Interview with Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad about Myanmar Polotics
BURMA DIGEST: Good Morning Your Excellency Tun. Thank you very much for allowing us to interview you.
His Excellency Tun Dr Mahathir: Good Morning.
Question:
Do you see any sign of possible changes in Burma in a near future?
Answer:
Burma is of course not a democratic country and is ruled by the Military Junta. When that happens, it is very difficult to change because the Junta will feel unsafe if they give up power, actions could be taken against them.
1/ This has happened in the case of Bangladesh when Ershad giveup power. He was jailed.
2/ It had happened in South Korea when Chun Doo-hwan gave in to the democratic process, he was charged and he was actually sentenced to death.
3/ And it also happened in Indonesia when Suharto agreed to the democratic process. Action had been taken to try and punish or to jail him.
So these models do not encourage authoratian rulers from giving up their power easily. So it is going to be very difficult to change the political culture of Myanmar/Burma.
Question:
Do you want to recommend something to us, e.g. power sharing situations like Indonesia or South Africa. Do you believe that it will be able to achieve between Myanmar Military and the people e.s.p. with the opposition?
Answer:
It could. But one has to remember this takes a long time. In case of South Africa, it takes three quarters of a century to reach the understanding with the authoritarian government and even in Indonesia, it took a long time. So of course, those people who wish to see change in Burma will have to work and be very patient.
Question:
What is your view on the arresting of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi?
Answer:
That is very unfortunate. I don’t believe that is the kind of action that would bring about reconciliation. XXX
Question:
When you were a PM before, you were one of the persons of the ASEAN, pushing for accepting of Burma as a member. So are there any changes after that?
Answer:
We are hoping that through accepting Burma and having contact with the government, we would be able to persuade them and indeed we tried to show that in Malaysia, democracy was not done us any harm. XXX
Question:
And what is the future of Burma in ASEAN. Can you say that, Burma is a thorn among the roses?
Answer:
Well, it is going to be a problem for ASEAN. ASEAN does not want to interfere too much on the internal affair of a country. XXX
Question:
Recently you are sponsoring the meeting and negotiations for the unrest in Southern Thailand, between the Thai Government and Southern Muslim Rebels. Could you also help negotiate the peaceful transition to democracy in Burma?
Answer:
I don’t think so. XXXXX
Question:
So, incase, the political parties from Burma approached you?
Answer:
But it must include the (Myanmar Junta) government. XX
Question:
And now we have a stalemate in Burma. The Military Junta refused to negotiate with the Democratic parties and opposition. What is your comment and advice? What should we do or happen? Should we go back to the elections like 16 years ago?
Answer:
Well it is very difficult to say. XXX So, those who wish to see Burma change and be more democratic may have to be very patient and may have to wait.
XXX
Question:
But as for Burma, could the Generals’ trend and approach soften towards the reconciliation sooner?
Answer:
I think the different Generals have a different attitudes. Presently, of course, the hardliners have the authority. XXX
XXX
Question:
X
Answer:
But as you know, when they had elections there, she won. And then I think this had frightened the Junta.
Question:
The (Myanmar) Military, as you can see has no mood of releasing the power they got hold of it.
But in Malaysia, you had actually done it. You let go the power while you were still strong enough (to dodge your opponents).XX You dare to let go the powers you have. XXX
Answer:
They might be (scared). (But) I have no fears.
If I give up the power, I did not think, I would be arrested and throw into jail.
But I think the situation is different in Myanmar/Burma because the (Myanmar) Generals feel that action would be taken against them.
So, they are not going to give up. XXX
Question:
XX But for the other Ethnic Minority Races, Muslims and Christians like Chins and Rohingyas are systematically chased out. So…
Answer:
So… well. This of course is a very unfortunate. We believed in being tolerance. And that has the best results.
But sometimes people are sort of carried away by their religious believes. And they do what actually is not taught by their own religion.
Buddhists should be tolerant of the people. But unfortunately some of them are extreme and they are not tolerant but it would not harm them to be tolerant. Besides it would do them a lot of good.
Question:
The neighboring countries like China and India, and Russia and both Koreas are bursting the embargo and are even helping with nuclear technology.
Should ASEAN try to influence those super-power big countries to pressure or persuade Burma to change?
Answer:
Well, we are not in a position to stop the super-powers, to stop the big countries like China, India or Russia. For ASEAN to play a bigger role, ASEAN is not a monolithic set up.
It is made up of 10 different countries, each one has a different attitude towards the problems in Burma. So it would be very difficult for them to formulate an aggressive campaign for intervening with Burma.
Question:
Is ASEAN becoming like EU and Integration and changing of the people of ASEAN possible?
Answer:XXX
Question:
Can UN play a more effective role?
Although not an OIC member, as there are 5-10 million Muslims there, could OIC play some role to pressure Burma to change?
Answer:
Yes, they can play the role but not necessarily to pressure and confrontation. May be to do with engagement. Whether it will work or not, I don’t know but I think confrontation and strong arm methods, it won’t work.
Question:
What do you want to comment about the present economic condition of Burma? Any advice to improve?
Answer:
It saddens me that a country that is, that has tremendous potential, very very rich should actually remained poor, because the government has not worked out a solution that would benefit the people of Burma.
Do you know, Burma is very rich, a lot of minerals, a lot of precious stones.
But wealth by itself, existence of wealth by itself, does not mean anything, until the wealth is mobilized. So the government can, even if it is an authoritarian, it still can work hard for the people.
Question:
Just one more question. Do you think that we all let by gone be by gone, forgive, forget and start a fresh new relationship for the benefit of all the people and the country?
Answer:
Well, I think, if that can be done, certainly, we have to forget the past.
If we think in terms of taking revenge for what happened in the past, there will be no solution.
But if you want to have a good relation, we have to deliberately forget the past.
Because if you keep on thinking about the past, there is no end to the problem.
BURMA DIGEST:
Thank you very much for the time and trouble for our interview.
His Excellency Tun Dr Mahathir:
You are welcome.
BURMA DIGEST:
We are indebted to you for a long time since you were the Prime Minister of Malaysia, for the kindness and help for our people and country. We thank you again because Your Excellency Tun’s words are a great gift for the present Myanmar Burmese scholars and thinkers of both side of the political divide.
We hope Your Excellency Tun’s great intelligence could help us to get a lasting peaceful resolution that is acceptable and beneficial to all the parties; present Military Junta, all the opposition groups and all the ethnic and religious minorities.
We pray and wish for your long life and good health.
His Excellency Tun Dr Mahathir:
Insyallah (God willing). Thank you.
