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Burmese people also love democracy



Here is the translation (Nepalese to English) of the Burma article in this
week's Narayani Article. 
 
"Burmese People Also Love Democracy"
 
Weekly Narayani: May 14, 1998
Deepak Khanal
 
 
As you were informed in last week's column, to get further information on
the real situation in Burma, an interview was conducted with some Burmese
pro-democratic activists, who were in Nepal on a mission to seek Nepal's
support and solidarity a few weeks back.  The supporters of Nobel Peace
Prize Winner Aung San Suu Kyi party, the National League for Democracy,
under the condition of anonymity, drew a terrible picture of the situation
of democracy and human rights in Burma.  Here are some excerpts from the
interview:
 
Q:      What is going on in Burma now?
A:      People's right of freedom has been seized by the military
government.  The political parties are not allowed to exercise their
rights, the people are deprived from their right of expression, assembly
and publication.  Elected representatives are routinely arrested and are
not allowed to express their opinions.
 
Q:      Is the military government more positive about democracy these
days?
A:      Not a long ago, the government has changed its name but there has
been no change in terms of its policies, motives and activities.
 
Q:      How is the government ruling without support from the people?
Isn't it difficult?
A:      Yes. One would think it would be. But they have armies.  They
impose military laws.  People are always kept under threat. They are
ruling
on their gun-power.
 
Q:      What made you inspired to fight for democracy ?
A:      The only solution to the problems of our country is democracy.  We
understand that democracy is the system which represents all people and
protects their human rights. This belief is inspiring us to fight for
democracy.
 
Q:      Are there other parties also fighting for democracy besides the
National League for Democracy?
A:      When we were in Burma, there were a number of other allies.  But
when all parties were expelled, the number of parties lessened.  But we
are
all still fighting for democracy. In the leadership of the NLD  (National
League for Democracy), a parallel coalition government has been formed in
exile with some other ethnic parties.
 
Q:      Is it true that some of the movement's allies have given up?
A:      Yes, some of the ethnic parties were compelled to give up their
arms.  But morally, they are still in favor of democracy.  No cease fire
has been reached through political dialogue with the government.  I hope
those allies who were compelled to give up their arms will also support
the
movement for democracy in Burma.
 
Q:       What has been done by the people of Burma in support for
democracy?
A:      You see, the Burmese people also love democracy. This was proven
in the results of the 1990 election. The people of Burma have shown their
frustration with the military regime in different ways.  The 1996
Student's
Movement is one example.  The Burmese people have never liked military
rule. This is why there have been a number of movements conducted in
Burma.
 
Q:      How is the economy in Burma now?
A:      The Burmese economy is very poor.  Inflation has reached 35
percent.  The country's cash reserve is very low.  Burma has become the
principal country to produce and smuggle drugs in the world.  Drugs
smugglers are kept under the government's protection.  Hundreds of
thousands of people have fled to neighboring countries. The military
dictators don't know the solutions to these problems.  They only know
where
the next gun shot will take place.
 
To be continued...........
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Burma Info (CCN)