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Mizzima: Talks in Burma should inte



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Talks in Burma should intensify with pro-active proposals

New Delhi, August 17, 2001
Mizzima News Group (www.mizzima.com)

        Ongoing talks between opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the
ruling military generals need not only to continue but also to intensify
with pro-active constructive proposals to move forward for the
restoration of democracy in Burma, an international expert on
transitional justice said.

Professor Paul van Zyl, program director of the New York-based
International Center for Transitional Justice, said it is important that
the talks and discussions currently taking place between Aung San Suu
Kyi and the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to
proceed, intensify and continue to try and find acceptable solutions to
the current conflicts in Burma.

"I think the challenge in Burma now is to find a way to allow those
discussions not only to continue but to intensify and to start putting
pro-active constructive proposals on the table which will allow there to
be some forward movements and allow there to be more thorough-going for
restoration of democratic rule in Burma", he said in an interview.

Prof. Paul van Zyl, who was also an executive secretary of South
Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, was recently in New Delhi
along with his colleague Prof. Nicholas Haysan for a two-day workshop on
"Transitional Justice and Constitutional Negotiation" for the Burma
pro-democracy activists and ethnic nationalities groups based in India.

The two-day workshop participated by about 60 activists of Burma ended
on August 15. Prof. Nicholas Haysan was legal advisor to the President
Mandela for his fourth Presidency and also a central member of
Negotiating Team, which facilitated the establishment of a peaceful and
democratic South Africa.

According to Prof. Paul, the discussions and talks on the questions of
future Burma should also increase within the different opposition groups
as well. "(O)ur conviction is that we need to increase dialogue not only
between the Burmese opposition movement and SPDC but also within those
particular groups and to encourage people to really discuss the
differences rather than allowing those differences to lead to violence
or to division or suspicion or hostility".

"The question is not so much about trying to eradicate those
differences. Differences are and can be healthy."

He also pointed out that the military junta, being in control of state
power, should take initiatives which encourage situation where Burmese
people feel that they can participate in the future of their country.

The international community and opposition Burmese democratic forces
have cautiously welcomed the talks which have been going on between the
opposition leader and the junta since October last year. However, both
sides have not made any announcement on the level and development of the
talks.

(For full interview, please see our webside: www.mizzima.com)



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<font color="#000099"><font size=+1>Talks in Burma should intensify with
pro-active proposals</font></font>
<p><i><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+1>New Delhi, August 17, 2001</font></font></i>
<br><i><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+1>Mizzima News Group (<a href="http://www.mizzima.com";>www.mizzima.com</a>)</font></font></i>
<p><font size=+1>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ongoing talks
between opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the ruling military generals
need not only to continue but also to intensify with pro-active constructive
proposals to move forward for the restoration of democracy in Burma, an
international expert on transitional justice said.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Professor Paul van Zyl, program director of the New York-based
International Center for Transitional Justice, said it is important that
the talks and discussions currently taking place between Aung San Suu Kyi
and the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to proceed, intensify
and continue to try and find acceptable solutions to the current conflicts
in Burma.</font>
<p><font size=+1>"I think the challenge in Burma now is to find a way to
allow those discussions not only to continue but to intensify and to start
putting pro-active constructive proposals on the table which will allow
there to be some forward movements and allow there to be more thorough-going
for restoration of democratic rule in Burma", he said in an interview.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Prof. Paul van Zyl, who was also an executive secretary
of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, was recently in
New Delhi along with his colleague Prof. Nicholas Haysan for a two-day
workshop on "Transitional Justice and Constitutional Negotiation" for the
Burma pro-democracy activists and ethnic nationalities groups based in
India.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The two-day workshop participated by about 60 activists
of Burma ended on August 15. Prof. Nicholas Haysan was legal advisor to
the President Mandela for his fourth Presidency and also a central member
of Negotiating Team, which facilitated the establishment of a peaceful
and democratic South Africa.</font>
<p><font size=+1>According to Prof. Paul, the discussions and talks on
the questions of future Burma should also increase within the different
opposition groups as well. "(O)ur conviction is that we need to increase
dialogue not only between the Burmese opposition movement and SPDC but
also within those particular groups and to encourage people to really discuss
the differences rather than allowing those differences to lead to violence
or to division or suspicion or hostility".</font>
<p><font size=+1>"The question is not so much about trying to eradicate
those differences. Differences are and can be healthy."</font>
<p><font size=+1>He also pointed out that the military junta, being in
control of state power, should take initiatives which encourage situation
where Burmese people feel that they can participate in the future of their
country.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The international community and opposition Burmese democratic
forces have cautiously welcomed the talks which have been going on between
the opposition leader and the junta since October last year. However, both
sides have not made any announcement on the level and development of the
talks.</font>
<p><font size=+1>(For full interview, please see our webside: <a href="http://www.mizzima.com";>www.mizzima.com</a>)</font>
<p>&nbsp;</html>

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