With Myanmar's President Thein Sein visiting Australia, his country has been promised aid and military cooperation as his country moves towards democracy, but just how much has changed in the nation formerly known as Burma
LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: It's been three decades since a president of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has been welcomed as a guest to Australia. Today a new era began as President Thein Sein met Australia's Prime Minister in Canberra. The country has been one of the most egregious abusers of human rights in the world, but the Myanmar leader is easing towards democracy, and for his efforts, the world is rewarding him with access and investment. But how far does the change extend? Hayden Cooper reports.
HAYDEN COOPER, REPORTER: The nation of Myanmar is emerging from the shadows. Political renegades are finding new voice and the world's powerbrokers are watching and responding.
BARACK OBAMA, US PRESIDENT: You can see progress being made. You can taste freedom.
HAYDEN COOPER: This momentous handshake between two presidents last November showed the world that Myanmar is back in the international fold. And now Australia too is extending a hand of friendship.
JULIA GILLARD, PRIME MINISTER: The President's visit reflects the remarkable progress of reform in Myanmar since civilian government was established in 2011. You Excellency, I would like to pay particular tribute today to the important role you have played in initiating and driving the reform process.
THEIN SEIN, MYANMAR PRESIDENT (voiceover translation): It is my sincere wish that like Australia, Myanmar will enjoy peace, democracy and prosperity. We have much to learn from Australia. I feel certain that our relations will now enter a new and special phase.
HAYDEN COOPER: The former military ruler and now President Thein Sein is overseeing a program of significant reform. Some political prisoners have been released, media censorship has eased and opposition parties have cautiously taken their place in Myanmar's parliament.
The reward from Canberra is the lifting of sanctions, the offer of joint Defence cooperation and the encouragement of Australian investment.
JULIA GILLARD: Of course, there's much work to do. Myanmar's transition has only just begun, and great transitions like this face many difficult challenges.
HAYDEN COOPER: Outside there was no such diplomacy for the man who many Myanmar refugees consider a murderous dictator. Protestors crowded the country's embassy to condemn the military violence that's still directed at ethnic minority groups. They called for the release of hundreds of political prisoners still behind bars and they accused President Sein of committing genocide against the Rohingya Muslim population.
Cheery Zahau is a human rights activist with little hope in the new regime.
CHEERY ZAHAU, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST: In a sense, no, human rights is getting worse. Although there are a lot of exciting reforms happening in Rangoon and in Naypyidaw, but in ethnic areas it's not getting better. ... In Kachin states, in Shan states we see a lot of human rights violations happening, including torture, including landmine issues, all of this still happening.
HAYDEN COOPER: The story of Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims is one of severe persecution. Over decades, hundreds of thousands have fled to neighbouring countries. In 2012, violent clashes continued. The Rohingya community says hundreds have been killed. Human rights watch accuses Myanmar security forces of targeting the ethnic group in an effort to drive them out. These satellite images show one village before and after it was burnt to the ground in ethnic clashes. The red dots represent destroyed houses.
In Sydney, Mohammed Anwar is one Rohingya refugee who finds no comfort in the new Myanmar.
MOHAMMED ANWAR, BURMESE ROHINGYA COMMUNITY: For a minority, we are losing more rights, we are suffering more and we're at the verge of even losing our existence there.
HAYDEN COOPER: As the daughter of Myanmar's first post-colonial leader, Door Tan Tan Nu recognises the historical significance of this moment. She now heads an opposition Democratic Party and in this Australian visit she wants human rights to be prominent.
DAW THAN THAN NU, GENERAL SECRETARY, DEMOCRATIC PARTY: Yes, this is up to the Australian Prime Minister, that if she wants to raise that kind of human rights question, are there any other questions she should raise? Because as the civilian president, he should also have the answers.
HAYDEN COOPER: Aware of the criticism, President Thein Sein raised the issue himself at this morning's joint press conference.
THEIN SEIN (voiceover translation): I know that for many years the Australian Government and the Australian people were concerned over the situation of human rights in Myanmar. I am grateful for that. I am here in part to display the changes that have been taking place.
HAYDEN COOPER: To these protestors, President Thein Sein is not a champion of reform. And images of him striding the world stage are especially offensive. It's why the message of a new government ready to change is one that victims of the former military regime won't accept.
LEIGH SALES: Hayden Cooper with that report.
HAYDEN COOPER, REPORTER: The nation of Myanmar is emerging from the shadows. Political renegades are finding new voice and the world's powerbrokers are watching and responding.
BARACK OBAMA, US PRESIDENT: You can see progress being made. You can taste freedom.
HAYDEN COOPER: This momentous handshake between two presidents last November showed the world that Myanmar is back in the international fold. And now Australia too is extending a hand of friendship.
JULIA GILLARD, PRIME MINISTER: The President's visit reflects the remarkable progress of reform in Myanmar since civilian government was established in 2011. You Excellency, I would like to pay particular tribute today to the important role you have played in initiating and driving the reform process.
THEIN SEIN, MYANMAR PRESIDENT (voiceover translation): It is my sincere wish that like Australia, Myanmar will enjoy peace, democracy and prosperity. We have much to learn from Australia. I feel certain that our relations will now enter a new and special phase.
HAYDEN COOPER: The former military ruler and now President Thein Sein is overseeing a program of significant reform. Some political prisoners have been released, media censorship has eased and opposition parties have cautiously taken their place in Myanmar's parliament.
The reward from Canberra is the lifting of sanctions, the offer of joint Defence cooperation and the encouragement of Australian investment.
JULIA GILLARD: Of course, there's much work to do. Myanmar's transition has only just begun, and great transitions like this face many difficult challenges.
HAYDEN COOPER: Outside there was no such diplomacy for the man who many Myanmar refugees consider a murderous dictator. Protestors crowded the country's embassy to condemn the military violence that's still directed at ethnic minority groups. They called for the release of hundreds of political prisoners still behind bars and they accused President Sein of committing genocide against the Rohingya Muslim population.
Cheery Zahau is a human rights activist with little hope in the new regime.
CHEERY ZAHAU, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST: In a sense, no, human rights is getting worse. Although there are a lot of exciting reforms happening in Rangoon and in Naypyidaw, but in ethnic areas it's not getting better. ... In Kachin states, in Shan states we see a lot of human rights violations happening, including torture, including landmine issues, all of this still happening.
HAYDEN COOPER: The story of Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims is one of severe persecution. Over decades, hundreds of thousands have fled to neighbouring countries. In 2012, violent clashes continued. The Rohingya community says hundreds have been killed. Human rights watch accuses Myanmar security forces of targeting the ethnic group in an effort to drive them out. These satellite images show one village before and after it was burnt to the ground in ethnic clashes. The red dots represent destroyed houses.
In Sydney, Mohammed Anwar is one Rohingya refugee who finds no comfort in the new Myanmar.
MOHAMMED ANWAR, BURMESE ROHINGYA COMMUNITY: For a minority, we are losing more rights, we are suffering more and we're at the verge of even losing our existence there.
HAYDEN COOPER: As the daughter of Myanmar's first post-colonial leader, Door Tan Tan Nu recognises the historical significance of this moment. She now heads an opposition Democratic Party and in this Australian visit she wants human rights to be prominent.
DAW THAN THAN NU, GENERAL SECRETARY, DEMOCRATIC PARTY: Yes, this is up to the Australian Prime Minister, that if she wants to raise that kind of human rights question, are there any other questions she should raise? Because as the civilian president, he should also have the answers.
HAYDEN COOPER: Aware of the criticism, President Thein Sein raised the issue himself at this morning's joint press conference.
THEIN SEIN (voiceover translation): I know that for many years the Australian Government and the Australian people were concerned over the situation of human rights in Myanmar. I am grateful for that. I am here in part to display the changes that have been taking place.
HAYDEN COOPER: To these protestors, President Thein Sein is not a champion of reform. And images of him striding the world stage are especially offensive. It's why the message of a new government ready to change is one that victims of the former military regime won't accept.
LEIGH SALES: Hayden Cooper with that report.
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