Speaking via a fuzzy satellite link to a gathering of current and former world leaders in New York led by former US President Bill Clinton, portions of which were broadcast on the BBC, Suu Kyi said that she held talks with some government representatives and although real change has not yet occurred, there have been some positive developments and she hopes to see signs of tangible progress very soon.
However, she also urged the world to watch developments in her country closely as it begins what she said were the first small steps to freedom.
“Change is not always for the better and even if it is for the better, it’s not always sustained. We would like the world to keep an eye on what’s happening,” she said.
Suu Kyi didn’t elaborate on her talks with Burmese government officials, including President Thein Sein who she met and spoke with for one hour on Aug. 19 in Burma’s capital of Naypyidaw. Both she and Thein Sein were quoted as saying they were encouraged by the talk, however.
Sources close to both Burmese authorities and Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), said that the two leaders reportedly discussed the issue of political prisoners during their meeting, but neither would elaborate in order to build mutual trust.
Speculation has spread on the Internet, among foreign diplomats and within Naypyidaw that Thein Sein promised Suu Kyi that a number of political prisoners would be released and there would be an arrangement allowing the NLD to exist as a legal organization.
It is rumored that as a quid pro quo, Suu Kyi pledged to consult her NLD colleagues about accepting the 2008 Constitution. For his part, the president said he will make efforts to put forward some constitutional amendments to Parliament, according to sources close to foreign diplomats and officials.
The NLD leadership in Rangoon, however, would make no comment about any agreements made between Suu Kyi and the president.
According to the Rangoon-based journal, Yangon Times, Suu Kyi said her talk with Thein Sein focused on the direction of national reconciliation and the formation of a real democracy.
Asked about the release of political prisoners, she told the Yangon Times, “It is important that they are free as soon as possible. We all have to try for their release.”
Thein Sein and Suu Kyi also reportedly agreed to work toward internal peace for Burma, including a ceasefire in ethnic areas. Suu Kyi told the Yangon Times that she has already informed the government that she is willing to assist in ending the ethnic conflicts, but it depends on the government and ethnic groups whether they want her to help.
Aye Thar Aung, a prominent Arakanese politician in Rangoon, told The Irrawaddy that Suu Kyi may see the beginning of change, but not an entire change. He said that now is a time for trust building between the government and the opposition, to be followed by tripartite dialogue involving ethnic political parties and armed groups as well.
He said that unless the 2008 Constitution is amended to grant equal rights to ethnic minority groups, those groups will not have the kind of real change they desire, which includes justice, equality and autonomy for their people.
Saw David Takapaw, the vice-chairman of the Karen National Union, said that it is too early to be optimistic about the current situation in Burma.
“The government doesn’t accept a federal state. But we want a federal state. If they don’t change their mind, it will be hard to deal with them. So far, we don’t see any sincerity towards the ethnic groups,” he said.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น