A mellowing in Myanmar

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A mellowing in Myanmar

Are the quiet contacts between the military junta and Ms. Suu Kyi the
first signs of a thaw? AMIT BARUAH reports on the developments in
Myanmar.

The Hindu (New Delhi)
January 21, 2001

ARE THE quiet contacts between the Myanmar military junta and the
National League for Democracy (NLD) chief, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, the
first signs of a thaw? Or are these contacts just a mechanism to release
some of the mounting pressure on the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC) as the junta is known? Whatever the results of the current talks,
brokered by the U.N. Secretary- General's special envoy, the Malaysian
diplomat, Mr. Razali Ismail, they are certainly a welcome development in
the troubled history of Myanmar.

When the news broke of the dialogue, it took some confirmation. An NLD
executive member, U. Lwin, confirmed in Yangon that talks were going on
between Ms. Suu Kyi and the junta, which has been hounding her for quite
some time. ``We are very glad... the meeting is what we have been
working for. Since (news of) it has appeared, the responsibility has
become greater on both sides not to interrupt the momentum of the
process,'' U. Lwin was quoted as saying. ``Both sides have to be careful
not to irritate the process,'' he said, adding that the NLD Central
executive was first told of the dialogue in December 2000.

It appears that several rounds of talks have been held since October
between Ms. Suu Kyi and Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, the powerful intelligence
chief in the junta. While no details are available, it is evident that a
lot of pressure has been brought to bear on the SPDC to at least
consider the prospect of dialogue with the NLD and Ms. Suu Kyi, who won
the general elections held back in 1990.

According to available reports, the junta has ``directed'' its official
media to halt all attacks on Ms. Suu Kyi and a court case relating to
possession of the NLD chief's personal house has been put off. After
years of heaping abuse on each other, both sides sense there is an
opportunity available for them. For instance, the All Burma Democratic
Students Front (ABSDF) has hailed the dialogue, terming it a ``truly
historic breakthrough after 12 years of struggle''.

However, Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt has been quoted as saying in the State-run
media that Western-style democracy will not be restored in the country -
a statement which indicates that a long, hard bargain lies ahead in
Myanmar. ``It can be witnessed that some big neo-capitalist countries
are interfering and applying pressure on Myanmar on all fronts to force
the adoption of a democratic system identical to theirs. In fact, it is
impossible to introduce the same democratic system... a certain period
of time is needed to implement the national policy and create a
disciplined and durable democratic system which will be most compatible
with the desire of all nationalities,'' he added.

According to Mr. Bertil Lintner, a Chiang Mai-based Myanmar watcher, all
kinds of pressure led to the present talks. The sanctions imposed by the
International Labour Organisation (ILO), the pressure from the U.N. and
the involvement of Malaysia and ASEAN had prepared the ground for talks.

As far as ASEAN is concerned, its work has been behind the scenes, there
has never been any public expression of concern relating to Myanmar.
However, many analysts are convinced that the sustained pressure brought
by ASEAN may have led to the present dialogue between the junta and Ms.
Suu Kyi.

While the dialogue process is all set to continue, with Mr. Razali
Ismail playing an active role in the process, there are also suggestions
that the U.N. Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, may himself get
involved at a later stage. But it is still very early days in the
dialogue and fingers need to be firmly crossed in the weeks and months
ahead. Diplomats in Yangon believe that the junta has finally accepted
Ms. Suu Kyi as an interlocutor. In the past, the military had refused to
deal with her.

According to these diplomats, the process of contact has only just begun
and it could take a long while before any tangible results can be seen.
But they do believe that this is the most significant development during
the last 10 years of Myanmar politics.

Myanmar has also decided to allow a European Union delegation to visit
Yangon - a further sign that it does not want to take on a harsh,
confrontationist attitude towards Western Governments.

For its part, the junta is hoping that during the period of contact, the
sanctions regime will be relaxed and Myanmar will become more acceptable
to the rest of the world. For the process to be self-sustaining and
credible, there must be trust between the NLD leadership and the junta
as they work out just how Myanmar is to be governed.

Clearly, a final solution only lies in compromise. Outright victories do
not appear possible. Both parties must indulge in give and take to shape
to a free, democratic and forward-looking Myanmar. The all-crucial
question is - will the military be ready for an honourable return to the
barracks or will a power-sharing arrangement be necessary for some time
to come? There is, at present, no definitive answer to that question.




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<html>
<b><font size=+3>A mellowing in Myanmar</font></b>
<p><b><font size=+2>Are the quiet contacts between the military junta and
Ms. Suu Kyi the first signs of a thaw? AMIT BARUAH reports on the developments
in Myanmar.</font></b>
<p>The Hindu (New Delhi)
<br>January 21, 2001
<p>ARE THE quiet contacts between the Myanmar military junta and the National
League for Democracy (NLD) chief, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, the first signs
of a thaw? Or are these contacts just a mechanism to release some of the
mounting pressure on the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) as
the junta is known? Whatever the results of the current talks, brokered
by the U.N. Secretary- General's special envoy, the Malaysian diplomat,
Mr. Razali Ismail, they are certainly a welcome development in the troubled
history of Myanmar.
<p>When the news broke of the dialogue, it took some confirmation. An NLD
executive member, U. Lwin, confirmed in Yangon that talks were going on
between Ms. Suu Kyi and the junta, which has been hounding her for quite
some time. ``We are very glad... the meeting is what we have been working
for. Since (news of) it has appeared, the responsibility has become greater
on both sides not to interrupt the momentum of the process,'' U. Lwin was
quoted as saying. ``Both sides have to be careful not to irritate the process,''
he said, adding that the NLD Central executive was first told of the dialogue
in December 2000.
<p>It appears that several rounds of talks have been held since October
between Ms. Suu Kyi and Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, the powerful intelligence
chief in the junta. While no details are available, it is evident that
a lot of pressure has been brought to bear on the SPDC to at least consider
the prospect of dialogue with the NLD and Ms. Suu Kyi, who won the general
elections held back in 1990.
<p>According to available reports, the junta has ``directed'' its official
media to halt all attacks on Ms. Suu Kyi and a court case relating to possession
of the NLD chief's personal house has been put off. After years of heaping
abuse on each other, both sides sense there is an opportunity available
for them. For instance, the All Burma Democratic Students Front (ABSDF)
has hailed the dialogue, terming it a ``truly historic breakthrough after
12 years of struggle''.
<p>However, Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt has been quoted as saying in the State-run
media that Western-style democracy will not be restored in the country
- a statement which indicates that a long, hard bargain lies ahead in Myanmar.
``It can be witnessed that some big neo-capitalist countries are interfering
and applying pressure on Myanmar on all fronts to force the adoption of
a democratic system identical to theirs. In fact, it is impossible to introduce
the same democratic system... a certain period of time is needed to implement
the national policy and create a disciplined and durable democratic system
which will be most compatible with the desire of all nationalities,'' he
added.
<p>According to Mr. Bertil Lintner, a Chiang Mai-based Myanmar watcher,
all kinds of pressure led to the present talks. The sanctions imposed by
the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the pressure from the U.N.
and the involvement of Malaysia and ASEAN had prepared the ground for talks.
<p>As far as ASEAN is concerned, its work has been behind the scenes, there
has never been any public expression of concern relating to Myanmar. However,
many analysts are convinced that the sustained pressure brought by ASEAN
may have led to the present dialogue between the junta and Ms. Suu Kyi.
<p>While the dialogue process is all set to continue, with Mr. Razali Ismail
playing an active role in the process, there are also suggestions that
the U.N. Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, may himself get involved at
a later stage. But it is still very early days in the dialogue and fingers
need to be firmly crossed in the weeks and months ahead. Diplomats in Yangon
believe that the junta has finally accepted Ms. Suu Kyi as an interlocutor.
In the past, the military had refused to deal with her.
<p>According to these diplomats, the process of contact has only just begun
and it could take a long while before any tangible results can be seen.
But they do believe that this is the most significant development during
the last 10 years of Myanmar politics.
<p>Myanmar has also decided to allow a European Union delegation to visit
Yangon - a further sign that it does not want to take on a harsh, confrontationist
attitude towards Western Governments.
<p>For its part, the junta is hoping that during the period of contact,
the sanctions regime will be relaxed and Myanmar will become more acceptable
to the rest of the world. For the process to be self-sustaining and credible,
there must be trust between the NLD leadership and the junta as they work
out just how Myanmar is to be governed.
<p>Clearly, a final solution only lies in compromise. Outright victories
do not appear possible. Both parties must indulge in give and take to shape
to a free, democratic and forward-looking Myanmar. The all-crucial question
is - will the military be ready for an honourable return to the barracks
or will a power-sharing arrangement be necessary for some time to come?
There is, at present, no definitive answer to that question.
<br>&nbsp;
<p>&nbsp;</html>

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