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Events of the Week
23 August 2009
1
Myanmar-US relationship, Sanctions and pro-democracy forces
23 August 2009
One day after Webb’s visit, in a statement thanking the Myanmar government forYettaw’s release, the White House issued the following statement:“The President is pleased that Senator Webb has facilitated the release of Americancitizen John Yettaw from detention in Burma. He appreciates this decision by theBurmese government. The President also notes that in addition to meeting with headof state Than Shwe, Senator Webb was able to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi, thefirst meeting by a U.S. official with her for many years. We urge the Burmeseleadership in this spirit to release all the political prisoners it is holding in detentionor in house arrest, including Aung San Suu Kyi”.This week, some news are speculating that if Myanmar really wants to improve therelationship with the US, Myanmar needs to demonstrate it by starting a “dialogue”with Aung San Suu Kyi, releasing all political prisoners including her, ensuring the2010 Elections credible. Otherwise the US will not change it’s policy towardsMyanmar including relaxing the sanctions.Last week, Myanmar government demonstrated it’s desire to improve therelationship with the US by releasing John Yettaw who had been sentenced to 7years with hard labour for the illegal entry to the Aung San Suu Kyi House.Myanmar does not need to demonstrate more, it is to the US who should show inreturn its willingness to improve their relationship with us. If the US does not wantto improve the relationship, there is nothing Myanmar can do. A relationship can bebuilt and will be successful only when both sides wish.Commuting Aung San Suu Kyi’s sentence completely is not US’s affair, it isMyanmar’s internal affair. Releasing the political prisoners will be done when timewill come, it has nothing to do with Myanmar-US relationship.
Sanctions
Every Myanmar wants lifting of sanctions, because we need the foreign investmentsthat can create thousands of jobs. Sanctions are effecting not only Myanmar but also
the interests of western powers. Myanmar has many natural resources. Myanmar hasgas natural which attract many countries. Oil and Gas are very important energyresources for which world’s super powers do not hesitate to make wars, i.e in Iraqand now watching eyes on Iran. Therefore it is to the western powers to decide if they want the energy resources from our country or not.Regarding the foreign investments, they will come when the foreign companies seethe political stability in Myanmar. If we can realise the peaceful and successful 2010Elections, we will have this long-waited political stability. Once a new governmentwill be setup according to the results of 2010, the elected representatives to the Pyi-Daung-Su Hluttaw will make proper laws and regulations in order to welcome theforeign investments.
Events of the Week
23 August 2009
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Therefore we really do not need to worry about the lifting of the sanctions, it willcome sooner or later.
The pro-democracy forces
Some pro-democracy forces are urging the US government to link the normalisationof US- Myanmar relationship with their demands such as the release of politicalprisoners and “Dialogue” with the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.What the pro-democracy forces need to pay attention is when we ask “help” fromthe western powers, “help” never come alone, but with the attached strings.The pro-democracy forces should not forget the following recent historic events:1.
What happened to Suharto who became President of Indonesia with thesupport of the US and lost power in 1998 following the Asian financialcrisis when his once supporter, the US switched it’s support to MegawatiSukarnoputri2.
What happened to Saddam Hussein of Iraq once named “Guy of the US”when he had disobeyed the orders of the US3.
What happened to Benazir Bhutto when she returned to Pakistan after thenegotiation with president Musharraf mediated by the USThere will be the Elections in 2010, the best solution for all pro-democracy forces iscontest the Elections and let the people of Myanmar decide who to lead the country.Myanmar does not need western powers’s intervention to resolve it’s internalproblems. Demanding outside help or trying to negotiate is simply trying to delaythe Political stability process.
Rumours about the 88 Generation group
23 August 2009
Some rumours are circulating that the government is talking to the members of the88 Generation group. Whether or not it is true we do not know. Let’s assume that itis true, what kind of talk or discussion we do not know either.However, if they can get “General Amnesty” and if they decide to form a Politicalparty within the laws, it would be good for the country. They had experienced the8888, and they have now their experience in Myanmar politics.The last time when they were free, we could not separate them with NLD and theexiles. We did not learn about their own political identity, because they supportedwhatever NLD had said and whatever the Exiles had said.They have experienced long years in prisons, political activities, difficulities, thenature of Myanmar politics and matured politically hopefully. After all they all arebetween 45-50, it is a good age with various experiences accumulated to prospecttheir own political career.
Events of the Week
23 August 2009
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All they need to do is forming a political party on their own within the laws. Theymust not have connection with underground movements, illegal associations ousidethe country. They can be a very useful potentiel political force which can representthe civilian side in the Hluttaws.If the people from illegal associations or underground movements want to dopolitics in Myanmar, they must enter into legal fold firstly.In 1990, many parties went under the shade of NLD umbrella. They let NLDdominated them. They lost their own identity.
Heart breaking story of the week
21 August 2009
I saw the following story on the Khitpyaing web:
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I do not know about the credibility of the story, however, I know that Nan Nyut Swe’swritings have been banned since around 2000. He worked as a high ranking officer atthe research department of Myanmar history and culture. And at the same time he wasan artist and had worked as a “professional story teller” – “Quate Sait Sa Ya” on theMyanmar Radio for many years. He wrote so many articles related to Myanmar history
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