YANGON: 3 December 2011 -- Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon, Myanmar, said Wednesday that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to the country signalled 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 Wednesday.
    Archbishop Bo, who also serves as the secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar, said Thursday’s visit to Myanmar by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signaledl 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.”
    He added that a primary concern for the Church, amid more general issues of democratic reform, was access to conflict areas in Myanmar and communities in need of relief assistance, particularly in Kachin state, where fighting between the Kachin Independence Army and government forces has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of residents.