Dismissal of Prime Minister

Dismissal of Prime Minister: Call on Burma to Engage in Meaningful Dialogue

U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC
October 20, 2004

Excerpt:

QUESTION: Do you have any better understanding of what happened yesterday in Burma overnight and how this change may or may not affect U.S. policy?

MR. BOUCHER: Well, I mean, first, we are following events closely. But, no, we don't have any further developments to report. I think I would say, just generally, at this point, we see no indication that the leadership change will have any tangible impact on relations between the junta and the democratic opposition. That's unfortunate but that appears to be the way it is.

We note that the new Prime Minister was reportedly directly involved in the decision to carry out the brutal attack on Aung San Suu Kyi and her convoy on May 30th, 2003, and that we reiterate our call on Burma to engage in a meaningful dialogue and to engage in genuine national reconciliation and release Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners.

QUESTION: You say reportedly. Do you have any independent information on your own? I mean, at the time, I remember you were very active. I think there may have even people from the Embassy who were there when the attack happened on the convoy.

MR. BOUCHER: We did look into the matter extensively. I'm not sure, exactly, where that report came from or that I can tell you, but I think we find it to be a -- well, a report that is worth taking into account.

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