Japan to Press for Suu's Release
Nyunt Shwe (Jul 10 2003 - 21:35)
Of course, Japan should use all her influence on the Myanmar dictators to secure the immediate release of Suu. Japan should say that the diplomatic tactics of touring photo exhibition has no good points, but damage the credibility of them further. The generals are so out of tune with the teachings of the Buddha, but they intensively use His image to cover up their lust and recent crimes.
There's no freedom at all for the NLD and for the ordinary citizens while they allow pro government demonstration with coerced and paid unfortunate citizens, and take no action after killing scores of Suu's supporters. That evident alone would be more than enough to prove their intention. They won't give in as long as they can hold the power. Their weapons are not fairness, not justice, not good thing whatsoever, but torture, coercion, killing, and exploitation of the skinny citizens.
These are a few things that Japan must take into account to lay her policy towards the regime. If you want to use soft method, you must use with staff who not only speak the language but also expert on Myanmar behavior, mindsets, tradition, weak and strong points of their culture. Then you must engage, persuade, encourage while maintaining that we understand what you are saying and doing kind of approach. It is easier to say than doing practically.
Without coordination effort by China and her neighbouring countries, Myanmar would not subdue however the West and Japan may toughen their grip on her. I'm sad for my ordinary citizens. The majority of populace are poor and helpless under the threat of momentous spread of HIV/AIDS. Should your punitive measures take longer, then there will be uncontrollable problems in my homeland. We all must share the blame and responsibility. Of course, I do not like military dictatorship. It's combine effect of Cancer and AIDS.
EU ask Japan
M.Thu Ra (Jul 11 2003 - 00:07)
In early 60s we made a terrible mistake.(Now Senior General was around 30 then)
Aftermath of the so-called "Cluture Revolution" in China, we then realised how bad our mistake was.
In 8888 case, we Myanmar lost HOPE & DIGNITY under BSPP rule. Our children went to the street under the supervision of EVIL BCP trying to overthrow the government. They went so far without realising how close it was for the country leading to a civil war and disintegration.
People should have learned from the history and avoid CONFRONTATION for it leads to nowhere.
Myanmar has changed for better after 17 armed groups returned to the legal fold. Everyone should know that Myanmar must maintain PEACE, STABILITY & UNITY at all cost.
In this crucial time, Myanmar needs help and constructive advices or even participation of international communities for national reconciliation,NOT THE PRESSURE.
PLEASE STOP BULLYING MYANMAR AND LET OUR GENERALS DECIDE ON THIS LADY CASE.
Sanctions Won’t Work Only normal people will hurt
Eagle Eyes (Jul 11 2003 - 03:26)
Although it was a limited observation of a tourist having few days of staying and looking from Myanmar, we can easily understand that Japanis not a rich country at all.
Going only about 15 km out from Yangon, I saw several huts made with bamboo. I called at one of those huts, which had neither electricity nor water supply. It was the beginning of rainy season, and their rice planting works already going on. Strictly speaking, it was not the
systematic rice planting like in Japan but throwing rice seeds into the paddy fields. Maybe there was not enough chemical fertilizers.
The hut was a farmhouse which has no relationship with mechanizations. They cannot grow more than one crop in the dry season due to the poor irrigation. Although the Japanese people earned several hundred times more, we lost the gentle and tender looks to compare with these Myanmar people who have it for long time ago.
Compare with Japanese farming, their method of production is not efficient, but they are producing 1.2 million tons (polished rice) a year which is far more than the Japanese production. They are also producing many other agricultural products. Actually Myanmar is a
great agricultural country in the world. The population of Myanmar is 45 million but it's territory is 1.8 times larger than Japan. The areas where two to three crops is possible can even be expended if the irrigation system improves.
But, Myanmar has not enough fund for that and so their modernization of agriculture may take some time. If we surmise the facts that the neighbouring countries like China and India
face the chronic state or shortage of food by their abrupt over population, Myanmar has the great possibility to become a great country of agriculture in near future.
I am surprise and I don't understand that some people request their own people to make sanction for their life harder than before. Are they really Burmese?
Sanctions will only hurt the class like peasants and workers. Myanmar had isolated for more than nearly 30 years themselves. Sanctions won't work. The green paddy fields are the best shields for sanctions.
Forget the sanctions, bring the country with tourists and business men, try to get aid to build schools / roads and hospitals. At least the peasants and workers will have a better life.
Re: EU asks Japan to press
Eagle Eyes (Jul 11 2003 - 03:48)
The imposition of sanctions or giving pressure by the European Union would be ineffective as a means of bringing pressure to bear on Myanmar's military government.
A senior EU official has said in August of 1996. EU Humanitarian Commissioner Emma Bonino, speaking to journalists that “any threat of sanctions against Yangon by the European Union would be toothless because of Europe's low level of investment in the country.
“I don't think that for the moment it's a credible way. Our investments are very low compared to Asian investment ..economically speaking, it's not a major impact," she said.
For more than a decade, Myanmar (Burma) has been a focus of the debate over whether engagement or isolation is the proper course to achieve social and political change in developing countries with repressive governments. Some American company, based on nearly four decades of experience in Asia, also invested in Myanmar believes that engagement is by far the more effective way to strengthen emerging economies and promote more open societies.
Over the past five years, however, activist groups who oppose the military government of Myanmar have not been willing to limit the debate to the merits of engagement or isolation. Instead, these groups have resorted to spreading false and hurtful allegations to companies invested in Myanmar. The activists' goal is to apply public and political pressure on these companies in order to force the company to sell off its interest in the various project and withdraw from that country. As part of this effort, they have conducted a well-orchestrated campaign to influence news reporting.
American company such as Unocal and the other project investors do not defend the actions and policies of the government of Myanmar. They do defend their reputation and the integrity of the Yadana project. Their hope is that Myanmar will develop a vital, democratic society built on a strong economy. For example, The Yadana project, which has brought significant benefits in health care, education, and economic opportunity to more than 45,000 people living in the pipeline area, is a step in the right direction.
Sanctions or No Sanctions
Khin Thitsar (Jul 11 2003 - 04:19)
Some said "Sactions against Myanmar will bring about neither freedom, nor democracy to the Burmese people". But others said "Economic sanctions against the Burmese regime adversely affect industries that directly benefit the military and deprive it of an important source of revenue". The rest said " Pervasive corruption and continuing economic mismanagement by the regime have hurt the Burmese people even more than sanctions".
Repression has driven many of the country's BEST and BRIGHEST abroad, including some notably gifted economists, while economy in Burma is close to dysfunctional.
So," Suu Ki or no Suu Kyi"," Sanctions or no sanctions", What hope has the Burmese people
got with generals of Burma with their python grip on country's power ? It is not without cause that people call our country "Massive jail without walls".