OTTAWA EMBASSY FOGBOUND IN AUGUST (

[khin_s_w@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

OTTAWA EMBASSY FOGBOUND IN AUGUST
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Part II


Concerning your claim that the Junta has managed to make 17 of the 18
insurgent groups give up fighting and return to legal fold:  This is an
insult to the intelligence of any normal Burmese person.  How could the
Junta make 17 groups stop fighting the government, when these groups
know
that Junta is made up of military against whom they have been fighting
the
past 30 years or so?   It is simply that the Junta has surrendered to
the
insurgents.  The military knows, they cannot win fight against the
insurgents who are directly or indirectly supported "paukpaws". Tell me,

please, when was the last time the Tatmadaw  faced down a foreign
threat?
The KMT in the Shan States were driven out by China's People's
liberation
army. The Junta has allowed these insurgents to "rule" their own
"realms".
Their armies have not only kept their weapons but have resisted SPDC
military rule. These insurgent groups are allowed access into Burma, or
to
assume Burmese nationality yet some "buy" up real estate and businesses
with the money they brought in.  How they got their "money" is another
story.

It is with a "heavy heart" that the writer looks at developments,
especially in Central Burma. In a situation as unstable as this, the
Indonesian scene could be repeated, only that Central Burma is too close
to
Yunnan for "convenient ignorance" of any ethnic program.  To declare
such
agreements as "achievements" is simply an admission of stupidity. For
the
one group still left fighting for their rights, there was no equal
offer,
for the junta knows this group has no "paukpaw" patronage.  It is an
affront to every Burmese to be told they have low-level interest in
party
politics. Throughout our history we have had party politics of all sorts
-
elections of headmen, pagoda trustees, municipal councilors, legislative

councilors, members of parliament.

Concerning the "cloning of democracy":  We tried "socialist" cloning for
26
years after 1961 until the nation had to beg for the status of "least
developed country" in the UN. In fact, the Burmese have the oldest
tradition of modern democracy in Southeast Asia. Concerning your denial
that that Burma is the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic in South East
Asia:
I sincerely hope you are correct.  Is the Health Ministry collecting
"truthful" data about the incidence of HIV infection in the country?
Many
medical officers tell about the "displeasure" they encounter when they
report HIV cases and in many cases were told to "overlook" the "mild"
cases.  For the sake of future generations, do get down to work on these

problems before telling others that they are "barking up the wrong
tree".
At any time without your knowledge your family members may become HIV
positive.

How sweet the dream picture you paint of Myanmar:  low crime rate,
natural
gas flowing from the off-shore wells, turbines running and streets lit
with
bright lights, damned rivers and streams humming with generators,
irrigation provided to well fed farmers singing on the way to their
fields.
 That theme sounds familiar: it goes back to the "blue book" days of
BSPP.
University students can now graduate in half or quarter of study time.
If
only I were younger, I too could  join the "turncoats" returning to
Myanmar
- It would be good to have Ph.D (Yangon) added behind my name.

The crowning success of the military leadership of Myanmar is the
measure
of Human Development Index making the country higher than its closest
"Western neighbours". The question is when was the country reduced to
that
level and by whom ?   My dear generals, return to your barracks where
you
belong and let the civilians govern themselves.  We will supply you with

any kind of toys you want.  Perhaps even offer a few targets for you to
shoot at.  We will make sure you can win.

But spare our own kith and kin and stop ruining the country further.

Myochit M.D.

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