After meeting with NLD MPs, we then traveled back to Rangoon. We arrived at Rangoon at 3am. It was so tired to travel so far away in a dark road. On our way back to Rangoon, our tour guide Phoenix told us that we might have opportunity to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi the next day.
We were very excited to hear that and decided to change our flight schedule. We suppose to fly back to Malaysia in the morning on 6th July 2012, we then change it to Air Asia flight at 7.20pm on the same day.
Photo: My friend, Bridget Welsh (from left), U Win Mra, who is the chairman of Myanmar National Human Rights Commission and I.
My friend Dr Bridget Welsh came to my hotel to have breakfast with me, she then took me to meet her friend, U Win Mra, who is the chairman of Myanmar National Human Rights Commission.
This man is a former civil servant. He spoke good English and he is very critical, analytical and wise. He is one of the “reformist” in the military junta. He is objective but critical of Aung Sn Suu Kyi at the same time.
He said the budget for his Human Rights Commission has been cut by Parliament recently as some MPs regarded his Human Rights Commission as an NGO, and government is not supposed to give money to NGO.
In that afternoon, we arrived at NLD HQ. To my surprise, the HQ looks so dilapidated.
It has stalls that sell Aung San Suu Kyi’s T-shirts and souvenirs at the front, as I walked in, it looks soooo run down. It doesn’t even have an even floor inside the shop.
Inside the NLD Headquarters
After a few minutes, we were then invited to walk to meeting room upstairs. We saw a senior NLD leader and a few gentlemen sitting there. We were then told that they have been waiting for us since 11am. It was a miscommunication.
We met this gentlemen outside the meeting room at the 1st floor of NLD Headquarters
After that, I then realized that I have met this man in his house in 1997, he was the former NLD Vice Chairman, U Tin Oo. He is 87 years old now, but he still look alert and wise.
The former NLD Vice Chairman, U Tin Oo (middle).
Ms. Eva MP from Indonesia presented statue of Sukarno to U Tin Oo
I presented Royal Selangor Pewter as a token of appreciation for their warm hospitality
After talking to him for an hour, we then left.
These are the MPs from various countries and members of AIPMC, Mr. SonnChay (combodia) from left, Dr. Lim (Singapore), me, Sdr. Lim Kit Siang, Sdr. Tan Kok Wai, Sdr. Fong Kui Lun, Prof. Walden Belo (Philippines)
Ms. Eva (Indonesia) from left, Dr. Lim (Singapore), me, Sdr. Lim Kit Siang, Sdr. Tan Kok Wai, Sdr. Fong Kui Lun, Prof. Walden Belo (Philippines) & Mr. Kraisak
It’s a pity that we did not manage to meet Aung San Suu Kyi again. However, I don’t feel that disappointed as I have a chance to visit NLD HQ.
This HQ changed my thought of NLD. Before I came, I thought NLD must have a lot of financial support from Burmese who are working in all parts of the world. However, after visiting this HQ, I then realized how poor they are.
The following are some of the photos taken before we left the NLD HQ:-
Photos of Aung San Suu Kyi’s father General Aung San
Aung San Suu Kyi together with Hillary Clinton
This HQ reminds us of DAP HQ in the early 70s in PJ. At that time, our HQ was very run down, but according to Fong Kui Lun, the condition of our HQ in the past was better than the present NLD HQ.
Sigh! NLD has to do a lot to re-organise the party. Aung San Suu Kyi might be popular but the organisation of her party is weak.
May Heaven bless them and bless the land of Burma.