Suu Kyi: China is not our benefactor, just a neighbour

Suu Kyi: China is not our benefactor, just a neighbour

Published on Friday, 30 November 2012 17:36

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi holds press conference at Win Unity Hotel in Monywa Township(Photo-EMG)

Myanmar opposition leader and parliamentarian Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said on Friday that Myanmar should not regard China as a generous benefactor, but just as a neighbour of Myanmar.

After meeting with the locals and the management of Chinese Wanbo Copper Company which is operating Latpadaungtaung copper mine project in central Myanmar, the Noble laureate held a press conference in Monywa township during a visit to the area.

Regarding bilateral relation with China, she said, "I want to see a settlement over the copper mine project. The dispute should not be settled with loathing and agony.  We should find the best way to solve this problem."

"The locals actually do not keep agony. They just want to protect the area, and they expect the development of their land. This is their right."

She also said that they will try to solve this problem by forming a commission with the persons concerned and the representatives of locals to look into the project.

The 67-year-old said, "China is a neighbour, not a benefactor, which cannot be separated from each other until the end of the world."

She said, "China has been a lasting friendship with Myanmar. While our country is adopting 'democratic system', we must keep the prolong peace with China which is practicing Communism."

"Firstly we should have mutual understanding about the case. I believe the commission will help a lot for the mutual understanding. I believe the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited will do as best as it can to achieve the mutual understanding between it and the villagers. According to the agreement reached, there is still no proposal to halt the project submitted to the parliament. We can assess the current situation of the project only if it's not stopped."

"We need to discuss about the project whether it can be damaged or not to the environment. The representatives of villagers can discuss. I understand that it will be convenient for us. I want to ask for your help that we need to support and deal the situation with success. We have to try to reach an agreement between us if we really want a true democracy," she said.

She continues about the crackdown, "Of course, everybody knows the responsible police did it, but we must find out how it happened. Everyone grieves on the event. We need to sort out the issue. It needs to expose the situation as soon as possible. I think it is required to express apologies to the monks too. I have also talked over to release any detainees. They say there is no detainee. If there is any detainee, I will work on releasing them. I take responsibility. If anybody knows that someone is detained, please tell me. I will solve it. The responsible persons told me that they didn't detain anyone. Even if they did, I will take responsibility for the release of them."

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi arrived Ohn Chan quarter in Monywa town at around 8:30 AM today to give a speech and then she met with the officials and villagers from the Sagaing Region at the hotel. Then she met reporters to make a press conference at around 2:30 PM and left Monywa after that.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2012/11/30/suu-kyi-china-is-not-our-benefactor-just-a-neighbour-2/