Myanmar rejects US criticism on democracy implementation

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 17, 2003

Myanmar rejects US criticism on democracy implementation

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The Myanmar government rejected on Wednesday a criticism made by the State Department of the United States on the country's future steps to be implemented for democracy, saying that mere criticism ignoring the facts does not help for the move.

The refutation was made by the Myanmar government in a statement in response to Tuesday's remarks made by US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher after the end of Monday's conference in Thailand on implementing democracy in Myanmar, attended by representatives from 12 countries and the UN special envoy for Myanmar.

Boucher lashed out at Myanmar that the United States wants to see that kind of actions that show Myanmar is really going to allow the political forces in the country, including ethnic minorities, to participate in its political future and to release prisoners.

However, the Myanmar statement insisted that "there have been extremely positive developments in all those areas in recent months," citing "the roadmap" outlined by Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt in last August, which it said is moving forward at a steady pace, and saying that "hundreds of people detained on national security grounds have been released and political partiesare resuming their activities."

The statement went on to boast that "support for the national convention is strong in Myanmar, in the region, and even among groups which have long been opposed to the current government."

The statement urged the United States to join the internationalcommunity in helping Myanmar make the transition to the democracy,reminding the United States to learn lessons from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan where making the transition to democracy is not a simple, quick or easy task.

The statement persuaded the United States to adopt a pragmatic and helpful approach to Myanmar as it moves on its road to democracy.

In the just-ended Bangkok forum on international support for national reconciliation in Myanmar, Myanmar Foreign Minister U WinAung told attendees that Myanmar would reopen the national convention and draft a constitution next year as the first step ofthe country's roadmap on national reconciliation. U Win Aung also said the Myanmar prime minister and opposition leader Aung San SuuKyi (ASSK) who is under house arrest were keeping contact and communication to set up confidence between them.

Khin Nyunt's seven-point roadmap, which was announced to resolve the political deadlock in Myanmar following the arrest of ASSK on May 30, gave no specific time frame.

Questions?Comments? Click here

US will attack from space? China and Russia call for space arms prohibition ( 6 Messages)

China opposes foreign interference on HK affairs: Official ( 11 Messages)

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein arrested ( 19 Messages)

Nanjing Massacre remembered ( 11 Messages)

World leaders on Saddam Hussein's capture ( 4 Messages)