Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Burmese doctor impressed by Clinton’s briefing

 
by Mizzima News
Wednesday, 22 July 2009 17:58

New Delhi (mizzima) - Dr. Cynthia Maung, a medical doctor and humanitarian worker invited to attend a briefing by visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Bangkok on Wednesday, said she is impressed by the amount of interest Clinton is taking in Burma.

Dr. Cynthia Maung, who runs the Mae Tao clinic in Mea Sot along the Thai-Burmese border, was the only Burmese activist invited to attend the briefing of Clinton, who will today leave for Thailand’s resort island of Phuket to attend a regional security conference.

“I did not get a separate chance to talk or meet with Mrs. Clinton. I was among the nearly two hundred people attending the briefing,” said Dr Cynthia Maung, adding she was impressed with the keen interest that the US Secretary of State is taking in Burma.

During the briefing, Dr. Cynthia Maung said several questions arose on Burma’s relationship with North Korea and the news of possible nuclear transfers.

Clinton, in reply to the questions, said the US is worried over the news of a North Korean-Burma relationship.

In a separate briefing to the press, Clinton noted the US is “seriously” concerned over the news of a burgeoning North Korea-Burma relationship, conveying, “We worry about the transfer of nuclear technology.”

Dr. Cynthia Maung expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to be present at the briefing, even though she could not have a separate meeting with the US diplomat to highlight her home country and her work in assisting thousands of Burmese migrants, refugees and orphans.