INTERVIEW : Real State of Myanmar (r)

[heiko@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Re: INTERVIEW : Real State of Myanmar

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Dear Friends,

yes, they exist the Burma friendly democratic countries. Like Germany
Japan is satisfied if their own country is okay. All other countries are
here to exploit. To justify this with the own poulation they use such
articles. Germany is infamous for such articles. Here are around 90 % of
the articles and TV-Reports hailing the Burmese junta.

Metta
Heiko

Mg Myanmar wrote:
> 
> SOURCE: Myanmar Information - http://www.myanmar.com/
> 
> The Sekai Nippo, November. 27, 1999
> 
> REAL STATE OF MYANMAR. MILITARY GOVERNMENT EQUAL EVIL IS TOO SIMPLE
> AS A THEORY. PREVENT SPLIT OF A MULTI_RACES COUNTRY. SOFT LANDING TO
> TRANSFERING OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT IS POSSIBLE.
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> For we Japanese people, Myanmar was an intimate and friendly country
> known as "Burma". In 1988, the country fell into confusion because
> dead lock of the closed  Socialism by the Ne Win Government which had
> - ruled the country for 2 years. Then the present military government
> was established by counp d'etat. It still has closed and dangerous
> image because the minus image by words of military government and
> active propaganda of Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi, an anti-government
> activist to western countries' mass-media. But, what about the real
> state of the country ? We interviewed with former -Japanese Ambassador
> to Myanmar Mr. Yoichi Yamaguchi, who published a book recently titled
> "Real state of Myanmar."
> 
> (Reporter: Kazuya Sato)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Double Standard of Western Countries
> 
> QUESTION - You said "Listening and looking has a great difference" in
> your book, and emphasized even under the rule of the military
> government, the country is calm and stable. The people look happy with
> cheerful look. Don't you think our Foreign Ministry is not making
> enough efforts to give correct information to us?
> 
> ANSWER -  Yes, they are making their efforts. Foreign Ministry is
> paying great attention to the information from our embassies in
> overseas. But, while they have opinions of Japanese embassies, so many
> news of mass media are flowing into the people. In addition to that
> western countries also have their own opinions. Foreign Ministry is
> making it's efforts but still they can not lead the understanding of
> our people to correct direction. Also, there are interruptions from
> western countries. Of course, the relationship between Japan and
> America is important, but we do not need to take same policy as
> America, because Japan is not a subject state of America. "Burma" for
> America and "Myanmar" for Japan is different historically and in the
> field of culture.
> 
> QUESTION - Why America oppose the present Myanmar government ?
> ANSWER -   After the end of cold war, the people of western countries
> started to take interest on democratization or human rights. And
> public    opinions in these countries begun to blame and punish
> countries where    western type democratization or human rights are
> not carrying out. Various kinds of human rights groups, women's
> organizations, and opposition parties in diet gave pressure on
> governments. All western countries had to listen their opinions, and
> at least they must take attitude to do something about it.    But if
> they do something to China, Indonesia or Vietnam, they may get
> repulsion from their own economic fields because they have close
> economic relation with these countries. Also, they are afraid the
> direct counter attack from these countries.
> 
> However, in ease of small country like Myanmar, it is easy to put
> squeeze on it because their economic world has no close relationship
> with Myanmar. As you can see, this is nothing but "Double Standard".
> 
> Mrs. Suu Kyi is losing support from the people
> 
> QUESTION - It seems to us that you are quite critical to Mrs. Aung San
> Suu Kyi, anti-government activist and Novel Prize recipient.
> 
> ANSWER -   In 1988, Mrs. Suu Kyi r4turned home from her long stay in
> overseas, then she was made as figure head of anti-government
> movements. Her followers are either communists or radical elements of
> students. On the other hand, they have no active policy for the
> country and the people. But she and her group believe if they do
> something, all mass media of western countries will report that the
> military government equal evil and Mrs. Suu Kyi equal good.
> 
> QUESTION - Is there any differences between the present military
> government and Pak government of Korea or Suharto government of
> Indonesia ?
> 
> ANSWER -   The biggest difference is the Myanmar military government
> is not dictatorial system by a man of absolute power, it is taking a
> group    leading system. It's supreme organization "State Peace and
> Development Council (SPDC) is organized by 19 members practically;
> Chairman Than Shwe, Vice Chairman Maung Aye, Secretary One Khin Nyunt
> and Secretary Two Tin Oo decide the will with consensus of these 4
> members. They did not take the power by their desires, but have strong
> will of mission, and working on construction of the country without
> any self-interest or personal gain. There are almost no corruption.
> 
> When we met them, we had a great impression. In '88, the country was
> in chaos. As many as 16 minor races stood against the government and
> the country was in real critical situation and there were a great
> possibility the country might be torn up.
> 
> So soldiers group had to rise themselves unavoidably and established
> the present government.
> 
> The second feature is that they declared openly that they will not
> cling to the power permanently and it is just a provisional
> government. They also said their duty is build up foundation of the
> country, and as soon as it is accomplished, the power will be
> transfered to civil government. Build up the foundation of the country
> means establishment of the constitution. At present, they do not have
> constitution, so they promised to the people that first establish the
> constitution and call general election based on the constitution and
> then transfer the power to civil government.
> 
> QUESTION - But they do not say when transfer to civil government.
> ANSWER -   They are saying that it will be done as soon as the
> constitution is established but not when. While I was the ambassador
> to Myanmar, I told them several times "Why don't you announce clearly
> when." But they told me that the most difficult problem in Myanmar is
> about minor races. Now they are working on how to provide regulations
> in the constitution to give autonomy to each minor races. It is a very
> difficult matter, because there are 135 different minor races in the
> country.
> 
> They must provide regulations clearly in the constitution so that
> every minor races do not feel discontent. Otherwise, there are
> possibility of riot again. Therefore, they are working on real
> carefully, because if they announce the constitution will be
> established before certain day and month, the minor races may get
> impression that the government send them an ultimatum.
> 
> They throw out aims from bus windows
> 
> QUESTION - We understand that economically, Myanmar is aiming at
> economic modernization based on principle of market economy. How about
> disparity of wealth among the people ?
> 
> ANSWER -   There are no difference between rich and poor.
> Traditionally, society of Myanmar is indiscriminate and equal society.
> If they get some money, donate it as an act of charity. They are real
> pious Buddhists.
> 
> Every towns are collecting contributions. It is not given to monks
> directly but used to build new temple and others.   One day, I was
> driving my ear in a countryside, each villages were collecting
> contributions. I was surprised because a bus came into  the village.
> Since it was long distant bus, it did not stop the village. l Then,
> passengers begun to throw money from window of running bus for
> donation.
> 
> I had chances to call at the residence of the Secretary One General
> Khin Nyunt and other high ranking officials of the government several
> times  but their residences are same as houses of ordinary citizen,
> all so simple and plain.
> 
> QUESTION - Are you optimistic about transferring the power to civil
> government in future ?
> 
> ANSWER -  The most important thing to forecast the future is what the
> people of Myanmar is thinking about present state of polities. In '88,
> the people rose in revolt against the government and the country
> became a state    of anarchy.  But the political psychology of the
> people in '88 and their present    political psychology is completely
> different. I asked several educated person "What do you think about
> the present state of polities ?" They replied "We don't think the
> present military government is best, but we understand it is a
> necessary step to make the country stable in future."  Now more than
> 10  years has passed after that. Meanwhile the military government
> obtained some excellent results. Public order was restored and rate of
> criminal offenses is lower than Japan (As of 1996, the criminal rate
> of Japan per 100,000 persons was 1.92 cases, but Myanmar was only 0.25
> eases). The riots by minor races have settled down. Although the peace
> negotiation with Karen is not settled down yet, the most parts of the
> country is safe now.
> 
> Relationship with neighbouring  countries became better, and they
> could joined to ASEAN too. The most important thing is to create
> democratic political system.
> 
> Therefore, the government is making it's best efforts to establish the
> constitution. The people knows it well, so most of them are taking
> attitude of "Acknowledge present state and not doing any movements."
> 
> So, from now on there is no possibility of big confusion like in '88.
> 
> Japan should resume aid positively
> 
> ANSWER -   As an exceptional ease of difference of diplomatic policy
> of Japan and America is policy toward Iran and policy to Myanmar.
> American policy to Myanmar is far from aid or support, on the contrary
> just squeezing them only. Against it, basically Japan urge Myanmar to
> speed up the construction of the country to correct direction as the
> military government is doing now and support them. For that we must
> resume the aid.
> 
> Since the present military government was born in 1988, our economic
> aid '  had been suspended completely except some urgent human rights
> aid such as flood, or other big disasters.
> 
> In '95, Mrs. Suu Kyi was released from her home arrest, we started a
> new aid policy to Myanmar, which was "While watching the improvement
> of state of democratization and human rights, we resume aid ease by
> ease."
> 
> In October '95, Japan granted about 1.6 billion yen for expansion
> project of nurse school. But, after that the further enforcement of
> this policy was opposed by America and some of our own people, we
> could not make any progress in '96 and '97. But, in '98, we could give
> about 2.5 billion yen loan for project of the Yangon International
> Airport.
> 
> QUESTION - What our aid in future should be?
> 
> A. -Myanmar is in difficulty both financially and technically for
> construction of the country. They have no aid from overseas at all.
> Also by objection of America, international organizations such as IMF
> or World Bank are not giving any aid to them. They are receiving few
> aid only from China or Thailand. Therefore, based on the basic policy
> in '95, Japan should give aid and support for their efforts.
> ********************************************
> 
> Mg Myanmar
> A Myanmar citizen who loves Myanmar
> 
> ********************************************
> -----------------------------------------------
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