"I like her (Arroyo) stand in which she condemned in what's going on in Burma," Duterte said during the President's brief stop to Davao on Wednesday night.
Arroyo who was in Singapore for the 13th Asean Summit deplored the slow pace of democratic reforms and human rights in Myanmar. She also raised the issue of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's continued house arrest. "She (Aung San Suu Kyi) must be released now," the President told reporters before she left for Davao.
"I admire her (Arroyo) courage." Duterte said. "Ang President lang natin ang matapang. Lahat sila sa Asean takot sa mga generals ng Burma (Our President is the only one who is brave. The others in the Asean are afraid of the Generals of Burma)."
Myanmar (old name Burma) is controlled by a military-led junta named the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) composed of a group of Generals led by General Than Shwe. A pro-democracy rally in 1988 was violently suppressed in which an estimated 3,000 people were killed.
Violent crackdowns on pro-democracy protests in Myanmar have merited condemnations all over the world.
Duterte if he had his way would make the Burmese Generals answerable to the world with harsh sanctions. "But I am just a very small player, he said. (RG Alama)
