Fw: Mahathir recommended new election

[TIN KYI <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Schu Sugawara" <schus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "SCHU" <schus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, January 28, 2001 2:44 PM
Subject: Mahathir recommended new election


> Dear all,
>
>   One of a Japanese major paper Mainichi Shimbun interviewed Malaysian PM
> Dr. Mahatir. Dr. Mahatir, at the first time explained the detail of the
> talks between the SPDC after his visit to Yangon.
>  It seems that Dr. Mahatir explained the new policy of the ASEAN which was
> disccused by 7 ASEAN leaders in last November.
>  Please try to watch the new policy of ASEAN.
>
> PD Burma-Japan
>
> SCHU SUGAWARA
>
> =====================================================
> Mainichi Shimbun January 28th, morning edition.
>
>
>                              Unofficial translation from local language
>
> Hong Kong 27th, Akiko Kato
>
>  Following are the question and answer between PM Mahathir and Mainichi
> Shimbun.
>
> ------ What was the purpose of the visit to Yangon ?
> The purpose of the visit was to make myself sure that the situation inside
> Myanmar is moving or not.  Also, I wanted to clarify if the present
> government is an aggressive dictator forcing people to work slavery.
> ------ How did you find out?
> The government of Myanmar is putting their effort to improve the life of
> people. The fact is that village people are offering their labor voluntary
> such as on construction works. It is a common method in poor South Asian
> countries to gain alternative tax by avoiding the cost of taxation system.
> ------- What is the way to resolve the antagonism between the junta and
Aung
> San Suu Kyi?
> They should exercise an election in the future. But, before the election,
> they should understand the way of the election. People should understand
> that the election is not an occasion to hurt their regime.
> ------- Did you deliver them the necessity of the election?
> Yes I did. I talked SPDC chairman Than Shwe the mechanism of the election.
> The chairman was positive to what I said. It seems difficult to have the
> election in this year or next year, but, by several years, they could
> implement the election.
> ----- Western powers are supporting Suu Kyi?
> It is the reason making the regime obstinate. Any regimes do not want to
be
> interfered. It is good to resolve the problem to receive less interference
> from western nations. People in Myanmar should find out the solution by
> themselves.
> ------ Is ASEAN going to renounce its non-interference policy?
> Myanmar affair has specific condition. Western nations have been trying to
> put pressure on the ASEAN indicating its Myanmar policy. But, it is
> important to inform the government of Myanmar and its people what the way
of
> ASEAN democracy to avoid them to refuse the system of democracy.
>
> END
> ====================
> working for:
> PD Burma-Japan
> PFB-lobby
> Schu Sugawara
> tel +81-48-771-8103 fax +81-48-771-8179
> schus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
>