Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Exclusive interview with Aung San Suu Kyi

Exclusive interview with Aung San Suu Kyi

Burma Tha Din has secured this exclusive interview with Aung San Suu Kyi


Interviewer
Dear Mother
According to the reports, Human Rights Watch are saying that ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity have been taking place against the Rohingya in Burma. What is your response to this?

DASSK
I am not going to take sides. What we have here is a question of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.

Interviewer
The European Union lifted the sanctions, saying it is a reward for remarkable change in Burma. But many are saying it is too soon to lift sanctions, because many human rights problems remain. What is your opinion? Is lifting sanctions a good way to promote human rights?

DASSK
These kind of problems happen because there is a problem of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.

Interviewer
Mother Suu, it is now almost two years since the ceasefire in Kachin State was broken, and since then there have been reports of rape and many other human rights abuses, and tens of thousands of people displaced and suffering because of aid being blocked. Despite promises from the President and military to observe a ceasefire, the Kachin Independence Army says they are still being attacked by the Burmese Army. What do you think should be done to end this conflict?

DASSK
I am not going to take sides. What we have here is a question of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.

Interviewer

It is learned that more political prisoners are being released this week. How do you say about this?

DASSK
The question of political prisoners arises due to the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.

Interviewer
It is now a year since the EU suspended and then the USA lifted many sanctions, but there has still not been much investment in Burma, why do you think this is?

DASSK
I think that investors are concerned by the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.

Interviewer
What is your opinion on reports that the army and security forces have been raping many women in Rakhine and Kachin State?

DASSK
I am not going to take sides. What we have here is a question of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.

Interviewer
There is a growing problem of land confiscation across the country, as your have seen yourself at Letpadaung. What do you think should be done about this?

DASSK
What we have here is a question of the lack of the rule of law. To solve these problems we need the rule of law.

Interviewer
Dear Mother, thank you very much for answering my questions today, it has been a great honour.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

International Crisis Group To Give Peace Award To Thein Sein

From our correspondent in New York

President U Thein Sein of Burma will receive the ‘In Pursuit of Peace’ Award from the International Crisis Group on April 22nd.

The International Crisis Group stated that the award; ‘recognises individuals for their outstanding contributions to the advancement of peace and security.’

The award will be presented at a lavish dinner in the luxury Pierre Hotel, where the top ticket package costs $100,000.

The Master of Ceremonies will be Katty Kay from the politically neutral BBC.

The presentation of a peace award to President Thein Sein will be controversial given his past personal involvement in human rights abuses, and serious continuing human rights abuses, including UN documented violations of international law. Also likely to spark controversy is the fact that conflict actually increased after Thein Sein became President, and the fact that almost 300,000 people have displaced by conflict in Burma in the past two years.

President Thein Sein, who stated on becoming President that one of his priorities was to build ‘military might’, continues military spending which is five times higher than on health, and which is actually increasing despite extreme poverty in the country.

International Crisis Group point however to the many ceasefires which have been signed with armed ethnic groups, although as with similar ceasefire agreements in the early 1990s, no progress has been made in starting discussions on the root causes of the conflict.

International Crisis Group may also face accusations of making the award in order to raise funds. Investors in Burma such as PTT Group and Chevron are key sponsors. The International Crisis Group has not stated how much profit it expects to make from the event.

NB (After publishing this article Burma Tha Din Network was made aware that the International Crisis Group really have given their peace award to Thein Sein. As a satirical publication, we apologise for the misunderstanding).