Dr Win Naing is the chairman of the National League for Democracy, Liberated Area (NLD LA) in the UK. He joined six other Burmese political activists to deliver a letter to the British prime minister’s residence, No.10 Downing Street, on Wednesday, February 23, according to the Chinland Guardian.
The other representatives were Venerable U Uttara from the International Buddhist Monk Alliance-UK; Ring Du from the Kachin National Organisation-UK; the Rev. Shwekey Hoipang from Chin Community UK; Kyaw Bo Bo San from the Mon Community UK; and Shar Mwe Hla Tun, Karen Community Association UK.The letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron raised the activists’ concerns for Aung San Suu Kyi’s security and also called on the UK to lead the way in condemnation of Burma’s newly installed government.
Mizzima reporter Thea Forbes talked with Win Naing about the letter, Suu Kyi’s security, economic sanctions, the launch of a UN Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses in Burma and the role of the NLD in the UK.
Mizzima: What do you hope will come from the letter you gave Mr. Cameron?
Dr. Win Naing: We just wanted to mention our gratitude to the British government, especially Mr. David Cameron and Foreign Minister Mr. William Hague for their previous statement about the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and also about their statement for continuing support of the Burmese people and more aid to our people.
Q: Do you think if the UK refuses to recognise the new Parliament then other EU countries will follow suit?
A: We have regular meetings every month at the foreign and commonwealth office with government personnel, especially ministers for Burma, and I have already requested the minister for Burma to reject the new government, and he has already mentioned that they will never recognise the new government, that the general election was not a free and fair election.
Q: What is his name?
A: Mr Lewis [Ivan Lewis was minister of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with the Labour Party in the UK until May 2010]. Also, we talked about the government’s last statement in their official newspaper refering to a ‘tragic end’ for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, which the US government has condemned. If something happens to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the main responsibility is the government’s. So we also requested the UK government to join the US government to ask the regime to provide tighter security, to take more responsibility. If something happens to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, it will be their sole responsibility.
Q: Do you know much about her security situation?
A: It is very difficult to predict what’s going to happen, like her father General Aung San, it happened to him [assassination]. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is aware of her situation. It’s very worrying. We are very concerned about that statement. About ten years ago when Prime Minister Dr. Sein Win visited the UK, he met with my family because we worked together in Burma. I asked Sein Win ‘What shall we do if something happens to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?’ So we have discussed lots of things for more than ten years. But we need to prepare properly what we should do.
Q: How are you preparing?
A: The thing is we have our organizations called Liberated Area NLD branches in international countries, and we have to discuss seriously what we would do if something happened to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Q: What would you say the role of the NLD-LA is in the UK?
A: We are in a leading role in the community of opposition organisations. We have regular political strategy meetings, every month, among the organisations, including ethnic nationals. I arrange those meetings and hold the discussions.
Q: In your opinion, are Burmese young people in the UK politically active?
A: Very active. We have regular contact with the foreign office.
Q: How many young people do you have in the NLD-LA in the UK?
A: About 50 people.
Q: What is your opinion on the sanctions against Burma?
A: The sanctions are very effective–that’s why the dictators, the generals, are very scared of them. That’s why they are asking to remove the sanctions. It affects their pockets, it affects their economic state, their businesses. That’s why they are very scared, that’s why they are threatening Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with a ‘tragic end’.
Q: Are you in talks about how the economic sanctions can be engineered more specifically?
A: Yes, we have a forum called the Burmese in Europe. We talk every six months in different European countries, the last time in Norway. We have already decided that sanctions should be maintained, especially the targeted sanctions, and also the investment-ban from the European countries.
Q: What is your opinion on the launch of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into human rights abuses in Burma?
A: We believe there should be a CoI as soon as possible, and that international governments should request a CoI from the UN Security Council. We are asking European governments to participate in a request.
Q: What is your position on UK citizens who wish to travel to Burma?
A: At the moment, the NLD has said that they want tourists to come and to see the real situation in Burma, so as a member of the NLD I have to go along with that.
Q: Do you work with the Burmese refugee community in the UK?
A: Yes, we support the Burmese community, refugees. As an organisation leader, I recommend to those people who are politically active to get refugee status in the UK, and I have direct contact with the relevant office.
