Dear Sir:
You say: "We wish to invite our reader's view on this article which is obviously the product of the junta's another attempt to portray themselves as the victim of international oppression through their newly acquired lackey that simply parroting what they want to say."
First, I believe it is up to your (democratic and aducated) readers to judge Zarni's opinion, or you better dont ask for. If you give already your judgement in such a (excuse me) primitive and authoritarian way, you are behaving like the ennemy indeed. My observation of Burmese matters during the last decade lead to the result, that the military and the opposition have a tragic lack of real insight in democratic ideas and procedures - including ASSK, the CC and many exiled Burmese. Being a
hero is one thing, helping the country another. Freedom of opinion is real freedom, not telling me what I have to consider - dont copy the military way!
2. The lack of realisme is only exeeded by the lack of knowledge, what is going on in the world. Three weeks ago, we sit in Bangkok and discuss about Mr. Gambari and his total lack of knowledge and interest in this matter. When negociating with him in Africa, he was equally weak sometimes. We concluded that his visit in Yangon will have no effect at all.
How frustrating to observe that everybody started dreaming about the imminent release of ASSK on that Saturday. How naiv to believe that the junta would let her run free in this rather hot situation and mainly at that special date. The only way for her to be released would be under very precise conditions and security observations. If only 1 percent of the population dared to see or greet her in Yangon, 40.000 folks would run around Shwegondine - how could the military be so crazy to take this risk? We dont write the year 2001 anymore, but post 2003 and times have changed. She had had her opportunities since May 1998 and tragically missed them - under the lead of the UK and US "advisors" who will not move a real finger for her - just words and "moral support". How tragic that Gen. Than Swe has better analysis and intelligence than the worldwide opposition movement! Maybe this opposition focuses too much on Maung Zarni and other "soft targets".
3. Maung Zarni sounds stupid when he justifies so neatly the existence and acts of the Military in Myanmar. He would be right, if there was not a blatant difference between "good and bad" military and dictatorships. What sounds so simple is todays reality. We have "Democracies" like India, sweetly collaborating with the junta and we have "Dictatorships", including China, Vietnam and Singapore, who are producing every day
postive results for the wellbeing of their people. If the junta was able the run the economy properly the burmese people would love them.
And take note, believe it or not, that Nelson Mandela suggested to the Lady many years ago to abolish the boycott/sanction approach - but she/nobody wanted to listen to him. They listen to Desmond Tutu and other people who did not suffer from decades sitting in prison.
4. In fact, or unfortunately, Maung Zarni is totally right in his
approach to be realistic and stop dreaming about an eternally waiting democratisation process. As long as China, India and some other neighbours collaborate, the system will continue working and the people will be suffering. And anybody believing, those countries will change or the UN or the Security Concil can do anything, are dreamers - Russia joint the "Club" just recently, ask Maung Aye.
Zarni is equally wrong when believing the present actors/leaders can bring about any positive change, since they lost the idea of "law and order", converting from soldiers to business makers, but the examples of North Korea, Cuba an Myanmar show, that his "immoral" approach is more realistic than the moralist eternal dreams on the back of the people.
The bet is, who's approach will take longer until the people get food or proceeds with revolution.