Friday, May 15, 2009

Harn Yawnghwe denies official visit to Burma

 
by Mizzima News
Friday, 15 May 2009 17:11

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – The head of an influential opposition group, Euro-Burma Office (EBO), denied a blog claim that a delegation from the organization recently visited Burma.

In a statement sent to Mizzima by the Euro-Burma Office, Harn Yawnghwe, the Excutive Director, said, “There was no official Euro-Burma visit to Myanmar,” adding they have received enquiries from colleagues and media with regards to a report in a blog that insinuated otherwise.

The statement also read, “The EBO does not subscribe to the concept of the ‘Third Force’. In the case of Burma, it is the military versus the people. There is no ‘Third Force’.”

However, EBO admitted that a delegation from the group has met with representatives of Burma's military government on three occasions, in 1999, 2005 and most recently in 2006.

The purpose of the prior meetings was said to be “to suggest that the SPDC initiate a dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and…to suggest that the SPDC negotiate with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic nationality leaders about a transition to democracy,” according to the EBO missive.