[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

AFP-Myanmar animals hit out at Nati



Subject: AFP-Myanmar animals hit out at National League for Democracy

criticism
To: <burmanet2-l@xxxxxxxx>
X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.0.2 
X-Sender: strider@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Myanmar junta hits out at National League for Democracy criticism
YANGON, Sept 2 (AFP) - Myanmar's military rulers hit out at the opposition
National League for Democracy (NLD) Wednesday, saying criticism from the
party was damaging the nation's well-being.
"The stance and action the NLD are taking ... are unnecessarily hampering
the nation's development," a junta statement said.

"It's daily statements criticising every aspect and effort the government is
undertaking for the welfare of the people of Myanmar are unconstructive," it
said.

The leader of the NLD, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been critical of the visit last
month of Australian human rights commissioner, Chris Sidoti, who travelled
to Myanmar to discuss setting up a human rights body.

"It is a little ironic that anybody imagines that they will be able to
cooperate with the junta to improve the human rights situation in Burma,
it's a bit like asking the fox to look after the chicken," she told AFP in
an interview last week.

The junta is accused throughout the world of gross human rights abuses
including rape and torture.

It rejects all the allegations and maintains that it intends to make
democratic changes.

"Cooperations with the International Committee of the Red Cross, human
rights organisations and other countries ... to further enhance social
welfare and the basic rights of the people have been constantly under
attack," the junta said.

In April Myanmar authorities allowed the ICRC to inspect its prisons for the
first time.

However, Aung San Suu Kyi criticised the ICRC for not consulting her before
accepting a government offer to visit jails.

The Nobel peace laureate claimed the ruling military junta had transferred
hundreds of prisoners ahead of its inspection.

The ICRC strongly defended its visit and said its delegates did not consult
Aung San Suu Kyi because it was trying to build confidence with the
government.

Aung San Suu Kyi told AFP she saw these initiatives "as increased concern on
the part of the international community with regards to the human rights
situation in Burma."

"I think all these moves are well meant but whether they will achieve what
they are expected to achieve is another matter altogether, and of course the
junta is quite eager to present a civilized front so they have received
these delegations," she said.

The junta and the NLD have been locked in a bitter political battle since
the opposition won an overwhelming victory in 1990 elections, which were
ignored by Myanmar's military rulers.