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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Meeting Burma's opposition | Meeting Burma's opposition |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| The BBC has been filming secretly in Burma to try to assess the public mood | |
| As the trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi continues in Burma, a BBC correspondent assesses the mood of the country's opposition movement. | As the trial of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi continues in Burma, a BBC correspondent assesses the mood of the country's opposition movement. |
| For the safety of those we spoke to, we cannot reveal their names or that of our correspondent. | For the safety of those we spoke to, we cannot reveal their names or that of our correspondent. |
| To arrange an interview with the leader of the youth wing of Burma's National League of Democracy (NLD) was difficult. | To arrange an interview with the leader of the youth wing of Burma's National League of Democracy (NLD) was difficult. |
| It had taken a week to meet him, complicated by the fact that phone calls are routinely tapped and e-mails closely monitored by the military authorities. | It had taken a week to meet him, complicated by the fact that phone calls are routinely tapped and e-mails closely monitored by the military authorities. |
| But at last we were told to go a secret location. | But at last we were told to go a secret location. |
| We are preparing for revolution. But the people are scared of being shot by the army, and will not go out on to the streets Burmese NLD activist | We are preparing for revolution. But the people are scared of being shot by the army, and will not go out on to the streets Burmese NLD activist |
| There we waited, concerned - as an hour ticked by - that he was not coming, or perhaps had been arrested. | There we waited, concerned - as an hour ticked by - that he was not coming, or perhaps had been arrested. |
| Finally there was a knock at the door. We shook hands and sat down together. | Finally there was a knock at the door. We shook hands and sat down together. |
| This was the man who could tell us if there were going to be any organised protests against the widely expected conviction of jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. | This was the man who could tell us if there were going to be any organised protests against the widely expected conviction of jailed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. |
| Election concerns | Election concerns |
| Ms Suu Kyi is on trial on charges of breaking the terms of her house arrest. | Ms Suu Kyi is on trial on charges of breaking the terms of her house arrest. |
| Burma's generals have detained her for 13 of the past 19 years, and she has been held in the notorious Insein jail near Rangoon for almost two months. | Burma's generals have detained her for 13 of the past 19 years, and she has been held in the notorious Insein jail near Rangoon for almost two months. |
| I asked the NLD activist why the government was delaying the conclusion of Ms Suu Kyi's trial. | I asked the NLD activist why the government was delaying the conclusion of Ms Suu Kyi's trial. |
| "They cannot let her be free before the elections," was the response. | "They cannot let her be free before the elections," was the response. |
| Everyone I asked said the same. | Everyone I asked said the same. |
| Aung San Suu Kyi has been in jail for most of the past 20 years | Aung San Suu Kyi has been in jail for most of the past 20 years |
| The Burmese military has pledged to hold elections early next year - the first since 1990, when the NLD won a landslide victory but the army refused to let them take power. | The Burmese military has pledged to hold elections early next year - the first since 1990, when the NLD won a landslide victory but the army refused to let them take power. |
| And now the ruling generals still do not wish Ms Suu Kyi - whom locals refer to with reverence as The Lady - to take part. | And now the ruling generals still do not wish Ms Suu Kyi - whom locals refer to with reverence as The Lady - to take part. |
| The opposition activist I was talking to was one of the leaders of pro-democracy protests in 1988, which followed then ruler General Ne Win's decision to suddenly devalue the currency, wiping out the savings of thousands of Burmese people. | The opposition activist I was talking to was one of the leaders of pro-democracy protests in 1988, which followed then ruler General Ne Win's decision to suddenly devalue the currency, wiping out the savings of thousands of Burmese people. |
| These protests were met with a violent crackdown, in which human rights groups say at least 3,000 people were killed. | These protests were met with a violent crackdown, in which human rights groups say at least 3,000 people were killed. |
| Soldiers sprayed automatic rifle fire into crowds of protesters, and other demonstrators were carried away in trucks and never seen again. | Soldiers sprayed automatic rifle fire into crowds of protesters, and other demonstrators were carried away in trucks and never seen again. |
| The NLD man I met also played a leading role in the protests in 2007, when a fuel price hike triggered anti-government demonstrations. | The NLD man I met also played a leading role in the protests in 2007, when a fuel price hike triggered anti-government demonstrations. |
| The protests spread from monks to students, and became an uprising - the most significant challenge to Burma's generals in almost two decades. | The protests spread from monks to students, and became an uprising - the most significant challenge to Burma's generals in almost two decades. |
| But again there was a crackdown. At least 10 people were confirmed dead in the military's response to the protests, and many thousands more - including many monks - were reportedly arrested. | But again there was a crackdown. At least 10 people were confirmed dead in the military's response to the protests, and many thousands more - including many monks - were reportedly arrested. |
| Amnesty International estimates that over 2,100 people are still in jail as a result. | Amnesty International estimates that over 2,100 people are still in jail as a result. |
| Fear of reprisals | Fear of reprisals |
| The man I spoke was arrested after both protests, and has spent many years in prison - but he's still not given up. | The man I spoke was arrested after both protests, and has spent many years in prison - but he's still not given up. |
| "We are trying to make a 1988 and 2007 revolution. We are preparing for revolution," he said. | "We are trying to make a 1988 and 2007 revolution. We are preparing for revolution," he said. |
| The people of Burma are scared of what might happen if they protest | The people of Burma are scared of what might happen if they protest |
| "But the people are scared of being shot by the army, and will not go out on to the streets." | "But the people are scared of being shot by the army, and will not go out on to the streets." |
| "When the people start their demonstrations, there will be shouting - so people are scared and will not come out." | "When the people start their demonstrations, there will be shouting - so people are scared and will not come out." |
| I asked him what his plans were, if Aung San Suu Kyi was found guilty. | I asked him what his plans were, if Aung San Suu Kyi was found guilty. |
| "There will be a small protest outside the prison," he told me. "But we will stay underground. We will keep working, but we cannot do anything." | "There will be a small protest outside the prison," he told me. "But we will stay underground. We will keep working, but we cannot do anything." |
| "One day we will call for a hunger strike outside Insein prison and the government will stop us, but we will keep on going... | "One day we will call for a hunger strike outside Insein prison and the government will stop us, but we will keep on going... |
| "And we will also call for a hunger strike inside the prison. Even she [Aung San Suu Kyi] may go on hunger strike." | "And we will also call for a hunger strike inside the prison. Even she [Aung San Suu Kyi] may go on hunger strike." |
| Army support? | Army support? |
| But Burma is a country with a population of 49 million people, where many find it hard to feed their families, where those who rule do not seem to care - so a hunger strike will not bring change. | But Burma is a country with a population of 49 million people, where many find it hard to feed their families, where those who rule do not seem to care - so a hunger strike will not bring change. |
| I had expected to be told that there were plans for mass protests. | I had expected to be told that there were plans for mass protests. |
| If the one group brave enough to go on the streets before was now afraid of what could happen, was there any hope for a free and democratic Burma? | If the one group brave enough to go on the streets before was now afraid of what could happen, was there any hope for a free and democratic Burma? |
| "If the Burmese were united, that would change everything," he told me. "If the army's low ranks combined with the people, there would be change." | "If the Burmese were united, that would change everything," he told me. "If the army's low ranks combined with the people, there would be change." |
| "But all the low ranks must join the people." | "But all the low ranks must join the people." |
| The government commands a combined armed force estimated to be nearly 400,000-strong. | The government commands a combined armed force estimated to be nearly 400,000-strong. |
| And those in the military live a separate life from the people, so what made this man think that they would be prepared to join a protest? | And those in the military live a separate life from the people, so what made this man think that they would be prepared to join a protest? |
| "I have heard from the low ranks, who see those with the rank of major and above with nice cars and houses - they are unhappy. They want change. | "I have heard from the low ranks, who see those with the rank of major and above with nice cars and houses - they are unhappy. They want change. |
| "But whenever anyone speaks out or is thought to show dissent in the army, they are arrested." | "But whenever anyone speaks out or is thought to show dissent in the army, they are arrested." |
| It seemed that there was little hope of change, but the man remained optimistic: "I believe that I will see Aung San Suu Kyi free before I die," he said. | It seemed that there was little hope of change, but the man remained optimistic: "I believe that I will see Aung San Suu Kyi free before I die," he said. |
| He stopped and looked at his hands. Then he slowly nodded and for a moment his eyes seemed to swell. | He stopped and looked at his hands. Then he slowly nodded and for a moment his eyes seemed to swell. |
| "I will sacrifice myself for the memory of my friends." | "I will sacrifice myself for the memory of my friends." |
| With that, he stood and left. | With that, he stood and left. |
| If Burmese people do take to the streets if Aung San Suu Kyi is found guilty, the man I met might well be leading them. | If Burmese people do take to the streets if Aung San Suu Kyi is found guilty, the man I met might well be leading them. |
| Watch the full report from Burma on Newsnight on Thursday 16 July at 10.30BST on BBC Two. | Watch the full report from Burma on Newsnight on Thursday 16 July at 10.30BST on BBC Two. |