Where would the new Road Map Plan leads to?

DVB (August 18,2003)

The Road Map plan consists of two parts. The first one involves dialogues within Burma and between the international communities. The plan is for SPDC to take the advice from opposition groups inside Burma and international communities. Then the military junta is expected to discuss and implement those advices, according to DVB’s source.

The plan was split into two parts because SPDC said that it is unable to accept the interference of the international community in the domestic affairs of Burma, said a source who is close to the circle.

Also, our source told DVB that the Thai government particularly wants the SPDC to attend an international meeting and to accept Thailand to.

In order to implement the plan, the Thai government is also planning to organise an international conference on Burma before the upcoming ASEAN meeting in October which would be attended by China, Japan, EU and the US.

At the moment, Thailand is persuading the SPDC to attend the meeting, said our source.

There may also be meetings to let Burmese opposition groups to discuss the road map informally.

Some Thai foreign officials, Burmese experts and some opposition leaders met at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok to discuss the topics behind closed doors.

The road map was mainly envisaged and drafted by Mr Phutrakul from the Thai foreign ministry. He was the Thai ambassador to Burma in the early 90s and is a top Thai diplomat.

He went to Burma last weekend and discussed the road map plan with the SPDC leaders.

According to our source, some contents of the plans concern the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, rebuilding of trust, writing of a constitution, distribution of power and to hold election.

The plan also includes reduction of international communities’ sanctions on Burma by means of setting standards of reform and the rate of change.

Although it is not known how long it will take to restore democracy in Burma, the purpose is ending the military rule in Burma by 2006 when Burma will become the president of ASEAN.