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Fw: 'burmese fairy tale'
- Subject: Fw: 'burmese fairy tale'
- From: aung@xxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 04 Mar 1998 01:24:00
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-----Original Message-----
To: burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx <burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: aung <aung@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tuesday, March 03, 1998 12:11 PM
Subject: 'burmese fairy tale'
SANCTIONS OR NO SANCTIONS
By Moe Gyo (OBLF)
=20
The article - "The Burmese Fairy Tale" - authored by Ma Thanegi, a =
former aide to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, appeared in the 5th February, 1998, =
issue of the Far Eastern Economic Review. In her article, she openly =
criticises Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for demanding foreign governments to =
apply sanctions and boycotts.
=20
By simply observing objectively the not-so-distinct past and current =
situations, it can be concluded that sanctions and boycotts are not only =
politically and economically logical and rational, but also essential =
for Burma's future. The imposition of sanctions, boycotting of goods =
and products from Burma, restrictions on visas for the military =
dictators and their immediate family members are the politically and =
ethically correct steps in the right direction and the positive =
contributions from the outside world.
=20
There is a myth that Burma has been kept in isolation without foreign =
investments and contacts. Ne Win's pseudo-socialist regime had received =
millions and millions of dollars from Japan, Germany - under the schemes =
of economic development aid, loans and grants - and even from the US in =
the form of anti-narcotics and drug-control assistance funds. =
Officially, it has been stated that there is no foreign investments. =
But many foreign multinational companies - such as Schulumberger, Fritz =
Werner, Matsushita, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Nichimen, etc. - were all =
operating openly in Burma. With these newly acquired wealth, a new =
class was also created with the rank-and-file military officials and the =
crawlers and creepers. The members of this newly created privileged =
class enjoyed the fruits of foreign aid and assistance, whereas the =
ordinary people were kept in isolation. Because of the =
misappropriation, corruption, mismanagement and stupidity of the first =
generation of the Ne Win class, Burma has become the least developed =
nation. Where have all the foreign aid, assistance, loans and grants =
disappeared, without even an iota of benefit for the nation and the =
people?
=20
The second generation of the Ne Win class has been ruling Burma since =
1988, behind the facade of State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), =
formerly SLORC. Their titles, the banners and billboards may have =
changed, but their behavior is still the same. Even though they loudly =
declare that their economic policy is the open-door free-market system, =
the doors of business opportunities are opened only for the members of =
the privileged class, and the market freedom is only meant for their =
family members, relatives, the creepers and crawlers, drug traffickers =
and money launders. All this is taking place when it is a subversive =
act for the ordinary people to engage with foreigners. There is =
absolutely nothing for the struggling people of Burma. The poverty, =
misery and suffering, endured by the people, are beyond comprehension. =
The acts of institutionalised gangsterism are happening daily throughout =
Burma. Looting and robbing is now common, and even water is not spared. =
Reports from the Upper Burma Dry Zone describe the diverting of water =
from dams to the army's plantations. No one dared to complain about =
this illegal and inconsiderate activities, as the watergates are totally =
under the control of gun-wielding gangsters. It sounds very hollow to =
claim that these institutionalised gangsters will appropriately use the =
foreign aid and assistant for the development of the nation.
=20
With sanctions and boycotts, these military thugs are now getting =
worried about their future and their survival. For the people, as they =
have already lost everything and are daily struggling for their =
survival, there can be no affect from the sanctions and boycotts. =
Indeed, the sanctions and boycotts have created a level playing field =
for the rulers and the ruled. At this present moment, those who are =
campaigning for foreign aid and assistance are nothing more than a =
devil's advocates. =20
=20
The views in her article reflects that Ma Thanegi is under the influence =
of the so-called "Asian miracle". She believes that irrespective of the =
system of government, dictatorial or democratic, the so-called economic =
development (the "magic wand") will create wonders and miracles. In =
reality, the Asian miracle is nothing more than hocus-pocus. The =
political awakening of Asia is now gaining momentum, and the people are =
now demanding accountability, responsibility and transparency from their =
governments. "Sustainable economic development through political =
reforms" is now becoming a popular and widely accepted doctrine. The =
Burmese military rulers have neither shown any intention to commence =
political reforms, nor are there any signs of compromising attitutdes. =
The world has only witnessed recalcitrant behavior from the military =
thugs. =20
=20
Realism will never become a dirty word for the democratic opposition, =
whereas cronyism is a dirty word. Realism is a dreadful weapon feared =
by the secretive dictators, as they have no guts to face the truth. The =
ASEAN friends of the Burmese dictators are now encountering a =
devastating economic meltdown. Time is running out, and if the Burmese =
tyrants do not initiate reforms, the vaporisation of Burmese dictators =
is now inevitable.
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<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><B>-----Original =
Message-----</B><BR><B>From:=20
</B>aung <<A =
href=3D"mailto:aung@xxxxxxxxxx";>aung@xxxxxxxxxx</A>><BR><B>To:=20
</B><A href=3D"mailto:burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx";>burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx</A> =
<<A=20
href=3D"mailto:burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx";>burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx</A>><BR>=
<B>Cc:=20
</B>aung <<A=20
href=3D"mailto:aung@xxxxxxxxxx";>aung@xxxxxxxxxx</A>><BR><B>Date: =
</B>Tuesday,=20
March 03, 1998 12:11 PM<BR><B>Subject: </B>'burmese fairy=20
tale'<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>SANCTIONS OR NO =
SANCTIONS</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>By Moe Gyo (OBLF)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>The article - "The Burmese Fairy Tale" - =
authored by=20
Ma Thanegi, a former aide to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, appeared in the 5th =
February,=20
1998, issue of the <EM>Far Eastern Economic Review. </EM>In her =
article,=20
she openly criticises Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for demanding foreign =
governments to=20
apply sanctions and boycotts.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>By simply observing objectively the not-so-distinct =
past and=20
current situations, it can be concluded that sanctions and boycotts are =
not only=20
politically and economically logical and rational, but also essential =
for=20
Burma's future. The imposition of sanctions, boycotting of goods =
and=20
products from Burma, restrictions on visas for the military dictators =
and their=20
immediate family members are the politically and ethically correct steps =
in the=20
right direction and the positive contributions from the outside=20
world.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>There is a myth that Burma has been kept in =
isolation without=20
foreign investments and contacts. Ne Win's pseudo-socialist regime =
had=20
received millions and millions of dollars from Japan, Germany - under =
the=20
schemes of economic development aid, loans and grants - and even from =
the US in=20
the form of anti-narcotics and drug-control assistance funds. =
Officially,=20
it has been stated that there is no foreign investments. But many =
foreign=20
multinational companies - such as Schulumberger, Fritz Werner, =
Matsushita,=20
Mitsubishi, Mazda, Nichimen, etc. - were all operating openly in =
Burma. =20
With these newly acquired wealth, a new class was also created with the=20
rank-and-file military officials and the crawlers and creepers. =
The=20
members of this newly created privileged class enjoyed the fruits of =
foreign aid=20
and assistance, whereas the ordinary people were kept in =
isolation. =20
Because of the misappropriation, corruption, mismanagement and stupidity =
of the=20
first generation of the Ne Win class, Burma has become the least =
developed=20
nation. Where have all the foreign aid, assistance, loans and =
grants=20
disappeared, without even an iota of benefit for the nation and the=20
people?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>The second generation of the Ne Win class has been =
ruling=20
Burma since 1988, behind the facade of State Peace and Development =
Council=20
(SPDC), formerly SLORC. Their titles, the banners and billboards =
may have=20
changed, but their behavior is still the same. Even though they =
loudly=20
declare that their economic policy is the open-door free-market system, =
the=20
doors of business opportunities are opened only for the members of the=20
privileged class, and the market freedom is only meant for their family =
members,=20
relatives, the creepers and crawlers, drug traffickers and money =
launders. =20
All this is taking place when it is a subversive act for the ordinary =
people to=20
engage with foreigners. There is absolutely nothing for the =
struggling=20
people of Burma. The poverty, misery and suffering, endured by the =
people,=20
are beyond comprehension. The acts of institutionalised =
gangsterism are=20
happening daily throughout Burma. Looting and robbing is now =
common, and=20
even water is not spared. Reports from the Upper Burma Dry Zone =
describe=20
the diverting of water from dams to the army's plantations. No one =
dared=20
to complain about this illegal and inconsiderate activities, as the =
watergates=20
are totally under the control of gun-wielding gangsters. It sounds =
very=20
hollow to claim that these institutionalised gangsters will =
appropriately use=20
the foreign aid and assistant for the development of the =
nation.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>With sanctions and boycotts, these military thugs =
are now=20
getting worried about their future and their survival. For the =
people, as=20
they have already lost everything and are daily struggling for =
their=20
survival, there can be no affect from the sanctions and boycotts. =
Indeed,=20
the sanctions and boycotts have created a level playing field for the =
rulers and=20
the ruled. At this present moment, those who are campaigning for =
foreign=20
aid and assistance are nothing more than a devil's advocates. =20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>The views in her article reflects that Ma =
Thanegi</FONT><FONT=20
size=3D2> is under the influence of the so-called "Asian =
miracle". =20
She believes that irrespective of the system of government, dictatorial =
or=20
democratic, the so-called economic development (the "magic =
wand") will=20
create wonders and miracles. In reality, the Asian miracle is =
nothing more=20
than hocus-pocus. The political awakening of Asia is now gaining =
momentum,=20
and the people are now demanding accountability, responsibility and =
transparency=20
from their governments. "Sustainable economic development =
through=20
political reforms" is now becoming a popular and widely accepted=20
doctrine. The Burmese military rulers have neither shown any =
intention to=20
commence political reforms, nor are there any signs of compromising=20
attitutdes. The world has only witnessed recalcitrant behavior =
from the=20
military thugs. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Realism will never become a dirty word for the =
democratic=20
opposition, whereas cronyism is a dirty word. Realism is a =
dreadful weapon=20
feared by the secretive dictators, as they have no guts to face the =
truth. =20
The ASEAN friends of the Burmese dictators are now encountering a =
devastating=20
economic meltdown. Time is running out, and if the Burmese tyrants =
do not=20
initiate reforms, the vaporisation of Burmese dictators is now=20
inevitable.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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