Our Family
I am 100% Burmese Buddhist but I grew up in Yangon with my friends who are anglo indians. anglo burmese, chinese burmese, Indian burmese apart from my friends Arakanese, Mons, chins, karens, kachins, shans and others.
We all play together learn together without any discrimination against each other.
Our family consists of all ethnic races and everyone born and raised in Burma.
Chinese, Indians , Anglo Burmese, Gurkhas of Maymyo and Mogok
plus all other ethnic minorities
they all love our country
they all serve our country.
They can be Christians or Jewish or Islam or Hindis
they are all part of our family
The nationalistic attitude of our government will cause discrimination if they think
only Buddhists and ethnic people deserve the priorities.
Why are they so eager for cash and investment today ?
after kicking out foreign companies and nationalizing private businesses in 1962?
after discriminating anglos , chinese and indians who all were born there?
Today they even take chinese from Wa region as our ethnic group,
Be clear with your policy
if you have prejudice against foreigners, you cannot open the market
if you have prejudice against non military people you cannot have democracy
It is time we should be very clear where we stand !
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
We are together
To those who want to make us apart
I warn you that we will always be together
We enjoy the water festival each year
throwing fresh water with love
We pray at the great Shwedagon pagoda
to meet again next year
though far across mountains and sea
love and care among us have no boundaries
Burmese do NOT pretend
We all are kids of Irrawady river
Dwellers on the hills or from the flat lands
whatever you try upon us to betray each other
our blood is thicker!
we will always be together!
I warn you that we will always be together
We enjoy the water festival each year
throwing fresh water with love
We pray at the great Shwedagon pagoda
to meet again next year
though far across mountains and sea
love and care among us have no boundaries
Burmese do NOT pretend
We all are kids of Irrawady river
Dwellers on the hills or from the flat lands
whatever you try upon us to betray each other
our blood is thicker!
we will always be together!
Tourism Myanmar Historical Buildings
Tourism must capitalize on the history as well as cultural heritage of the country .
We shall maintain colonial buildings and keep them as tourist attractions.
We shall maintain colonial buildings and keep them as tourist attractions.
One of the many colonial buildings in town, built during the British rule of Myanmar.
Uploaded by MattKK on 28 Feb 08, 2.33AM PST.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Pay Attention, Gary!
This photo from flicker is interesting for me to see Christian words :
without God they said and of Judgement and Sin.
As a Buddhist I will say without Dhamma !
It all means the same , isn't it?
Goodness is needed in this world!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Burma map
She is such a beautiful maiden
with her Kachin head proudly up
the back of Chin carrying the bundle
bountiful Arakan at the sea
travels to meet the slim leg of Tanintharyi
the Shan land makes the voluptuous breast
with Kayah, Karen and Mon at the womb
Myanmar, Karen , Chinese, Indian and all mixed
The land of Irrawaddy and its delta region
There is no discrimination for all
since the ancient days of Kings till today
Do not listen to strangers
Who have never lived among us
This is all we have - after the sacrifices we made
Keep united and keep our mother land in one piece!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Another Buddha near Bamiyan, Afghanistan 1978
When Taliban bombed and destroyed the oldest Buddha statues, we Buddhists knew that they were doomed. No soon they were bombed and today they are still hiding in their caves.
When Buddhist monks came out on the street to chant metta ( love ) and were seen beaten, the whole world was stunned. Burmese Buddhists cried looking at the scenes on television news.
There will be a punishment for any one who makes good people cry!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Phaung-Daw-Oo-Pagoda Festival
One of the famous principal shrines in Myanmar, this pagoda houses five small Buddha images. Once a year, in end Sept-early Oct., there is a pagoda festival during which the five Buddha images are rowed around the Lake in a colourful barge.
Situated in Inle Lake, one of the most dazzling and magical places in Asia. It is held on a grand scale for 18 days, usually falls in October. Four Buddha Images out of five from Phaung-daw-oo Pagoda are carried on royal barge and conveyed around 14 villages on the Lake. The barge is towed by the boats of leg -rowers and hundreds of boats follow the procession. The large crowds of people gather on the lake-shores to celebrate the occasion. It is really a splendid sight.
Uploaded by Bertrand Linet on 14 Feb 08, 2.37AM PST.
Situated in Inle Lake, one of the most dazzling and magical places in Asia. It is held on a grand scale for 18 days, usually falls in October. Four Buddha Images out of five from Phaung-daw-oo Pagoda are carried on royal barge and conveyed around 14 villages on the Lake. The barge is towed by the boats of leg -rowers and hundreds of boats follow the procession. The large crowds of people gather on the lake-shores to celebrate the occasion. It is really a splendid sight.
Uploaded by Bertrand Linet on 14 Feb 08, 2.37AM PST.
Mayburma's experience: the five buddha statues are now so obese and shapeless due to the endless putting on of the gold leaves by the worshippers.
ဘုုရားကိုုယ္ေတာ္မ်ားလည္း ႏွစ္ေပါင္းမ်ားစြာ ေရႊေတြခ် ၾကေတာ့ ပုုံေတြပ်က္ျပီးလုုံးလုုံးႀကီးေတြျဖစ္ေနတယ္။
ေရႊခ်တာရပ္သင့္ပါျပီ။ အျခားအကိ်ဳး၇ွိမွာလွဴၾကရင္ေကာင္းမွာပါဘဲထင္မိပါတယ္။
The Maglev , fastest train in the world!
Maglev : Magnetic Levitation
Highest speed : 431km/h during the 33kms trip : Shanghai Pudong - Shanghai airport.
From Siemens company - German technology!
"Wow! cool train, Chinese are buying the most modern techs!" , I said.
" Its not economical, so expensive to maintain it," the engineer guy said.
So, Chinese are boasting!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Myanmar
In 1962 exchange rate was 6 Ks per US$
1980 black market rate 9 Ks per US$
1990 .............................. 45Ks
1997............................150 Ks
today 1300 Ks
What is this picture of a one kyat note? No use anywhere in Myanmar! We do not even use 20 Ks 50 Ks or 100 Ks or 200 Ks all so dirty and insignificant looking. We only use 500 Ks and 1000 Ks notes everyday all in a big bundle. No credit cards in Myanmar all in cash basis even if you buy a property worth 300,000 USD x in kyats 1300 rate. It is hard to understand who has these kind of cash stashed in gunny sacks. It used to be at the border area Chinese and black market traders in socialist days. Now the generals and their families also have these kind of cash. Not the ordinary citizens nor the civil servants.
Coins? not seen anywhere in Myanmar for quite long time. 5 cents 10 cents 25 cents 50 cents coins. They can be kept as souvenoirs. Funny economy!
1980 black market rate 9 Ks per US$
1990 .............................. 45Ks
1997............................150 Ks
today 1300 Ks
What is this picture of a one kyat note? No use anywhere in Myanmar! We do not even use 20 Ks 50 Ks or 100 Ks or 200 Ks all so dirty and insignificant looking. We only use 500 Ks and 1000 Ks notes everyday all in a big bundle. No credit cards in Myanmar all in cash basis even if you buy a property worth 300,000 USD x in kyats 1300 rate. It is hard to understand who has these kind of cash stashed in gunny sacks. It used to be at the border area Chinese and black market traders in socialist days. Now the generals and their families also have these kind of cash. Not the ordinary citizens nor the civil servants.
Coins? not seen anywhere in Myanmar for quite long time. 5 cents 10 cents 25 cents 50 cents coins. They can be kept as souvenoirs. Funny economy!
Valentines Day in Burma
Before we did not celebrate Valentines day in Burma. Nowadays teenagers love to celebrate it and there is a market for valentine gifts and cards.
An international NGO in Yangon, promoting condoms to fight against AIDS made a Valentine card with a condom inside and with a message which said, " Be my valentine!".
So gross!!!!! , me and my husband said at the sight of that valentine card.
I do not think these NGOs know our culture.
Oh Yeah! Like Thyda comment here, things have changed, kids have more freedom than before. Still we cannot openly encourage it in the traditionally conservative society!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Union Day
The Union of Myanmar ( Burma ) with major ethic races, Shan Myanmar Kachin, Karen, Chin, Mon , Yakhine shall live and prosper together as a big family. There has been no discrimination to them in our country and it will always stay the same.
We do not discriminate like the ugly history in the WEST.
WE shall be together as brothers and sisters and shall not listen to the westerners who like to see us fall apart.
UNITY For ALL
We do not discriminate like the ugly history in the WEST.
WE shall be together as brothers and sisters and shall not listen to the westerners who like to see us fall apart.
UNITY For ALL
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
May Referendum
Wise Move
Cautious Move
I welcome your Move
Any steps for positive Steps
Shall be Welcomed
Cannot be like the West
More so not the wild wild American West
at least we are making our small steps
The way we know
Cheers for the May referendum
wish the best
peaceful and prosperous way for all
we can wait
another decade does not matter after all these long waits
Japan aid
Japan aid to Asia Highway
In mid-January, the Japan-Mekong Foreign Ministers' Meeting took place in Tokyo, involving Japan as host and the five Southeast Asian nations through which the Mekong River runs: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
At the conference, Japan pledged to provide 20 million dollars for the improvement of distribution and customs services along the east-west corridor, linking Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Bangkok, and another 20 million dollars for the "Development Triangle" project, which involves Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
What is the significance of these developments?
Future of Mekong development
As these figures show, countries in the Mekong subregion are deepening their economic interdependence with the help of economic and infrastructure development. In this open regional network of mutual reliance, Thailand is functioning as a hub, with Vietnam emerging as a second hub. Regional trade with China is increasing, but trade with China is growing in tandem with the expansion of trade with Japan, the United States and other ASEAN member countries. Such a positive development is a natural consequence of deepening economic interdependence underpinned by transnational and regional business networks.
What is happening in the economic sphere has implications for diplomacy. Even as Thailand and Vietnam are enhancing ties with China, they are pressing ahead with the integration of ASEAN and maintaining strong diplomatic connections with Japan and the United States. Such an approach is possible thanks to the progress in economic interdependence in the subregion.
Here lies the significance of the development of the Mekong subregion. As the subregion develops economically and is integrated into the global and East Asian networks of interdependence, the countries there will be in a position to forge open and balanced foreign relations in both political and economic fields.
In this connection, however, there is one sticking point--Myanmar. In Myanmar, the National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in the 1990 general elections. But the junta ignored the results and has since ruled the country as a "provisional" regime. For this reason, the United States has called Myanmar an "outpost of tyranny" and imposed economic sanctions. ASEAN has adhered to a policy of constructive engagement toward Myanmar in an attempt to help the country "democratize" itself.
Given that the military junta has controlled Myanmar for 20 years now, both economic sanctions and constructive engagement have failed to help Myanmar achieve transition. Meanwhile, China has provided Myanmar with large official loans for the development of infrastructure, such as highways and electrical power stations, while India has been strengthening relations through natural resource development and joint military exercises.
===
Seek socioeconomic change
So what should be done? Democratization is a desirable goal for Myanmar. But it is wrong to wishfully think that Myanmar's economy and its junta are collapsing.
Koichi Fujita, professor at Kyoto University's Center for Southeast Asian Studies, has compiled an interesting report on the standard of living in Myanmar. Two points stand out in his report.
First, Myanmar's per capita income is far below that of Laos and Cambodia in terms of market-based foreign exchange rates to the dollar. However, the quality of people's diets in Myanmar is no different from that in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam as far as consumption of oils and fats, seafood, fruit, eggs and drinks are concerned. The only difference seems to be that people in Myanmar eat a little less meat than Cambodians, Laotians and Vietnamese.
Second, consumer spending by the upper 20 percent of Myanmar's households is about four times the comparable amount spent by the lowest 20 percent. Despite such a big disparity, there is almost no difference between the two groups in terms of the ratio of food expenses, thereby challenging Engel's Law, which states that as income rises, the proportion of income spent on food tends to go down. In other words, the income gap mostly translates into differences in the choice of foods and the fact that the rich are eating better.
These findings reflect the insufficient state of the country's infrastructure, such as electricity, tap water and housing. People are not buying TVs, refrigerators and other household electrical appliances because electricity is supplied to less than 20 percent of the country's farming villages.
In sum, everyone is eating every day even though they are poor, and the rich-poor divide has not resulted in major visible differences in lifestyles. Under such circumstances, a popular uprising may have difficulty catching fire.
Nevertheless, it is realistic to foresee that a generational change in the military leadership will take place in the not-too-distant future since Myanmar strongman Than Shwe, the senior general who is chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and commander in chief of the armed forces, is 75 years old and sickly.
We need to adopt a long-term strategy aimed at further integrating Myanmar into the regional network of interdependence. To realize such a goal, assistance should be extended for human resource development and the construction of the Asia Highway by extending the north-east and east-west corridors from Bangkok to India via Myanmar, measures that will in the long run facilitate socioeconomic and political change in Myanmar.
In mid-January, the Japan-Mekong Foreign Ministers' Meeting took place in Tokyo, involving Japan as host and the five Southeast Asian nations through which the Mekong River runs: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.
At the conference, Japan pledged to provide 20 million dollars for the improvement of distribution and customs services along the east-west corridor, linking Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Bangkok, and another 20 million dollars for the "Development Triangle" project, which involves Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
What is the significance of these developments?
Future of Mekong development
As these figures show, countries in the Mekong subregion are deepening their economic interdependence with the help of economic and infrastructure development. In this open regional network of mutual reliance, Thailand is functioning as a hub, with Vietnam emerging as a second hub. Regional trade with China is increasing, but trade with China is growing in tandem with the expansion of trade with Japan, the United States and other ASEAN member countries. Such a positive development is a natural consequence of deepening economic interdependence underpinned by transnational and regional business networks.
What is happening in the economic sphere has implications for diplomacy. Even as Thailand and Vietnam are enhancing ties with China, they are pressing ahead with the integration of ASEAN and maintaining strong diplomatic connections with Japan and the United States. Such an approach is possible thanks to the progress in economic interdependence in the subregion.
Here lies the significance of the development of the Mekong subregion. As the subregion develops economically and is integrated into the global and East Asian networks of interdependence, the countries there will be in a position to forge open and balanced foreign relations in both political and economic fields.
In this connection, however, there is one sticking point--Myanmar. In Myanmar, the National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in the 1990 general elections. But the junta ignored the results and has since ruled the country as a "provisional" regime. For this reason, the United States has called Myanmar an "outpost of tyranny" and imposed economic sanctions. ASEAN has adhered to a policy of constructive engagement toward Myanmar in an attempt to help the country "democratize" itself.
Given that the military junta has controlled Myanmar for 20 years now, both economic sanctions and constructive engagement have failed to help Myanmar achieve transition. Meanwhile, China has provided Myanmar with large official loans for the development of infrastructure, such as highways and electrical power stations, while India has been strengthening relations through natural resource development and joint military exercises.
===
Seek socioeconomic change
So what should be done? Democratization is a desirable goal for Myanmar. But it is wrong to wishfully think that Myanmar's economy and its junta are collapsing.
Koichi Fujita, professor at Kyoto University's Center for Southeast Asian Studies, has compiled an interesting report on the standard of living in Myanmar. Two points stand out in his report.
First, Myanmar's per capita income is far below that of Laos and Cambodia in terms of market-based foreign exchange rates to the dollar. However, the quality of people's diets in Myanmar is no different from that in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam as far as consumption of oils and fats, seafood, fruit, eggs and drinks are concerned. The only difference seems to be that people in Myanmar eat a little less meat than Cambodians, Laotians and Vietnamese.
Second, consumer spending by the upper 20 percent of Myanmar's households is about four times the comparable amount spent by the lowest 20 percent. Despite such a big disparity, there is almost no difference between the two groups in terms of the ratio of food expenses, thereby challenging Engel's Law, which states that as income rises, the proportion of income spent on food tends to go down. In other words, the income gap mostly translates into differences in the choice of foods and the fact that the rich are eating better.
These findings reflect the insufficient state of the country's infrastructure, such as electricity, tap water and housing. People are not buying TVs, refrigerators and other household electrical appliances because electricity is supplied to less than 20 percent of the country's farming villages.
In sum, everyone is eating every day even though they are poor, and the rich-poor divide has not resulted in major visible differences in lifestyles. Under such circumstances, a popular uprising may have difficulty catching fire.
Nevertheless, it is realistic to foresee that a generational change in the military leadership will take place in the not-too-distant future since Myanmar strongman Than Shwe, the senior general who is chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and commander in chief of the armed forces, is 75 years old and sickly.
We need to adopt a long-term strategy aimed at further integrating Myanmar into the regional network of interdependence. To realize such a goal, assistance should be extended for human resource development and the construction of the Asia Highway by extending the north-east and east-west corridors from Bangkok to India via Myanmar, measures that will in the long run facilitate socioeconomic and political change in Myanmar.
pagoda festival Inle Myanmar
I have been there once when I was young at this festival. It is in October. Intend to go there again when I go back this time.
This pagoda was built by Burmese King Alaung Sithu when he marched to Shan States and won the alliance of Shan landlords. He built the pagoda in the lake and left the captured people from lower Burma to maintain it. Today they are thriving Inn villagers with agriculture and tourism.
burma2
The brown dress the old lady wears means she is a follower of Buddha. People will give cash to any poor and old but religious person.
Monday, February 11, 2008
2010 ELECTION in MYANMAR
People welcome the May referendum
"Anything’s better: But people in Yangon felt it was a positive development in a country that has seen little of those over the decades. “It’s just like finding somewhere to live for the homeless. Of course it isn’t the house of our choice, but it will give us some protection,” a retired government officer said. “We can expect at least a coalition government. That’s far better than now,” he added. The retired professor said the NLD, which boycotted a national convention working out the principles for a “disciplined” democracy completed late in 2007 after 14 years, should run in the election. "
US denounces
"At the US State Department, spokesman Sean McCormack called the constitutional ballot a "sham referendum" because of political repression and a "pervasive climate of fear" fostered by junta chief's Than Shwe."
UN..UNITED NATIONS, Feb 11 (KUNA) -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday was satisfied that the Myanmar Government plans to hold a constitutional referendum in May and "multi-party democratic elections" by 2010, but insisted that the process should be inclusive, his spokesperson Michele Montas told the daily press briefing.
Ban "renews his call to the Myanmar authorities to make the constitution-making process inclusive, participatory and transparent in order to ensure that any draft constitution is broadly representative of the views of all the people of Myanmar," she said.
Ban, she added, believes that "it is now all the more important for the Myanmar leadership to engage without delay in a substantive and time-bound dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (pro-democracy leader) and other relevant parties to the national reconciliation process." Ban also believes that this latest development makes it "essential" that a visit to Myanmar, also known as Burma, by his Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari be allowed to proceed without further delay.
Ban decided to dispatch Gambari to China on February 18-19 hoping Beijing will pressure the authorities in Myanmar to allow his visit as soon as possible.
"Anything’s better: But people in Yangon felt it was a positive development in a country that has seen little of those over the decades. “It’s just like finding somewhere to live for the homeless. Of course it isn’t the house of our choice, but it will give us some protection,” a retired government officer said. “We can expect at least a coalition government. That’s far better than now,” he added. The retired professor said the NLD, which boycotted a national convention working out the principles for a “disciplined” democracy completed late in 2007 after 14 years, should run in the election. "
US denounces
"At the US State Department, spokesman Sean McCormack called the constitutional ballot a "sham referendum" because of political repression and a "pervasive climate of fear" fostered by junta chief's Than Shwe."
UN..UNITED NATIONS, Feb 11 (KUNA) -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday was satisfied that the Myanmar Government plans to hold a constitutional referendum in May and "multi-party democratic elections" by 2010, but insisted that the process should be inclusive, his spokesperson Michele Montas told the daily press briefing.
Ban "renews his call to the Myanmar authorities to make the constitution-making process inclusive, participatory and transparent in order to ensure that any draft constitution is broadly representative of the views of all the people of Myanmar," she said.
Ban, she added, believes that "it is now all the more important for the Myanmar leadership to engage without delay in a substantive and time-bound dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (pro-democracy leader) and other relevant parties to the national reconciliation process." Ban also believes that this latest development makes it "essential" that a visit to Myanmar, also known as Burma, by his Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari be allowed to proceed without further delay.
Ban decided to dispatch Gambari to China on February 18-19 hoping Beijing will pressure the authorities in Myanmar to allow his visit as soon as possible.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
Laura Bush
I am watching Laura talking about Burma on whmt TV.
She said, "US is trying to put diplomatic pressure on Burma.
Asked India and China to pressure the regime, to talk with ASSK.
United Nations.
The general should be ashamed for cracking down the monks.
The generals should listen to UN envoy.
When asked about US in Iraq and Afghanistan about hope of democracy.
She said as long as US is committed with them they will get democracy.
" It will not be the same like US but they will achieve it.
Look at Japan our enemy sixty years ago. Who would have guessed.
US stepped in with Japan and Germany after the war and now they re built their countries and they achieved Democracy.
Every problems of the world comes to the desk of US president. Some we can do some we cannot do much.
It will be nice if we can only manage our own affairs. It is not the case.
I don't believe that people of the world hate America. "
" there is a sincere friendship with Russia as well. George would tell them straight and they appreciate that."
" all foreign leaders know George well that he has a big heart,"
She said, "US is trying to put diplomatic pressure on Burma.
Asked India and China to pressure the regime, to talk with ASSK.
United Nations.
The general should be ashamed for cracking down the monks.
The generals should listen to UN envoy.
When asked about US in Iraq and Afghanistan about hope of democracy.
She said as long as US is committed with them they will get democracy.
" It will not be the same like US but they will achieve it.
Look at Japan our enemy sixty years ago. Who would have guessed.
US stepped in with Japan and Germany after the war and now they re built their countries and they achieved Democracy.
Every problems of the world comes to the desk of US president. Some we can do some we cannot do much.
It will be nice if we can only manage our own affairs. It is not the case.
I don't believe that people of the world hate America. "
" there is a sincere friendship with Russia as well. George would tell them straight and they appreciate that."
" all foreign leaders know George well that he has a big heart,"
Asian Tribune article
a link of an article in asian tribune about Burma
As Burma gets into world spotlight with the Saffron Revolution, lots of arguments againstdemocratization are surprisingly heard from many quarter-¬politicians, statesmen, scholars, so-called Burma experts and even some Burmese in exile who have never set foot on the native soil or who have been out of touch with reality for decades¬ absurdly claiming that the substitute for the military junta will be, out of all things, the devil's alternative. One argument is the likelihood of lawlessness, chaos and 'Balkanization' if the junta is gone. So what's the situation now? Isn't there lawlessness already in Burma? There has to be a negotiated settlement and no quick fixes.
The killing of the highest spiritual leaders of the society is the expression of most severe form of lawlessness. On the other hand, the leaders of the Saffron Revolution, the monks, have shown the highest and unrivalled form of discipline and order in the world. Buddhism is renowned for its peace-loving and love-radiating attributes and Burmese monks and the demonstrating people led by them have again proved it. Drug cartels and crime syndicates flourish most under egomaniac despotism. There is no rule of law in Burma; only the words of selfish generals. This is the best culture for crime and chaos.
The self-seeking military junta is the sole cause of chaos and civil war. Incompetent junta's militarization of the country has brought it to 'Least Developed Country' Status in 1987 and, twenty years later, unprecedented chaos, mismanagement and social conflict matched only by few failed states on earth. Now it is trying to implement a so-called Road Map which will without doubt further the degeneration and polarization, producing a military dynasty like Duvalier's Haiti, Kim Il-Sung's North Korea or Assad's Syria after Than Shwe's demise or when the present generation of generals have gone.
In 1990 elections the NLD and the UNLD won 95% of parliamentary seats. The NLD also won in many ethnic areas. During Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's tours in 2003 the largest turnout of support occurred in ethnic states. This is one reason behind the junta's infamous Depayin attack on her. The NLD had also won in military cantonment areas in 1990. The president and vice-president of the NLD are former military generals in addition to many 'enlightened' ex-commanders and soldiers who are now serving in the country's biggest opposition party. So it is evident that democratization will unify rather than balkanize the country.
Unlike Yugoslavia or African countries, more than 2000-year old civilized Burma's history bore no precedence of Balkanization. Bloody religious or racial conflicts common to Yugoslavia or African countries were unheard of. Past wars were caused mainly by feudal monarchs annexing adjacent territories just like feudal rulers of any country in ancient times. Pre- and Post-Independence communal riots were the hangover of colonialist era 'divide and rule' policy. The junta's disinformation on the meaning of federalism has failed among the Burmese people.
Armed ethnic groups, particularly ceasefire armies and the people in their territories are basically war-weary. That's why the SPDC is able to coerce and manipulate them. In 1998 September, when some ceasefire groups backed the CRPP in defiance of the junta, local civilian pressure and senior ethnic officers' war-fatigue prompted the groups to back down from war. The concept of non-violence and effects of media which have dominated the world since the end of Cold War have been influencing the armed ethnic groups more than its worth. In Burma, (tripartite) dialogue and non-violence rather than warring are the buzz words.
Balkanization is not the only option in the world; Czechoslovakia had experienced a peaceful 'velvet separation'. Balkanization and anarchy can only be brought about by a freely failing junta which could break apart into multiple rivaling fiefdoms controlled separately by warlord-turned junta generals or Burma army's regional commanders as in post-Siad Barre Somalia, post-Najibullah Afghanistan or post-Mobutu Congo. Unlike them, Burma fortunately has a legitimate and popular democratic leadership well-prepared and highly competent to take over.
Burma's opposition leaders ¬both democratic and ethnic ¬are undoubtedly more competent, qualified and broad-minded than the junta chiefs. Unlike Iraq or Afghanistan, all the atrocities and terror in Burma are work of the SPDC. Tthere are no extremists or terrorists among the opposition. Hence merely checking and removing the SPDC will prevent any further bloodshed.
Presently, junta's senseless or paranoid economic policies are making everyone broke except the generals. Even Singapore's senior statesman Mr. Lee Kuan-yew has dubbed them 'dumb' with regard to economics. No globalization beneficial to the country's people, local businessmen or foreign investors could take hold in Burma.
The important thing is that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD are not calling for abrupt 'regime change' but rather a negotiated settlement taking into account the Burmese military's role, and finally replacing it definitely in not too distant future. In 2006 February, the NLD offered a transition plan which would recognize the military junta as a de jure government for a transition period that would be legitimized by the parliament elected in 1990. Also in August, 2007, ninety-two elected members of parliament proposed an alternative Road Map offering the SPDC a considerable role in Constitution-drafting and transition processes along with elected NLD and ethnic members of parliament. "Everything is negotiable," Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said.
The army is to be retained but the military dictatorship must go, this is the opposition's consensus.
- Asian Tribune -
some paragraphs noted as below:
As Burma gets into world spotlight with the Saffron Revolution, lots of arguments againstdemocratization are surprisingly heard from many quarter-¬politicians, statesmen, scholars, so-called Burma experts and even some Burmese in exile who have never set foot on the native soil or who have been out of touch with reality for decades¬ absurdly claiming that the substitute for the military junta will be, out of all things, the devil's alternative. One argument is the likelihood of lawlessness, chaos and 'Balkanization' if the junta is gone. So what's the situation now? Isn't there lawlessness already in Burma? There has to be a negotiated settlement and no quick fixes.
The killing of the highest spiritual leaders of the society is the expression of most severe form of lawlessness. On the other hand, the leaders of the Saffron Revolution, the monks, have shown the highest and unrivalled form of discipline and order in the world. Buddhism is renowned for its peace-loving and love-radiating attributes and Burmese monks and the demonstrating people led by them have again proved it. Drug cartels and crime syndicates flourish most under egomaniac despotism. There is no rule of law in Burma; only the words of selfish generals. This is the best culture for crime and chaos.
The self-seeking military junta is the sole cause of chaos and civil war. Incompetent junta's militarization of the country has brought it to 'Least Developed Country' Status in 1987 and, twenty years later, unprecedented chaos, mismanagement and social conflict matched only by few failed states on earth. Now it is trying to implement a so-called Road Map which will without doubt further the degeneration and polarization, producing a military dynasty like Duvalier's Haiti, Kim Il-Sung's North Korea or Assad's Syria after Than Shwe's demise or when the present generation of generals have gone.
In 1990 elections the NLD and the UNLD won 95% of parliamentary seats. The NLD also won in many ethnic areas. During Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's tours in 2003 the largest turnout of support occurred in ethnic states. This is one reason behind the junta's infamous Depayin attack on her. The NLD had also won in military cantonment areas in 1990. The president and vice-president of the NLD are former military generals in addition to many 'enlightened' ex-commanders and soldiers who are now serving in the country's biggest opposition party. So it is evident that democratization will unify rather than balkanize the country.
Unlike Yugoslavia or African countries, more than 2000-year old civilized Burma's history bore no precedence of Balkanization. Bloody religious or racial conflicts common to Yugoslavia or African countries were unheard of. Past wars were caused mainly by feudal monarchs annexing adjacent territories just like feudal rulers of any country in ancient times. Pre- and Post-Independence communal riots were the hangover of colonialist era 'divide and rule' policy. The junta's disinformation on the meaning of federalism has failed among the Burmese people.
Armed ethnic groups, particularly ceasefire armies and the people in their territories are basically war-weary. That's why the SPDC is able to coerce and manipulate them. In 1998 September, when some ceasefire groups backed the CRPP in defiance of the junta, local civilian pressure and senior ethnic officers' war-fatigue prompted the groups to back down from war. The concept of non-violence and effects of media which have dominated the world since the end of Cold War have been influencing the armed ethnic groups more than its worth. In Burma, (tripartite) dialogue and non-violence rather than warring are the buzz words.
Balkanization is not the only option in the world; Czechoslovakia had experienced a peaceful 'velvet separation'. Balkanization and anarchy can only be brought about by a freely failing junta which could break apart into multiple rivaling fiefdoms controlled separately by warlord-turned junta generals or Burma army's regional commanders as in post-Siad Barre Somalia, post-Najibullah Afghanistan or post-Mobutu Congo. Unlike them, Burma fortunately has a legitimate and popular democratic leadership well-prepared and highly competent to take over.
Burma's opposition leaders ¬both democratic and ethnic ¬are undoubtedly more competent, qualified and broad-minded than the junta chiefs. Unlike Iraq or Afghanistan, all the atrocities and terror in Burma are work of the SPDC. Tthere are no extremists or terrorists among the opposition. Hence merely checking and removing the SPDC will prevent any further bloodshed.
Presently, junta's senseless or paranoid economic policies are making everyone broke except the generals. Even Singapore's senior statesman Mr. Lee Kuan-yew has dubbed them 'dumb' with regard to economics. No globalization beneficial to the country's people, local businessmen or foreign investors could take hold in Burma.
The important thing is that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD are not calling for abrupt 'regime change' but rather a negotiated settlement taking into account the Burmese military's role, and finally replacing it definitely in not too distant future. In 2006 February, the NLD offered a transition plan which would recognize the military junta as a de jure government for a transition period that would be legitimized by the parliament elected in 1990. Also in August, 2007, ninety-two elected members of parliament proposed an alternative Road Map offering the SPDC a considerable role in Constitution-drafting and transition processes along with elected NLD and ethnic members of parliament. "Everything is negotiable," Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said.
The army is to be retained but the military dictatorship must go, this is the opposition's consensus.
by Garminii
- Asian Tribune -
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Aung San January 1948
He is the man who got independence for us
BUT
where are we today??
Freedom if you do not know
where are we today??
Freedom if you do not know
how to practice, respect, disciplined
nurtured shall be feared.
That is why I have fear of freedom
Mayburma.
nurtured shall be feared.
That is why I have fear of freedom
Mayburma.
Aung San's birthday
February 13 th is General Aung San's birthday
We used to recite poems in our primary school
For kids to honor the father of independence
I am not a kid now
One blogger kid asks me to write a post about him
Right now I am not happy with the Independence we had
I blame the Fascist Japanese who trained 30 comrades
Who were young rash innocent college students with Leftist ideas
rebellious ideas, patriotic nationalistic but rebellious kids
With them the Fascists fought British and took over our country
In Hainan island the students were trained
First Aung San was given two Japanese prostitutes
They were trained to use the bayonets
to a sack first and then to kill a live person
Then they were trained to slap a face right and left till the head swings
These are all against the Burmese Buddhist culture
When they conquered Burma
The Burmese villagers were terrorized
The Japanese Intelligence took off the nails of British sympathizers
Pour boiled water on them
The Japanese soldiers bathe in the village well without clothes
In the three pagoda pass all the British and Burmese prisoners were
left without proper food and nutrition and labored to make a railway tract
All Burmese all over the country had not seen such crude and rude rulers in their lives
Aung San learned his lesson and with the help of British
and the help of all the Burmese villagers they fought back the Japanese
And it was time for Independence
Unlike Malaysia, Aung San did not want the British troupes for security
With his Japanese trained military knowledge
He proudly said his army could keep the country in one piece
He said he could unite the country
In Feb 12th in Pinlon he got his signature from all
The Union of Burma was born
The trouble started since then
The thirty comrades and their army are still doing their own jig
All the British trained civil servants
All educated Burmese, all Burmese , Chinese , Indian merchants were purged by them
ousted by them from the country
The soldiers took over the foreigners' offices and homes
Took reign and rule the country down to poverty
patriotic they said, nationalistic they said
union spirit they said
in reality they have prejudice for anyone who has any culture and class
Little knowledge is dangerous,
with no experience of civil service nor discipline
they ruled over us
they put socialism combined with their buddhism
made us the least developed nation
His daughter came back from the west
thought she could solve the damage
She herself only knows Gandhi and India
The rest of us all left without any say
without any way
Do I still sing a song like in my kids days
that Feb 13th is our hero's day?
NO Thank You!
I am too old to be duped by childish songs!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Market
Tiger Prawn a favorite for all.
I miss tiger prawn. The prawns are fresh if they look like this color, green. They are always expensive.
I can buy frozen shrimp in US now imported from Thailand but I believe they are from our waters.
Ancient Temples in Burma
The ancient pagodas seen naturally. The locals just need to clean the path and weed the overgrowth. It is important to keep the ruins as it is to keep the romance of it for tourism.
To answer Thyda's Q, this is not in Pagan. Bagan the most famous land of pagoda in this world got too much attention by the generals unfortunately. Khin Nyunt and Khin Shwe started raising the funds for repairing of bagan temples and they paid 3 Lks per pagoda to repair the broken tips of all the pagodas. The foreigners were broken heart to see the new red brick tips of the ancient pagodas.
U Than Shwe in every summer went to DSA graduation in Maymyo and stopped at Mandalay and Bagan. He did ceremonies of putting umbrella on top of pagodas like old Kings did thinking he has absolute power like a King and his grandson is the reincarnation of Anawratha. They got too much carried away.
Tay Za built a looking tower to make money out of world tourist in competition of a ballon over Bagan company. Bagan suddenly became like a mini disney land. It is still not so much over populated with tourists yet.
The government cleaned up the historical site, moving the squatters and small businesses out of the site and set them up at a new place.
Ancient Temples in Burma
Originally uploaded by mandalaybus
Monday, February 4, 2008
Hand Built Roads.
This is the usual sight you see on Burmese highways as soon as you get out of the city to the North.
Always made me wonder what a slow and ancient way to repair roads.
Why can't they afford to use the modern machineries in building and repairing roads in Burma.
We are that poor and backward.
preying on refugees
preying on refugees
what is more sickening than a man wielding money and an american passport preying on the refugees, making them read the bible in exchange of rice and the thinly weiled promise this will make their american immigration easier...
instead of teaching anything useful, instead of helping in any way, this man is trying to increase his own chances of reaching a fantasy afterlife. how cynical, stupid and selfish is that ?
what is more sickening than a man wielding money and an american passport preying on the refugees, making them read the bible in exchange of rice and the thinly weiled promise this will make their american immigration easier...
instead of teaching anything useful, instead of helping in any way, this man is trying to increase his own chances of reaching a fantasy afterlife. how cynical, stupid and selfish is that ?
ဆင္းရဲသား ၇ီဖူဂ်ီေတြကိုု စားစရာေပး အေမ၇ီကန္ ခိုုလႈံခြင့္ေပးမယ္ဆိုုျပီး
ခ၇ိယာန္ က်မ္းစာေတြသင္ေပးေနတဲ့ သာသနာျ