Burma's government-in-exile mulls future
Updated
Burma's government-in-exile is holding its fourth congress in the Irish city of Dublin. The group is made up of elected parliamentarians from the 1990 polls, shortly before the military junta seized power. Many belonged to Nobel laureate and detained Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, the NLD.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Dr. Sein Winn, Burma's prime minister-in-exile
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WINN: That was very important for us to meet altogether, so we have to sort out many problems, many things, but I believe that we can build a unity, because the time is right and we not only have meeting here in exile government and exile Members of Parliament, but we will continue with consultative strategic meeting with other groups to have a plan, to present our proposal for the transition to democracy.
LAM: Some people say the government in exile should offer the Burmese people a much broader, more cohesive alternative?
WINN: Well, of course, we are trying in our best way. We will consult and have a talk with other groups to find a common goals, strategies, and then based on that strategies and action plan, we will build our unity and we will present our case to the international community.
LAM: Well on this point of giving all groups an equal voice, what representations, for instance, do ethnic groups, like the Shan and the Karen enjoy within the government-in-exile?
WINN: First of all, we are thinking about extending our government and we have talks, will continue the negotiation and talk with ethnic groups and we will find the best way how to accommodate everybody.
LAM: What's the way forward, Dr Sein Winn, the military junta in Rangoon won't even consider dialogue with the NLD and with your government-in-exile?
WINN: We will try to present our case, we will have our plan and alternative movement in 2009, and we will present our case. It is up to the military to decide. We would like to have an inclusive process. We are advocating talk with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic party leaders inside the country, but we will see. Because other alternative is destruction of the country.
LAM: Well, the military has scheduled elections for 2010 in Burma. Does the NLD intend to participate?
WINN: We don't know officially what is their decision, but many political groups have said no to the 2010 and as it is, if it is, as it is, we will not accept 2010. We are asking for inclusive process. NLD is proposing review of their Constitution, but if the military go ahead as it is, we will not accept 2010 elections, because we could not accept their Constitution, which will not go anywhere. This is only prolonging the military rule.
LAM: I understand that 10 per cent of Burma's population live overseas. They live in other countries. What is the sense that you get from them, what is their attitude do you think?
WINN: Well, as you know, the Burmese peoples are very emotional. So we believe that when the time comes, they will all unite and then of course we will have to communicate to them that it is a very, very critical situation, that there's people living outside has to be part of this struggle and then in defence to what's it, because it is our country, our nation. The people inside is suffering.
