Veteran politicians met in Rangoon

DVB (August 22,2003 )

Burmese veteran politicians met and discussed the current political situation in Rangoon on 17 August.

According to U Aung Myint, one of the attendants of the meeting, the politicians discuss the failure of the authorities to reply the letter which enquired the Dipeyin incident, the road map plan proposed by the Thai government and the US sanctions.

“We issued a statement before and we are still standing by our statement,” said U Aung Myint. “The first demand is to set up an international, impartial organisation to investigate the Dipeyin incident and to prosecute the responsible people for the atrocities...We need the participation of the UN.”

Secondly, the letter requested the release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the freedom of all NLD to carry out their duties.

Regarding to the “Road Map” plan, the politicians were “fading out”.

“We have some doubts about the plan because we know nothing about it,” said U Aung Myint. “Besides, the “Road Map” plan could overshadow the Dipeyin incident.”

According to U Aung Myint, the politicians have doubts because the plan is proposed by Thailand alone and the Thai government has not revealed any detail.

“Is the plan an effort to divert the difficulties faced in Burma or is Thailand making an initiative to take the leading role in ASEAN after Malaysia’s Mahathir leaves the post?” These were among the questions politicians have raised.

“If it is an honest effort for national reconciliation, we have to accept it as good,” said U Aung Myint. “We need to know the details properly if the plan is to be implemented, or we won’t take it seriously,” said U Aung Myint.

In addition, those politicians also thought that people inside Burma should know the detail.