Democrats urge Burma junta to confirm ASEAN envoy’s trip

Jan 09, 2006 (DVB) - Pro-democracy groups including the main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), urged Burma’s military junta to confirm a date for the proposed and agreed trip of ASEAN envoy led by Malaysian foreign minister to Burma as soon as possible, for the sake of the country.

The comments came after the junta’s foreign minister Nyan Win was reported to have said that the military government was ‘too busy’ moving its administrative capital from Rangoon to Pyinmana in central Burma, and asked the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) envoy to postpone his scheduled trip in January.

One of the NLD spokesmen, Myint Thein expressed his sorrow and dejection at the news of the forced postponement of the trip, saying that all parties involved have been preparing and hoping for a change in Burma for the better.

“Therefore, it (the trip to Burma) is the duty of Malaysia which was given the responsibility by the ASEAN, and it has to carry out its duty and we hope the affairs of Burma will be solved only when we carry out our duties,” said Myint Thein.

One of the renowned 88 Generation student leaders Ko Ko Gyi also urged the SPDC to cooperate with the international community including ASEAN.

“It is very worrying for the future of the country if the persuasion of the regional countries and the international community is ignored as if it were not important,” said Ko Ko Gyi. “ It is necessary to acknowledge that this country has the national crisis in hand. I believe that only when we acknowledge it deeply, would we be able to solve it pragmatically and wisely. Therefore, we need to acknowledge the problem of our country deeply. I want to say that it is important to cooperate with the international community, regional organisations and neighbouring countries.”