Burmese Express Criticism Over Razali
The Irrawaddy
By Aung Zaw
January 30, 2002- Burmese citizens have begun to express their growing discontent with UN special envoy to Burma Razali Ismail. The Malaysian diplomat has recently come underfire regarding his facilitation of the ongoing secret talks in Rangoon between the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Razali himself may be unaware of his new reputatuion among Burmese analysts in Rangoon. "We call him the rescuer (of the generals)," said Tin Htun, a lawyer in Rangoon. This is a far cry from previous monickers printed in regional newspapers such as "peacebroker", "mediator" or the latest "facilitator".
Razali, who made his sixth visit to Burma in late November since the secret talks began in October of 2000, is reportedly set to return following UN human rights rapporteur to Burma Sergio Paulo Pinheiro's upcoming visit in February.
Razali’s efforts to bring about a political settlement in Burma were intially met with rave reviews, however, Burmese observers inside and outside the country are becoming increasingly inpatient with what appears to be stalled negotiations causing many to question exactly what Razali is accomplishing in Rangoon.
After meeting with both parties during his last visit to Rangoon, Razali was as optimistic as ever regarding the substance of the closed door talks despite concerns from ethnic leaders that the talks were going too slow and had not produced any tangible results.
Razali recently met Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi and urged Japan to continue its role in developing Burma’s health, energy and education sectors. Razali shared his confidence with Koizumi in regards to a forthcoming transition to democracy and encouraged Japan to offer more aid to Burma. Last year the Japanese government provided roughly US$ 13.8 million in Official Development Assistance (ODA).
Observers are quick to point out that it is not clear whether Razali was given a green light by Suu Kyi and other National League for Democracy (NLD) leaders to ask Japan to increase its overall role in Burmese affairs. Some dissidents, however, who have no direct relations with the NLD in Rangoon have questioned Razali's courting of Koizumi and wonder if he has become the regime's moneyman and instead of the facilitator of the talks.
This view was reiterated on a recent Radio Free Asia (RFA) broadcast when a listener asked,"Is he (Razali) a peace broker or a fundraiser?"
In Rangoon, both critics and NLD sympathizers are awaiting a signal from either the government or Suu Kyi regarding the talks. With diplomats and dissidents cut off from any concrete news it seems the most well-informed group are Rangoon’s taxi drivers.
"What? Dialogue? There is no dialogue," said Ko Pe Khin who has been driving taxis for twenty-plus-years in Rangoon. He added that people have lost interest in politics.Rangoon-based critics feel the dialogue is becoming a joke. "We do not even know if Suu Kyi is alive," remarked one political analyst. "We have not heard anything from her in so long.""Her influence on the pubilc is fading," said Tin Htun. "She is disconnected, very few people are interested in this process anymore."
A famous writer in Rangoon said that the Burmese people would rather see Razali bring in a B-52 bomber and just exterminate the regime instead of attempting to engage them.
While analysts have criticized Razali’s role, they also are questioning the reports that have come out regarding the dialogue. It is believed that neither Lt Gen Khin Nyunt, Sec-1 of the SPDC, nor Senior Gen Than Shwe have been meeting Suu Kyi despite rumors that regular visits have been occurring.
What is known is that the SPDC's "chief negotiator" in the talks is Deputy Intelligence Chief Maj Gen Kyaw Win, someone who commands little respect among Burmese. "If Kyaw Win is representing the government, there is no dialogue," said another analyst. "No one knows who is really involved."
Khin Nyunt’s reputation for being a workaholic has caused some political observers to feel that the government is simply too busy to engage Suu Kyi. On a recent visit to Burma by Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Khin Nyunt could be seen flanking the communist leader. "He was even busier when Jiang Zemin came," remarked one observer.
Following Jiang Zemin’s visit more high ranking Chinese officials and delegations have come to Burma. In January, State Councillor and Secretary General of the People’s Republic of China Mr. Waqng Zhongyu visited Burma. With an increase in high-level officials from China coming to the capital, rumors are abound that China is not in favor of the purported reconcilliation efforts.
Coincidently, the government has again been organizing massive rallies throughout the country with the Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA), the junta’s de facto political party. In the past, people were forced to attend these gatherings to denounce the NLD and Suu Kyi.
The USDA, which receives little to no international recognition, is recognized by China. "This is a show of strength," veteran politician Thakin Thein Pe told the Norway-based Democractic Voice of Burma radio station. There has been a regular exchange of visits between the USDA and the Chinese Commmunist Party (CCP). "It is like they have established a party-to-party relationship," said a western diplomat in Rangoon.
Indeed, Burma’s generals are busier than ever and as a result they have gained more confidence in themselves as rulers. Apart from China, numerous foreign delegations, business people and International Non- Governmental Organizations (INGO) have been meeting with high ranking officials in Rangoon.
In January alone, generals from the Ministry of Defense attended the Naga Traditional New Year celebration in Sagaing division, Khin Nyunt received numerous Chinese officials, Laos’s deputy minister visited Rangoon's Shwedagon pagoda, Burma opened its first IT park and the USDA opened its Myanmar and International Studies Course.
Foreing Minster Win Aung recently told diplomats in Rangoon that 2001 was a positive year. The Burmese Embassy in London also issued a special statement that said, "The year 2001 has been an unprecedented year for the Union of Myanmar in terms of international cooperation so much that one could easily lose count."
And on the homefront military leaders have not forgetten to appease the public. The generals have been busy building more dams, hospitals, schools and bridges with the state-run media continually reporting on project costs in hopes of polishing the regime's reputation.
Unfortunately, Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders have been forced to watch from the sidelines.
As the news of Razali’s next visit to Burma spreads, the generals are surely looking forward to the positive press coverage they have been able to garner from previous visits. Politicians and analysts in Rangoon are also very anxious about the upcoming visit. This time, however, Razali will have a much more difficult time convincing people that the talks are in fact moving forward. Razali may need to redefine his role and step down from the clouds long enough to tell people just what exactly is really going on in Rangoon.