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BBC Burmese Service
BBC Burmese Service:
Interview with two Ethnic Leaders (Translation)
Interviewer: U Kyaw Zan Tha, British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC)
Burmese Program
Interviewees: Dr. U Saw Mya Aung and U Khun Tun Oo
The BBC recently interviewed two prominent politicians, on separate occasions, and aired their views in the "Burmese Perspective" program on the evening of Aug 29. The two ethnic party leaders interviewed were U Khun Tun Oo and Dr. Saw Mya Aung.
U Khun Tun Oo, 58, is Chairperson of Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), which gained 23 seats in the 1990 election. Dr. Saw Mya Aung, 84, is Chairperson of Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), which won 11 seats.
Saw Mya Aung, was named the chairperson of future parliament
at the meeting of the CRPP (the Committee Representing the People's
Parliament) on September 17, 1998. He was detained in a military camp,
or a so-called 'government guesthouse' for 3 years and was recently
released. He said to the BBC, "I've already made up my mind to continue
to participate in the democracy and human rights
activities……...until my last days." He said in another
radio interview, two months ago, that he participates in these
activities and he considers it to be a social welfare issue.
We now distribute this aired program as it covers not only political
views but also the issue of political prisoners including U Aye Tha
Aung of CRPP.
U Aye Tha Aung became a secretary of the CRPP, which was founded by the
political parties after the military authorities refused to accept the
1990 elections. As a CRPP secretary, he represents the 4 ethnic
political parties: SNLD, ALD, Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF), and
Zomi National Congress (ZNC). After he was arrested on April 24, 2000,
he was given three consecutive 7-year prison terms for violating
publication and emergency laws. He was denied any legal defense. Dr.
Saw Mya Aung expressed his concern to the BBC for the welfare of U Aye
Tha Aung, as his health condition was deteriorating quickly.
Translated by: Assistance Association for Political Prisoners
(Burma)
The words contained within the brackets are by the
translator.
| BBC: | What the important events in Burma are: the military government (State Peace and Development Council - SPDC) has started to release some of the political prisoners; the UN special envoy, Razali Ismail, visits Rangoon regularly; the talks between the military government and General Secretary of National League for Democracy. These events happened separately but relatively. On this issue, we have already presented Burmese watchers and exile activists. This week, we are going to present the opinion of two political leaders inside Burma. They are U Khun Tun Oo, chairperson of Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) and Dr. U Saw Mya Aung, Chairperson of Arakan League for Democracy (ALD). Not only Burmese watchers and exile activists, but also the leaders inside Burma, welcome the talks between the government and dissidents after Razali's trips, and also the release of the political prisoners. First, Dr. U Saw Mya Aung said that current political condition seems to have become flexible. |
| SMA: | I heard this morning that two leaders from NLD were released. We can only assume that the (political condition) has become flexible. What will happen next is not easy to guess. |
| BBC: | Like wise, SNLD chairperson U Khun Tun Oo said optimistically. U Khun Tun Oo (KTO): Most see that the political condition has become flexible. |
| BBC: | Concerned with current talk between the junta and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, some ethnic organizations say the talks should be tripartite. They feel uncomfortable because the talk is only two-way. U Khun Tun Oo and U Saw Mya Aung are the leaders of the parties, which won seats in the election, finishing behind the NLD. What is your opinion on the talk? |
| KTO: | To speak frankly, two-way talk is good before there is tripartite talk because of the current situation. In our country, the crisis is in economics, social issues, education, health care and every issue. We ethnic people can emphasize only our own issues. However, I consider that if we think about the country and the people, two-way talk is suitable for now. This is not only my opinion, we talked about (this) when I met with Naing Tun Thein1, U Cin Shing Thang2, U Aye Tha Aung3, and Daw Suu4. That's why, if possible, we want tripartite dialog, but if not for now, two-way dialog. Tripartite is also necessary because the ethnic issue should be presented and solved by the ethnic people. I believe that two-way talking is the most suitable to be finished with the current problem quickly. |
| (1- Chairperson of Mon National Democratic Front, an
ethnic party which won 5 seats in the 1990 election) |
|
| (2- Chairperson of Zomi National Congress, an ethnic party which won 2 seats in the 1990 election) | |
| (3- the secretary of the CRPP) | |
| (4- Aung San Suu Kyi) | |
| BBC: | Do you believe Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is representing NLD in the current talks, is representing, discussing and caring about the ethnic issue? |
| KTO: | I assume that she is. |
| BBC: | Dr. U Saw Mya Aung says the ethnic people have already discussed with NLD about what they need. |
| SMA: | The ethnic people's opinion has already been mentioned before. We have discussed this issue thoroughly with not only the four ethnic parties5, but also the 25 parties from UNLD6 and later Daw Aung Suu Kyi of NLD on how we are all going to live equally. What we need has already been mentioned before. We, ethnic people, need federation. The parliament will decide to have a federation of eight states. |
| (5- there are four ethnic parties in CRPP) | |
| (6- United Nationalities League for Democracy) | |
| BBC: | If so, do you expect that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will represent the ethnic people while she is currently talking to the SPDC? |
| SMA: | We assume that she will discuss general issues including the ethnic people. This is because we have talked about the federation of eight states many times before. Now, she is the one and only person who has contact (with SPDC) to talk. She understands everything. Let her do her job. We believe that she will not do anything wrong (by us). |
| BBC: | SNLD chairperson, U Khun Tun Oo, also believes in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. However, he seems to prefer tripartite dialog to the current talk between the military government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi because the ethnic people understand more about the ethnic issue than others. |
| KTO: | Now, there is no discussion among the three parties but only between two parties. It's good if Daw Suu (Aung San Suu Kyi) talks about the ethnic issue. I do hope she will talk. However, as I said before, only ethnic people know about the problems they have been suffering for years. Daw Suu alone or SPDC alone cannot solve the problem. To be acceptable, ethnic people have to present and discuss the issues with other ethnic people. The UN (United Nations) has already put forward guidelines for tripartite dialog, as this is a very large problem. Therefore, two-way talk is important before the tripartite dialog. When there are reconciliation conditions, we want talks to be tripartite. I hope it will happen. |
| BBC: | Now Mr. Razali Ismail is in Rangoon. You may have met him the previous time. How about this time? What are you going to say to him? |
| KTO: | We have met before. On Wednesday the 29th (of August) at 5:00 p.m. in the evening, the ethnic groups Chin, Karen, Shan, Mon and Arakanese have planned to meet him. We are going to request that he suggest a two-way dialog which will later become tripartite dialog. We are going to ask him to help in setting it up. |
| BBC: | Dear listeners, Mr. Razali Ismail has already met with the ethnic leaders on Wednesday evening as U Khun Tun Oo mentioned. ALD chairperson U Saw Mya Aung said he would report to Mr. Razali Ismail for the freedom of the political leaders including U Aye Tha Aung who was an important person in CRPP. |
| SMA: | U Aye Tha Aung who was a key member of the 10 - person committee (CRPP) was imprisoned for 21 years. He has been very close to death in the last few months and has been moved (from Insein Prison) to an intensive care unit, in Rangoon General Hospital for treatment. We are very worried about him. As for my party, we are going to inform him of the conditions of U Tha Ban, one of our members, and U Aye Tha Aung, who is dying, in order to get their release. NLD sent a letter of request to Senior General Than Shwe7 (to release the political prisoners). |
| (7- the chairperson of the SPDC) | |
| BBC: | Did U Aye Tha Aung's health condition deteriorate because he simply got sick or was there some other mistreatment to him? Comment if possible. |
| SMA: | As a medical doctor, I met him before he was imprisoned. There were no signs that he would get ill. According to his family, he was offered some businesses during the first two months of his arrest. When it did not work, he was forced to sleep on the concrete floor, and his health condition began to deteriorate. He was put in the prison hospital. Finally, he was sent to Rangoon General Hospital when (the medical staff in prison) could not care for him as he was unable to breath and felt pain on - - - - and different kind of illnesses. His family was able to contact him after they checked the Insein prison and General Hospital using many ways. His family informed us (about his health condition). |
| BBC: | After you mention U Aye Tha Aung's health condition, let me know about yours. Because of your age, many people were worried for you when you were under detention (for 3 years). Do you think you can carry on the duty as the chairperson of the ALD? |
| SMA: | Now, I am 84. I still try to be healthy. I eat and sleep in the same way as before and my health condition is normal. So, I have already made up my mind to carry on the social work while I am still alive. To be able to do this, I maintain my health and do different kinds of exercises. I feel a little bit ill and some pain, and I cannot hear but I do not give up at all. I have already made up my mind to continue until I die. |
| BBC: | That was U Saw Mya Aung. Dear listeners, Burmese people not only went out on to the streets in demonstration but also voted, as they wanted to show that they want democracy. That was over a decade ago. There have been many people who have worked and waited and passed away for many reasons because they want their community to be free in the world. By now, I guess, it's good for the people who are waiting hopefully (for the future) if the responsible persons solve the problems with discussion. Let me conclude here. |
KTO = U Khun Tun Oo
SMA = U Saw Mya Aung
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