Road Map plan interviews

DVB ( August 12, 2003)

INTERVIEW I

Khun Tun Oo, the leader of Shan NLD and a CRPP member in Rangoon

Khun Tun Oo : If I have to say it honestly, we don’t know any details about the plan and I think that it is too early yet to say whether we could accept the plan. The ethnic nationals haven’t had a chance to study the road map plan and we are not allowed to see the details yet. We have to find out how much guarantees are included in the details of the road map plan for ethnic nationals and for the emergence of a federal constitution which is desired by all of us. If there is a political dialogue, there would be democracy and equal opportunity. We have to judge the road map on these factors. That is our tactic. Our main strategy is if the SPDC is persuaded to come to the table for talk, that would be the success of Mr. Razali.

DVB : You have been meeting Mr. Razali for nine or ten times? After Dipeyin incident (30 May), he was unable to proceed. Before, it seemed that he was going on one way and Thailand was going another before. But they now seem to agree with each other. What do you think?

Khun Tun Oo : Mr. Razali is a reconciler or a go-between. I don’t know whether he has become a negotiator or whether his role has changed because of the Thai’s road map or whether he has changed due to the circumstance in Thailand. If he becomes a negotiator, that is another thing.

DVB : The details of the road map plan are not revealed to anyone yet. Mr. Razali and the Thais are not telling anyone. Now that they are implementing it, what do you think should be included in this plan?

Khun Tun Oo : As for ethnic nationals, we will accept it as long as there is true democratic federalism. Mainly, we want to see if there are guarantees for rights for ethnic nationals. We won’t have to say much if there are democracy and human rights. Whoever is doing what kind of thing. If it leads to tripartite talks, and if Thailand’s road map leads to tripartite talks, we can accept it. The most important thing is to be able to solve political problems by political means. If the majority of the parties concerned; the democracy forces, the SPDC and ethnic nationals can accept it as a reconciliatory plan, it could be successful.

INTERVIEW II

Aung Moe Zaw of the NCUB

Aung Moe Zaw : What I want to say first is the most important matter and it should be acted on as soon as possible by the international community; the unconditional releases of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners. The NLD and other political parties should be allowed to unite freely within Burma. I, personally think that only when you have these conditions, it would be more suitable to think other matters. Secondly, the Thai PM and the FM have been repeatedly saying for a month that Thailand has been working for national reconciliation and the emergence of democracy in Burma. But as far as we know, there has been no result to this day and I presume that they are floating and selling this idea. Thirdly, in order to solve the problems of our country, the most suitable should be an initiative from the UN and which is to be implemented by the international community. Fourthly, if the Thai’s efforts become an UN initiative, we think that it would be good. We need to overcome the current problems of Burma, but we also need to think about the long term future for Burma.