October 29, 2006
The famous Burma scholar and author Maurice Collis wrote in his autobiography how a Burmese monk had predicted his future. He met Taung Yin sayardaw at Kyauk Phyu, a Yakhine town in western Burma. He sketched beautifully on how three of the monk's predictions came true on his life. In response to his questions, Sayardaw explained to him that one had to calculate as well as meditate to see the future of a person.
It is also true that nobody on earth knows about your future. When fortune teller predicts, there are only three possibilities, it may come true, it may be wrong or it becomes irrelevant. To take it or leave it is up to the individual. But it is also true that there are many individuals in Burma who do this work of prediction as a profession. Some are successful, ET together with very few became very rich from the humble origin with the money made out of this practice.
ET or Ma Khin Swe Win has been practicing this profession since 1980s. Mildly retarded, she does not speak direct to the customers. She writes down illegible or some unknown code words for the sister to translate to the customer. From time to time she might utter some words, but her sister is the one to make meaningful to others. Her fame attracts some famous people recently. It not only includes rich merchants, businessmen, but also prime ministers and even the kings. Some are true facts and some are rumors, which of which is anybody’s guess. But here are some fascinating stories.
Thaksin Shinawatra, deposed Prime Minister of Thailand, used to charter a plane to bring her to Thailand. Although there was no verification on this, one thing is sure she is a VIP if she visits Thailand.
While he was in power, Thaksin sent two of his ministers to attend the birthday party thrown by ET in Shangri-La of Singapore. Only the VIPs and important clients were invited to attend the event.
Prior to his recent dismissal, Thaksin was relieved voluntarily from prime ministership for 49 days at the advice of ET, some claimed. The question is had she predicted his downfall? Yes, Thaksin knew his impending fall; he was well advised and prepared before his visit to UN head quarters, as he brought 50 over luggage when he flew to New York.
The Indonesian tycoon who owned the company to supply e-passports is one of her clients. He is said to be giving USD 20,000, for one of the interviews with her.
ET advised the minister U Aung Thaung that his government career was soon to be over. U Aung Thaung was famous for his notoriety in taking bribes and enriching himself since he is a close crony of Senior General Than Shwe. In mid September, U Aung Thaung was diagnosed with stomach cancer and hospitalized in Singapore. His misadventure might soon be over. Her prediction seems to become true.
How close a relationship between ET and General Than Shwe's wife cannot be known by this time, as it is a well-guarded secret anyway. But in 1990s, even before Than Shwe's accession to the throne, when a photograph of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was shown to ET, she prophesized, "One day she would rule Burma". If she insists this prediction, it is doubtful that the regime in Burma still allows her practice to continue.
She cannot survive and own too much property in Burma if Daw Kyaing Kyaing does not like her rising stature.
General Sonthi, the coup leader of Thai army, paid a visit to Burma in early September just before the coup. The first day of his visit was in Yakhine state to pay homage to Kyauktawgyi Pagoda. Sonthi, a Muslim by religion, was shown on TV visiting the Buddhist temples. The second day was in Mandalay paying respect to Mahar Myatmuni Pagoda and the third morning, before flying off to Bangkok he spent time with ET in Rangoon.
It is believed that Sonthi made the visit with the blessing of the King. He likes to send a message that he is not far from Buddhists religion.
It is widely claimed that ET attained insight into mysteries transcending ordinary human knowledge by knowing the name of the visitor's spouse, numbers in the currency notes in your pockets but it is too daring to take that she knows your future.
The another famous fortune teller, Min Thein Kha was arrested and put into prison because of his prediction that the Naypyidaw would be destroyed in February 2007. Although it still cannot be confirmed, he was said to be adamant to withdraw his prediction even with the prospect of being ended up in prison.
Since it was made by incomprehensible logic and done in hasty manner, the idea of moving the capital to Pyinmana is doomed to fail right from the beginning. These army Generals has no mandate to move the capital. Therefore, Sayar Min Thein Kha or any body does not need to tell that the moving of the capital without consulting the people was a mistake and it has to fail.
There might be a true craft and substance in this profession, ironically sometimes their craft itself orchestrated their own downfall. Bodaw Tin Oo was an example; he befriended with General Ne Win, but later was sent to prison when the dictator did not like what he said. The same fate befalled on Bo daw Than Hla, General Khin Nyunt's friend and Aung Pwint Khaung, a guru of three of Ne Win's grandsons. Given a very volatile political climate in Burma, even though fortune telling is a mystic and beautiful profession, which is popular among the people, sadly they could not enjoy the freedom of the prediction if it goes against the whim of the repressive military rulers.