US criticises Burmese military junta

DVB - December 17, 2003

The US government told the Burmese military junta, the SPDC to show its sincerity with actions not words after hearing the words of the junta’s Foreign Minister, U Win Aung at an ‘international’ meeting on Burma in Bangkok recently.

U Win Aung said to the effect that the regime is working towards democracy in Burma and it is having contacts with and inviting the main opposition group, NLD (National League for Democracy) led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and elected ethnic nationals to attend the ‘National Convention’.

The US Foreign Department’s spokesman, Richard Boucher said that this kind of promise has been heard often from the regime in the past but the US government doesn’t want promises but actions.

The US has been demanding the participations of political parties and ethnic national groups in political process in Burma and imposed sanctions on the regime.

Meanwhile, a NLD spokesman told DVB that the SPDC still has to get in touch with the party and allow other NLD leaders to talk to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who is still under house arrest.