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Web-only Exclusives
November 30, 2000

From Our Correspondent: Hirohito and the War
A conversation with biographer Herbert Bix

From Our Correspondent: A Rough Road Ahead
Bad news for the Philippines - and some others

From Our Correspondent: Making Enemies
Indonesia needs friends. So why is it picking fights?

Asiaweek Time Asia Now Asiaweek story

SEPTEMBER 3, 1999 VOL. 25 NO. 35

'Suu Kyi Must Be Sincere'
Selling the junta's tough line to the world

ASIAWEEK's interview with Win Aung

    ALSO IN ASIAWEEK
Aung San Suu Kyi
The Asiaweek Interview

AT THE ASEAN REGIONAL Forum in July, Singapore Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar noted that one of his counterparts was asked about the situation in the latter's country. "The foreign minister, instead of bristling with annoyance, gave a measured response," Jayakumar said. Everyone knew he was referring to Myanmar's Win Aung. Unlike his often "bristling" predecessor Ohn Gyaw, Win Aung, 55, took a gentle, measured tone in responding to barbs from North American and European ministers at the ARF. Perhaps his 20 years in the military and over a decade in diplomacy have prepared him well; he had served in Laos, Singapore, Germany and Britain. He is close to Lt.-Gen. Khin Nyunt, the regime's key strategist. Senior Correspondent Roger Mitton spent an hour with Win Aung. Excerpts:

Why did you urge ASEAN to show solidarity if challenged?
We just mentioned it as a principle to which we all adhere in ASEAN. There are things that outside the association might be done differently, but inside we need to go along with certain guidelines. There have been some people speaking about ASEAN being challenged and becoming weak. That it is no longer a force that is to be reckoned with. We need to show the world that we are not that way.

The European Union objects to your presence at meetings, which is a problem.
Our colleagues in ASEAN have now come to a better understanding of our situation. With the E.U. or with dialogue partners, we have gone as far as we could. But our compromise will not be forever. It's so one-sided sometimes. They would like to exclude us. It should not be a principle that one can exclude another from the group. We are very united in this stand. All ASEAN countries will come as a bloc, not minus one or two. The next meeting will be in Europe; without our participation there will not be a meeting.

How significant was the recent visit of an E.U. delegation to Myanmar?
They came on a fact-finding mission. Our side explained the situation. They met Lt.-Gen. Khin Nyunt, and then I received them. They met Aung San Suu Kyi. And they discussed with the E.U. ambassadors in Yangon. They will report back their findings. We don't have anything against talking. I would like to improve relations with not only Europeans but Americans.

Would you meet with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright?
If she asked to meet me? I would not object. Yes, why not? Let us meet.
Why did Myanmar oppose NATO action in Kosovo?
We deeply deplored it. We do not want this action to be seen as a sort of international precedent for action in other areas too.

You fear interference in Myanmar?
Yes, that is so. In the past, because of our very strategic location, we were annexed by the British. Then in the Second World War, the Japanese wanted Myanmar under their control. Even during the Cold War, we suffered - with the Chinese KMT forces and so on.

Some say you are being dominated by China these days?
It is not true. Our people are very independent, very pragmatic, very self-reliant - to the extent that we sometimes isolated ourselves. Regarding China, when other people were not giving us a helping hand as we were rebuilding our country, China came with help and understanding. Of course, we consider a friend in need is a friend indeed. They are our close friends. But close friends doesn't mean that one is going to dominate the other.

You said recently that you would talk to Suu Kyi if she stopped criticizing the government.
I said for a dialogue to take place the first thing she needs to do is stop attacking the government. She has been holding onto this policy of confrontation and devastation that is threatening to the government. She opposes whatever the government tries to do - in agriculture, trade, the economy in general, even our joining ASEAN.

It seems you all have entrenched positions - and the people suffer.
I don't agree. You say we are making the people secondary to maintaining power? It's not so. I cannot speak for other people, but since I became foreign minister, I have spent a lot of time, not for myself but for the people, for the country. There is nothing to enjoy about it. Are we withholding things from the people? Are we eating good food and enjoying luxuries? We don't have time for that. Not even enough time for our own families. The people's interest is our No. 1 priority.

Well, the people endorsed Suu Kyi in the 1990 elections.
We are building a nation. Let us have the people's reaction at that time, when the Constitution emerges. Let's wait for that.

Suu Kyi has compromised. She has told Asiaweek she no longer insists on being present at the dialogue process. She has said it publicly.
You know, for us, it is difficult to believe in that. When she was saying that, at the same time she was attacking the government from other angles. She has to show that she is really sincere in what she is talking about.

Still there is this implacable mistrust on both sides?

Sincerity needs to be created with deeds, not only with words.

This edition's table of contents | Asiaweek home

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