Burmese still have doubts on what Razali’s comment on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
DVB (2003 June 12)

Although the UN special envoy to Burma, Mr. Razali Ismail said that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is well, the people of Rangoon are still doubtful about his comment, said U Aung Myint a veteran politician.
Moreover, worries are still lingering in their minds, he added as follows:

U Aung Myint : You can’t calculate precisely… but I don’t believe it. In summary, that’s all I want to say. He has some interests in Burma. He also has the matter of electric visa. The government thinks that there are some matters he should not say. When the two sides meet, there must be some promises between them, I think. Roughly, you can’t believe 100% of what he said. He would be able to say only that she is well. I think that only when the eyewitnesses come out, will we know the truth. He will only use diplomatic words being a diplomat. Meanwhile, he has to follow some rules according to what he faced during the procedure.

DVB : Razali said like that and other people are saying different things. How are you getting news in Rangoon?

U Aung Myint : As I said, only the eyewitnesses will know. The people don’t really believe that nothing happened to her during the violent assaults. We will only believe it only when the witnesses are out. People don’t believe that nothing happened to her. Something must have happened because the incident was quite violent.

DVB : After the assaults, people were quite shocked. Is the situation back to normal?

U Aung Myint : No. Our feelings are the same. As our chairman said, we need to know what really happened. We can’t say anything for sure as the government itself is unable to say what really had happened. Only when the eyewitnesses tell us, we will know what really happened. Now people are saying different things. We want to say that it is not good that this had happened. We have been saying that all along. It’s regrettable that the violence had occurred. The authorities need to form an investigation commission with independent people and investigate what had happened and announce to the nation what really had happened. All the people detained should be released and the NLD offices should be reopened. The UN should take up the matter precisely as necessary and take action on the people responsible and the like are our requests. You will learn the details when our statement comes out.

DVB : Mr. Razali has left Burma and the USA Senate has agreed to impose sanctions on Burma… How effective would the international sanctions on Burma?

U Aung Myint : I think they will cause some changes in Burma but it is too early to say yet how. There will some changes up to a point. The international pressures are becoming widespread. For example, the people in Finland, Australia and New Zealand who never said anything about the government before are now saying something. I think some kinds of changes will happen.

The Veteran Politicians are holding a meeting this Saturday and expected to issue a statement on the current situation in Burma.

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 12 June 03