US President Obama honors Burmese community workers

President Obama, honored in a speech, people working for community based organizations. President Obama praised the community workers when he spoke to member of the CBO’s in the Rangoon University compound on his historic first visit to Burma.

Naw Susana Hla Hla Soe, director of the Karen Woman Alliance Group, told Karen News.

“We have been working under many forms of oppression in the country. I was amazed and happy that the President acknowledged and spoke in our honor. We now want acknowledgement from our own President [U Thein Sein] on our work.”

Naw Susana Hla Hla Soe said that she was pleased the President had time to praised the community workers.

Attending the meeting with President Obama were TheDaGue Sayadaw Dr. AShin Nyin Ni Thar Ya, Shan Leader U Khun Tun Oo, Ma San Bar Phu from Kachin Peace Network, 88 Generation Student leaders U Ko Ko Gyi and U Min Ko Naing, U Maung Maung from Labour Affairs, Ko Myo Yan Naung Thein and Naw Susana Hla Hla Soe who were among the 14 representatives from community organisations.

Naw Susana Hla Hla Soe said she had the opportunity to explain to President Obama the importance of including women in the peace process that. Naw Susana Hla Hla Soe said she told the President that women should be involved in peace process because “women and children had to withstand all the violence comes with conflict.”

U Khnun Tun Oo told President Obama that if the Burma government wants to set up a federal state they have to stop fighting with the ethnic people and organisations in the country.

While in Burma President Obama met with Daw Aung Sun Su Kyi, President U Thein Sein before giving a speech at Rangoon’s University.