Yangon February 2
Instead, United nation special envoy Mr. Gambari has met detained pro democracy leader Daw Aung San Su Kyi government official have said ,it is nothing for the hope of Burmese people under military regime.
No details of the talks were released. Mr. Gambari's visit is part of a mission aimed at promoting dialogue between Burma's opposition and military rulers.
People in Yangon mocks to UN as United Nothing or United Nowhere. They thought UN envoy is just a follower for juntas.
“Some vendors interested only about his return because they couldn’t sell anything beside main road during his visit” said local business man.
Daw su declined to meet Mr. Gambari during his last visit six months ago due to a lack of progress in reform.
The UN envoy told diplomats that his objectives are to urge the release of political prisoners, discuss the country's ailing economy and revive a dialogue between Ms Suu Kyi and the junta.
Mr. Gambari's seventh trip to the country comes amid criticism that he has failed to achieve Ms Suu Kyi's release or any other discernible progress from his diplomacy.
NlD spoke men said after UN envoy six visits they didn’t see any concert result for political development or either dialogue.
The military is pushing ahead with a tightly-controlled election next year
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Well, I do not know what people of Myanmar really want from UN. UN is just to facilitate the possible "talk" between two people who hate each other. If both stick to their respective position strongly, then UN's job is limited here. People of Myanmar should be sad instead of camplaining over UN's ability. After all it is not UN who is in trouble but it is the people of Myanmar.
There is an opportunity for 2010. Those who are eager to work for the country, then it is time to work hard. start working is better than complaining indeed.
I am also myanmar, but i know the weakness and goodness of our people.
It is time for people to be wise, to learn from learned people, learn more and stop "streets demo" just to do "feel good" politics or to enter into "big houses" just to take up to 100 years.
When we hear some one takes "16 years" because he performed "street demo" we feel so proud for him and consider as our "hero".
When we hear for the second time for the same person takes "30 years" again for the same action, we start to feel "bored"
And when we hear for the third time for the same person takes "65 years" with same "street demo", we think that "he must be fooled or we have been fooled by him"
I do not systematically trust or admire those who enter into the big house. they must have their reasons for it for instance, they must need to save their honor and not specially for the "good of the country", similar to Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Tin are doing : politics of personal glorification which can not yeild any positive results for the country. They know that they are "failed" but they are now doing politics to save their image what I would call "Extinct and Dinosaur politics" or "died in honor"
the bell tolls for them, but not for us
best regards,
FYI:
Shift Possible on Burma Policy
Sanctions Have Failed, Clinton Says, Hinting at Other Tacks
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/18/AR2009021800273_pf.html
By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, February 19, 2009; A11
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 18 -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday that economic sanctions imposed by the United States and other Western governments have failed to pressure the repressive Burmese government, signaling a potentially major shift in U.S. policy.
Clinton, at a news conference here, did not deny that easing sanctions was one of the ideas under consideration by the Obama administration as part of a major review, saying that "we are looking at possible ideas that can be presented." She said she had discussed the issue with Indonesian officials.
"Clearly, the path we have taken in imposing sanctions hasn't influenced the Burmese junta," she said, adding that the route taken by Burma's neighbors of "reaching out and trying to engage them has not influenced them, either."
Burma, also known as Myanmar, is regarded as one of the world's most oppressive nations, ruled by generals who have enriched themselves while much of the country remains desperately poor.
The National League for Democracy, the party of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, won a landslide electoral victory in 1990, but the military leadership refused to accept it. She has been held in confinement repeatedly since then, as have hundreds of her supporters.
Any move by the Obama administration to scale back sanctions could face opposition in Congress, where lawmakers have imposed a series of increasingly tougher restrictions on the Southeast Asian nation. The Bush administration also invested significant diplomatic capital into moving Burma for the first time onto the agenda of the United Nations Security Council, though a proposed resolution on the junta's behavior has been vetoed by Russia and China.
In 2007, Vice President Biden was the key mover in the Senate passage of the Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act, which renewed restrictions on the import of Burmese gemstones and tightened sanctions on mining projects. The act also imposed new financial sanctions and travel restrictions on the junta's leaders and their associates, and created a post for a high-level envoy and policy coordinator for Burma.
But some humanitarian organizations have begun to question the sanction policies. In an influential report issued last October, the Brussels-based International Crisis Group argued that humanitarian aid should begin to flow into the country and that bans on Burmese garments, agriculture and fishery products and restrictions on tourism should be lifted.
"It is a mistake in the Myanmar context to use aid as a bargaining chip, to be given only in return for political change," the report said. "Twenty years of aid restrictions -- which see Myanmar receiving twenty times less assistance per capita than other least-developed countries -- have weakened, not strengthened, the forces for change."
While Clinton has been careful not to tip her hand on the direction of the policy review, she has used strikingly mild language about the Burmese government, describing "the unfortunate path" taken by Burma, leaving it "impervious to influence from anyone."
Jeremy Woodrum, co-founder of the U.S. Campaign for Burma, said he hopes the Obama administration does not shift course. It "should not lift pressure, which would have the effect of selling out Aung San Suu Kyi, who has called for pressure on Burma and whom Secretary Clinton and President Obama just voted to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal," he said. "The Obama administration should pursue a multilateral global arms embargo to help stop crimes against humanity committed by Than Shwe's regime." Than Shwe is the leader of the Burmese junta.
During her stop in Indonesia, Clinton also visited the Jakarta-based headquarters of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a regional bloc of 10 nations that includes Burma but is often criticized as ineffectual.
As scores of ASEAN employees lined the balconies to applaud her, Clinton announced that the Obama administration would consider signing the group's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, a nonaggression pact signed by 15 nations outside the region. The Bush administration had declined to sign it, in part because of concerns it might hamper policy toward Burma.
Clinton also said she would attend a regional security meeting in July, a diplomatic session that former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice skipped twice during her four-year tenure. "It really shows the seriousness of the United States to end its diplomatic absenteeism in the region," a beaming ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said.
Upon her arrival in Jakarta, Clinton was serenaded at the airport by children from the former elementary school of President Obama, who spent four years of his childhood here. At a joint news conference with Clinton, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda noted that Obama "has a very strong constituency in Indonesia -- of course without the right to vote."
Please read carefully what Jeremy Woodrum, co-founder of the U.S. Campaign for Burma said:
If Aung San Suu Kyi is more important than the well-being of people of Myanmar?
everybody knows that spdc is bad government, but without military's support no civil government can share political power in Maynmar.
Look at ASSK and NLD said it was not them who called for sacntions on Myanmar, but it were US and EU who imposed these sanctions on their own. For me it is totally irresponsible saying and pure lie (same morality with junta spdc).
if we failed, we must take the responsibility of our failure.
We have been fooled by junta and we also have been fooled by the opposition.
But you can fool people everytime.
best regards,
Please read you can not fool people every time.
BR
Just for your info.
what are we discussing on the public forum. I found one interesting posting on Asia Obsever Fourm and pass to you to read.
best regards,
ANSWERS AND QUESTIONS TO THE STATEMENT OF NLD 1 Hour, 27 Minutes ago Karma: -6
Ref: Special statement No. 2/12/09
February 18, National League for Democracy
Dear Myo Chit Myanmars, Patriots,
I trust you all may have read the so called NLD Statements. Though belated, it’s a nice one , there should be more of them if possible in future .
I will only get to the points, without copying it again
1. Sr. Gen Than Shwe and DASSK should disappeared altogether, because it seems that both of them don’t like each other , they are not like by the people of Myanmar for argument sake. . No, I don’t think they are made for each other.
Nobody can deny Than Shwe did try, Khin Nyunt did try. SPDC did try. Than Shwe is not popular , there is no personality. The other one is popular and have personality.
We don’t need anybody popular or anyone who has personality, We Myanmars need people who perform their duties , who take responsibility of the people and the nation in time of its need. I don’t need to elaborate anymore, need I?
The fact remains the same. There were three Constitution after the independence of Union of Myanmar. ASSK or anyone like ASSK does not fit in any Constitution of Union of Myanmar.
As a matter of facts, NLD cannot argue the facts, so they want to wash them away. It is clear.
2. Dialogue is a sweet balls, it is a side dish , the WAR is the main course in international practice of globalization. Don’t you see that? Theories and practical are two totally different things. Nobody can create a war in Union of Myanmar yet. Thanks to SPDC. Since SPDC took over even fighting in Union of Myanmar decreased.
3. International experts know who is hard headed one in Myanmar. Who is the one who laid preconditions. NLD giving all the impressions. Nobody bys its bait. At the end of the day, NLD will ask to uphold 1990 elections results, and hand over power to NLD. There is no other bottom line than that. That is the problem of NLD. They think others are upstarts like them. They think too much of themselves, and too little of others
She denies she called for economic sanctions, but she said she SUPPORTS economic sanctions.
NLD doesn’t realised that the people are fed up of present situation. They want to go forward, not to the back, not to stuck as they are now. Let‘s say, that may be the reason they approved the New Constitution, overwhelmingly, say what you like The dawning of the new day, fresh and beautiful will be far better than today. They are taking a chance, or they are taking a risk. They nhave to do something for themselves. ,
4. It is late, too late . SPDC did not chose the confrontation it was ASSK, who confronted SPDC long before NLD was formed. She even told the people to confront SLORC/SPDC, not to co operate with SPDC, she even told them to break the laws. etc.
This paragraph 4 is as clear as crystal , ASSK , more than once said that economic sanctions “were not effecting the people”. How short sighted she must be. She used this economic sanction to black mail SPDC, to victimised the people as hostages, for her to gain power with the help of the outsiders, who she speaks their language.
5. True or not, it is the choice of words between, “EFUSED TO MEET”, and “NOT ABLE TO MEET. AT THE TIME.” We know , we don’t forget that ASSK refused to meet Ibrahim Gambari on his last trip. Gambari’s team shouted from the gate of her house , nobody came or answered their calls. How embarrassing it was for Gambari, thye UN representative.. Why is it not mentioned in this statement? Why is it not mentioned what she was doing on those both days . Were there any other suggestion to post pone meeting either with Ibrahim Gambari or Aung Kyi ? What a load of rubbish, this is by NLD , EC.
On the February 2nd 2009, she had a meeting with Gambari, that is according to NLD’s own statement How long was the meeting with him, all day and all night? Why could not she give time to Aung Kyi? What was more important than these meetings . It was nothing, just, “ don’t call me, I ‘ll call you “,. attitude. We all know ASSK has attitude problems.
6. The court has the authority to clear the court room of undesirable people, including the lawyers if they are not in order. The court is the place to practice the law. It is not a political stage. NLD which called the people to break the laws , will break the court rules and say anything to discredit the court or SPDC. A person like me can understand very well what the NLD is driving, especially when they have a chance to meet such as Ibrahim Gambara. I am not surprised NLD issued this statement. NLD members are not exempt from the laws. There is no such thing as, the laws cannot touch anybody who are happened to be NLD members, oe NLD, EC members. NLD has no interest in the people. No interest in the nation, it only has interest in its party, and its members, the party and its members come first , nation and people of the nation come last. Look , who is talking about “ rule of law ”,? We don ’t forget that NLD is the one who told people to break the laws, not to obey the laws remember? Nobody can break the laws in the name of politic, nobody can break the laws in the name of ASSK.
What are political goals, what are political objectives for NLD ?
7. NLD and its members are living in Myanmar all their lives. They are politicians and economists. To say , “ It could not be discussed as we still did not know the causes for economic development and how to bring about it. ” That is typical NLD, which and who wants power to govern the Myanmar and the people. What are they doping in Myanmar. Just because ASSK is in her house. NLD does nothing, stop doing anything, defunct? I can’t believe it. They are not prepared at anytime for the Nation, for the people.. They have no interest in Myanmar and its people. What are their interests . Buddha alone knows. . If the economic development of the nation cannot be discussed .what is there to discuss?
8. I don’t think SPDC has any problem. It has done its best for National Reconciliation through National Convention, through New Constitution. Which NLD refused to take part. But NLD may have problems. NLD refused to be in the National Convention. It refused to endorse the New Constitution. It even advised the people not to approved the New Constitution, which are meant for National Reconciliation, National Unity., for Democracy . People do not listen to NLD anymore, because they had more than enough of NLD. Mr Gambari knows that as well. He may be referring to the other party (NLD) when he said that. Are these NC, and New Constitution not meaningful. It is done after the dialogue between representatives from all walks of life, Noyt just between twom parties, NLD and SPDC. NLD worked out of the NC. At the time of great importance for the nation and the people. DON’T EVER FORGET THAT.
9. A Thief calling others, Thieves . Everybody said economic sanctions are counter productive. NLD does not seem to understand that, but using it as a weapon on the people of Myanmar, their own people. Sacrificing the people and the nation and they and some people proudly said , ASSK is the one who is sacrificing her life for the people. What a laugh. Par Par Lay could not have done better than that.
===============================================================
Derek,
I’ve told you once before, and I won’t tell you no more. Whenever, NLD and ASSK comes up in the forum you popped up as well. Why not, it’s a free world.
The Western world can interpret anyway they like. They know economic sanctions are counter productive. Today Credit Crunch or not whatever they call it. Many workers in the western countries are losing the jobs. What is their future , nobody knows. If there were no social benefits, unemployment benefits , National Health Service , where will they be?
The west have their own reasons. Those who looks can see. There are wars going on which the west is deeply involved, as a matter of fact they created these wars with their own reasons. Economic sanctions are a kind of Protectionism which we see from time to time.
Now the people from the west are blaming foreigners. They blames people from Europe who are taking their jobs. There are protests, demonstration , strikes against foreigners working in their country. And they are blaming foreigners from non EU countries as well. Social tension is building up . What will follow nobody knows either. Social unrest.
The west have a big market in P. R China, it has a big market in India. Pakistan Russia. Etc.
Myanmar is a small nation. Negligible. Myanmar can wait, while the west is not in a hurry to invest in Myanmar , not in the past, let alone at present. NLD can take all the credits or it can take all the blames. It won’t make any difference.
It seems that NLD does not want to go forword to nowhere. till holding the nation and the people hostage, and black mailing SPDC. People may rise up against NLD this time. NLD has nowhere to run led alone to hide. NLD may need more protections from SPDC.
Regards,
Thunderbolts.
Hi,
This is the analyse of a white scholar how he views the special statement of NLD.
I do not like SPDC, but I definately do not want Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD govern our country at all.
For me ASSK=NLD=SPDC in all domains.
The all equally responsible of the situation of our country.
I am very often so much surprised by ASSK's attitude behaving herself the state leader!!!!! she is not governing Myanmar, she is not elected leader, she is disqualified in all constitutions of Myanmar. in 90 where emotion played a central role I hope in 2010, it will be much different.
NLD should stop telling the world that they still represent Myanmar people because millions of people like me who were under 18 in 90, may not vote for them in 2010.
BTW, I think and believe that NLD will finally enter into elections, otherwise what they have to do, nothing to do!!
But what NLD can propose in the elections, with their youth knows only one thing politics = street demo and like U Win Tin knows only communist minset of "mass", I do not think and believe that NLD has able persons to govern our nation.
look ASSK, she can not manage to sort out her "ego" and stick to moral value while she lied in regard with her call for economic santions!!! I am deeply disappointed of her morality and egoism. so what is the difference between Than Shwe and ASSK, for me the same, Than Shwe appears as dictator while ASSK hides her "ego", "lies" and "childishness" in her wishful show of "God's saint cleaned of all sins", she will never go out of her confort zone, now she is doing politics save name of Aung San. I am sorry but i am very happy that constitution prevent her to be elected one.
we need new kind of elite, not the one like 88 generation group (Wai lai lai Ah Thin, they just did "agitational politic", they know only it anyway). We need to create a new kind of elite to rebuild our nation.
best regards
Burma, the Opposition and Economic Development
By DAVID I. STEINBERG Friday, February 20, 2009
The "Special Statement" by the National League for Democracy (NLD) on February 12 focused on the two-decades-old question of dialogue between it and the ruling military junta in Burma.
In a shocking and inexcusable paragraph, however, the NLD admitted, almost as an afterthought, its collective failures to pay attention to economic development of the country and the well-being of the Burmese people.
In its seventh paragraph, it stated, "Another point we discussed with [the] special envoy was about economic development for our country. NLD representatives responded that it could not be discussed as we still did not know the causes for economic development and how to bring it about."
This is a remarkable statement of both ineptitude and the disregard for the well-being of the peoples of that country who have severely suffered daily economic hardships. The statement is inept because there are still in Burma, but not a part of policy decision-making no doubt, first-class Burmese technocrats, including economists, who have professional knowledge and experience on economic development issues.
These local experts with solid international experience have had extensive contacts with the NLD senior leaders and no doubt have provided the NLD with relevant policy advice on the subject.
The NLD could easily seek their economic development views. The United Nations Development Programme, with resident personnel in Rangoon, has undoubtedly done the same. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Asian Development Bank have all provided missions to that country in recent years. A wide variety of international nongovernmental organizations with senior staff in the country could contribute to this developmental process as well.
Judging from the aforementioned NLD statement, it seems that the NLD considers economic development, and thus the well-being of the people and their improvement in life chances, a lower priority on its official agenda.
Democratic citizens and governments share the NLD's goals of democratization, reconciliation and dialogue in Burma. However, this statement comes across as though the NLD leadership prefers to keep the already impoverished people in poverty until a political agreement is reached between the junta and it—an extremely unlikely prospect.
To be sure, successive Burmese military governments since 1962 have mishandled Burma’s national economy and created 47 years of economic hardships for the bulk of the population. The NLD leadership's initial open support for economic sanctions against the country and continuation of holding the country's economy—and along with it public welfare—hostage does nothing to advance the cause of either freedom or development.
Whether one agrees or disagrees about the past imposition of sanctions and their effects is a separate policy matter from this issue of denying both the capacity to understand what is needed to improve the lives of the people and implicitly the moral responsibility that results from such astounding ignorance. In the interests of transparency and for the record, I will state I have been against economic sanctions even before the US instituted them because I felt they would not accomplish their goal—regime change. They never have.
Although the NLD leadership has been persecuted and its organizational capacity emasculated, if any political party comes out in favor of ignoring the betterment in the lives of the people, it is likely to lose whatever popular appeal or moral authority it may still have.
That the military has ignored the Buddhist precepts of good governance that call for the caring of the people is no excuse for the NLD to ignore the issue of the people's livelihoods, which is what economic development is all about.
The State Peace and Development Council government has failed the country in economic development terms in spite of its accrual of substantial foreign exchange reserves. That the main opposition party and its leadership, so widely admired worldwide for their courage in standing up for principles, has, in effect, refused to deal with the issue prompts a profound sense of pessimism for the future of the country and her people.
David I. Steinberg is a specialist on Burma, North Korea, South Korea, Southeast Asia and US policy in Asia. He is a professor at the School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
Post a Comment