Burmese People 'Must Prepare for the Worst'
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Burma

Burmese People 'Must Prepare for the Worst'


By Saw Yan Naing Thursday, January 31, 2008


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Burmese people must prepare themselves for the worst in their struggle for political change, several ethnic leaders and veteran politicians agreed on Thursday.

They were commenting on a statement by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on her talks with regime mediator Aung Kyi, which she said had made no progress yet towards substantive dialogue with the junta.

Suu Kyi reported on her encounters with the regime go-between in a rare meeting on Wednesday with leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD). NLD Spokesman Nyan Win quoted her as saying: “Let’s hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”

Cin Sian Thang, chairman of the Zomi National Congress in Rangoon told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that if the Burmese people didn’t gain what they asked for from the government, they should prepare to find out any appropriate way for change in Burma.

“We should not wait for change if we don’t get what we asked for,” he said. “We must do what we should do. We should find a potential way out.”

Cin Siang Thang said he saw no progress from the meetings between Suu Kyi and the Aung Kyi. The two have met five times since last September’s crackdown.

Cin Sian Thang said he didn’t think the Burmese government wanted to negotiate for change in Burma. The meetings between Suu Kyi and Aung Kyi had been arranged as a way of easing international pressure.

Aye Thar Aung, chairman of the Arakan League for Democracy, said: “If the junta doesn’t enhance the dialogue, the situation in the country is dangerous. In fact, the junta also doesn’t want to made dialogue. So, she [Suu Kyi] also likes to tell people to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best.”

Thakin Chan Htun, a Burmese veteran politician in Rangoon, said “the best” would be  a dialogue between Suu Kyi and junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe. “The worst” could mean a heavy crackdown on political activists and opposition groups, he said.

Unless a dialogue came about between Suu Kyi and Than Shwe, Burmese people should prepare for the worst, Thakin Chan Htun said.

“She [Suu Kyi] is detained. She couldn’t do anything. So, she also wants to warn Burmese people to dare to take part in movements such as mass protests when facing the worst situation.”

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