The focus of this week’s Democracy Forum program is the general situation in Burma – politically and economically, as seen by Burmese politicians within and outside of the country.
The National League for Democracy spokesman, U Lwin, talked about the dire economic situation Burmese people now face with looting and daylight robberies becoming more common.
Another national politician in Rangoon – U Win Naing, formerly of the banned Democracy and Peace Party – lamented over the ‘fish that got away’, metaphorically speaking. He said that political power simply slipped through their fingers during the massive 1988 democracy uprising when politicians were – in his words – disunited, short-sighted, and power-hungry.
For redress, he urged Aung San Suu Kyi to take the lead in uniting democratic forces within the country. With regard to last week's meeting of the Committee Representing People’s Parliament in its bid to expand its membership, U Lwin said the plan is still in its formative stage.
U Win Naing, however, is concerned that this move might have a negative effect on the tenuous relations between the ruling military and the democratic movement, not to mention relations with the National League for Democracy.
U Than Htut, a secretary of the Thai-based exile democracy umbrella group, welcomed CRPP’s move saying it was a necessary step when national politics is in limbo.