Dialogue is Unavoidable

Recently, the editor of the Irrawaddy caught up with Dr. Thaung Htun, a representative of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma’s United Nations delegation. A former senior member of the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front, he now works with the NCGUB office in Washington and is considered to be a driving force in the government-in-exile.

Q: What is your view on the current political impasse in Burma?

A: When I look at the political and economic situation I see that Burma is passing through a very critical stage. The current military regime is in the worst shape that it has been in the last ten year, especially the economic situation, which has been deteriorating very rapidly. One of the reasons is the economic sanctions imposed by the international community upon the regime. At the same time there is an intensive campaign of imposing selective purchasing laws against the military regime in eighteen cities (in the US). So these laws make the businesses and corporations choose whether they are going to invest in Burma or lose their huge markets in the US. Most of the companies decided to withdraw from Burma.

Another factor is that the financial institutions have suspended loans and grants since 1988. The military has no capital to improve the infrastructure of the country. Of course they are trying to improve the infrastructure such as roads and railroads by means of forced labor, but I see that they are not so successful.

If you look at the political situation we can find that the military regime has increased its suppressive campaign against the NLD. Since August of last year, they have closed down their offices and forced MPs to resign from their parties. So I think the situation is that the military is getting the sense that dialogue is unavoidable. Whether they like it or not, they have to choose dialogue which is the last option for them.

Q: What can the opposition in exile contribute to the situation in Burma?

A: Our intention is to create a domestic and international atmosphere conducive to a political dialogue. If we look at any successful political dialogue it has to pass through the first stage of leveling the playing ground. If one side is too powerful and too confident that they can control the situation, then the negotiation is impossible as the one side won’t agree to start negotiation.

The first stage, leveling the playing field, is based upon principles of nonviolence where we work on building up different forms of pressure upon the military regime. One thing is economic pressure. During the last ten years we have launched an international campaign calling for a boycott, economic sanctions and a boycott of tourism. I find our campaign is very successful. 

Another means is diplomatic pressure. We work through the EU, other Western democratic countries, and even Asean, whose policy (towards Burma) I see is shifting a little bit. While Asean in general has its constructive engagement policy, I see individual Asean countries taking their own position when they interpret engagement policy.