The True Situation Of Myanmar (r)

[dohrs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Reply-To: "W. Kesavatana-Dohrs" <dohrs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>


Nice to hear from a dentist.  The following is what a researcher, writing
for an internationally recognized, authoritative journal of military
affairs writes: 

"A brutal if low-intensity war of attrition is being waged by the
 Burmese government against the only sizeable minority army in Shan
 state not to have not signed a peace agreement. The conflict and the
 government's policy in dealing with it has caused probably the
 worst, and least documented, human-rights abuses currently in Asia.

 Refugees from the fighting arriving at the Thai border recount
 harrowing stories of forced labour, forced relocation to rural
 squatter camps, conscription for portering, gang rape and mass
 murder, all at the hands of Burmese Army troops.

The extent of the dislocation of villagers and the brutality the
 military displays in dealing with civilians, including the rapes and
 massacres of children, has led many Shan leaders to suspect that
 Rangoon is intentionally depopulating Shan State."

Source:  Jane's Intelligence Review  November 1, 1998

Ahh, rapes and massacres of children.  Now that is what I'd like the
dentist and his friends now in the employ of the Burmese Army to comment
on.  But I guess they don't get paid to do that.

LD



On Tue, 10 Nov 1998, Dr. Tun Aye wrote:

> **********************************************************************
> "The True Situation Of Myanmar" 
> .... by  Dr. Tun Aye (Dentist),  Myanmar Association in Japan, JAPAN 
> **********************************************************************
> 
> (1)  Who so ever should govern the country they will recognize as the
> Government (in power) ..... is a view subscribed to by most Myanmar
> citizens especially in the rural areas.
>  (Ref:  Win Naing; "Diary of My Travels In Myanmar" , New Light of 
>           Myanmar, 11th. October ,1998. )
> 
> (2)  What the Myanmar people desire most is to live their daily lives
> and earn their livelihood in peace more so than to talk about human
> rights, democracy. What the ordinary citizen desires most is to prevent
> another outbreak of political violence and unrest in the country
> (especially anarchic conditions as in 1988)
>  (Ref:  Win Naing; "Diary of My Travels In Myanmar" , New Light of 
>         Myanmar, 11th. October ,1998. ) 
>  
> (3)  All Myanmar citizens share a common desire for a reduction in the
> cost of living and an adequate supply electrical power.
>  (Ref:  Win Naing; "Diary of My Travels In Myanmar" , New Light of 
>         Myanmar, 11th. October ,1998. ) 
>  
> (4)  Myanmar parents are all very anxious about their children's'
> education. They yearn for the reopening of the institutes of learning
> and the students themselves wish fervently to continue their studies in
> peace ..as I learnt during my stay in Myanmar.
>  (The Myanmar Government with a view towards the possible reopening of
> schools conducted final examinations in August. I also learned that
> arrangements are underway to facilitate the opening of the various
> colleges and institutes. But there is one obstacle preventing the
> reopening of higher education institutes. This, I found out was due to
> the activities of the opposition groups within the country who are just
> waiting for the schools to reopen so that they can exploit and use the
> students in their subversive activities against the Government.)
>  (Ref:  Win Naing; "Diary of My Travels In Myanmar" , New Light of 
>        Myanmar, 11th. October ,1998. )
>   
> (5)  But, even Mr. Aung Than who said he is supporting Mrs. Suu Kyi in
> his heart, told us "Most of the people are thinking that for lifting up
> the Myanmar economy, investments and aid from foreign countries is
> essential."
>  ( Ref:  S.Takatsu: "Serious Electric Power Shortage In Myanmar", The  
>         Yomiuri  Newspaper, 29th.October, 1998 )
>  
> (6)  Time of electric power supply stop came, all lights in Mr. Aung
> Than's office went off. In darkness, he murmured "Now, only thing we
> think everyday is about electric power and water supply. Not about
> politics."
>  ( Ref:  S.Takatsu: "Serious Electric Power Shortage In Myanmar", The  
>           Yomiuri  Newspaper,  29th. October, 1998 )
> 
> (7)  While both sides are running parallel about the result of the
> General Election in 1990, the feeling of "Fed up with the confrontation"
> started to arise among the people.
>  ( Ref:  K. Noma: "The Myanmar People Get Tired With Confrontation",
>         The Nikkei Newspaper, 20th. October, 1998 )
> 
> (8)  On 12 and 13 of this month, Japan, America and European countries
> held an unofficial meeting about the sanction to Myanmar at Kent, U.K .
> Content of the meeting is unknown, but it is said that there were
> opinions of "Sanction is necessary"(U.K), but at the same time, there
> were different opinions "Sanction will only make them isolate. Economic
> development is essential to realize democracy and should lift the
> sanction and promote to open market."
>  ( Ref:  K. Noma: "The Myanmar People Get Tired With Confrontation",
>         The Nikkei Newspaper, 20th. October, 1998 )
>  
> (9)  I would like to recount to you, the two main facts which I learned
> while in Myanmar, from 20th..August to 19th. September,1998.One--The
> position of the Myanmar Government is that the Myanmar people themselves
> should solve their internal problems with mutual   understanding,
> confidence and respect for one another. Two--Provided the NLD will relax
> its present rigid stand and be more flexible, the present Myanmar
> Government is fully ready and willing to work together with the NLD for
> the good of the country.
>    ( Ref: Win Naing; "Comment of Dr. Win Naing", The conference,
>          sponsored by Christian Aid and Burma Action Group(BAG), on
>          the 15th. October 1998 in Regent  College, London.)
> 
> (10)  I would like to express my own opinion to you all that those who
> are interested in Myanmar affairs should not only request the Myanmar
> Government but also the NLD, to engage in a more moderate and flexible
> policy in order to relieve the political tension in Myanmar.
>     ( Ref: Win Naing; "Comment of Dr. Win Naing",  The conference, 
>          sponsored by Christian Aid and Burma Action Group(BAG), on 
>          the 15th. October 1998 in Regent  College, London.)
> 
> (11) A federal court judge here has ruled that a Massachusetts law
> barring
>  state contracts with companies that do business in Myanmar is 
>  unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Joseph Tauro, ruled Wednesday
>  that "the Massachusetts Burma(Myanmar) Law is an unconstitutional  
>  infringement of federal government's power over foreign affairs.
>     ( Ref:  "Court rules Massachusetts law is unconstitutional"; 
>             Boston(AFP) ; 5th.Nov , 1998. )
> 
> **********************************************************************
>                    Myanmar Association in Japan( MAIJ)
>                    557-27, Sanada, Hiratsuka-shi,
>                    Kanagawa-ken,259-1206, Japan
>                    Tel./Fax 0463-59-8249
>                    E-mail:  map9@xxxxxxxxx
>
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> ---------------------------------------------------
> To find out more information, go to the web page: http://www.myanmar.com/
>