'Marching Steadily Along the Path'

By THE IRRAWADDY Thursday, October 20, 2011

Burmese prisoners walk out of the Insein central prison in Rangoon on October 12, 2011. (Photo: Getty Images)

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By exchanging their views, I hope both parties will meet half-way through a process of give and take.

Q: We've heard that Parliament is discussing an amendment of the political parties registration law. How much negotiation do you think will be necessary before the government and the National League for Democracy (NLD) can agree upon a registration process?

A: It's a bit difficult to make a guess from the outside. The NLD's Central Executive Committee members will have to discuss this among themselves and with other organizations. Likewise, the government will have to have to hold consultations within the administration and with Parliament. We have to keep an eye on this issue. I can't say exactly when both parties will finish their negotiations. I think we have to give a bit more time, but I don't think it will take too long, because both sides have already understood that it is necessary to negotiate.

Q: But isn't the government under pressure to achieve results within a fixed time, since it wants to assume the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and convince foreign countries to lift sanctions—both of which depend on how much political reform the country can achieve?

A: In fact, according to the Asean Charter, Burma doesn't need to go through a placement test in order to become chairman of the bloc. The chairmanship is granted to every member state in alphabetical order. But for specific reasons, we once handed over this position to someone else. Now it is our turn to accept it.

We are not doing things just so we can become the Asean chairman. We are working in the interests of our people. We are steadily marching along the path, the way it should be. So it's up to regional organizations to decide for themselves whether Burma should be granted that position. If, after visiting the country and observing the overall situation, they believe that we are sincere us, they will hand it over to us. I think it is quite likely that Burma will be granted the chairmanship, because it is now on the right track. If Burma isn't given the chairmanship with the excuse that we haven't made enough improvements, I think it will reduce other Asean member countries' trust in the regional bloc.

Burma is not the only undemocratic country within Asean, so I think we have a good chance to be granted the chairmanship. But as I said, that's not why we're doing things. We are working for the good of the country and its people. We will move forward steadily. Making reforms is not like sitting an exam. Reform involves different circumstances and challenges. It also faces different kinds of opposition and resistance. The most important thing is that I believe that international and regional organizations will support our endeavors.

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COMMENTS (7)

Myo Wrote:

02/11/2011

People don't care what you say, people only care what you do. Show your *action*. New government is just pretending and giving an impression to people that they are really doing their job but what are the actual changes on the grown? They are playing mind game....

Terry Evans Wrote:

22/10/2011

You measure a democracy by the freedom it gives its dissidents, not the freedom it gives its assimilated conformists.

Kachin lay Wrote:

22/10/2011

Do not downgrade ethnic issue .We are fighting for autonomy,equal right,equal opportunity base on pinlon agreement,not for business privilege. If you sincerely want to build democratic developed country, please get rid of your mindset of burmanaism. This is yes or no issue, if no,we will keep on fighting even DSSK is in power. No bargain for ethnic demand.

Moe Aung Wrote:

22/10/2011

The NLD is in limbo neither banned nor officially registered. Tacit acceptance and ongoing negotiations preclude a crackdown, on the contrary indicative of a co-optation process. Likewise separate talks with armed groups mean a peacemaking dialogue of sorts, but not so much an honest political solution as employees having to agree to a job plan and remuneration individually with a gagging clause not to disclose the details to others.

The hint of further amnesties for political prisoners is unconvincing, only as haggling implicit in the expectation of quid pro quos such as 'good behavior' once outside.

ASEAN have no interest in blackballing Burma for the Chair, as the man said they are themselves semi or pseudo- democracies and it's buggins turn anyway. But they are beholden to the US as a powerful trading partner and much else. So it remains a bargaining chip in addition to the sanctions.

Nyi Nyi Wrote:

21/10/2011

The simple truth is these political prisoners were jailed for protesting against the previous government. They are not against this democratically elected new government. So, why are they still being locked up? Is the government admitting they are the same government as the previous one?

Dave Wrote:

21/10/2011

@ La Rip: Pro-democracy and rights activists are always used as tools during times of transition. Likewise, moderate ministers are used as tools by activists. Barring revolutions, you can't expect a sea change in value systems overnight - it's all about strategy, leveraging, bargaining. If you want to sit and wait for a Berlin Wall moment, then do so while the rest of us get on with the hard work.

La Rip Wrote:

21/10/2011

Pro-democracy activists and ethnic rights activists are being used as a tool for the Burmese Military for their hold on to power, apparently perpetuating the military hold on to power.

They are releasing political prisoner for their political success and hold on to power not mean for democratic change, but to justify coup of the past, abuses on it own people, denying the wining NLD from the power, killing non violent monks, killing of innocents villagers in Ethnic states....