Myanmar Archbishop: “Clinton visit a good step, but state needs to do more”

December 1, 2011 | UCANews.com

(Myanmar) – Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon said yesterday that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to the country signaled significant change in the country but that President Thein Sein had much left to accomplish to convince the world and the people of Myanmar that democratic reform was real and lasting.

The comments came on the eve of a historic meeting between the president and Clinton, who arrived in the administrative capital Naypyidaw yesterday.

Archbishop Bo, who also serves as the secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar, said today’s visit to Myanmar by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signaled that the government had made significant changes but noted that true democratic reform required substantially more effort.

“The government needs to release the remaining political prisoners to show that they are serious about democratic reform,” he told ucanews.com, adding that ceasefire agreements between the military and ethnic minority opposition forces were also urgently needed.

Years of armed conflict have had a devastating impact on the country’s infrastructure and educational system, Archbishop Bo said.

“Through peace alone can the government bring development to the country and improve education. Without proper education to an international standard, we will remain in the dark.”

Read More: http://www.ucanews.com/2011/12/01/reform-work-in-progress-says-archbishop/