Interview

'National Reconciliation is Essential'

By THE IRRAWADDY Wednesday, July 14, 2010

COMMENTS (8)

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We are doing today as we said in the declaration.

Q: What is the NDF's position on political prisoners?

A: Our demand for political prisoners is the same as before. We were also political prisoners. Our call for their immediate release is something we can never change. The authorities have pledged many times for the inclusiveness of the election, so we'd like to urge them to act accordingly as soon as possible so that all stakeholders will be able to participate in the election. The release of all political prisoners would indicate the credibility of the election to a certain extent. If it doesn't happen, once our party candidates have the chance to sit in the parliament after the election, our first proposal will be for their release and for amnesty.

Q: Burma is earning billions of dollars from the sale of its resources, but most of it has been spent on the military, with very little going to the health and education sectors. What will your party do to change this situation?

A: There is no transparency, so we don't know exactly how much income we have and how much we spend on which sectors. There is no way we can find out about this, so there's not much we can say about it. However, if there is a parliament in the future, the government will have to submit its expenditure and annual budget to the parliament, so we will then try to say what should and shouldn't happen.

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COMMENTS (8)

Free Man Wrote:

16/07/2010

Here is Thein Sein's way of sowing the seed of a "union spirit" and nurturing it.(http://www.kachinnews.com/News/Thein-Sein-lambasted-for-fomenting-war-among-ethnics.html)

Free Man Wrote:

15/07/2010

I believe building a genuine and lasting union will require two things in the context of Burma.

1)The adoption of a federal political system
2)The adoption of a reason-and-evidence-based liberal education system

Without these two, it will be unrealistic to think of reconciliation, unity, peace and harmony in the country.

Yangontha Wrote:

15/07/2010

Good thoughts, Dr.Than Nyein, hope your party may have a chance to contest "free and fair" in coming election!

Free Man Wrote:

15/07/2010

Hum...we hear people talk about the importance of national reconciliation, unity, peace, etc. etc. However, their actions point in the other direction. This kind of trend can be found not only among democratic forces and resistance forces. If we continue pursuing our own narrow short-term interests, we will never reach our common goals. In fact, we can even be considered as helping the military drive the country and the people into the pit of war, poverty, chaos, dissension, etc.
People have come up so many various excuses to not take a united front against the junta. Isn't this what the SPDC wants?

Gen. Aung San once said we should not only unite in words but also in deeds.

Mahn Ba Zan, one of the most important founder of the National Democratic Front (NDF), once said unity without common policies and programs is dangerous.

Burma's democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi once said if we were not united under the prevailing circumstances, when would we be?

Tide Wrote:

15/07/2010

Such a waste of time for Dr. Than Nyein to answer stupid and unproductive questions for both the interviewer and the interviewee.

Natshinnaung Wrote:

15/07/2010

We all know that national reconciliation is very important to regain the UNION Spirit and to rebuild the Union. The more important thing is: How shall we achieve it?

George Than Setkyar Heine Wrote:

14/07/2010

"However, if there is a parliament in the future, the government will have to submit its expenditure and annual budget to the parliament, so we will then try to say what should and shouldn't happen".
That would be his last day in Than Shwe's parliament and first prisoner, if not the first corpse buried in Naypyidaw for that matter.
Than Nyein is still naive and dim-witted to see the situation and the near future if not far as regards Than Shwe's game plan and mechanisms put in place to take care of jokers like him and his ilk in the post- election era parliament in Naypyidaw.
The writings and all are on the wall already and Than Nyein and his likes are still oblivious of the facts, much less get the message.
Hence, a caution in good faith and heart for the lot - there is no prospect for them by dancing to Than Shwe's tune other than landing in their graves at Naypyidaw akin to the rats going down the ravine and their death in the river while dancing and following the Pied Piper's music.

Kyaw Wrote:

14/07/2010

Dr. Thannyein is right.
People will vote for your party, as I will do.
Peoples' hatred of the regime USDP is very very bad, all will vote for whoever is not USDP and their allies. Better try out in all electorates, you will win for sure. Stand for all political prisoners and the helpless peoples.