Burma was one of the first countries to recognize the Chinese Communist govt

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NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi addresses reporters on Tuesday in Rangoon flanked by colleagues Win Tin (left) and Tin Oo (right).

On Beijing’s concerns over her close relations with the West, Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday said she is paying serious attention to China and accepts it as a good neighbor even though the two countries have different political systems.
“The National League for Democracy [NLD] has always tried to develop a good relationship with China. We will continue to do so and hope for positive results from our endeavors,” Suu Kyi told reporters on Tuesday at a press conference following her 17-day visit to Europe.
She noted that Burma was one of the first countries to recognize the Chinese Communist government more than 60 years ago.
“So it is not true that we can’t have good relations because of different systems,” stressed the opposition leader. “Burma and China have enjoyed very warm and friendly relations, and problems were peacefully settled whenever they arose.”
The press conference coincided with the release of about 20 political prisoners under a presidential amnesty, and Suu Kyi addressed the issue passionately: “Release all political prisoners! We have 330 political prisoners on our list. Release all of them!” Suu Kyi urged the government.
The opposition leader also told reporters that during her tour to Europe, she found much European support and willingness to assist Burma’s democratic reforms.
“When I met with leaders from European countries, they all said they fully support the democratic reform process in Burma. They said they will try to help in whichever ways they can to make it happen,” said Suu Kyi.Regarding economic sanctions on Burma, she said most of the countries have suspended them but that the lifting of all existing economic sanctions will only be based upon democratic reforms.
Suu Kyi also put emphasis on educational reform, saying that it is important for the government to take the necessary measures, especially to increase spending on education.
“We need to spend a lot on education,” she said. “We shouldn’t say, ‘Help us!’ to other countries while spending so little on it. We need to increase our budget for education.”
When asked about the media law that the Ministry of Information is scheduled to submit at the coming parliamentary meetings, the opposition leader said the drafting process should be more transparent and that people should know who was involved in it.
“People in the media know best whether we are really encouraging press freedom in our country, and to what extent it has been controlled,” said Suu Kyi.
With regard to amendments to the existing Constitution, Suu Kyi said she will cooperate with the military representatives in Parliament.
“We can’t remove them [military MPs] and so we have to cooperate with them. Like I have already said, I am not going into Parliament with the intention of getting rid of them, but to cooperate with them. We can only amend the Constitution if we work together,” she said.
The press conference also covered the issue of recent sectarian violence in western Arakan State, which has resulted in an unknown number of casualties and tens of thousands made homeless.
Suu Kyi told reporters that it takes time to settle disputes between groups that have differences in language and culture. In order to deal with such issues, the rule of law must first be emphasized.
‘We also have to look at whether our citizenship law meets international standards,” she said. reports www.irrawaddy.org

Vice President Tin Aung Myint Oo resigned for “health reasons.”

Thein Sein plans reshuffle his cabinet during the current session of Parliament to reinvigorate the reform process that he initiated last year.Today’s opening of Parliament was attended by 42 of 43 MPs from the opposition National League for Democracy who were elected in April by-elections. The notable exception was party leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who returned to Burma last week from a five-nation tour of Europe and requested permission to rest before attending Parliament in Naypyidaw.
Her party NLD  reported that she traveled to her home constituency of Kawhmu, several hours drive from Rangoon, on Wednesday.

Vice President Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo submitted his letter of resignation on July 1, as stated in the president’s address to the Union Parliament. According to President Thein Sein’s written address to Parliament, which was read by Upper House Speaker Khin Aung Myint, Tin Aung Myint Oo resigned for “health reasons.”It has been known for some time that the former general, who was regarded as a hardliner, is suffering from throat cancer. In April he traveled to Singapore to receive medical treatment, and he reportedly resigned on May 3, shortly after his return to Burma.His replacement will be nominated by military appointees, who hold 25 percent of seats in Burma’s Parliament. Among the likely candidates for the job are Vice Commander-in-Chief Gen Soe Win, Lower House Speaker Shwe Mann and Minister of Home Affairs Gen Ko Ko.

Other possibilities are retired Lt-Gen Tin Aye, the chairman of the Union Election Commission, and Htay Oo, the secretary general of the ruling military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party.
Tin Aung Myint Oo was chosen by military appointees a year ago to serve as one of the country’s two vice presidents. Under Burma’s 2008 Constitution, a new vice president must be nominated within a week of the announcement of his predecessor’s resignation.
Most observers believe that the replacement will be more moderate and less controversial than Tin Aung Myint Oo.He was  regarded as one of the most corrupt officials serving in the former junta.