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So much goes on in Burma these days that it is difficult to keep up with all of the changes. There are many reasons to be optimistic yet still there are nagging doubts about whether the country’s tentative glasnost will go terribly wrong.
Today, to help clarify some of the key issues, I have three pieces to draw to New Mandala readers’ attention.
First is an account by The Myanmar Times detailing Aung San Suu Kyi’s recent visit to Myitkyina, capital of the war-torn Kachin State. It is a very useful report providing much needed context around the issues in what is now the country’s most unstable region.
The second is the lengthy and very personal story of Aung Zaw, the editor of The Irrawaddy, about his first visit home to Burma in 24 years. He goes to Yangon and Naypyidaw during his five days in the country. Aung Zaw’s amusement with the use of “Mingalabar” as a standard greeting marks the lighter end of his commentary. The other is defined by a tough-minded assessments of the media landscape and the officials who seek to control it. It is well worth reading in full.
Third is a piece that I wrote titled “Burma and the road to normality”. It seeks to explain the overall political situation facing the country as the old regime is gradually unravelled and replaced. I hope it strikes a fair balance between critical insight and the expectation that we are now seeing the start of a better deal for Burma’s people. This article will be published in The Canberra Times on Saturday.
Readers with other sources to suggest can certainly bring them to our attention in the comments. There is plenty that needs to be discussed during this crucial period.
All the positive changes we are reading are very exciting indeed.
Towards the end of March 2011, I was invited by the Myanmar government as a publisher to visit the country. My writer and I spent 4 days in Yangon and on March 31, the day we flew back to Chiang Mai, I read the whole speech of the president twice during the flight and saved the paper. I have been telling everyone since my return that I strongly believe every word he said and just wait and see the country would be opening up. And I was right.
My biggest hope is that once the government is able to successfully entered into a longterm peace agreement with the Kachin and Shan ethnic groups, the focus will turn to economic developments including eradicating the cultivation of poppy that is the source of huge problem for many countries in Southeast Asia. Thailand will definitely be able to help by using the successful programs at Doi Tung Foundation. On the tourism front, tourists can move freely crossing the border at Mae Sai to Tachilek and travel beyond. It is not possible at present.
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Nich
A good synopsis of Myanmar since 1962. Just another dogged reminder that there must be a delineation b/t Ne Win and present SG Than Swe and cohorts era.
To the outsiders Military dictators might all be the same.
However in Myanmar case Ne Win self imposed isolation=self sanctioning is continued by the west useless careless policy of overboard sanctions creating the present situation.
Aside from validating the great feeling of, returning after so many years, this Irrawaddy editor, a true patriot, Ko Aung Zaw’s quotes of his is worth repeating:
1) Critical of both Thein Sein and Suu Kyi, he warned that it is never a good idea to put too much faith in one person–advice that he also gave to Suu Kyi, who appears to place a great deal of trust in the president. He added that Burma’s military leaders were cunning and manipulative, and would not give up power easily.
2) Another product of Burma’s era of direct military rule was the rise of super-rich cronies of the generals. Business people I spoke to said that these multi-millionaires, who thrived in Burma’s closed economy, now dread the prospect of sanctions being lifted, as that would open the floodgates of competition.
The answers and solutions to Myanmar becoming another SEA countries instead of N Korea like have been in those 2 statements all along.
Thein Sein made the truism that present Myanmar road to democracy is narrow thus no U turn will be possible.
However he neglect to mention the crucial question:
“How long that road will be ?”.
This dictatorship will like this road to be never ending. The west has knowingly made it so using DASSK so far. How to shorten that process should now be absolutely clear. Even with the best correct remedy of reversing the plight of Humanity within it might still take the same amount of time.
As for the ethnic issues trusting DASSK to make head ways is again a pie in the sky approach. Myanmar will grow out of its problems economically if given the same chance as it SEA neighbors. This is an indisputable historical principle.
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Besides the business class you’ll have to forgive the rest for not sharing the enthusiasm. The lure of the year 2015 is strong on all optimists inside and outside the country and that’s exactly the intention. An entrepreneurial doctor friend of mine was all excited whereas others, a recently retired senior official of an engineering department and a former govt scientist now working for a major Korean firm, were completely skeptical over the sincerity of all this.
The generals are on a roll anyhow. Now that they’ve realised ASSK is just the ticket for getting what they want next and badly, she is suddenly ‘warmly welcome’ and all the rest of it to make it authentic. It’s to the US/EU’s credit that it has lasted as long as it’s done by sticking to their guns. The regime on their part has kept its powder dry except for the KIA. Mao’s ‘let a hundred flowers bloom’ lasted all of six weeks but then the circumstances were different.
The organ grinder has got his monkey and he’s proudly showing off that he’s really a maestro. Let the dollars and euros flow, and no prizes for guessing where they go. To the people? Trickle, trickle….
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The three articles tell more about the “western observers” of the Burmese situation than about Burma.
The “Myanmar Times” article is true example of the husband saying “Look! What you make me do?” while stabbing his wife. If you are for truth, it goes like this.
Kachin, American Baptists for three centuries traditionally want to get on with low land people. But never as their servants. Army always thought otherwise.
1988 shake up forced the military to get “peace deals” to get themselves a free hand to deal with urban uprisings. Many Kachin leaders got rich. Burmese army think they are now morally depraved enough to sell out their own land and people. Well now, Kachin thinks otherwise.
Answer: Unless the simple concept that everyone is equal is accepted by the military, this time round the Kachin are not likely to be bribed or threatened like the last time. Especially after the Burmese military under Min Aung Hlaing has been successful only in traumatizing the defenceless farmers and simply keeping the Chinese pipe going.
Hard to know where Aung Zaw stands sometimes. It is though invariably hilarious that these self-important people claim the very fact that they are at such and such place is itself ultimate proof that the government is different even though it is made with exactly the same material and ingredients.
For the record, none of them are critical of Thein Sein whatsoever or the current form of government. None of them voices directly about most brutal, violent and aggressive WAR with the use,, in a short time frame, of largest number of soldiers and heavy weapons and helicopters displacing tens of thousands of innocent farmers in the history of Burma.
Having Aung San Suu Kyi’s pictures on front page is not news when one realises she is now Thein Sein’s international Publicist. Same goes to all “Exile” journalists.
For the same reason, the underlying tone of your own article is also not realistic.
On a specific point, it was a huge disappointment that Aung Zaw did not elaborate on this “Nay-Pyi-Daw” where he went to see these newly enlightened soldiers wanting to get IMF ( and yes- also the Australian business) money in exchange for simply meeting him.
Does it occur to the “Burmese Observers” that the very name “Nay-Pyi-Daw” itself means there can be NO peace in Burma?
Of course it was built with billions of Chinese money with summary eviction of true owners of the land (all destitute now, some killed and all studiously ignored by the “Democratic Forces”). But that is not the reason.
Than Shwe wanted it as named “Nay-Pyi-Daw” as it is the abode of the kings. By this, he and the rest of the military assume to mean the place for the dictator ( Ye-Myae Shin- –Lord of Water and Land) of all people and land in the boundary of the war time British Map of Burma. That is why the military is busy killing any dissenting parties around. But that is not the reason for no peace either.
The real reason for No peace is because the majority Burman populace including “The Dissidents” in and put of the country, famous and not-so-famous, have never shown any objection to that abominable connotation! Simple yet chilling!
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@3 & 4
Recalling the numerous past posts in New Mandala , guilty like many others, directly and indirectly complicit to making the present military dictator the master dealer:
1) Elevating the importance of DASSK through the useless careless policy, under the catchy vaguest nonsense of “Democracy” that she used to fool everyone.
2) Personal character assassination to EVERY reasonable, advocates such as Dr Steinberg and Thant Myint-U and Ko Aung Zaw who either disagree with the useless careless policy or touted history based moderation.
The differences b/t both of you and the general westerners posters are;
1) Both are familiar with the History of Myanmar, first hand
2) Choose only to condemn, even now, for condemning sake.
Thus projecting the unpardonable impression, to the vast ignorant yet interested , in Myanmar citizenry well being as ONLY the sum of the struggle b/t DASSK or any latest nefarious injustice by this dictatorship vs the dictatorship.
Talk about missing the forest for the trees.
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