Thein Sein government has retreated from its promises for democratic reforms. Buddhist monks received severe treatment for burns at a hospital after police fired water cannon and gas during a pre-dawn crackdown on villagers and monks protesting against a Chinese-backed copper mine in Monywa, northern Burma. After this crackdown that injured dozens of protesters in Mon Ywar, the government however tried to appear as if had not at all used excessive force. However it was not unusual of them to have used force and violence to respond to any public protests even in this sensitive situation where the monks are held highest in Buddhist communities.This violent crackdown on a protest alone shows that Thein Sein is lying.
His government is exploiting its new friends in Western democracies.