BurmaNet News, November 11, 2009

[Editor]

November 11, 2009 Issue #3838

QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Burma’s neighbors and members of ASEAN have an especially important role
to play in encouraging the Burmese Government to move forward on reform,
to start a meaningful internal dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, political
parties, and ethnic minorities; and to hold credible, fair elections in
2010.” Hilary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State

INSIDE BURMA
DPA: Aung San Suu Kyi to deliver "positive" message next week
Irrawaddy: Than Shwe’s grandson attends car show
Myanmar Times: We want to improve ties, US envoy says

ON THE BORDER
AFP: Myanmar Rohingyas swap suppression for squalor

HEALTH
IMNA: Burmese patients continue to flock to Mea Tao Clinic

ASEAN
The Jakarta Post: US, ASEAN to tell Myanmar to hold 'credible' polls

INTERNATIONAL
Reuters: Clinton urges Myanmar to begin planning 2010 vote

OPINION / OTHER
Irrawaddy: The next big step – Kyaw Zwa Moe

STATEMENT
U.S. Secretary of State: Remarks at APEC Singapore Conference – Hillary
Rodham Clinton
New Light of Myanmar: Senior General Than Shwe sends National Day message




____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

November 11, Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Aung San Suu Kyi to deliver "positive" message next week

Yangon, Myanmar – Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is due to
issue an "important and positive" statement next week, her lawyer Nyan Win
said Wednesday.

Suu Kyi, who is still under house detention in her Yangon home, is
expected to deliver the statement in the name of the National League for
Democracy (NLD) opposition party on November 17, Nyan Win said, without
divulging details on the contents of the pending message.

"She has agreed on a party statement which is considered important and
positive," Nyan Win told the German Press Agency dpa.

Suu Kyi met her lawyer Nyan Win at her lakeside home-cum-prison on
Wednesday which is Myanmar's National Day.

At the meeting, Suu Kyi passed her lawyer a letter to be sent to Senior
General Than Shwe, the junta chief. The contents of the letter were not
disclosed.

Suu Kyi, the 1990 Nobel peace prize laureate, was allowed to meet with US
Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and his deputy Scot Marciel
during their landmark visit to Myanmar on November 2-3.

The US envoys called on Myanmar's ruling junta to allow Suu Kyi more
access to her NLD party executives, who have yet to decide whether they
intend to contest a general election planned next year.

Suu Kyi, the daughter of Myanmar independence hero Aung San, has spent 14
of the past 20 years under house detention in her family's compound.

In July, she was sentenced to another 18 months under house arrest, which
would keep her out of the political picture while if the government stages
an election some time next year.

The US and other Western democracies have stressed that Suu Kyi and other
political prisoners should be freed before the polls, if the junta expects
them to be deemed credible.

Suu Kyi's NLD party won the 1990 general election by a landslide margin,
but was thereafter denied power by the military, which has ruled the
country since 1962.

____________________________________

November 11, Irrawaddy
Than Shwe’s grandson attends car show – Thae Thae

Attractive models in low-cut blouses and short shorts acted as presenters
at the recent Auto Show in Rangoon, but for many the real entertainment
was watching an influential car fan, Nay Shwe Thway Aung, 18, the beloved
grandson of the junta's No 1, Snr-Gen Than Shwe.

Known as an avid car buff, Nay Shwe Thway Aung’s presence at the car show
dispelled recent rumors posted on Internet blog sites that he had been
stabbed or attacked by a gunman near the Ramada Hotel on Oct. 27
Slide Show (View)

Gossip this year also said he gave a diamond ring and a car to Wut Hmon
Shwe Yee, a super model.

The auto show, whose main sponsor was Nivea comestics, was billed as the
"First Ever Sport Compact Automotive Event” in Burma.

Twenty-three cars were on display. The cars were not imported from foreign
countries, but modified versions of locally existing models such as the MR
2, Supra, Sky Line, RX 2 and Mark 2.

"Some cars are modified with interior decorations and seating, while
others have modified exteriors resembling race cars. The show had some
extraordinary car decorations," said an event coordinator.

Myo Aung Khine, an auto fan who owns race cars, organized the event. Elite
families of members of the military junta and other wealthy car fans
browsed the show.

Many of the sons of Burma’s leading businessmen are known for their
interest in expensive cars. Gossip swirled around one of the sons of Teza,
a businessman close to junta members, when pictures of him and an
expensive race car appeared on the Internet two years ago.

New cars are not commonplace in Burma, but in recent months more new
foreign models have been imported for sale.

____________________________________

November 11, Myanmar Times
We want to improve ties, US envoy says – Kyaw Thu

UNITED States envoy Mr Kurt Campbell concluded his landmark two-day visit
last week by declaring Washington was ready to improve relations with
Myanmar if the Myanmar government responds with “reciprocal and concrete
efforts”.

Mr Campbell’s November 3-4 visit included meetings with senior government
officials in Nay Pyi Taw as well as talks with ethnic leaders and an
unpreced-ented two-hour meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Speaking at a press conference before his departure on November 4, Mr
Campbell said the “exploratory mission” was designed to explain the
results of a recent US policy review.

“We look forward to continuing to work both with the government and other
stakeholders toward tangible progress in [Myanmar],” he said.

Mr Campbell, the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific
Affairs, is the highest-ranking US official to visit since Madeleine
Albright in 1995. Ms Albright was the US ambassador to the UN at the time.

In meetings with government officials, including Prime Minister General
Thein Sein, Mr Campbell said he “stated clearly that the United States is
prepared to take steps to improve the relationship”.

“But that process must be based on reciprocal and concrete efforts by the
Myanmar government.”

“We reaffirmed our commitment to a dialogue among the government, the
opposition, and the ethnic groups. The goal of such a dialogue would be
national reconciliation and a fully inclusive political process in
Myanmar,” he said.

“We urge the Myanmar government to allow [Daw] Aung San Suu Kyi more
frequent interactions with stakeholders, especially the Central Executive
Committee of her own party.”

Earlier on November 4, US envoys held a two hour-long discussion with Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi at Inya Lake Hotel in Yangon followed by a meeting with
officials from the National League for Democracy (NLD) at their
Shwegondine headquarters.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

November 11, Agence France Presse
Myanmar Rohingyas swap suppression for squalor – Shafiq Alam

Kutupalong, Bangladesh – As one of Myanmar's ethnic Muslim Rohingya,
45-year-old Manjurul Islam endured a lifetime of oppression before he
finally fled the country for a squalid refugee camp in Bangladesh.

Described by UN officials as one of the most persecuted minorities on
earth, the Rohingya are not even recognised as citizens by the Myanmar
junta. They have no legal right to own land and are forbidden from
marrying or travelling without permission.

For Islam, decades of systematic discrimination came to a head six months
ago, when he says his 18-year-old niece and another woman in his village
were raped by soldiers.

Islam said he "foolishly" took the case to the chief of the local army camp.

"He listened and I thought we had made progress, but then they tied me and
my friends up, beat us with leather belts and bamboo sticks and kicked our
chests with their boots."

Rohingyas hail from Myanmar's Arakan state. Widespread abuse and
exploitation have prompted hundreds of thousands to flee across the border
to Bangladesh since the early 1990s.

Islam and his friends were released a few days later -- but only after his
family paid a bribe.

Then a group of soldiers destroyed their village's shrimp farms -- their
only source of income -- forcing Islam and his neighbours to make a
decision they had seen so many make before them.

"In the night, we piled into a boat and crossed the river Naf into
Bangladesh," he said.

According to Islam, more than 800 people fled his village over a two-week
period in April, with some crossing into Bangladesh by boat and others
walking across the forested, hilly border.

"My fifth child was born in the jungle under the open sky as we were
fleeing," said Shamsun Nahar, 32, showing her six-month old baby. "Thanks
Allah that both of us survived."

-- An escape to destitution --

------------------------------

But survival brought with it fresh deprivation as Nahar and Islam joined
an estimated 25,000 Rohingyas living in appalling conditions in a
sprawling, refugee camp.

Only 28,000 Rohingyas in Bangladesh have been granted official refugee
status, allowing them access to three official camps which provide basic
amenities.

The rest, like Nahar, are confined to the unofficial camp in Kutuplaong in
conditions which even hardened aid workers find difficult to imagine.

"There is no water or power. Barring children and pregnant women, none
have access to food or medicine. When it rains it's impossible to walk and
the mud shacks became too muddy to even sleep in," said a worker with
Action Contre la Faim (Action Against Hunger, ACF).

Following EU pressure, the Bangladeshi government has since May this year
allowed ACF and another French charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)
limited access to the unofficial camp.

"Twenty five thousand Rohingyas are living in dire humanitarian
conditions. It's extremely disturbing," said Paul Critchley, the MSF head
of mission in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh says it is unable to cope with the continued influx of
Rohingyas and the spread of the unofficial camp has stoked local tensions.

In July, police moved into the camp and destroyed several hundred
makeshift dwellings in an operation condemned by MSF as "aggressive and
abusive".

Despite the squalor and alienation, many Rohingya still feel they are
better off here than back in Myanmar.

"Here at this camp there are days I don't have any food. But at least I
can live freely," said Mamun Rafiq, a Rohingya farmer who migrated three
years ago.

"In Myanmar if you are a Rohingya, you are entitled to a dog's life: They
don't even allow us to wear clean shirts or travel outside our village."

-- Long history of persecution --

---------------------------------

Rights groups like the New York-based Human Rights Watch say they have
gathered volumes of personal testimony to the abuses visited on the
Rohingyas by the Myanmar authorities, including extra-judicial killings
and forced labour.

"The Burmese government does not just deny Rohingya their basic rights, it
denies they are even Burmese citizens," said Elaine Pearson, a deputy
director at Human Rights Watch.

Mohammad Ali, a Rohingya and head of the Bangladesh-based Arakan
Historical Society, said his community's plight began the day Myanmar,
formerly Burma, gained independence.

"Our fathers fought hand in hand with the Burmese people to win freedom
from Britain in 1948. But once Burma won independence, the new rulers
thought it was their country not ours," Ali said.

Such was the experience of Ezhar Hossain, the son of a wealthy farmer who
was elected as a lawmaker in Burma's second post-independence polls in
1956 when he was still in his early 20s.

"But my rivals alleged that I used the religion card in the elections. In
February 1957, the authorities stripped me of my parliamentary
membership," said Hossain, now 75.

When democratic rule ended in 1962 following a military coup by general Ne
Win, Hossain, still a prominent Rohingya leader, was accused of being a
foreigner and standing illegally for election.

"I did not wait for justice. I've seen how other leaders were hounded and
jailed by the junta. I took a boat one night and fled," he said.

Hossain now lives in southern Bangladesh in a tin-shed shack with his son,
a janitor at a college.

Hossain was lucky in one respect as he became a naturalised Bangladeshi
when the country won independence in 1971.

For contemporary refugees like Islam and Nahar, the future offers a
devil's alternative between life in the camp or a risky and illegal
journey by boat to another Southeast Asian country.

Hundreds of Rohingya migrants were rescued in Indian and Indonesian waters
between December and February after being abandoned at sea with few
provisions by the Thai navy.

Scores are feared to have died as they drifted in rickety boats for weeks
before reaching land.

____________________________________
HEALTH

November 11, Independent Mon News Agency
Burmese patients continue to flock to Mea Tao Clinic – Asah

The Mae Tao clinic, which is located in Mae Sot, on the Thai side of the
Thai–Burma border, has continued to attract thousands of ill and injured
Burmese people not only with its close proximity to Burmese villages, but
with its policy of treating migrants and refugees for little or no patient
cost.

“This month [many] Mataotalay villagers from Myawaddy Township in Karen
State have gotten the fever,” one Myawaddy resident reported. “Many of the
people went to the Mea Tao Clinic because they do not have to pay for
medicine. We can give donations as charity, but if we go to other clinic
we have to pay 4,000 to 5,000 baht.”

A student studying in Myawaddy explained, “If my eye gets hurt, I can go
to the Mea Toa [clinic] very easily and get it fixed. But I have to pay an
admission fee of 100 baht; once there the cure is free and also it is very
close to my native town Myawaddy.”

Many people who live along the Thai-Burma border are from inside Burma.
While most of them are refugees, some are also migrants to the area to
find work. For this population that often does not have the resources to
visit a larger Thai clinic, when sick the majority of patients can find
treatment at the Mae Tao clinic according to the Burmese patient who had
come from Burma but has been living in Mae Sot.

For Burmese not already living in Mae Sot, the crossing from Burma is
relatively easy. “If a person is sick in Myawaddy, they can cross the
border to receive treatment at the Mea Tao Clinic. Some people cross the
bridge, while some cross the river [illegally] by boat,” a Burmese Mae Sot
resident explained. “If we cross Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge legally, we
have to pay 2500 kyat on the Burmese side if we have never crossed before
and 1000 kyat if we have crossed before.”

According to Saw Aung Than Wai, who is a program manager and research
coordinator for the clinic, Mea Tao normally sees around 300 to 400
patients per day. 50% of these came from the Burmese side of the border.

“I believed that many of services at Mae Tao are unavailable to patients
in Burma so patients came to seek treatment here,” said Saw Aung Than Wai.
“A few weeks ago we performed eye operations on about 180 patients. 80% of
them were from inside Burma and specifically came to undergo the
operation. And the whole process was free. The most common condition
people come seeking treatment for is fever and the second most common is
respiratory illness.”

The clinic receives support and funding from 20 to 30 international and
non-governmentally organized groups. “We can get support but we do not get
all that we need. Dr. Cynthia Maung continues to work towards keeping the
clinic running in the future, and to adapt to the changing needs of
patients.”

Mea Tao Clinic was founded along the Thai-Burma border in 1989 after Dr.
Cynthia Maung and 14 colleges fled Burma when the Burmese military began
violently suppressing the 1988 democracy uprising.

____________________________________
ASEAN

November 11, The Jakarta Post
US, ASEAN to tell Myanmar to hold 'credible' polls – Vijay Joshi

Singapore – The U.S. and Southeast Asian nations will tell Myanmar's
military junta to hold credible and fair elections in which pro-democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi can participate, according to a document obtained
Wednesday by The Associated Press.

Similar calls have been issued in the past by both sides, but it carries
more political significance and weight this time because of the setting in
which it is being made - at the first-ever summit between President Barack
Obama and leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations,
which includes Myanmar, on Sunday.

A draft copy of a statement obtained by the AP says that Myanmar's 2010
general elections "must be conducted in a free, fair, inclusive and
transparent manner in order to be credible to the international
community."

The statement was to be issued at the end of the summit, according to
officials who prepared the document.

The United States has signaled a policy shift by seeking to engage
Myanmar, also known as Burma, rather than pursue a one-track strategy of
sanctions to bring about democratic change in the impoverished country,
which has been ruled by the military since 1962.

The generals in charge have steadfastly snubbed the international
community, including its friends in ASEAN, by refusing to free Nobel Peace
laureate Suu Kyi, who has spent 14 of the past 20 years in detention.

The sanctions policy enforced by successive U.S. administrations had until
now prevented the U.S. from having a deeper interaction with ASEAN because
of Myanmar's membership in it.

But that changed when the U.S. sent two top diplomats to Myanmar for talks
with the generals last week. On Sunday, Obama will sit at the same table
with Myanmar's Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein at the U.S.-ASEAN summit on
the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit earlier that
day.

"The statement we're trying to make here is that we're not going to let
the Burmese tail wag the ASEAN dog here," said Jeffrey Bader, a National
Security Council official. "We're going to meet with all 10, and we're not
going to punish the other nine simply because Burma is in the room."

"One of the frustrations that we've had ... over recent years has been
that the inability to have interaction with Burma has prevented certain
kinds of interaction with ASEAN as a whole," Bader told reporters in
Washington, D.C.

But he stressed that the meeting was not called "for the purpose of a
bilateral or a private conversation between the two."

Also, U.S. sanctions will remain until democratic reforms take place.

Still, it's a "breakthrough" that the U.S.-ASEAN are holding a summit,
Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo said, because "in the past, Myanmar
was always a sticking issue."

In the spirit of give and take, the flexibility that the U.S. has shown
has also allowed ASEAN to use strong words against Myanmar in the leaders'
declaration.

"The Leaders called on the government of Myanmar to help create the
conditions for credible elections including by initiating a dialogue with
all stockholders to ensure that the process is fully inclusive," said the
draft statement. "Inclusive" refers to allowing Suu Kyi to take part in
the elections.

Min Lwin, a top Myanmar diplomat, told the AP on Sunday that the junta may
free Suu Kyi soon to let her prepare her party for the elections.

However, there is no indication that the government will allow Suu Kyi to
run in the election. Myanmar's constitution includes provisions that bar
Suu Kyi from holding office and ensure the military a controlling stake in
government.

Associated Press writer Jim Gomez contributed to this report.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

November 11, Reuters
Clinton urges Myanmar to begin planning 2010 vote – David Alexander

Singapore – Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday urged Myanmar
to begin planning for its 2010 elections and said Southeast Asian nations
could play an important role in ensuring the vote is "free, fair and
credible."

Clinton, speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of the APEC
meetings in Singapore, said Washington would like to see the reclusive
military-led government of the former Burma begin internal consultations
soon about the country's political future.

"We're seeking ... a process inside Burma that would inspire a dialogue
among all of the stakeholders so that there could be a growing consensus
within Burma itself about the way forward," she said.

Clinton's remarks came a week after U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt
Campbell traveled to Myanmar on Washington's highest-level visit to the
country in 14 years.

The exploratory mission was aimed at explaining the results of a U.S.
policy review toward Myanmar. The Obama administration decided in
September to pursue deeper engagement with Myanmar to try to spur
democratic reforms.

Clinton said U.S. economic sanctions on Myanmar would remain in place
until Washington sees what it believes is "meaningful progress in key
areas."

A U.S. State Department official said later that freeing Aung San Suu Kyi,
the detained leader of the opposition National League for Democracy, was
one necessary step.

"It would be an essential precondition for the United States to move
forward with any ... fundamental engagement that would include sanctions
lifting with the regime," the official said on condition of anonymity.

U.S. officials said they hoped Myanmar's leaders would begin a dialogue
soon with internal groups that have an interest in the country's political
future.

"That dialogue has to be an open dialogue that includes internal
stakeholders," one State Department official said. "We would very much
like to see ... not just the handpicked parties of the government, but
also the ethnic groups, the NLD and the so-called third-way groups."

The official said the United States had begun consultations on Myanmar
with India, China, Thailand and other neighboring nations with an interest
in Myanmar's stability.

The official said Washington hoped China would encourage Myanmar to launch
an internal dialogue. "China has a powerful interest in ensuring Burma
remains a stable country," he said.

Clinton urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to "reach out to
the Burmese leadership, persuade them that it is time to start planning
for free, fair and credible elections in 2010, 2010 is nearly here, (and)
that it would be useful to have validation of those elections."

Clinton emphasized that when Myanmar is left alone, it's problems spill
over its borders and affect its neighbors.

"We see refugee flows out of Burma, people taking the boat, ending up in
Malaysia, ending up in Indonesia, ending up in Australia, crossing the
border into Thailand," she said. "That instability is not good for
anyone."

"Any country that does business in Burma wants to be sure that their
investments and their business are safe and the best way to ensure that is
to move toward democracy and the kind of stability that democracy
creates," Clinton said.

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

November 11, Irrawaddy
The next big step – Kyaw Zwa Moe

Just the faint hope that Aung San Suu Kyi may be released soon has caused
a stir of excitement among Burmese people. If she really is freed, it will
dramatically enliven Burma’s political scene. But don’t expect junta chief
Snr-Gen Than Shwe to turn the jail key in its lock just yet.

“There is a plan to release her soon 
 so she can organize her party,” Min
Lwin, a Burmese Foreign Ministry official, said recently. Responding to
his remark, Nyan Win, a spokesperson for Suu Kyi’s party, the National
League for Democracy, told The Irrawaddy, “This is what many people wanted
to hear.”

But most Burmese know better than to get their hopes up. In general, the
more skeptical you are of the regime’s words, the closer you will be to
understanding their true intentions. Past experience has shown repeatedly
that if you expect deception from the junta, chances are you won’t be
disappointed.

This is not to say that Suu Kyi won’t be freed. Certainly, her release is
a top priority for the regime’s new dialogue partner, the US government.
According to US officials, President Barack Obama will repeat his call for
Suu Kyi’s release when he meets Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein and
other regional leaders in Singapore next Sunday.

Ultimately, however, the matter rests with Than Shwe, who will make his
decision based on a careful risk-benefit analysis. If he is confident that
Suu Kyi will not derail his carefully laid plans for a military-led,
quasi-civilian government after next year’s election, he may see fit to
release her. Otherwise, it simply won’t happen.

The trouble is that Suu Kyi is still a potent force in Burmese politics.
Merely by appearing in public, she is capable of unleashing a pent-up
desire for genuine democracy—the very thing the regime fears most. Even if
her movements are severely restricted, as they were when she was released
in 1995 and 2002, people will gather around her as a beacon of hope.

This is the scenario that the generals dread more than any other,
especially now that they are coming to the final stages of their exit
strategy. After 20 years of denying the will of the Burmese people and
committing untold atrocities to hold onto power, they know that next
year’s election must go exactly as planned. This means installing a new
regime that is loyal to the current leadership, allowing the top generals
to retire without fear of reprisal.

As he approaches the finish line, Than Shwe is warier than ever of being
tripped up by Suu Kyi’s immense popularity. This is why he extended her
house arrest by 18 months earlier this year, on the ridiculous pretext
that she violated the terms of her detention by allowing an American
intruder to stay overnight on her property. She is now set to remain under
house arrest until well after next year’s election.

However, since Suu Kyi was sentenced in August, several things have
changed. The most important was the Obama administration’s announcement in
September that it would begin to directly engage the regime, reversing
Washington’s longstanding policy of isolating the generals. Although US
sanctions remain in place, there is now at least a possibility they will
be lifted, if Than Shwe plays his cards right.

Another significant change has come from Suu Kyi herself. In September,
she expressed a willingness to help the junta remove sanctions, requesting
permission to meet with foreign diplomats and members of her party to
discuss the issue. This was granted, and more recently, she thanked the
junta for allowing her to meet a US delegation led by US Assistant
Secretary of State Kurt Campbell last week.

This new, more compromising tone comes as the regime in Naypyidaw
continues to signal that it may relax Suu Kyi’s detention if, as Burmese
Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein put it during a regional summit in October,
she “maintains a good attitude.”

Actually, it was Thein Sein’s boss, Than Shwe, who first suggested that
Suu Kyi might get time off for good behavior. Shortly after she was found
guilty of the charges against her, a letter from the senior general was
read out in court, reducing her original three-year sentence by half and
holding out the possibility of a further reduction if she “behaved well.”

When she contacted Than Shwe by letter in September, she let him know that
she understood what he meant by “good behavior.” She focused entirely on
the issue of sanctions, and avoided mentioning the upcoming election and
the controversial 2008 Constitution.

At this stage, it is difficult to tell how long this very tentative
détente will last. According to sources close to the generals, Than Shwe’s
reaction to Suu Kyi’s overtures has been “so far, so good.” But this could
suddenly change, and the current situation could deteriorate rapidly,
depending on the mood of the man who holds absolute power over Burma.

Knowing this, Suu Kyi has proceeded carefully. But as the leader of
Burma’s pro-democracy forces, sooner or later she will have to raise
sensitive issues like the election and the Constitution.

For its part, the Obama administration has also moved forward cautiously
in its talks with the regime. It said it would not push for a review of
the Constitution, saying that this should be discussed as part of a
“national dialogue.”

Although Than Shwe appears to have relaxed his guard somewhat, it is
important not to underestimate his capacity for manipulation.

It seems fairly obvious what he wants—the removal of sanctions and
acceptance of the outcome of next year’s election by the international
community. But so far he has offered nothing of substance in return.

This suggests that his goals may not be as ambitious as they seem. Perhaps
he is merely trying to reduce the pressure on his regime to tolerable
levels so he can extend his hold on power a little longer. In other words,
he may just be up to his old tricks, in which case, we can expect to see
Suu Kyi remain under house arrest until after the election.

On the other hand, if he is genuinely interested in ensuring a safe exit
for himself, he may take the risk of releasing Suu Kyi, although only
after he has sufficient guarantees from her that she will not do anything
to undermine his election plans. Indeed, if he really does want the
election to be regarded as anything other than a sham, he will have no
choice but to free Suu Kyi.

In any case, the situation is very delicate. Three key actors—Than Shwe,
Suu Kyi and the US—realize this, and have played their hands very
carefully. But at some point, someone will have to make a more daring
move, and when this happens, it could be a game changer, or it could just
force the situation back to square one.

____________________________________
STATEMENT

November 11, U.S. Secretary of State
Remarks at APEC Singapore Conference – Hillary Rodham Clinton

Singapore – SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, good afternoon. Thank you very much
for coming here this afternoon. Before I get started on my comments
concerning the important meetings being held here at the APEC ministerial,
I want to take a moment to recognize the fact that today is Veteran’s Day
in the United States, and I want to acknowledge the veterans and our men
and women in uniform and their families, many of whom are deployed in very
difficult places around the world. I cannot emphasize enough our
appreciation for their dedication and sacrifice.

Here in Singapore, we’ve had a productive day of discussion, covering the
full range of regional and global issues confronting our nations. I have
stressed the Obama Administration’s commitment to substantive cooperation.
That is a commitment that I have felt very strongly about and made clear
on my first trip as Secretary of State to Asia earlier this year. And when
President Obama arrives here later this week, he will underscore our view
that APEC is an essential forum for engagement and for common action.

I very much appreciate the hard work that Singapore has put in to making
this meeting a success, and I thanked the two co-chairs of the
ministerial, Minister Yoh, and Minister Lim, for their leadership. During
this morning’s APEC foreign ministers breakfast, we covered major regional
security issues. North Korea’s nuclear program is of foremost concern, and
the United States is committed to making progress on this issue.

Our Special Representative for North Korea Policy, Ambassador Stephen
Bosworth, will visit Pyongyang in the near future. The decision to send
him was reached after extensive consultation with our partners in the
Six-Party process. They share our view that Ambassador Bosworth can use
this opportunity to press the basic principles of the September 2005 joint
statement, including full, peaceful, verifiable denuclearization of the
Korean Peninsula, and work toward the resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

We have made the purpose and parameters of this visit clear to the North
Koreans. This is not a negotiation; it is an effort to pave the way toward
North Korea’s return to the Six-Party process. Let me emphasize that our
expectations of Pyongyang have not changed and will not change, nor has
our commitment to the Six-Party process. We will use diplomacy and we will
work closely with our partners to find a peaceful path to our shared
objective on the Korean Peninsula.

We also discussed the United States approach to Burma. We have begun
engaging the Burmese authorities in high-level dialogue to advance our
goals of democratic reforms and human rights. Burma’s neighbors and
members of ASEAN have an especially important role to play in encouraging
the Burmese Government to move forward on reform, to start a meaningful
internal dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, political parties, and ethnic
minorities; and to hold credible, fair elections in 2010. I reiterated
that U.S. sanctions will remain in place until we see meaningful progress
in key areas.

In the ministerial meetings and over lunch through the rest of the day, we
discussed a wide range of economic and foreign policy issues, especially
expanding trade and ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth. I talked
about American efforts to advance development and spread opportunity
through increased funding and new initiatives.

And I want to say a few words about the pressing global challenge that
will be a focus of attention in the coming weeks as we move toward the
meeting in Copenhagen. We’ve had fruitful discussions today on climate
change. The United States has taken dramatic steps in the past year to
change the way we use energy at home, and we have taken our seat at the
table in international climate negotiations. We believe all nations have a
responsibility to address this urgent global challenge, and we are
prepared to assume our share of responsibility.

Going forward, we are committed to reaching the goal of a global, legally
binding climate agreement. And we will continue working vigorously with
the international community toward that end. If we all exert maximum
effort and embrace the right blend of pragmatism and principle, I believe
we can secure a strong outcome at Copenhagen, and that would be a stepping
stone toward full legal agreement. We cannot let the pursuit of perfection
stand in the way of progress, but there are clear metrics by which we will
judge the result at Copenhagen.

First, any agreement must involve immediate global action in which all
nations do their fair share. We cannot afford further delay. Second, any
agreement should cover all of the major issues, including adaptation,
financing, technology cooperation, dissemination of technology, forest
preservation, and others. It should include a commitment to strong
mitigation actions like national reduction targets for developed countries
and actions by major developing countries that will reduce their emissions
significantly compared to business as usual.

Third, any agreement must include a commitment to a system that will
ensure transparency and accountability with regard to the implementation
of domestic actions. Fourth, any agreement must endorse funding facilities
to assist developing countries. We are prepared to support a global
climate fund that will support adaptation and mitigation efforts and a
matching entity to help developing countries match needs with available
resources. Funding through the new global climate fund and a technology
mechanism will help developing countries identify what they need, where to
get it, and how to finance, operate, and maintain it.

These are the yardsticks we will use to measure the outcome. But under any
circumstance, Copenhagen is not the end of the process. It is part of our
larger collective commitment to hold ourselves and others accountable, to
speed the transition to a low-carbon global economy, and to leave a
cleaner, greener planet for our children and grandchildren. So as we
emerge from Copenhagen, we have to continue on this course with urgency
and resolve.

Again, I thank our hosts here in Singapore for their excellent hospitality
and planning of these meetings, and I would be happy to take some of your
questions.

MODERATOR: We have time for a few questions. Are there questions? Dave
Gollust from Voice of America.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary --

SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, here comes a microphone, Dave.

QUESTION: Oh, I’m sorry. Okay. Do you have any indication from Kurt
Campbell’s initial soundings with the Burmese that they really will be
amenable to changing the political setup that they have for next year? And
would the return of Aung San Suu Kyi herself to political life in Burma be
a condition for a more normal United States relationship with Burma?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Dave, as you know, we had two very high American
diplomats, Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell and Deputy Assistant
Secretary Scot Marciel, go to Burma last week and spend a considerable
amount of time meeting with not only government officials, but also in a
private meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, members of political opposition and
ethnic groups. It was a very thorough and constructive set of visits, and
the United States is committed to a process to try to encourage and
support Burma’s path to democracy.

There is a lot of work to do. We have no illusions that any of this will
be easy or quick. But we have consulted broadly with our allies and
partners in this region, particularly within ASEAN, and we have a lot of
solidarity as we move forward with what is a more calibrated approach.
We’re seeking to see a process inside Burma that would inspire and permit
dialogue among all of the stakeholders so that there could be a growing
consensus within Burma itself about the way forward.

This is a very challenging situation, as many of the countries represented
here at this meeting can attest, but the United States is committed to
moving forward and staying in close consultation with the parties inside
Burma as well as other countries that share our goal for a more peaceful,
stable, democratic Burma.

We think this has to be resolved within the Burmese people themselves, so
we are not setting or dictating any conditions. We want to help facilitate
the space and opportunity for the Burmese people to try to work out the
challenges they face in having free and credible elections and setting
forth a plan for a more prosperous and peaceful future.

MODERATOR: Next question, Sondang Sirait from SCTV Indonesia.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, we know that you held a meeting with the
Indonesian foreign minister this morning. If you could tell us about what
you talked about in the meeting? And also about the upcoming meeting
between President Obama and President SBY this weekend?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, we had an excellent meeting with the foreign
minister today. We covered a broad range of issues, some affecting our
bilateral relationship, some affecting regional and other global issues.
And I think it would be fair to say that it was such a comprehensive
discussion that we ran out of time before we each had to get back to our
respective responsibilities. But I am very impressed by the foreign
minister. His grasp of the issues that – not only his country, but to –
all of us now face. His principled and pragmatic approach toward working
through those issues was extremely impressive, and I look forward to
working with him.

We will be establishing our strategic dialogue between our two countries,
and we also anticipate seeing Indonesia play a larger and larger role in
the region and on the global stage, as it is doing, for example, in the
G-20. In particular, the experience that Indonesia has over the last 10
years of transitioning to a vibrant democracy, we believe, is very
relevant in Asia, and in particular, in Burma. And we have learned a lot
from our conversations with our Indonesian counterparts.

We really congratulated the minister, and of course, President SBY for a
very impressive win and an electoral victory. There will be a great deal
for our presidents to discuss when they see each other here over the
weekend. I know that President Obama has a very special place in his heart
for Indonesia and is looking forward to visiting soon. There is just a
very positive relationship between our two countries, and we want to
broaden and deepen that and take it to a new level.

MODERATOR: Next question, Lachlan Carmichael from AFP.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, three questions on North Korea: Do you
support, does the United States support the South Korean version of events
that the North Korean boat crossed in – crossed the border? And with whom
did you discuss this today? And finally, do you have any second thoughts
about sending Ambassador Bosworth to North Korea in light of these events?
I think the goal was to send him there by the end of the year.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Lachlan, as you know, there have been flare-ups
of the sort we have seen over the last day between North and South Korea
over a number of years. There is a set of issues around territorial waters
that often serve as a backdrop to this kind of confrontation. I have no
reason to question the accounts that we are receiving. We are obviously
hoping that the situation does not escalate, and we’re encouraged by the
calm reaction that has been present up until now.

I’ve spoken, obviously, with my team back in Washington and with Kurt
Campbell and the others who have responsibility for this region while
we’ve been here. But this does not in any way affect our decision to send
Ambassador Bosworth. We think that is an important step that stands on its
own. It is connected to our efforts, along with our Six-Party partners, to
move toward resumption of the Six-Party process. We think that is
critically important.

So we are certainly counseling calm and caution when it comes to any kind
of dispute, especially one that can cause repercussions and damage that
could be quite difficult to contend with. But at the same time, we’re
moving ahead with our planned visit for Ambassador Bosworth.

MODERATOR: The last question will go to Channel News Asia, Augustine
Anthuvan.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, I’d just like to revisit the question my
colleague asked earlier about Myanmar. It’s significant for ASEAN, and of
course, there is a substantial Burmese community here in Singapore.
Secretary Campbell, when he spoke before the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs, he emphasized, underscored to senior Chinese Government officials
the need for Beijing to play a positive role in promoting reform in Burma.
I’d like to hear your thoughts, ma’am, on expanding on what exactly you
would like to see from China.

And a related question, of course, is that you said it’s very much left to
the people of Myanmar to see how things unfold in 2010 for the elections.
But what sort of role can ASEAN play in terms of on-the-ground,
independent observers during the elections? Thank you very much, ma’am.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, and I think those are important
questions because we need a broad response by the nations in the region.
Certainly, China has the opportunity to play a very positive role, as does
Thailand, India, and other ASEAN countries. We would like to see countries
individually and through ASEAN reach out to the Burmese leadership,
persuade them that it is time to start planning for free, fair and
credible elections in 2010 – 2010 is nearly here – that it would be useful
to have validation of those elections. And again, countries in the region
and certainly, institutionally, ASEAN can offer support to ensure that the
elections are viewed as credible.

But I think it’s also important to recognize that left alone, the internal
problems within Burma are not confined within Burma’s borders. We’ve seen
refugee flows out of Burma, people taking to boats, ending up in Malaysia,
ending up in Indonesia, ending up in Australia, crossing the border into
Thailand. That instability is not good for anyone. Any country that does
business in Burma wants to be sure that their investments and their
business are safe. And the best way to ensure that is to move toward
democracy and the kind of stability that democracy creates, the kind of
investment climate that will attract even more businesses.

So we look to all the countries in the region to play a role, and we
particularly anticipate ASEAN playing a significant role. I mean, if we’re
able to encourage the Burmese leadership to meet in dialogue with
representatives of various aspects of Burmese society, we hope that that
can be encouraged by other nations and by ASEAN, maybe facilitated by
ASEAN, because planning for these elections must be a priority, and how it
is monitored is something to be discussed and analyzed.

But what’s important is getting some confidence that these will be free,
fair, and credible elections. Otherwise, the Burmese leadership and the
results of the election will not have international legitimacy. And since
the Burmese leadership has said they want to have such elections, we hope
that they will work with us to try to make sure that those elections gain
credibility and that their results are respected globally.

Thank you very much.

____________________________________

November 11, New Light of Myanmar
Senior General Than Shwe sends National Day message

NAY PYI TAW —The following is the translation of the message sent by
Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of
Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe on the occasion of the 89th
Anniversary National Day

Esteemed national people, today, the National Day is in its 89th
anniversary that represents national education promotion movements
launched with a strong sense of nationalistic fervour in the Myanmar’s
struggles to regain independence and sovereignty from the colonialists.

Inspired by nationalistic spirit, the entire national people showed
consolidated unity in the national level movement for bringing about an
education system that conforms to the Myanmar socio-economic life. Then,
the people stepped up the struggles in unity with a sense of nationalistic
spirit, patriotism, and Union Spirit. As a result, the nation managed to
regain independence. Therefore, the day on which the national movement
began was designated as National Day.

Myanmar people are by nature strongly equipped with a sense of
nationalistic fervour and patriotism with which they safeguard own
lineage, religious faith, and education. So, national brethren have been
capable of preserving and promoting national prestige and integrity by
bravely and harmoniously repulsing alien invasions in the course of the
Myanmar history.

Nowadays, certain neo-colonialist countries are interfering in the
internal affairs of their targeted countries with the intention of
widening the scope of their domination in various fields. Accordingly, the
entire people are to tackle such political attempts with national
awareness based on true patriotic spirit.

Myanmar is an independent country, so all are duty-bound to cohesively
ward off alien threats with national objectives such as Our Three Main
National Causes “Non-disintegration of the Union, Non-disintegration of
national solidarity, and Perpetuation of sovereignty” to be able to
improve the future of the nation and the people, and ensure perpetuation
of sovereignty.

Today, the world sees dramatic advancements in science and technology. The
youth are being nurtured and groomed in accordance with the 30-year
national education promotion plan, which can help the nation keep abreast
of global partners in terms of education, with the aim of bringing about
reliable human resources in the interest of the nation and the regions
concerned. Now, all regions of the Union including border areas and rural
regions have enjoyed equitable development.

Now, the State's seven-step Road Map is in the process of being
implemented to shape the nation into a peaceful, modern and developed
discipline-flourishing democratic one. The constitution of the Union of
Myanmar has been approved with massive support of the people at the
referendum. The government is gearing up to hold the election according to
the new constitution in 2010.

The government is determined to see to the policies it has laid down for
better future of the nation and the people. Therefore, the people on their
part are to elect reliable candidates in the public interest. Therefore, I
would like to urge the entire people to work hard with nationalistic
vigour in line with the 89th Anniversary National Day objectives: —

(1) To strengthen nationalistic spirit and uplift national prestige and
integrity
(2) To promote national education,
(3) Perpetuity of independence and sovereignty
of the State,
(4) To achieve success in implementing the seven-step roadmap