ASSK's vision of Burma

DURING her house arrest days, one American delegate led by Richardson got a chance to meet her in person as a first ever time she is allowed to see outsider by SLORC. During interview, at one point, Mr Richardson ask - "What would be your vision for Burma, if you were in power?" ASSK response as below:-

 

WELL, my vision of Burma is of a country where we can all sort out our problems by trying to understand each other and by talking to each other and by working together. Democracy is not going to solve all our problems. If people think that democracy comes today and everything's fine tomorrow, they're very much mistaken. I've always told them so: democracy is just a beginning. I subscribe to the view that democracy is not perfect but it does happen to be better than other systems.

 

One of the best things about democracy is that practising liberal democracies always think of talking first and fighting as the last resort. Whereas in a lot of cases talking is the last resort, when they've fought themselves to exhaustion and there's nothing else they can do, then they talk. By that time, quite often it's done so much harm. "Parliament" comes from the word [in French] 'talk', doesn't it? You talk, you talk about your problems, you talk about your differences. It's better to shout at each other than to kill each other. It's not that I like shouting, but it's certainly much better than shooting each other.

 

All this thing about democracy the Asian way, democracy the Burmese way - really you don't need to say this, beacuse whatever system you establish in any country it will become unique to that country. American democracy is different from British democracy. It is different from French democracy, and so on. There wil always be differences, but that doesn't mean that there are not certain fundamental principles which you have to accept. Without these fundamental principles it's not a democracy', which is more or less the same as the 'Burmese way to socialism' [might be like]. One doesn't want just a difference in name. One wants a difference in attitude. And that is my vision, of a country where people are not afraid to work out their differences.

 

You don't have to hold back from dialogue because you think you're going to lose face in some way, or beacause you think you're not going to be able to come to an agreement. When you go to sit down to discuss something you always go. ..with the idea that some kind of agreement is possible. It may take time, it may have to be a compromise, but agreement is always possible as long as the will is there. Sincerity and goodwill are the foundations of confidence, and confidence is the foundation of any system that can succeed...

source: page 256 of freedom from fear