SUBSCRIBE|ADVERTISE | DONATION
Irrawaddy CONTACT US|FAQ
BURMESE VERSION



Suu Kyi Clarifies Her Sanctions Policy

By WAI MOE Tuesday, August 18, 2009
COMMENTS (21)
RECOMMEND (61)
E-MAIL
PRINT

Burma’s detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi told US Senator Jim Webb on Saturday that “interaction” must first be established inside the country, according to her lawyer.

The comment was made in response to Webb’s assertion that, with regard to sanctions, Burma “needs interaction with the international community,” the lawyer said.

A pro-democracy activist holds a portrait of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest in New Delhi in August. (Photo: Reuters)

“Daw Suu told me that when she met with Senator Webb on Saturday she reiterated the need for the Burmese regime to first interact ‘inside the country.’ She said only when that happens ‘will Burma benefit from relations with the international community,’” said Nyan Win, Suu Kyi’s lawyer, who met her for about one hour on Monday afternoon.

Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Tuesday, Nyan Win said he asked Suu Kyi about the recent reports in several British newspapers that she had agreed to an overturn of the international tourism boycott on Burma. “She replied that she had not discussed the issue with anyone recently,” Nyan Win said.

According to the lawyer, who is also a spokesperson for Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party, Suu Kyi’s stance on sanctions has not changed since she issued a statement in 2007.

“Suu Kyi said that as she was not the one who imposed sanctions against the Burmese regime, she is not in a position to lift those sanctions,” he said.
 
The NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate has in the past, however, offered an olive branch to the ruling generals. In November 2007, following the crackdown on monk-led demonstrations, she said, “In the interest of the nation, I stand ready to cooperate with the government in order to make this process of dialogue a success …”
 
Suu Kyi said she explained to Webb that despite some early agreements with Maj-Gen Aung Kyi, the minister of relations, who was appointed by the government to liaise with her after the monk-led protests, nothing ultimately transpired from the meetings.

Nyan Win said that one of topics raised during Suu Kyi’s conversation with Webb was China’s influence within the Burmese regime. The US senator apparently referred to Beijing’s involvement in Burma as a “fearful influence.”

“However, Daw Suu told Webb that she rejects such terminology with regard to China, and she wants Burma to be on good terms with all its neighboring countries as well as the international community at large,” Nyan Win said. “She said China is Burma’s neighbor and wants to be a good friend of Burma. She said she did not see China as a fearful influence.”

Another issue raised by Webb on Saturday was about the participation of her party, the NLD, in the coming elections in 2010. She told Webb that she needed to discuss the matter with members of her party thoroughly, her lawyer said.

Suu Kyi met with the Democratic senator in Rangoon on Saturday. On Monday, Webb told reporters at a press conference in Bangkok that Suu Kyi favors the removal of some of the international sanctions applied by the US and EU.

“I don't want to misrepresent her views, but my clear impression is that she is not opposed to the lifting of some sanctions,” Webb said.

Webb is known for his strong criticism of the US administration’s Burma sanctions, arguing that isolating Burma has strengthened China's grip, weakened US influence and done nothing to improve the junta's behavior.

According to Nyan Win, Suu Kyi made no comment on whether she considered the US senator’s trip to Burma to have been beneficial.



COMMENTS (21)
 
Please read our policy before you post comments. Click here
Name:
E-mail:   (Your e-mail will not be published.)
Comment:
You have characters left.
Word Verification: captcha Type the characters you see in the picture.
 

planb Wrote:
29/08/2009
Garrett
I find it hard to distinguish the 3 answers that I implore you to give from your regurgitation of usual SPDC well known atrocities that have been repeated many times.
Press the Garrett button and out come all these usual litany of SOS. A caricature indeed.
That will not do anything other than prolong SPDC intransigence.
Are you promoting SPDC intransigence?
You do not have to answer that one put please do answer by previous 3 queries.
Incidentally who the hell is Nyeinc?
planB (esquire) litigator for the mob. +95 SPDCNOW

Garrett Wrote:
29/08/2009
planB/Nyeinc,

You are like a greasy mafia defense lawyer.
"But your honor, the deceased backed into my client's knife forty seven times, he's innocent!" Blaming Daw Suu for the SPDC rape of Burma is just another inane diversion
from the truth.

The SPDC is one of the most heinous & sophisticated crime organizations the world has known, & the SPDC will only continue to expand their slavery-based profit schemes.
They rape, enslave, murder, extort, & torture ethnic minorities because they are greedy and vengeful.

It is clear they are capable of ordering their army to simply murder them, but it is far more profitable to exploit them, & then steal their crops because you can't extort a corpse.

As for killing them, by denying them medicine to fight-off rampant diseases they can simply allow them to die, which is just more SPDC torture.

Allowing tourism in Burma will enrich the SPDC and a few businessmen while millions continue to suffer from world apathy.

No FREEDOM, No TOURISTS!

pLan B Wrote:
27/08/2009
Garrett,

If you really care about all the iniquities that SPDC has committed against the people of Myanmar:

1) Will you please explain to me how DASSK's continued advocacy of sanctions, anti-tourism and anti-engagement will remedy those injustices?
2) Can you tell me how DASSK's advocacy did not prolong the relentless grip of the SPDC?
3) Will you please highlight for me why my statement about DASSK seeking "martyrdom" constitute discrediting DASSK advocacy.
4)Does the fact that you mentioned "locked-up incommunicado for 20 years" suggest she might just be a little out of touch with the suffering of the real people in Myanmar?

Please, these are honest question. I invite you to answer and educate me.

Garrett Wrote:
25/08/2009
planB/Nyeinc,

You talk tough to a 64 year old woman locked-up incommunicado for most of 20 years by the SPDC mass murderers. Your post is a good example of your agenda to discredit Daw Suu and anyone who stands between the SPDC and higher profits.

NO! Western tourists should not go to Burma and receive the royal treatment care of the serial murderers of the SPDC while the ethnic nationality CITIZENS of Burma receive SPDC hatred, starvation, and death from curable diseases in remote places the tourists will never be allowed to see.

The fact that the bloodthirsty SPDC military junta is waging warfare, raping, murdering, torturing, enslaving and persecuting millions of Burmese ethnic nationality CITIZENS seems to constantly and conveniently slip from your memory!

If the non-ethnic nationality citizens of Burma are living in poverty, it has nothing to do with Daw Suu, it is the SPDC's GREED, and there is no amount of tourist dollars or foreign investments which will change that.

planB Wrote:
22/08/2009
Thank you DASSK for again clarifying yourself.

I wish you could read the comments of ordinary Westerners made about you. These are the ones who do not care about you one way or the order. Their description of your repeated attempt to so-called "hurt" SPDC as: "Seeking Martyrdom".

Sometimes it is better to let others assume things in your favor. Such as Senator J Webb did.

To the contrary you again have ascertained your original idiocy that has not hurt the SPDC but the people of Myanmar.

Your tenacity to be against SPDC will not even allow Western promotion of tourism.
1) Is that because you are afraid that the visitors will find out what your advocacy has effected the country over last 20 years?
2) Or are you too far gone to admit that once your idiocy is reversed your usefulness might be diminished?
3)Are you really seeking "Martyrdom" as non-biased observers are betting on.
4) Do you know your idiocy is hurting the people more?

paday Wrote:
20/08/2009
Jim Webb might be deliberately trying to spread false information on the tourism boycott. The rumour is Web and his Vietnamese wife have a counsultancy agency, the junta has become quite sophisticated using lobbyists and infiltrating the US political system.
The junta's media sites and newspapers are
hailing Webb's success. So the Obama
administration should not be swayed by Webb. It is quite evident that hehas already received monetary incentives and the junta is notorious for enticing with the ill- begotten wealth from our natural resources. The junta is heavily invested in the tourism business. We have to expose
Webb's insincerity. He already helped Than
Shwe kill two birds with one stone—Yettaw and the DASSK incident. The USA should follow the EU by banning all junta media, especially MRTV, which is used by the junta for tourism promotion.
And all international aid will be used by the
junta to buy more military hardware. They
should wait till DASSK gets elected.

tocharian Wrote:
20/08/2009
With all respect to ASSK, I don't quite agree with what she has to say about China. Senator Webb is right. She should just go and visit Mandalay nowadays. Unfortunately, being under house arrest for so long, she might have lost touch with what's happening in the world. Many companies in Burma are owned by Chinese businessmen. Isn't Shwe Taung Development also a Chinese company?

Okkar Wrote:
20/08/2009
"It's very ugly that the person who caused the problem was released but the three people in the house remain detained," Suu Kyi said, according to attorney Nyan Win who visited her Monday."

I do not believe Suu Kyi said any of those words. A person of her calibre would not be making sour grape comments. If anything, she would be pleased that John Yettaw was freed. Nyan Win's claims are in direct contrast with Suu Kyi's personality and one can only assume that Nyan Win and The Irrawaddy are fabricating this story.

Yogendra Wrote:
19/08/2009
Then, has the US lied again?

Pau Thian Dal Wrote:
19/08/2009
You were my great queen when I was a child and you still are now!
You are the hope of all of us and
You are the only one light for Myanmar

Do you know how much we felt when you lost?
How can I show my sorrow inside my heart for you?


You will be my Queen forever and ever and also my hope and my dream.....

I always pray for you.

Garrett Wrote:
19/08/2009
Quote Sen. Webb on Daw Suu:
“I don't want to misrepresent her views, but my clear impression is that she is not opposed to the lifting of some sanctions.”

According to her lawyer Nyan Win:
“Daw Suu told me that when she met with Senator Webb on Saturday she reiterated the need for the Burmese regime to first interact ‘inside the country.’ She said only when that happens ‘will Burma benefit from relations with the international community,’"

If Daw Suu had wanted anyone to put out the word that she is not opposed to the lifting of some sanctions, she would have said so.

From the non-committal tone of Daw Suu's comments, I would say that Sen. Webb's speculations were based on HIS agenda.

Is he just another clown sent to make the generals laugh themselves to death?

Sen. Webb seems ignorant of the SPDC policies of rape, murder, slavery,
exploitation and starvation of millions of Burmese ethnic nationality citizens.

Is President Obama ignorant of the suffering as well?

Phyo Oo Wrote:
19/08/2009
I sincerely hope that Webb knows what he has started/stirred in the Burma case. If not, Webb will also be held responsible for the prolonged suffering of the people of Burma. Who is going to benefit what from his trip is still not clear but Than Shwe and Yettaw have done well with his visit so far. Than Shwe even allowed full page propaganda on Webb’s visit in all three government mouth pieces. So Webb must have really pleased Than Shwe in many ways. Business opportunists are hoping to get the same benefit from his visit by putting up a banner called “pro-engagement” and arguing it will benefit the people. So far we have not seen the “benefit” for the people from the business dealings with the junta for the past 20 years. Asean, China and France will be good ones to ask about it.
Daw Suu is now saying she did not discuss “the issue” with anyone recently, while Webb was getting “the clear impression is that she is not opposed to the lifting of some sanctions”. So, what it is?

slim Wrote:
19/08/2009
Suu Kyi's problem is she's just too darned peaceful. I guess that's to her advantage, it's keeping her alive. They won't let her go, so some of her supporters need to be more like hawks than doves. The international community won't do anything. Sanctions won't do anything, Burma still has China for economic support. Where's the lone ranger when you need him?

Tide Wrote:
19/08/2009
Shame on you, Daw Suu. You repeatedly advocated sanctions against the regime. You did not even approve the humanitarian interventions in our country.
What about your interviews with John Pilger? What about your interviews with the UN? Do you think that the regime, international community, Western policy makers, Myanmar scholars do not have any record of your interview transcripts?

Okkar Wrote:
19/08/2009
It is interesting to see the NLD and opposition groups are rejecting like a bunch of headless chickens the possibility of normalised relationship between the US and Burma. Webb's visit to Burma has rattled them so much so that even Nyan Win is coming out with all guns blazing.

The main benefactors from Western-imposed sanctions and political deadlock in Burma are the opposition groups, exiled media groups and NGOs who profited from the funding of Western countries. They don't want to see any progress in Burma. They prefer to keep Burma in isolation so that they can carry on profiting from "Refugee Franchise" and fattening their own personal wealth by siphoning off the funds from Western countries.

If Nyan Win could speak on behalf of Suu Kyi, why hasn't he spoken to the media about other important issues concerning Suu Kyi? How can we know for sure what Suu Kyi actually said to Nyan Win "if she actually said anything to him at all."

San Aye Wrote:
19/08/2009
Is the US trying to adopt double standards on Burma? The junta who is not liked at all by the citizens of Burma and Daw Suu Kyi who is the beloved daughter of the nation—that is how I would like to present. One thing to keep in mind is whether Webb's visit was solely to gain the release of Daw Suu Kyi or John Yettaw, an American citizen. Is Webb trying to play the game? Well it was not Daw Suu that urged sanctions. It was the junta that made it happen. The US and EU imposed sanctions, not Daw Suu Kyi Well, just because it did not suit them the junta took a golden opportunity of the maniac who swam the Inya lake to Daw Suu Kyi's residence. Daw Suu Kyi stated well that instead of talking about the sanctions the junta should start with the subject of reconciliation within the ethnic groups and all nationalities. In this case, is Webb trying to play double standards, or is he trying to gain merit for the release of John Yettaw. Is he trying to defame Daw Suu, is it a made-up story.

Thura Wrote:
18/08/2009
I am sick of her.
She initiated the sanctions. Now she wants to say that she was not the one. You're power hungry. Get over it.

Derek Tonkin Wrote:
18/08/2009
Well, that's fine. So the NLD are not after all calling for sanctions or a tourist boycott. That leaves it entirely up to Western Governments to decide what to do next.

Nyunt Shwe Wrote:
18/08/2009
I have read Senator Jim Webb's press report and what I understood is Daw Suu has agreed to the partial lifting of the sanctions. According to U Nyan Win's comment in The Irrawaddy magazine, I have to conclude that Mr. Webb is a liar. I don't want to accept that he lied. The military regime should give Daw Suu an interview with the foreign media to clear this dark cloud hanging over the beginning of a reconciliation process. I believe Daw Suu might see the severe and direct impact on a majority of innocent people and agree to commit to lift the sanctions partially by showing her responsibility. I am against the sanctions, specifically trade, investment, tourism and humanitarian affiliations. I have read numerous research papers and found that sanctions rarely work, but hurt the poor more. The first victims are women and children.

timothy Wrote:
18/08/2009
My advice to Aung San Su Kyi and Gen Than Shwe is to sit together around the table, have a talk, break the ice and talk for the country and its people. People are getting poorer and poorer. Than Shwe needs to hold hands with Aung San Suu Kyi to build the country again. He needs to release all political prisoners from jails. Suu Kyi must agree to the lifting of international sanctions. All must start within the country. The US got more responsibility now after one US citizen had messed up the people's hope for democracy. Mr Yettaw is a free man now. The US needs to take responsibility. The US can facilitate Burmese talks with incentive of grants and investment in future Burma. China is hopelessly sucking the blood from dead Burma and benefitting with all illegal projects. Gen Than Shwe is a slave of China now. They recently ordered him not to touch armed groups in border regions. The General must hold hands with Suu Kyi if he loves Burma and its people. Let`s work together.

Alesh Wrote:
18/08/2009
Well, she called for the strictest of the sanctions, didn't she?
The biggest problem with Suu Kyi is really the legitimate worry of the cruel but wise military regime. Will she sell out everything to Western interests if she headed the Burma government?





Thailand Hotels
Bangkok Hotels
China Hotels
India Hotels

More Articles in This Section

bullet Authorities Threaten Violence at Rangoon Strike

bullet End of February Deadline for BGF

bullet Eggs Withdrawn at Markets after Flu Outbreak

bullet Returning Karen Refugees Fear Landmines

bullet Burmese Navy Participates in Asia-Pacific War Games

bullet Celebrating Shan National Day

bullet Burmese Rock Star-Journalist Wins International Award

bullet International Lawyers Question Thailand's Security Law

bullet Karen Refugees Warned Not To Talk

bullet Thai-Burmese Border Camps Braced for New Refugee Flow

 

Home |News |Regional |Business |Opinion |Multimedia |Special Feature |Interview |Magazine |Archives |Research
Copyright © 2008 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved.