'RI can help Myanmar people in many ways'

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 10/11/2007 10:55 AM

The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) is Myanmar's exiled government. The coalition, which has its headquarters in Maryland in the United States, received broad-based support from ethnic groups and political parties in the wake of recent anti-junta protests in the country. The Jakarta Post's Abdul Khalik spoke recently with the NCGUB's health and education minister Sann Aung in Bangkok. The following are excerpts of their discussion:

Question: Your people have been fighting the military junta for many decades. How will the various groups in the country form a common strategy to continue resistance against the junta? Answer: The NCGUB represents most groups in Myanmar - political parties at the national level and ethnic groups that represent the states.

Our cabinet is filled with representatives from ethnic groups including the Arakhan, Chin and Karen and political parties such as the National Council of the Union of Burma, the National League for Democracy, the United Nationalities League for Democracy, the All Burma Students Democratic Front and Burma's Federation of Trade Unions. The coalition enables us to meet to discuss common strategies for our struggle against the junta.

If the anti-military opposition has such good communication and cooperation, why did it fail to capitalize on the recent monk-led wave of protests?

The military junta is still too powerful and ruthless. Some of us are still very afraid of being arrested or shot while others lack the needed resources to carry on with bigger demonstrations. That's why we need all the international support we can get, such as from ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the UN Security Council, to press the military junta to open dialog with the opposition. So far, we feel that the international community has not put enough pressure on the junta as we understand that China, India and Russia are still reluctant to seriously take action.

What steps is the coalition planning to take now?

We will continue our efforts to make the pro-democracy movement a success in Burma. We will try to use peaceful means through dialog and protests. But if we continue to fail then offensive military (action) might be an option. We have discussed all of these plans with all parties concerned, especially the ethnic groups as they are the ones which have military capabilities.

Are there any obstacles preventing you from taking united military action against the junta?

The junta is still too strong in terms of military capability. You know, we are still gathering our strength and resources. And as you know, a military offensive is very expensive. Although most of the military wings of all of the ethnic groups are still holding their arms, they have been weakened by the junta's strategy of cease-fire, arrests and continued suppression. We need time.

What role can Indonesia play in helping the pro-democracy movement achieve its goals?

Burmese people (helped) Indonesia in its struggle for independence by sending military equipment in 1948. Now, it's time for Indonesia to help the Burmese people. Indonesia can do a lot to help us. First, as the biggest member of ASEAN, It can persuade the grouping to take tougher action against the military junta if it continues to refuse to (hold) dialog with the opposition.

Indonesia can push for the cancellation of Myanmar's membership in the grouping if the military continues to defy ASEAN's demands.

Secondly, as a member of the UN Security Council, Indonesia can push for a UN resolution forcing Myanmar to stop (using) violence against its people and demand the military hold dialog with opposition groups. Indonesia should show its strength against the junta because the junta never listens to Indonesia.

Indonesia and ASEAN can also persuade China, India and Russia to stop helping the military junta as ... these countries ... continue to give lifelines to the regime.

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