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| Burma President Thein Sein in an interview with BBC Burmese. |
PART I: POLITICAL PRISONERS, SECTARIAN VIOLENCE, TIES WITH NORTH KOREA
BBC (Daw Tin Htar Swe): Mr. President, you had guaranteed that, by the end of this year, there would not be a single political prisoner. On the other hand, we're seeing political activists being arrested. So can what you promised become a reality?
Thein Sein: If you're talking about prisoners of conscience, we have released them in numerous rounds. To my knowledge, I don't think there are too many of them left now. Nevertheless, we have formed a group to investigate [the cases]. This team is made up of government representatives, those from civil societies, and those who were once prisoners themselves but have been released. This group is reviewing the cases in details. After their reviews, we release those who should be released. These reviews followed by releases, and more reviews and releases, should, I think, be all over by the end of this year, and all would have been released. The remainder would be those who've committed crimes, such as murder, bombing, and rape. These criminals would have to face the law's judgement according to international standards.
BBC: Yes, but what about the new arrests?
Thein Sein: To my knowledge, the number of new arrests are not consequential. The new ones too are subject to review, and after review, we'd have to release them too. There should be no imprisonment without a crime.
BBC: Mr. President, you yourself once remarked, "There are those who use religion to benefit themselves by spreading hate." Yesterday, in your speech, you said "zeo tolerance" for conducts that promote hate, that you wouldn't put up with them. Will we start to see actions taken against those who promote hate?
Thein Sein: Quite right! Even though these affairs stemmed from normal crimes, there are people inside the country who've been fueling religious and racial conflicts. Some don't openly instigate, but they do it from the internet. Similarly, there are also foreign sources that spur them on. To the foreign entities, we notify the relevant organizations and ask them to discontinue. That's all we can do with overseas entities. With those inside the country, we have exposed some and charged some. We'll continue these efforts. We're also identifying those who have committed crimes during the riots and hold them accountable by law.
BBC: If I may follow up, then, after these riots, the monks' effort to introduce the Race-Protection Act is also gaining momentum. May we know your personal opinion on this Race-Protection Act?
Thein Sein: Like I've said before, in our constitution, we acknowledge Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam as the four major faiths. There are those with their own beliefs too. We offer full freedom to worship in the constitution. Regarding this Race-Protection Act, I haven't seen it yet. Haven't read it either. Since I've neither seen nor read it, it's premature for me to weigh in and say whether it's good or bad. But the government will fully protect what's guaranteed under the constitution.
[The Race-Protection Act, called Myo Saunt Upade in Burmese, is an initiative spearheaded by some conservative Buddhist monks in Burma. The draft law aims to discourage Buddhist-Muslim marriages--specifically Buddhist brides marrying Muslim men. For more, read "Monks’ Convention in Burma Calls for Restricting Buddhist-Muslim Marriage," The Irrawaddy, June 13, 2013.]
BBC: There has recently been reports of evidence of military relationship between North Korea and Burma. Because of this, U.S. has placed restrictions on a certain Burmese Army official. Why, in spite of the international community's concerns, is [Burma] maintaining military ties with North Korea?
Thein Sein: On this topic, as you know, for the last 20 years, our country had been under economic sanctions. We needed the Army to protect us; we also needed military strength. No other country was trading with us. To protect our own country, we had to purchase arms and equipment from whichever country that was willing [to sell]. We could get them from North Korea, so there had been communication with them and purchases from them. But I can firmly say there's been no dealings in nuclear-related weapons or technologies. We don't possess such technologies. We can't afford them either. But we did buy some weapons and ammunition that other countries have been using too. But that's during the previous government's reign, the military regime's time. When our government came to power, we discontinued these ties. We gradually withdrew from these activities. I have to say, there's now no military ties between North Korea and us. Still, this is a country that we keep diplomatic relationships with. So except diplomatic communications, in our government we keep clear restrictions with North Korea, and we don't have ties. That's what I'd like to say. But about why U Thein Htay had to do what he did, it could have been remnants of the past ties. In our time, we don't have ties.
BBC: Mr. President, you said there's absolutely no ties. But might the Army be communicating [with North Korea] without your knowledge?
Thein Sein: I can't speak to that. I won't be able to say if they're communicating without my knowledge. But we have clearly instructed the Army not to.
[On July 2, 2013, U.S. Treasury Dpt. singled out Lt. General Thein Htay, the head of Burma's Directorate of Defense Industries, for sanctions. The Treasury cites "illicit trade of North Korean arms to Burma" as the cause. That means U.S. citizens are "prohibited from engaging in any transactions with [Thein Htay], and any assets he may have subject to U.S. jurisdiction are frozen." The Treasury's press announcement is published here.]
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| Daw Tin Htaw Swe, Bureau Chief, BBC Burmese, interviews Thein Sein. |
PART II: TRUCE WITH ETHNIC INSURGENTS, 2015 ELECTION, SLANDEROUS ARTICLES
BBC: Another question related to the Army, about the cease-fire agreement with armed tribal insurgent groups, and the ongoing peace negotiation with them. There's still ongoing conflicts. Mr. President, you have ordered to cease hostilities. Are these ongoing fights an indication that the Army is disobeying your order?
Thein Sein: I'd have to say that's not true. To date, we have met with 12 groups for peace negotiation, secured agreements with them. Now we have secured their promise to cease fighting. We have plans to sign a nationwide cease-fire agreement very soon. In Kachin State, the sound of gunfire has been silenced--No more armed conflicts there. The same with Karen State. In Shan State, there are still sporadic fighting at the lower level. There are causes for these. For instance, the other side came to demand levy. The affected villagers complained to us. The Army went to defend them. Along the way, they met and traded fires. More or less, these incidents still occur. I don't think that's disobeying order.To prevent these, we've formed monitoring committees, and we'll work to stop them for good. It's not fighting that occurs due to orders issued by the higher-ups; it's conflicts brought on by disturbances at the lower level. We're doing everything possible to avoid these. In the future, once we've signed case-fire agreements, with the help of monitoring committees, we'll continue to work to prevent them in these territories. They're not caused by a refusal to obey orders. They stemmed from unfortunate circumstances on the ground.
BBC: I'd like to ask you about the 2015 election. Both U Shwe Mann [Thura Shwe Mann, speaker of the House of Representatives] and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have explicitly said they'd like to be candidates. In your view, Mr. President, who is your main rival?
Thein Sein: As far as I'm concerned, I've been often asked in interviews if I'll be running for another term. I've answered repeatedly too. Today, I have no plan whatsoever to run in the election. In my mind, I'm preoccupied with securing peace during my administration's time. We're currently still working on it. I also want to develop the country economically. Next, I want to give the young people a brighter future. That's all I'm thinking right now. Since that's all I'm thinking now, I'd say neither of them is my rival.
BBC: Mr. President, you have previously said, "If the people want me to, then, to comply with their wish, I'd run." I remember you saying that in New York. Since U Shwe Mann and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi are both formidable leaders, I just want to know, if you do decide to run, who's your rival?
Thein Sein: I guess I'll have to repeat it. I've said it before. Because of my age and health, I'm not hoping to run for the next term. But I am currently someone responsible for running the country. I can't foresee what will happen in 2015. So I'll observe the country's condition and the public's desire. I'll have to see--That's all I'm saying. So the two you mentioned are not my rivals.
BBC: If I may pose one final question, we've lately been reading some articles--articles attacking your opposition. So could these articles impede democratic reforms? Could they lead to a loss of credibility among the people?
Thein Sein: We have granted a lot of press freedom. We don't have a Literature Inspection Board or something like that. In democratic practice, people are free to speak, write, and assemble. These are rights we offer in the constitution. So under the democratic system, there'll be praises as well as attacks, accusations, and rebukes. But if they amount to personal attacks and injurious acts, then there's the protection of the law. So we'll act according to the law. So because of these writings and critical remarks, the reform efforts from our side are not likely to lose momentum. We'll carry on with good intention.
[During military rule, Burma kept tight censorship through its Literature Inspection Board (Sar Pay See Sit Yay). Publishers of print materials, from periodicals to novels and comics, were required to submit their manuscripts to the board for approval. The requirement was abolished soon after Thein Sein came to power.]
BBC: Yes, but the writer happens to be an adviser of yours.
Thein Sein: Which article might that be?
BBC: Two articles. One suggests there's no need for the Parliament because the president's capabilities ...
Thein Sein: Oh, oh, yes, I read that article too. I read it in The Messenger. I personally don't know who that [the author] is. My adviser, someone's adviser, or someone who's not an adviser--whoever that is, they have the right to freely express themselves. Free to speak, free to assemble, these are constitutional rights. So we all have to accept it. Good, bad, true, or false? The public will have to decide.
[An elusive blogger who went by the pen name Dr. Sate Phwar (or Seik Phwar) wrote articles that ridicule Suu Kyi's NLD party and the Burmese lawmakers. His writings ultimately led to the MPs calling for an inquiry into his true identity, reported Eleven Media. The name Dr. Sate Phwar, which literally translates to Dr. Goatee, might have been inspired by the fictional character with the same name in a series of popular detective novels by Min Thein Kha (deceased). In the novels, the character Professor Dr. Sate Phwar was depicted as a curmudgeon and eccentric philosopher, apparently with an answer for everything.]
BBC: Yes, Mr. President, on behalf of BBC, may I offer my special thanks for allowing us to pose you questions?
Thein Sein: Yes, I too thank you for the opportunity to address your questions. And I wish BBC and its community great health.
[My thoughts on 2015 election, "An Then There Were Two: Thein Sein Not Planning to Seek a Second Term."]
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