19.11.2006

Interview with Mai Ike Phone, part 2

_ by Nay Thwin

(translated by Nay Yu)

Q: The current situation of Burma is on the new route and it has been said that it is the preparation for a change. What about your opinion? What kind of problems have the democratic force?

Ans: We always remind our people for the actions of regime then they can’t do whatever they want. We have that sort of change and that is our strong link. People will suffer more if there is no opposition. Otherwise, I don’t think we can highlight the situation of Burma to the international community. Then, the regime holds a sham convention. The relevant sector from here is handling this issue for international awareness. We make international society know about the human rights violations, the appalling situation of health and politics in Burma. It is a good potential that we achieve more pressure against the regime from UN and international community and the financial support for opposition. These all are excellent stronger position from opposition, I think. People are suffering severely if you have a look to inside Burma. There are no improvements if you take a look to any parts of the country. There are just appalling situations. I found out that the situation is getting worse and worse by observing that everyone is working abroad. We, the opposition will be stronger and stronger when people are suffering more and more. There will be more international pressure. The regime will be engage in the dialogue when they can’t escape from the deadlock. That’s my opinion. The delegates in the National Convention attend it for the reason they can’t escape not because they want. They are there but not really representing the people. For example, Palaung delegates in the convention are not presenting the whole Palaung nationality. They are there just because they can’t evade the pressure. I think it (convention) is just self-troubling convention for the regime and its associates. The convention will neither be productive for the regime nor for the country in the future.

Q: What kind of actions should be prioritising currently for the revolutionaries?

Ans: I think we have to prioritise for the unity. The unity is not on the paper. We can’t say that it is unity when everyone is doing as they like in practice. In other words, we have to try to reach the common strategy, common programmes. It would be easier if there is common strategy, common programme or common plan. I believe there should be a common armed struggle against the common enemy, the regime when we have the common target with the unity. Then, the expected changes will come true faster with the expected target time. Now, there are more formations. There are wider forces when the policies of the groups work in broader sense in needs of politics. The participation is weaker when we have different policies and measures and broader manpower. The formations are for the disruption of enemy. However, it should be a strong and united formation. I think there should be common plan, common measure and common strategies. Then, we will reach the common goal or common target as soon as possible. Now, there are too many organisations as you know. It is not enough with the force of NCUB. I think there should be common targets and common campaigns even if they not under the NCUB, all the groups should be involved along with NCUB. I think we haven’t reach the genuine unity if I have to talk about the unity.

The unity can’t be built just on the paper or on the air. The unity haven’t been met the target in reality.

Q: What you want to say about the concern of ethnic in Burma’s politics as an ethnic leader?

Ans: It is quite important regarding this issue because there are quite diverse ethnic nationalities in Burma. I think we have civil war as the result of not achieving relevant rights for ethnic minorities and not having political essence for them. On one hand, ethnic lost entitlements and on the other hand, we lost democracy. I think the genuine democratic state, the true federal state can’t be built if the ethnic nationalities lost their rights they deserve and the political rights they entitled. That’s why the role of ethnic nationalities is important as the democratization. This combination is like head and tail and we have to perform the campaign by combining these two.

Q: What do you want to say about the NDF’s role and its measures as a leader of NDF?

Ans: The history of NDF is quite long. Its history is with ground breaking measures in Burma. NDF was real strong and well established coalition before 1988 uprising. It is balance in four angles. We can penetrate the enemy through four sides as in North, South and Central. I think it is quite encouraging. We helped mainly and took responsibilities when students, monks and oppositions came to border. For instance, DAB, ABSDF and NCGUB were formed. We carried on the campaigns lively as the local politics was also alive. But, the regime staged the cease-fire platform in order to break up this. Then, Wa and Koekant who were not NDF members engaged in cease-fire. The Nothern members of NDF were weaker when Wa and Koekant followed cease-fire. It also affected Shan group, Kachin and PaO as well. We had to engage in cease-fire finally when that wave stroke Palaung. Then the regime carried on Four Cuts if they didn’t have what they want. They suppressed people. Finally, the groups agreed the cease-fire. Then, the NDF had its impact. We had to  terminate the membership of some members. Shan, Kachin, PaO and Palaung were terminated from membership. It really affected the coalition. Finally all the members except KNU, CNF and AlP were in cease-fire. Mon New State Party were in cease-fire. We can’t carry on effective measures when we are working together with NCUB and ENC. Although I am responsible for NDF, when I became a member of Secretaries in NCUB then NDF workloads are together with NCUB.

Q: Do you have anything to talk about State base Policy in ENC?

Ans: NDF became the coalition representing all ethnic nationalities. Just Shan and Karenni are not in NDF but they used to be member of NDF. We are always in touch although they didn’t participate in some accounts of politics. It is not balanced regarding the policy base on state and the nationality when ENC emerged. NDF actions are under ENC gradually when ENC have sufficient finance and base on the state. NDF actions are under ENC measures as State constitutional, local supports and international actions. Some of NDF prominent leaders have responsibilities in ENC. For my opinion, all these affected in some way to NDF. We haven’t reached to agreement regarding State base policy among ethnic nationalities. Then some are In and some are Off. We are the coalition representing ethnics in NDF.  

Read part 1,                                                                                            To continue next week.

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Last week's English articles

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• Speaking with Dr. Maharthir, Former Malaysia PM

• Speaking with Mai Aik Pone

• We also Want to Stand on Our Own Feet

• To Mr. Gambari

• What action to take if the SPDC toppled in Burma

• Handling the Dark Chapters of the History

• The oppositions should give ULTIMATUM to SPDC

• Let’s Shine the Lights on Burma

• Calling for Medical Students

• Don’t be Jealous of the Princess’s Glamorous Wedding

• Hunger strike for six years in the land of Gandhi