12.11.2006
.
.
An open letter to Mr.Ibrahim Gambari
_ by Amyotheryei U Win Naing
Your Excellency,
Allow me to welcome you to Myanmar on your second visit.
You visited our country in May 2006 for the first time and the people of Myanmar hoped that your visit might result in some progress in the process of leading Myanmar to its freedom from an oppressive rule. I would say they were disappointed. During your visit to Yangon in May, you met with SPDC, State Peace and Development Council, military government leaders and the opposition leader Daw Aung Sun Su Kyi. Nobody was told what kind of talks took place between you and the Generals and the Lady. We were just informed that you urged for the release of Daw Aung Sun Su Kyi and political prisoners and speedy democratization of Myanmar. Now you are here for the second time and likely to meet with the same people that you met the last time and ask for Aung Sun Su Kyi's release as you did before. It is going to be a repeat of your first visit and end with no true help to us.
As a strong pro-democracy activist I would appreciate if you insist on having free talks with all representatives of the opposition forces that number just five groups as follow;
1. NLD, National League for Democracy (Aung Sun Su Kyi's party}
2. Ethnic Political parties group representatives
3. Veterans Politicians group
4. 88 generation student's representatives
5. Independent politicians' representatives.
If you are just going to be satisfied with meeting NLD leaders and hearing their views only, it would not be helpful at all in finding answers to the intricate national reconciliation issue. NLD party representatives would just ask for the release of their leader Daw Aung Sun Su Kyi repeatedly and would not venture to suggest anything else. They have never initiated any political move with out Daw Aung Sun Su Kyi and they never will. So you are not going to hear from the present NLD leadership, the kind of arguments I am about to present to you. I would like to work with freed Daw Aung Sun Su Kyi but if she is not around I could not just wait for her and do nothing for the people. We must work for the immediate and urgent needs of the people first. If Aung Sun Su Kyi were released today on the persistent demands of NLD party and others, would it solve the national economic crisis and save the people from other serious humanitarian problems?
Your Excellency,
People are starving in Myanmar and are dying of malnutrition and lack of adequate medical care. As an UN official this is the kind of issue that you should mark as first priority on your list of talks with both government officials and the opposition leaders. The situation in Myanmar is far worse than in 1988. A week ago at a press conference on November 2, Information Minister Brigadier General Kyaw San described the per-capita income of a Burmese as Kyat.1940 in 1988 and has now increased to Kyat. 220000 by 114 fold. What he did not mention was the price of rice and other staple food have risen over 100 fold compared to 1988 prices. It shows that Burmese are struggling desperately to live and need emergency help from the world and the UN. This is the kind of priority I am talking about.
Before 1988 we had free medical care throughout the country and but not now. Many people have died because they could not effort to pay high charging medical doctors and private hospitals. It is true that we have government run hospitals but they do not treat the patients free of charge. Medicine and other necessaties have to be provided by the patients themselves and many have found this unbearable.
Before 1988 our educational standard was one of the highest in South East Asia and now it is the lowest in the region. Education policies have to be re-modeled if we want to make sure that we are going to have qualified human resources for the country's development plans. We have to educate the people first and prepare them for a future democratic state.
Corruption is abound and out of control in Myanmar, so much so that just a few days ago Transparentcy International listed Myanmar as second most corrupt ed country in the world.
We need urgent help from the UN on these catagories to stop social castatrophy that might very soon fall upon Burmese people.
Your Excellency,
On the political side may I bring your attention to the most alarming misconception taken up by many world leaders concerning the Seven Steps to democracy in Myanmar. Many world leaders including ASEAN leaders are now urging to speed up the implementation of Seven Steps Road Map plan put down by the Myanmar military government. They are saying they would be happy if this seven steps road map plan would be implemented as soon as possible. This shows that world leaders are not aware of what has been put down for us. They are not aware that the new draft constitution drawn up at the on going National Convention in Myanmar is designed to empower the soldiers to rule over the civilians for the next century. With out realizing this, world leaders are unwittingly sending us to the lions den by urging to implement the Severn Step Road Map plan as quickly as possible. We do not need a hasty convention. We need a strong, fair, democratic and well supported constitution.
Therefore I would like to appeal the global community and its leaders to study the basic principles put down at the National Convention before supporting the Road map to democracy by the military government.
I hope Your Excellency might be able to explain to the world what is actually going on in Myanmar after your visit to this suffering country.
Amyotheryei U Win Naing
National Politicians Group, Myanmar
Former CEC member of League for Democracy Party led by the late Prime Minister of Burma U Nu.
Author: Amyotheryei U Win Naing
Comments:
Moonshine said _
Dear U Win Naing, you are one of the few Burmans who feel that all the ethnic nationals are essential in the reconciliation and future of Burma. It is much appreciated and thanks.
Your Comments here_
Request: If you can kindly volunteer to translate BURMA DIGEST English articles into Burmese, please let us know burmadigest@tayzathuria.org.uk .
.
Last week's English articles