Talk on Burma" as a means of pushing forward the democratic reform agenda.

The Seven Alliances of the Burmese democracy movement a united front of umbrella organizations representing the majority of Burma's ethnic and democracy groups in exile - today calls on the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to suspend the referendum nationwide, and allow all international aid into the country immediately.

The current political crisis in the Union of Burma is not just a common ideological conflict, rather it is a constitutional problem instigated by failing to implement the Panglong Agreement signed by General Aung San and leaders of ethnic nationalities on February 12, 1947.

Ottawa, Canada: Chin Human Rights Organization is calling for urgent and concerted international relief efforts to address growing humanitarian crisis in Chinland that has brought much devastation to hundreds of villages along Burma`s western border. Given the magnitude and urgency of this latest crisis, Chin Human Rights Organization is calling on all relevant international aid agencies including the World Food Program to carry out urgent relief efforts in Chin State by any means possible, including through existing aid mechanisms inside Burma and cross-border aid program from neighboring India and Bangladesh.

The Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) believes that political crisis in Burma is not just ideological confrontation between military dictatorship and democracy but a constitutional problem rooted in the denial of the rights of ethnic nationalities who joined the Union of Burma as equal partners in 1947 at Panglong Conference.

A milestone occurred this week in the history of Burma’s long struggle toward democracy. On this auspicious day of the 61st anniversary of the Union Day, the Federal Constitution Drafting and Coordinating Committee (FCDCC) adopted the second draft of the constitution “Federal Republic of the Union of Burma” based on democracy, federalism, equality, and self-determination for all the people of Burma, which has been drawn up in accordance with the 8 Basic Principles adopted since February 12, 2005.

The Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) warmly welcomes Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's statement, which was released by Mr. Gambari, the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor for Burma on 8 November 2007.  The ENC Chairman Saw Ba Thin said, “Her statement reflects the Panglong Spirit---the spirit and principle on which the Union of Burma was founded in 1947 by her father, General Aung San, and ethnic leaders”.

The Ethnic Nationalities Council deeply regrets the decision last week by Burma's ruling State Peace and Development Council to expel Mr. Charles Petrie, the head of the United Nations Country Team out of the country. The Burmese authorities accused Mr. Petrie and his UN Country Team of making false statement about the current state of socio-economic conditions in Burma.