Despite International community is taking interest in peace talks, which is a part of transition to democracy and Rakhine affairs, they’ve paid little attention to Myanmar’s people hopes and expectation, said State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
The State Counsellor, who is on a visit to Prague, Czech Republic, delivered a lecture on Myanmar’s transition period experience titled “Challenges faced in transitioning to a democratic system” at Charles University on June 3, announced the State Counsellor Office.
In her lecture, she said there was a time difference of only a year between Myanmar and Czechoslovakia’s transition to democracy. Czechoslovakia’s transition was smooth without any bloodshed. Myanmar people’s demonstration for reform in 1988 was not peaceful and smooth compared to Czech Republic’s Velvet Revolution. The National League for Democracy (NLD) participated from the 2012 by-election and it won the majority vote in the 2015 General Election and was able to form a government. However the NLD is trying to amend the constitution as it is not in accordance with the democracy standardizations, she said.
Similarly, the 21st Century Union Peace Conference work processes were conducted and after the NLD government took over the responsibility of the country, it also inherited the Rakhine State affairs. In the least developed Rakhine State, conflicts between two communities first broke out in 2012 which brought international attention towards it. To resolve the problem at its root, the Central Committee for Implementation of Peace, Stability and Development in Rakhine State was formed. Suggestions and recommendations from a commission led by Dr Kofi Annan were also requested to handle the problems in the best possible way to bring peace and harmony to that region, she added.
Due to the follow up incidents after the ARSA terrorist group’s attack on police outposts in the border region in October 2016 and Tatmadaw’s response to it, Rakhine became the sole and only focus of international attention in Myanmar. Transition to democracy, peace discussions and Rakhine affairs were only part of Myanmar’s transition process, but it became the focus of international attention. There was not much interest on Myanmar people’s hopes and expectation for more than half a century. The main requirements of the people were water, good transportation, sufficient electricity, good education and health care. These were normal matters that were of no international interest. Due to similar democracy transition processes, Myanmar and Czech Republic had mutual understanding, said the State Counsellor.
After the lecture, the State Counsellor was presented with the Historical Medal Charles University award by the Rector of Charles University.
The State Counsellor attended a working breakfast hosted by Czech Republic Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek.
Both sides discussed matters relating to increasing bilateral cooperation and relations, economic and investment sector, increased engagement and relations via cooperation work processes and exchanging and sharing experiences in education, health and democratic transition works.
The State Counsellor and Czech Prime Minister attended a Myanmar-Czech Economic Forum held at the Czech Republic Foreign Ministry where the State Counsellor delivered a speech.
She went to the opening ceremony of the Myanmar Embassy in Czech Republic.
At the ceremony the State Counsellor and Czech Foreign Minister cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the embassy and sprinkled scented water onto the commemorative plaque.
After that the State Counsellor and Czech Foreign Minister had delivered speeches and they posed for a commemorative group photo with ambassadors from ASEAN countries.
Later, the State Counsellor inspected the embassy and then took a commemorative group photo with Myanmar students studying in the country, Myanmar citizens residing in that country and embassy families.
