SLORC Press: Read the Papers

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Article by Maung Thitsar: "Wonder of Wonders" in Burmese government 
daily, MYANMAR ALIN, August 6, 1996,  p.6.

[Translated Excerpt] "I don't read Myanmar 
newspapers at all and I don't listen to Radio
Myanmar. I listen to BBC and VOA and read foreign
newspapers."
Maung Thitsar heard it clearly. This was stated by Mrs
Michael Aris, whom the Myanmar media has 
been recently labeling as the puppet princess, the West 
Maedawgyi, etc. According to her two minister followers 
[derogatory reference to National League for Democracy
leaders U Tin Oo and U Kyi Maung], they do not read Myanmar
newspapers because they contain only obscene articles.
I was involved in my own work so I was not interested
in news from the newspapers about the soap opera on 
University Avenue Road where Mrs Michael Aris spoke with
great political enthusiasm and vision to ruin the country
and make the Myanmar people poor and miserable.
But, recently I came across articles in the newspapers
about the unscrupulous "democracy" crowd attending the soap
opera. The neighborhood suffered each week due to the rowdy
"democracy" crowd -- the fences were always damaged after
the soap opera and litter created an ugly site and emitted 
a foul smell. In another incident the "democracy" crowd that
was caught in the rain patronized a nearby so-called tea
shop and consumed illicit liquor to warm themselves.
Some bus drivers, who earn their living driving buses
for commuters, in performing their duties were unhappy due 
to road blocks and intimidation while a musician was unable
to perform at a wedding reception because she was caught in
a traffic jam after the soap opera.
Last week, out of curiosity, Maung Thitsar attended 
that soap opera. Immediately after hearing her say "I don't
read Myanmar newspapers at all and I don't listen to Radio
Myanmar. I listen to BBC and VOA and read foreign
newspapers," words from a traditional song -- "wonder of
wonders" popped out of my mouth.
The speaker, clutching a microphone, continued to 
speak but Maung Thitsar, after hearing what she said, was
left wondering.
There are no Myanmar ways in her, only Western. No 
wonder they write and talk about her that she is not
interested in Myanmar, she doesn't study about Myanmar, and
she doesn't think highly of the Myanmar, only of
Westerners. 
Maung Thitsar wonders "Why did she say this? Did she
speak blindly because she didn't realize the adverse effect 
this would cause?" She didn't realize that she had admitted
to the Myanmar public as alleged that "she is not
interested in Myanmar, she doesn't study about Myanmar, and
she doesn't think highly of the Myanmar but of Western
broadcasting stations and newspapers." 
Although it has been pointed out that "she has no 
political knowledge and strategy; that she couldn't walk 
peacefully along the straight political path", but when she 
mentioned that she did not read Myanmar newspapers she was 
clearly admitting her lack of interest in current Myanmar 
affairs -- politics, education, economics, and social 
matters.
Maung Thitsar thought that since every politician in
every country should know the politics, education,
economics, and social matters of that country, then a
controversy will arise why a person not interested in such
matters should be a leader in a political party.
I was deep in my thoughts and I didn't hear what she
was saying. Later, one of her minister followers appeared 
and reiterated that he also did not read [Myanmar
newspapers] because they contained only articles. Maung
Thitsar did not accept allegations without proof.
After returning home, Maung Thitsar picked the past 
week's issues of the KYEMON and MYANMAR ALIN newspapers and
reviewed them. The articles "Lordship blood or slave blood"
and "What and where Aung San Suu Kyi?", which they
considered obscene, appeared only one at a time in one
newspaper. These articles are not obscene; they are true,
and this coincides with the Myanmar saying; "the truth
hurts more than being abused."
Other articles like "The general's [General Aung San -
- Aung San Suu Kyi's father] anti-colonialist will" and "The
CIA's interference in Myanmar's affairs" are articles the
Myanmar people should be aware of, especially so-called 
political leaders. These articles occupy about three or four
 pages of a newspaper with the rest split equally between
local and international news.
Foreign news need not be read because it had already
been covered by the BBC, VOA, and the English language 
press but news on Myanmar politics, economy, education, and 
social affairs could only be obtained by reading Myanmar 
newspapers and listening to Radio Myanmar. Any Myanmar 
politician, regardless of whether on the ruling side or the
opposition, should always be studying and scrutinizing 
prevailing situations. [passage omitted explaining
development news]
Persons who honestly admit their disinterest in 
Myanmar newspapers clearly show their disinterest in
Myanmar's economic and educational matters. If a person is
not interested in national projects beneficial to the
Myanmar people that person's pledge for political
development is meaningless.
Myanmar people are very much aware that the newspapers
and broadcasting stations which those people rely upon are
only producing fabrications and the stations are thus 
termed -- foul air disposal departments. [passage omitted 
refuting human rights allegations and other fabrications]
In fact, Mrs Michael Aris and her colleagues need not
read Myanmar newspapers. They need not study Myanmar's
development to provide political leadership. They need not
have any interest. Although Myanmar's political leaders
should know all current events in Myanmar, the higher
authorities [from the West] including her husband Michael
Aris do not expect Mrs Michael Aris to become Myanmar's
political leader. They also know that the Myanmar people
will never accept a person with a foreign allegiance to be
their leader.  Maung Thitsar understands that what they
really want is to create various disturbances and unrest in
Myanmar which is steadily and peacefully marching towards
the 21st century.
I would like to urge all patriotic party members, who
want to be engaged in politics for Myanmar's benefit, to 
scrutinize and review what Maung Thitsar has presented.

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