THE VIEW FROM THE EMBASSY OF MYANMA

[OKKAR66127@xxxxxxx]

Subject: THE VIEW FROM THE EMBASSY OF MYANMAR, OTTAWA (9/13)

THE VIEW FROM THE EMBASSY OF MYANMAR, OTTAWA
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Vol 9 	           JULY   25, 1997	                       No.   13

MYANMAR BECOMES FULL FLEDGED MEMBER OF ASEAN

	The expansion of ASEAN to embrace nine out of ten countries in South
East Asia is indeed a landmark achievement in the history of this
region.   It is fervently hoped that the last remaining country will
also be able to join the family in a not-too-distant future.     An
ASEAN that ultimately includes all ten South East Asian countries will
finally celebrate a victory over the divisive legacies of different
colonial masters that ruled the region in its pre-independent days.  
Some might even attribute the present inability of Cambodia to join the
family to the faltering three-billion dollar "experiment" that the extra
regional powers, through the UN, tried to impose on the country that
seemed premature and unnatural at best (e.g.  a government structure
that installed two prime ministers).    It simply reinforces the view
that political problems of a country cannot be settled by solutions
formulated by far-away powers and a South East Asian country should
never again become another guinea-pig in the series of political
experiments sponsored by major powers.    ASEAN's principle criteria for
new membership, such as internal unity and stability have, for example,
been laid down as result of their leader's wisdom and experience
acquired in the course of their own transition to the present day
political and economic situations.   For countries in political
evolution to play it safe by taking the road that has been
well-traversed before will simply be the most prudent thing to do.

	It is in this light that the government of the Union of Myanmar 
has in the past five years  concentrated on restoration of peace with its own
nationalities who were involved with one form of insurgency or another
since the country's independence almost fifty years ago and seems to
have achieved this objective with over ninety-percent of them.   It is
gratifying to witness that even most of the frontier areas have been
stabilised and are undergoing rapid socio-economic development.

	Recent statements made by the former insurgent armies of
 Myanmar (P-) strongly suggest that they too are determined to resist 
external interferences in their nation's internal affairs and to uphold the
age-old dictum that "the strength of a country lies within" itself.   It
has been proven time and again in South East Asia that it is only after
achieving peace, unity and stability that a country can benefit from the
assistance others have been trying to provide, however well-meaning they
might be.

	It is unfortunate that some of these "well-meaning" assistance 
have not been in the area of peace and development in formerly warring
territories but to support political dissidents within and without.   
Hundreds of thousands of dollars seem to be wasted each year on
dissident movements and projects that are for all practical purposes
doomed to failure.   To make matters worse some of these resources have
been abused and diverted by extremists towards terrorist activities to
stifle the development of peace and stability that are so essential to
an evolution towards a democratic society.    A currently unfolding
story of the immediate post-war period, broadcast on British TV has been
chronicling an intriguing conspiracy between the past colonial power and
the Karen National Union (the  last remaining armed belligerent group)
partly explains why this insurgency has been so stubbornly resistant to
the government's peace overtures and are still unable to overcome the
seeds of hatred sown among the nationalities.

	Most of the present day ASEAN countries have themselves been subjects of
such devious political plots at one time, and thus it is little
wonder that ASEAN understands the problem of South East Asian countries
better than anyone else.

	There will, of course, be some problems -- but in the spirit of "Amity
and Cooperation" on which ASEAN has been founded -- none will be
insurmountable.

	There has already been a lot of noises and criticisms against ASEAN's
latest move -- but with unity, hard work and diligence, it will not be
long before the prophets of doom are proven wrong.

	Meanwhile, the newly expanded ASEAN-9 deserves nothing less than our
"Heartiest Congratulations!"

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