Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  That development comes together with the...right now. With land confiscation, with making people landless, with making people lose their homes, lose their villages, and lose their status, development is actually an important issue. Burma is one of the least developed countries in

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Yes, I know that sanctions were imposed only by the United States, Australia, Canada, and the European Union. No other countries imposed sanctions on Burma. And many of the previous sanctions are being eased, suspended, or lifted. That's why we mentioned to the United States gove

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  When we talk about the situation in Burma, there are two issues. One is the lack of democracy and human rights, and the second is national reconciliation. Burma is a country with the longest-running civil war in the world, since 1948. So we might have democracy and human rights,

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  First, many governments now believe that President U Thein Sein is a reformer, that U Shwe Mann is a reformer, and many others share the same sentiment. For me, I don't really believe it yet. I want to see more evidence before I call them real reformers. For me, this is a kind

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  It will be very difficult. The military is above the law, and it has the right to interfere in every executive and judiciary and legislative power. The commander-in-chief has the power to run the military. The military we call “armed forces”, which means only the army, the navy

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  If I made a mistake, I'm sorry about that.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  As I said in my testimony, I support the measured engagement approach to the changes in the country. Mainly, my position is not too fast and not too slow; also, not too much and not too little. How can we balance between too much and too little and too fast and too slow? This i

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  First, as a human being, I feel sad for him. I understand that he came back from Singapore where he was getting treatment for cancer. His cancer is so dangerous now and that's why he submitted his resignation. But it isn't official yet. They haven't made an official announcement

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  One thing that's different is that in South Africa, it was whites and blacks—white occupiers and black residents. This was the fight between them, right? But in Burma, we are fighting among Burmese. The Burmese military who rule the country are also Burmese. We are fighting again

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  First, I really would like to be an optimist. I want to return to my home, to my family, but I can't. I was born and raised in my country. I have been dealing with this government, successive military governments, for many years. I know the changes and what they are doing now, bu

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Not exactly, but I believe that she's...[Inaudible--Editor]. Those governments made an historic visit. They went to see Aung San Suu Kyi and then they told her about this, about that. I don't think they gave her all the information she needed. Also, I don't think she has the ti

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I'm not aware of this because I didn't focus on that particular issue, but I will check and I will get back to you as soon as I get the information.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I totally agree, sir. As I mentioned in my testimony, without addressing the true justice and accountability, any peace-making process will not be credible and acceptable. So we need to set up the international commission of inquiry to investigate those crimes against humanity in

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I know that one of the Canadian companies is called Ivanhoe. Ivanhoe is working together with the Burmese government in a joint venture. You will know that Myanmar Ivanhoe Copper corporation is on the targeted sanctions list made by the United States government. For me, this is

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  This is a constitution that is designed to grant supreme power into the hands of the military. The constitution grants supreme power to the commander-in-chief, so the commander-in-chief can run the military, the armed forces, as he deems fit. The constitution also grants the powe