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FutureWork and Burma (r)



Reply-To: "Timothy Hla"  <hlatim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

In message <Pine.SUN.3.91.950405021849.5001A-100000@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
Conference "reg.burma" writes:
> From: Eng-Soon Chan <lds107@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> 
> 
> > >> People who do not
> > >> participate in revolution just focus on their daily lives and 
> > > improvement of
> > >> their living without considering fair or unfair way of making money. 
> > > Mostly
> > >> those kind of people are foreign immigrants such as Indians and Chinese. 
> > > 
> >  
> > >You know, this is not necessarily true. My grandparents are Chinese, but 
> > >my mother almost got shot saving some students' lives. My mother worked 
> > >at the Thai-Burmese border with the student groups, and our family is 
> > >totally devoted to Burma. I know many other "chinese immigrants"  
> > >who are as devoted for the country as "Burmese", if not more.  
> >  
> > >Pwint
> > Dear Pwint:
> > 	As I expected such point can be made in my posting, I am ready to say I
> > don't mean to single out such honorable citizens. I am trying to find the 
> > way
> > that can help Burma-born deserved citizens to get justice and fair share of
> > life in Burma. There are also some Burmese especially who are imbued and
> > satisfied with SLORC ideology say "I cannot take care of my aunt's cows, 
> > being
> > eating my own rice" as Burmese saying goes. It is very certain that we have 
> > to
> > face the problems such that there are many Chinese in Mandalay and northern
> > Burma who took the opportunity by cooperating SLORC. They have been buying
> > almost the whole part of Mandaly. They are just opportunity-takers. We have 
> > to,
> > including Burmese citizens like you, have to think that it cannot be 
> > tolerated
> > in terms of justice.
> > 	I think you have misinterpreted upon my lack of more clear explanation.
> > I cannot personally let Burmese(100%), who are military elites and its 
> > followers
> > getting and collecting property, have as they are just because they are 
> > Burmese
> > too. They all have to face the future policy or laws of democratic Burma. I 
> > am
> > trying to find what sort of policy, and laws can help to settle justice in
> > Burma in order to help all deserved Burmese.
> > 	Thanks,
> > 	Tun Myint
> > 
> >  
> >  
> >  
> > 
> Hi, 
> I am new to this discussion. I am a chinese decent from Burma. I think 
> the way Mr.Tun Myint describe is extremely unfair as chinese and indians 
> in Burma are all opportunitist and they are earning money in unfair way. 
> Also such as"100% Burmese". I think this is racist. Like my family have 
> been the fourth generation in Burma and they have contributed to the 
> country since their arrival. As they became 
> Burmese citizens and they lived and died in Burma. Their wealth is 
> Burma's wealth. I believe they should be perceived as Burmese regardless 
> of ethnic origin as there are many ethnics minority in Burma. I don't 
> think it is fair to decide who get more priveledge by the time of 
> ancestral migration to Burma. My father and mother were all born in Burma 
> and lived their lives through Burma. Burma is their country and they are 
> Burmese Citizen. Their property is Burma's property. They may look 
> chinese but have nothing to do with China. To deny their right is 
> unjustice and narrow minded. Thanks.
> Soon

I totally agree with Soon in describing the previous comments from others in 
this letter as bordering on racist ideology, perhaps coupled with tremendous 
naivete of the modern world.  I think that it is entirely wrong to say that some
people are 100% Burmese and that they are different from the Chinese and Indian 
immigrants. Most of the immigrants came to Burma 3-4 generations ago and I am 
appalled to hear that they are foreigners and that they are out there just to 
make money unfairly.  This type of chauvinistic and racist thinking is 
responsible for much of the problems that Burma is facing today.  Look at the 
countries with progressive immigration laws such as the US;  anyone born in the 
US and all the naturalized US citizens enjoy 100% of the rights of citizenship 
and are not discriminated in any way.  Look how much immigrants have and are 
contributing to the US society.  If countries like Burma had more progressive 
and smart immigration laws as well as social thinking, they would be much more 
advanced and be able to enjoy the fruits of the immigrant's labors.

As far as I am concerned, every one born in Burma should be considered in total 
as a Burmese citizen.  Children born to Burmese citizens living abroad and 
spouses of Burmese citizens should also be given the choice of becoming Burmese 
citizens if they so choose.  

Tim


    

Timothy Hla, Ph.D.
Scientist II/ Associate Professor
Department of Molecular Biology
Holland Laboratory, American Red Cross
15601 Crabbs Branch Way
Rockville, MD 20855
ph: 301-738-0567
fx: 301-738-0465
e-mail: hlatim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx