Burmese Language
McCain hails border clinic, urges funding
US senator John McCain, who will meet with government officials in Burma today, told reporters in the Thai border town of Mae Sot yesterday that more funding was needed for the lauded Mae Tao clinic, which treats thousands of Burmese each year.
The 2008 presidential hopeful arrived in Thailand on Monday for talks with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, before heading to Mae Sot the following day where he visited refugee camps and met with Dr Cynthia Maung, who runs the clinic.
“It’s one of the most impressive efforts that I’ve ever seen in the world, and I believe that Dr Cynthia in certain areas needs some extra funding both from governments and some charitable organisations in the US,” he said.
The clinic opened in 1989 and has received praised for its apolitical stance, treating anyone from migrant workers to government militia troops. Its largest group of patients however is the thousands of refugees that cross into Thailand each year to escape conflict in neighbouring Karen state.
The Burmese government is thought to spend less than a dollar per person each year on healthcare, or 1.3 percent of its total annual budget. The woeful conditions of hospitals inside Burma means that the majority of those close to the border often choose to seek treatment in Thailand, where life expectancy is around seven years higher.
“I know that a couple of years ago Laura Bush [former US First Lady] was here and came back carrying the same message, so it’s very rare that I get the chance to meet a true saint, so this has been my opportunity and my honour,” McCain said.
The 74-year-old, who unsuccessfully ran for the US presidency three years ago, is travelling to Burma on his own initiative as a member of Congress, and will meet with members of parliament and opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
Few details have been released about the itinerary for the trip, which follows closely behind that of Joseph Yun, the deputy US assistant secretary for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Bureau who spent several days there last week.
“I’ll meet with government leaders and discuss the situation regarding refugees and the treatment of the minorities,” McCain said. “I’ll point out that because of the unrest and attacks on minorities, they’ve had to come to Thailand to live and to receive treatment when almost all of them desire to return home to their families.
“I want to discuss opportunities for an improvement to Burma’s international standing – that means the release of political prisoners, open dialogue between the opposition, The Lady [Suu Kyi] and the government, and I will urge them to engage in that dialogue and to show that they are really interested in progress towards reform.”
Tags: burma, john mccain, mae sot, mae tao clinic, myanmar
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McCain is true American hero unlike idiot Obama. No one in US media questions Obama intention to dialogue with Rouge Nations. Every countries Obama wants to have dialogue are ruled by Tyrants and we can see what happen to these countries ( Example Lybia, Syria, Iran). He like to have Dialogue with tyrants but to demote US allied democractic governments.
Where did he educated?
If you would like to donate to the clinic, you can do so via their website here: http://maetaoclinic.org/donate.html
Advice to Senator,
1.I am stunch supporter of GOP and I am very glad you are visiting Myanmar and discuss with these thugs. But senator please keep in mind, these generals turned individuals in civilian government are not care for country, party, religion whatever. They will willing to sell country if they can get good return as now they are selling forest and mines to Chinese. They are very selfish and egocentric individuals unlike yourself , you fought for your country but these generals work for their family.
2.You must convince country like Australia and Singapore not to accept Military family to study, reside or open businesses in that countries. They demolished good education system Myanmar had and they build universities in every township and trained high school graduate for 3 years to become lecturer in these universities. In some of universities they got only Chalk, Black Board and Building. But all of these idiots’ children study in Singapore, Australia and Britain.
3. To effect sanction need to punish companies and individuals from SEA countries trading with Junta turned general ruled government.
4. They are very good in promising never delivered pledges, you can observe how they ducked every time when world pressure them.
5. They are more worse than Qadaffi, they are grand father of Amadenajad. Generals only know guns, so only one way you can ask them to come negotiating table is arm the opposition. I trust only this option can solve this problem.
Who is smart, The Burmese general make their family rich and ask US tax payer, Canada tax payer, Europe tax payer to look after Burma health care system. I hope all tax payer should do their part.Trust me every democractic government are beggers, every four year or five year they have to go around and prove themself to their citizents that they are good leaders and will spend tax payer money well when they are in power.