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SLORC Press: ASSK Using or Being U



Subject: SLORC Press:  ASSK Using or Being Used?  

Article by Phyo Aung: "Is She Using or Being Used?" in THE NEW LIGHT OF 
MYANMAR, August 7, 1996, p. 3

Begin Text:  

 I notice that MAINICHI Daily 
published in Japan very often carries "Letter from Burma"
series articles written by Aung San Suu Kyi alias Mrs.
Michael Aris. In a letter entitled "Life is seldom dull for
those who disagree" which appeared on the 24th June 1996
issue, it was found that those working for the National
League for Democracy and those working for democracy in
Myanmar were defined as dissidents of the Government. I
also noticed that the State Law and Order Restoration
Council was accused as a dictatorial government and
as the one which does not desire democracy. I have nothing
to say about Mrs. Michael Aris and group's regarding
themselves as dissidents of the Government. However, as
Myanmar Naing-Ngan has a population of about 47
million and is home to various races of nationals these so-
called dissidents are just minority, not worthy to mention
about. The writing that the State Law and Order Restoration
Council is a dictatorial government and that it is a
government which suppresses those who want democracy was
just a groundless accusation.
Everybody desires democracy. In Myanmar too, democracy
was practiced in successive periods. But there were 
differences in the way and policy it was applied. The policy
from the time independence was regained in l948 to l962 was
a system of administration executing democracy after
forming a parliament. Thus it was called parliamentary
democracy. The interim from 1962 to 1974 was the
transitional period from parliamentary system to Myanma
Socialist Lanzin Party era during which socialist
democracy practices were cultivated. Democracy was
practiced in accord with the socialist policy from 1974 to
1988. It was therefore known as the socialist democracy 
system. The present era is a transitional period to
multiparty democracy age. It can thus be said that it is
transformation into multiparty democracy system. The State
Law and Order Restoration Council Government which is
taking up duties of the present interim is the government
shouldering responsibility for systematic transformation
into a multiparty democracy system.
It is the government which is cultivating compatible
practices so as to be able to transform from one-party
socialist democracy system to multi-party democracy system.
So it cannot be accused that the State Law and Order 
Restoration Council is a government which does not desire 
democracy or a government which opposes democracy.
The time a country is encountering with a transitional
period for the political change is a crucial period. The
governments which take up duties during these periods have
to shoulder more immense responsibility than those in power
in normal periods. The most important thing is to maintain
internal stability so as to enable transformational process
go smoothly and peacefully. Lessons should be taken from 
the countries in the world which are facing a lot of
bloodshed in the transitional periods. Moreover, it must be
mindful of external interference. It must always be
deliberated with farsightedness over the collapse of
internal unity and stability that might cause due to
external interference. If the unity collapses, the country
is liable to be separated into different parts. There were
instances after the World War II that small countries were
separated into eastern and western parts and southern and
northern parts due to interferences of powerful nations.
Till today, there are countries which cannot be unified.
Some countries, even though they did not split into 
different parts, had become puppets of the powerful
countries.
Powerful nations usually meddle to take the reins in a
nation's transitional period. They usually try to put those,
who will dance to their manipulation, to throne. As such, 
it is of prime importance for the State Law and Order 
Restoration Council which is taking up State duties in the 
transitional period to ward off external forces likely to 
manipulate overtly or covertly with intent to cripple the 
non-disintegration of the Union, the non- disintegration of 
national solidarity, and the perpetuation of sovereignty.
The Government which is shouldering such immense 
duties cannot look with folded arms at those attempting to
hamper internal stability under the pretext of democracy. It
has to prevent with various means the acts to defy laws and
 disciplines and the attempts with reliance on external
elements to spilt consolidation of unity. This cannot be
assumed that those who desire democracy are suppressed.
A review of the situation will show that Mrs. Michael
Aris is said to be doing politics with the backing of the
National League for Democracy. If so, her rank is just a 
responsible person of a political party. Why big nations
from outside are doing for, taking much interest in and
exaggerating about Mrs. Michael Aris' political party which
is one of the ten in a small nation of Myanmar? Why the
world's media has come out in force to extend a helping
hand in releasing her speeches and her written materials? 
Considering Myanmar's being in a state of political change,
it can easily be understood. Is it to cause disintegration
of the union and then exploit the situation? Or is it to
help a puppet group gain power and make it their henchman.
There may be some kind of a reason. Puppet groups, at the
same time, are trying to keep mentors. They are ready to
approach the embassies even for trifles, write letters to
them and seek all kinds of help. They have been busy 
consulting with the puppeteers at tea, or at lunch. They
move about quite frequently between the University Avenue
and Western embassies to visit the latter.
Mrs. Michael Aris herself instigated foreigners not to
invest in Myanmar, not to give aid to Myanmar, and to impose
 economic sanctions against Myanmar. The aim of her seeking 
assistance is obvious, to gain power for herself and her 
followers.
Foreign nations apply various means to praise her with
different awards to attract the world attention. Obviously, 
they are doing so in order to interfere in the internal
affairs of Myanmar which is of strategic importance in East
Asia and the Pacific and to enable their henchmen to gain
power. 
It is worthy of deep consideration: "Is she using them
or is she being used?"
It is not that Mrs. Michael Aris and her followers, the
National League for Democracy alone aspire for democracy.
There are ten political parties in Myanmar. All of them
aspire for democratic system. Some parties have laid down
the programme and guidelines but some do not. Noticeably,
which are truly parties have their specific programme and
guidelines. Some parties, however, have not laid down
specific political programme or guidelines though they are
shouting for democracy at the top of their voice. It
appears that they are going to exploit the prevailing
situation. They do not even know clearly whether democracy
is a programme or a practice. But they do know to demand
transfer of power. What is worse, though they have not been
able to lay down their own party guidelines precisely and 
properly, they are declaring that they are going to write
the constitution. It is something to be worried about the
country's fate.
If different voices of individual persons or groups 
are overlooked for the sake of democracy, the people of the 
nation will not be able to follow the path of national
politics which they should today. As such, the government
which is assuming State responsibilities today will have to
stand by the wishes of the mass of the people and all the
national races rather than that of the self-proclaimed
dissidents.
A study of important persons surrounding Mrs. Michael
Aris will show that they had been able to secure 
influential positions in one era or another. They had served
in the government or as the chief of staff in the Tatmadaw
or in high-ranking positions in departments. Those who
retired, had been removed or asked to
resign can be pointed out. Mrs. Michael Aris knows herself
but she will not be able to know those people. It will not
be known correctly why those people are near her. She
herself had been away from Myanmar. Suppose she had not
been away, it will not be possible to be aware of hidden
intentions of those people. That is why she is using them 
as the persons who share her view and dissidents who
disagree with the government. Those people could not forget
their good days in the past. Thinking that they will be
able to gain power once more in the nation's political
change, they wear the masks of democracy flank Mrs. Michael
Aris who lost her way and arrived in Myanmar and use her as
a nominal leader.
It is worthy of consideration. Is she using or being
used?


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