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Myanmar badly needs peace, development: scholar

Xinhua, February 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

Myanmar badly needs peace and development at present when the country is at a stage of democratic transition, a Myanmar scholar told Xinhua in an interview on Thursday.

The scholar, who declined to disclose his name, said that after Myanmar's independence in 1948, there has been in existence of protracted domestic war. At present, the peace negotiation between the government and the ethnic minority armed groups stands a crucial time with respective sides expressing their willingness to move forward to a direction of national reconciliation and peace. However, a nationwide ceasefire accord is yet to be signed.

He commented that the outbreak of Kokang fighting has more or less affected the peace process, impacting at least the atmosphere of peace talks.

"But it is impossible to seriously disrupt the peace process as the country needs peace, which is enduring peace. This is the public's general demand and common consent . They understand most what the 60 years' internal war has brought to the country and the people," he said.

He maintained that for the past several years, the country's slow development was attributed to the absence of peace nationwide.

He insisted that the country needs development and the people needs tranquillity. There must be peace.

Despite fighting in northern Myanmar, the desire for peace of the people never changes with full anticipation of realization of peace for the country, he added.

Daw Ma Khaing, who just came back from northern Myanmar, recounted her experience in the north of the country, saying that the situation there has not yet returned to normal and the real situation is not as tense as presumed.

She said the road leading to the border town of Muse is accessible. The only matter is that the road to Kokang area is not so safe. The overall situation of northern Myanmar is not as envisaged as from outside. But people living there are longing for days of tranquillity.

Some merchants gathering together cannot stay away from talking about state affairs a well as the fighting. They did not avoid reporters' questions. U Maung Maung said there is business in north of Myanmar, saying that he is concerned over the situation there, hoping it can be calm soon to enable businessmen to do business regularly and enable ordinary people to lead their normal life. Endi