More on Burma

Links to a couple of media interviews I did recently on Burma.

Background was that there was a conference/convention planned in Jakarta this week of Burmese exile groups including the so-called government in exile headed by Sein Win, the cousin of Aung San Suu Kyi. At the last moment it was cancelled by the Indonesian government following a complaint by the Burmese foreign ministry. The Indonesian government balked lest it look like they were sanctioning the government in exile. The only real significance of this meeting (which took place effetively in private anyway) was that previously the groups participating were deeply divided over strategy and vision, so the fact that came together to forge a common front is noteworthy since the last time there was a common position among the ethnic and pro-democracy groups was in 1947 on the verge of independence. However the Junta certainly and most of Burma's neighbours in ASEAN take such exile groups seriously as events today have visibly demonstrated.

Anyway two reports:

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/connectasia/stories/200908/s2655929.htm

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-08-13-voa57.cfm





P.S. Having problems posting hypertext links the app does not seem to be working? Anyone help?