SLORC (NLM): Time They Realized

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Subject: NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR July 10 Article
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THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR  Article in dialogue form by Thanlyet: ''Time 
They Realized" in English, July 10, 1996,  p. 5

Begin Text:  

 Thanlyet: Hey, U Myo Chit, what are you reading?  Are you reading your 
own articles?
U Myo Chit: Absolutely not.  They are not the articles I have written.  
As you know, I have no time to write.  I just answer ' questions when you 
come and ask me.  You are the ones who have been writing articles.
Thanlyet:	Well, it is because I have been reading article series titled 
"Let's Tell the Truth" by "Myo Chit".  I was happy and welcomed you 
because I thought you, U Myo Chit, have taken up a place.
U Myo Chit: No, Thanlyet.  That's his pen-name.  But what he has been 
telling the truth coincides with what we are thinking of the truth.  Here 
is what you have written in your article, "Oh!  That's the reason." Here, 
please read it again:
IIU Myo Chit: Well, this is no small matter.  When I continued to read 
the article I found in the middle of it a revelation about Philip Shenan 
[sic] the columnist of THE HERALD TRIBUNE [sic] who has always been 
critical of Myanmar [Burma].  He is known to be a qualified correspondent 
but an interesting point about him is that he is a close colleague of 
Englishman Michael Aris, the husband of Daw Suu Kyi.  After reading it, 
my expectations with attachment for the lady for her being a daughter of 
a leader and a martyr of Myanmar vanished.
Thanlyet: Oh! To that extent, U Myo Chit?
U Myo Chit: Yes, Thanlyet.  The more I ponder over it the more I am 
worried.  I could not imagine what would happen if she were to win the 
leadership.  For me, it is quite obvious like an elephant moving in the 
field as the saying goes.
U Myo Chit: That is right.  The point is dealt with more specifically in 
"Let's Tell the Truth" article series.  It is evident that the writer 
"Myo Chit," has written it in disgust.  He seemed to be very much 
displeased with the lady's marrying an Englishman whose race killed her 
great grandfather and father in spite of her being a daughter of a noted 
patriot of Myanmar.  He appeared to have been concerned that state 
security'and defence secrets would appear to be placed right in the hands 
of outsiders like the Leiks [Burmese derogatory abbreviation for English] 
and the Kans [Burmese derogatory abbreviation for American] if she were 
to be given the leadership.
Thanlyet:	The truth was also indicated in the article series that she has 
antagonized the Tatmadaw [Defense Services] which can never be separated 
from all matters and causes of Myanmar's past,
present, and future attempted through incitements to cause its 
disintegration and destruction since she got onto the stage.
U Myo Chit: Concerning this, it is necessary to see who pulled her onto 
the stage during the 8-8-88 disturbances.  Those who masterminded to 
incite a situation to cause disintegration of the Tatmadaw, destabilize 
and see everything done by it from the negative angle were the Communist 
group and the Leik-Kan CIA. Myanmar could advance taking the leading 
position in Asia if its nationals strove in unity after regaining 
independence but the communists were those who subverted the nation from 
within.  They would not care if the country was reduced to ashes if they 
did not win power.  For four full decades, they made all attempts both 
above-ground and underground employing different wiles and tactics and 
seeking all kinds of foreign help to seize power.  The Tatmadaw had been 
the only organization that went after and crushed the White and Red 
Communists wherever they went.  It finally put the Communists to an end.  
Obviously, they felt bitter toward the Tatmadaw. Well, when the Leik had 
to flee the Kan resorted to all means to gain a foothold in Myanmar.  
After Myanmar regained her independence, it approached Myanmar Government 
through organs such as ECA, TCA [expansions unknown] , Ford Foundation, 
Asia Foundation and so on.  A group like a missionary medical team like 
Seagraves tried to establish a base in Myanmar's north.  Most overtly, 
the CIA supported the KMT Nationalist Chinese and established a foothold 
in eastern Myanmar.  Drug trafficking was then given its origin in the 
so-called Golden Triangle area.
The Myanmar Tatmadaw in defence against danger to State stopped the acts 
of the Kan and put an end to all that.  The Kan, too, was bitter about 
it.
The Kan which declared itself to be anti-Communist and communist UGs' 
[Underground] whose days were numbered took advantage of the Phone Maw 
incident and joined hands.  They colluded.  They had been able to create 
the 8-8-88 disturbances.  At that very moment, Ma Suu Kyi, who had 
decided to leave Myanmar for good and was well established in the West as 
a wife of an Englishman, was pushed like a puppet unwittingly onto the 
stage.  From then onwards, the method of confrontation has been applied.
Thanlyet:	At this point, something comes to my mind.  It is that the 
so-called well-informed Leik and Kan people of the big nations could not 
understand and were not aware of how to serve their interests and realize 
their objectives through peaceful means.  It is astonishing.

 U Myo Chit: Well, let's consider points about the Leik.  The Leik knows 
Myanmar to some extent since he stayed in and studied Myanmar for more 
than 100 years.  He had considerable knowledge concerning myanmar 
attitude influenced by Buddhism.  Myanmar people managed to forget the 
brutal exploitation, plundering and attack in Myanar by the English for 
they handed over independece and the administration systematically.  The 
English were forgiven.  Bogyoke [General] Aug San had been a close 
associate of Englishmen like Mr Attlee, Lord Mountbatten who were noted 
for their kind heart.  They looked forward to Myanar's good future.  
Myanmar would like to maitain friendly ties with the English based on 
equlity.  However, the Conservatives and Winston Churchill could not 
stand a situation where the Sun had set in the British Empire.  Before 
their departure from Myanmar they had eliminated Myanmar leaders.  They 
sowed racial discord among the national races through the divide-and-rule 
system.  From then on, the Leik and Myanmar have drifted more and more 
apart.
Thanlyet:  What happened with the Kan?
U Myo Chit: The Kan and myanmar had sympathy toward each other in the 
distant past.  I will not go into historical details.  When the Myanmar 
were struggling to set themselves free from the rule of the English, they 
studied how the United States of America was established.  They praised 
them, envied them and tried to emulate them.  Messages of greetings were 
exchanged during the time of President Buchanan and King Mindon and ties 
were established.
However, the Americans changed as the world situation did.  At the end of 
the Second World War, Europe got very much poor while the United States 
of America became rich because it could take advantage of the War.  
Education standard at universities advanced to a higher level thanks to 
immigration of European intellectuals and intelligentsia.  America 
rapidly advanced to the world's top position after the Second World War.
Although they could secure the world's leading position owing to 
favourable conditions in their relations with culturally mature  Eastern 
nations and Europe (Americans were not actually mature.) They used force 
and arrogance in their relations with other nations and peoples due to 
which problems occurred everywhere.  There were problems wherever 
Americans interfered, problems arose in areas where there were none 
before and problems got worse in areas where there were already some.  
They must be put down as arrogant and awkward.
Thanlyet:	Right, U Myo Chit.  We, just called the Kan the son of a 
village headman.  Once there was a headman who had a son, who bullied 
others through his father's influence.  After passing the
fourth grade at the village school, he was sent to a Yangon [Rangoon] 
school.  On the first day in Yangon, he and his father went to the Rowe & 
Company, bought a pair of shoes which he immediately put on and went to 
school limping.  The headman's son who bullied others in his village 
behaved likewise in the new school and was also a braggart.  Yangon 
students did not put him in his place but flattered him.  At tea shop, 
they made him treat them.  The more he was flattered the more he lavished 
on them.  Then, his father had to take him home before a year passed.  In 
like manner, every smart country flatters the Americans to get money.
U Myo Chit:  You described such persons as the headman's son.  But we 
have a similar fellow we call "Nga Pwa Gyi".  He was the headman's son at 
the monastery.  He was quarrelsome and fighting with everyone.  One day, 
the monk heard some noise resulting from a brawl.  He asked who were 
involved. The pupils replied that it was Nga Pwa Gyi.  Then the monk 
shouted, "I know Nga Pwa Gyi is in it, I want to know the other party."   
It is the same in the world today. Every time a problem arises the 
Leik-Kan Nga Pwa Gyi are involved.
Thanlyet:	There is no need to extolling the qualities of Nga Pwa Gyi.  
What is your opinion on how they can maintain cordial relations with 
Myanmar?
U Myo Chit: I have already told you.  They will not find any difficulty 
in maintaining relations with Myanmar if they understand well Myanmar 
people and their attitude.  Myamar people are good natured, hospitable 
and cordial in their dealings.  In appreciation of gratitude they owe 
they are ready to reciprocate kindness and goodwill.  They will resist, 
at the risk of life, any arrogance, insult or injustice done to them.  
That's for sure.  Everything will go well and smoothly if frank and 
sincere relations based on equality are maintained with them.
You know, Thanlyet, all the Myamar nationals would like to live in peace. 
 They antagonize no one.  They have no desire to wrong anyone.  At the 
same time, they will not allow others to do that.  Plainly put, Myanmar 
would like to remain in Asia just like Switzerland in Europe.   It would 
like to maintain good and peaceful relations with nations large and small 
and far and near.
Thanlyet:	Well, my attitude is the same.  I don't know why they wish to 
antagonize a nation which would like to remain peaceful in its own way in 
the world.  They have their own problems.  Still, it is unthinkable why 
they wish to trouble Myanmar and antagonize it. 
U Myo Chit: Forgetting the rough road they have had to travel to reach 
this stage, they wish to see their kind of mature, well-trained and 
standard democracy in a small nation where democracy is just being 
nurtured.  It will not work all of a sudden.
Thanlyet:	You mean, the goal can be achieved through persuasion, positive 
attitude, mutual help, compromise and flexibility desiring mutual 
benefit.  Don't you agree?
U Myo Chit: Exactly.  But acts endangering the nation with the pretext of 
human rights must be stopped.  Obviously, these pretexts are not the main 
reasons.  Mutual interests and matters of Asian and world interests can 
be discussed in coordination, most extensively and peacefully.  But 
something of a floor price is to be set.
Thanlyet:	What do you mean by setting a floor price?
U Myo Chit:  Don't you know that?  When a jade block is sold through 
competitive bidding at the Myanmar Gems Emporium, the floor price is 
first set.  Similarly, if we are going to discuss matters of mutual 
benefit, it will be necessary to close the soap-opera on University 
Avenue and at the same time, the puppet princess and the director who 
manipulates from behind the curtain should be withdrawn from the Myanmar 
stage.  Instead, they should be made to play a role on an appropriate 
higher stage, for instance like the United Nations.  Beginning with that 
floor price both sides can say the price and dompromise.  It will then be 
mutually beneficial.
Indeed, career diplomats are very intelligent and well-informed.  They 
are responsible for keeping the American people informed of authentic 
news about all-round development and prevalence of stability and peace in 
Myanmar and its desire to participate in dignity in working for world 
peace during the time of the State Law and Order Restoration Council.  If 
the diplomats pretend not to see the objective conditions and remain 
indifferent to dissemination of false news by VOA, BBC and various 
publications, they are harming the interest of their own nation.

End Text.