Burma
Controversial Funding Shakes Pro-Democracy Alliance
By WAI MOE
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
(Page 2 of 2)
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“Our friends are funding us and none of it is black money.”
Aye Maung, chairman of the RNDP, also denied any relationship with Hla Maung Shwe, confirming the party had received no money and likening the journal's report to an attack on the RNDP.
Thein Htay of the UDP took an opposing stance, however, saying that all businesses in Burma were related to the military, “so if someone’s support is providing something positive for the people, we accept it.”
Hla Maung Shwe and Myanmar Egress’s other executive, Nay Win Maung, came to Bangkok, Thailand, in July for a meeting regarding the Burma election with European diplomats and donors, and received cooperation from the Chiang Mai-based Vahu Development Institute.
Using data supplied by Myanmar Egress, Nay Win Maung said 78 percent of Burmese voters would turn out on the election day and 85 percent of voters supported the junta’s 2008 constitution.
He said key political parties gave a mandate to the NGO to lobby for financial support of the election internationally, a policy considered controversial by political parties and Burmese intellectuals because of Nay Win Maung's close ties to the military due to his father's career as a former military officer and director of the Military Museum.
“We did not give any mandate to any organization or any person, though we participated in some of the training provided by Myanmar Egress,” said the SNDP's Sai Eik Paung.
The six parties met on Tuesday to resolve the issue and have reached some agreement but have not yet made an official announcement.
Irrawaddy reporter Khin Oo Thar contributed to this story.
Aye Maung, chairman of the RNDP, also denied any relationship with Hla Maung Shwe, confirming the party had received no money and likening the journal's report to an attack on the RNDP.
Thein Htay of the UDP took an opposing stance, however, saying that all businesses in Burma were related to the military, “so if someone’s support is providing something positive for the people, we accept it.”
Hla Maung Shwe and Myanmar Egress’s other executive, Nay Win Maung, came to Bangkok, Thailand, in July for a meeting regarding the Burma election with European diplomats and donors, and received cooperation from the Chiang Mai-based Vahu Development Institute.
Using data supplied by Myanmar Egress, Nay Win Maung said 78 percent of Burmese voters would turn out on the election day and 85 percent of voters supported the junta’s 2008 constitution.
He said key political parties gave a mandate to the NGO to lobby for financial support of the election internationally, a policy considered controversial by political parties and Burmese intellectuals because of Nay Win Maung's close ties to the military due to his father's career as a former military officer and director of the Military Museum.
“We did not give any mandate to any organization or any person, though we participated in some of the training provided by Myanmar Egress,” said the SNDP's Sai Eik Paung.
The six parties met on Tuesday to resolve the issue and have reached some agreement but have not yet made an official announcement.
Irrawaddy reporter Khin Oo Thar contributed to this story.
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