-------------------------- BurmaNet -------------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------


The BurmaNet News: July 18, 1996 
Issue #469

Noted in Passing:               

                           People at the top are corrupt so everyone is
corrupt. 
                Businessmen complain that the demands go on and 
                on, so they cannot quite calculate how much they have 
                to invest in the form of bribes. ASSK said.(see: BKK 
                POST: GIVE SLORC A CALL FOR ECONOMIC 
                DISASTER)

HEADLINES:
=========
ARTICLE: BURMA TO TAKE ITS PLACE IN REGIONAL FORUM.
ARTICLE: LETTER FROM AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO ASEAN
THE NATION: COLLECTIVE STANCE SOUGHT ON SUU KYI PLEA
THE NATION: BURMA STILL SEEKS INVESTMENT
BKK POST: GIVE SLORC A CALL FOR ECONOMIC DISASTER
THE NATION: THAILAND GETS DRUG GRANT
THE NATION: DANISH CALL GOES UNHEEDED
BKK POST: KARENS REJECT RANGOON'S DICTATE TO LAY ARMS
MA: ASSK OR THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN EXPELLED FROM THE 
MYANMAR POLITICAL AREANA FOR VIOLATING PARAJIKALL
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ARTICLE: BURMA TO TAKE ITS PLACE IN REGIONAL FORUM.
July 17, 1996
From: Myo Aye <082903@bud.cc.swin.edu.au>
by Louise Williams, Jakarta.

Australia has endorsed the entry of Burma into the ASEAN Regional 
Forum and Rangoon is expected to be formally welcomed into the group 
at the forum meeting in Jakarta this week.

Burma will also be admitted formally to observer status with the 
seven-member Association of South-East Asian Nations this week.
        
The Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr Ali Alatas, said senior 
officials from the 19-member forum, of which Australia is a founding 
member, had already agreed to expand membership to include Burma 
and India.

He said no objections had been raised to including Burma despite criticism 
of Burma's human-rights record from forum member nations such as the 
United States.

"After the senior officials' decision, we still made sure that the foreign 
ministers (of the member nations) got it in black and white. We circulated 
letters asking for reconfirmation of the decision and up until now we have 
only received explicit reconfirmation or no objections," he said.

Me Alatas confirmed that the US had sent a special envoy to ASEAN 
nations to "share the views of the US on Burma" but Washington had made 
no request to have Burma excluded from the forum.

Mr Altas also announced that Burma would be formally admitted as an 
observer to ASEAN. Previously Burma was able to attend meeting only as 
the guest of the host nation.

The Indoesian Foreign Minister, who chairs the ASEAN talks, brushed off 
potential controversy over Burma's role in the forum saying: "You would 
agree with me that it is the right of the ASEAN as an independent and 
authentic sub-regional grouping to decide who it will accept as observers."

"Other countries have the full right to have their views but I hope they, 
too, will understand that this is our organisation, not theirs, and that they 
will accept that we are adult enough to decide who we want to have in it."

Mr Alatas reiterated ASEAN's basic position which was non-interference 
in the international affairs of other nations, referring specifically to
Burma.

He also confirmed that the heads of state of the ASEAN nations had received 
a letter from the Burmese pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has 
appealed for the international isolation of Burma.

Mr Alatas said he could not yet comment on the content as the letter had only 
just been received and passed to Indonesia's President Suharto.

************************************************************

ARTICLE: LETTER FROM AUNG SAN SUU KYI TO ASEAN
July 17, 1996
From: Myo Aye <082903@bud.cc.swin.edu.au>
 by Patrick Walters, Jakarta.

The Burmese opposition leader, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, has written 
to ASEAN heads of government in the lead-up to this week's ASEAN 
ministerial meeting at which Rangoon will formally be admitted as an 
official observer.

Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Mr Ali Alatas, acknowledged receipt 
of the letter yesterday but declined to reveal its contents.

Instead, Mr Alatas reiterated ASEAN's position of constructive 
engagement and confirmed that Burma, together with India would be 
admitted as a full member of the ASEAN Regional Forum at this 
year's meeting.

Burma is expected to become a full member of ASEAN before the end 
of the decade.

In response to questions, Mr Alatas denied Washington had tried 
to put pressure on ASEAN to exclude Burma from the ARF.

The US and other like-minded countries including Australia have 
sought to limit contacts with the military-led government in Rangoon 
until Burma improves its human rights record.

At a briefing in the lead-up to this week's ministerial meeting, Mr Alatas 
said that India, Russia and China would be included as ASEAN dialogue 
partners for the first time.

Burma will be the fourth country to be given observer status by ASEAN 
following Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, and Laos.

The ASEAN ministerial meeting commencing on Saturday will precede 
consultations between ASEAN and its dialogue partners and will be 
followed by the third ARF meeting.

The ARF now has a membership of 21 countries including the seven 
ASEAN States.

This format for this year's meetings with ASEAN's 10 dialogue partners 
has been changed with only one ASEAN minister now representing the 
session with a dialogue partner.

*********************************************************

THE NATION: COLLECTIVE STANCE SOUGHT ON SUU KYI PLEA
July 17, 1996
Don Pathan, Yindee Lertcharoenchok

JAKARTA - Senior Asean officials will try to define a common 
position during their two-day meeting here regarding a response 
to a letter recently sent to Asean leaders by Burmese pro-
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

This was disclosed by Thep Devakul, permanent secretary of the 
Thai Foreign Ministry, when reporters sought Thailand's reaction 
to the letter.

In a letter sent to the seven Asean heads of government, Suu Kyi 
requested the group use its good offices to promote national 
reconciliation through a dialogue between the Burmese junta, her 
National League for Democracy (NLD) party, and other political 
movements in Burma.

Thep and other senior Asean officials are in the Indonesian 
capital to prepare for the annual meeting of their foreign 
ministers on July 20 and 21.

Thep confirmed Asean's concern over the political situation in 
Burma by revealing that Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-archa had 
sent a letter to Burmese junta leader Gen Than Shwe expressing 
Thailand's concern over the massive military crackdown on the NLD.

"In the letter, the prime minister expressed Thailand's concern, 
which shares a common border with Burma, over the situation in 
Burma. He (Banharn) stated that we (Thailand) did not want to see 
violence in Burma," Thep said.

In May, the Burmese junta arrested 262 NLD members and 
supporters, saying that they were only temporarily detained for 
questioning. Suu Kyi said the NLD members were arrested to 
prevent them from attending the NLD congress.

The arrest has drawn strong criticism from both human rights 
groups and the West, particularly the United States, which is 
considering tougher measures including economic sanctions against Slorc.

Thep yesterday reiterated the Thai and Asean policy of constructive 
engagement towards Burma saying that the grouping recognises the 
sovereignty of a nation by not interfering in its domestic affairs.

He said national reconciliation in Burma should be carried out 
through the national convention, which the Slorc organised in 
January 1993 to draft a new national constitution. He criticised 
Suu Kyi and the NLD for their decision to walk out and boycott 
the convention.

The Thai permanent secretary said Suu Kyi and the NLD had shown 
an unwillingness to compromise by boycotting the national 
convention, in which 14 ethnic minority groups were also invited 
to participate.

Thep said Slorc has stated that the new charter would guarantee a 
multi-party political system.

Thep lashed out at Western countries and human rights for calling 
for pressure, economic sanctions and the isolation of Burma, 
saying that they were too emotional and idealistic in pressing 
for democracy in Burma without realising the true political 
situation on ground.

He also charged that Suu Kyi was influenced idealistic Western 
thinking because she had been out of the country since the tender 
age of three and had returned when she was almost 40. (TN)

*********************************************************

THE NATION: BURMA STILL SEEKS INVESTMENT
July 17, 1996
 by Kulachada Chaipipat

RANGOON - Burmese authorities yesterday assured foreign investors 
of their commitment to a market economy through a five-year plan 
to promote exports and boost the economy to a sustained 6 per cent 
growth.

However, they said foreign investment in hotels and tourist 
facilities in the capital may slow because the sector is 
approaching saturation level. At the same time, they encouraged 
investment in rural tourist destinations such as Mandalay and 
Pagan to accommodate growing numbers of tourists.

The government is expected to impose a temporary freeze on 
foreign investment in breweries and cigarette manufacturing until 
demand exceeds present production capacity, said officials.

Speaking at the Thai Board of Investment's Greater Mekong Sub-
region business workshop, Thinn Maung, director of the Myanmar 
Investment Commission's Directorate of Investment and Company 
Administration, said the sectors with the largest potential for 
foreign investors were the down-stream petroleum and agriculture 
industries. Deputy director of the Directorate of Industry, Khin 
Than Nwe, said current joint venture projects with foreign 
investors were heavily concentrated in the import-substitute 
industry.

The government, he said, wanted to shift foreign investment into 
export oriented sectors including natural resources. Thinn Maung 
said concessions for industrial parks near the capital have been 
awarded to Japan's Mitsui and Co Ltd and Singapore's Sinmardev 
international Pte Ltd. Thai company Rajana Group is also seeking 
an industrial estate concession while another Singaporean country 
is expected to be awarded a high-tech industrial estate 
concession near the international airport.

The number one foreign investment category is the energy sector, 
which accounts for over US$1 billion of the $4.1 billion worth of 
foreign investment pledged to the country since 1988.

The tourism sector ranks number two in terms of foreign 
investment at $180 million with Singapore and Thailand first and 
second among investors, according to the assistant director of 
the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) 
has been seeking foreign investment since it seized power in 
1988. It claims the economy suffered from even worse 
mismanagement under the socialist rule and isolationist policies 
of former leader General Ne Win. Thinn Maung said as of July 15, 
the government had approved 196 projects originating from 20 
countries for promised total direct investment of $4.1 billion. 
To date, about $2.5-$3 billion has actually materialised, he said.

The Burmese delegate yesterday ruled out the impact of western 
economic sanctions on the Burmese economy, saying that economic 
interaction among countries in the region is on the rise and 
would be sufficient to maintain economic momentum. "The centre of 
growth in the next century is here, we are not worried about 
economic sanctions by western countries," he said. Joining Asean, 
he said, will be a driving force for Burma to further develop its 
economic partners and boost its economy.

Thinn Maung said major foreign investors included Thailand, 
Singapore, Malaysia, the US and France. Thai companies are 
involved in 31 projects valued at over US$422 million.

He ruled out the notion that Western attempts to apply economic 
pressure on Burma by pressing for human rights improvements will 
affect Myanmar Tourism Year. "That is what you think. I think 
Myanmar is a country that foreign people cannot resist visiting," he said.

He also down-played the impact of Heineken's recent decision to 
withdraw its investment in Burma, saying it was just a shift of 
equity participation on the pact of a foreign partner, the Asia 
Pacific Brewery, in a joint venture with a local company. (TN)

********************************************************

BKK POST: GIVE SLORC A CALL FOR ECONOMIC DISASTER
July 17, 1996
by Nussara Sawatsawang and Saritdet Marukatat

THE humble mobile phone is contributing to the latest economic 
disaster facing Burma's ruling junta. The country is short of 
telephones, so the State Law and Order Restoration Council 
(Slorc) is selling its citizens mobile phones - 4,000 of them at 
$4,000 a piece, according to local businessmen.

The phone have to be purchased in dollars, so US$16 million (400 
million baht) is being drained from the market - pushing up the 
exchange rate and seriously undermining the value of the kyat.

Within three days last week, the kyat lost a quarter of its value 
on the market, plunging from 145 to the dollar at the unofficial 
rate on Wednesday to 180 on Friday.

In other words, an ill-though-out attempt to solve one problem 
has led to potentially more serious problems elsewhere.

But mobile phones are only part of the story. They are not the sole reason 
for the fall in the kyat, and nor is the exchange rate the only difficulty 
confronting Slorc.

Newspaper headlines have been dominated by talk of rising 
political tensions, increasing dissent among opposition groups 
and international criticism of Rangoon's human rights record, and 
Slorc faces a whole range of worsening economic problems. Its 
attempts to tackle these problems threaten to make matters worse 
before they get better. And the economic woes have great 
potential to add to the discontent.

Inflation is rising, a trend that can only worsen as the currency 
depreciates. Dollars are becoming harder to find because they are 
needed for imports, while dollar-earning exports face numerous 
obstacles. The trade balance is in deficit.

Investment, which ought to offer a major means of escape from 
this vicious cycle, is also looking grim, with a growing number 
of foreign firms deferring projects or withdrawing from the 
country because of political controversy.

Slorc's hopes of raising foreign exchange through its Visit Burma 
Year campaign have been largely dashed because of the dissidents' 
campaign against the promotion, and because some tourists are 
afraid of trouble.

"Slorc is tieing itself up with economic problems," said one Asian diplomat.

Most businessmen expect the kyat to hover around 180 kyat to the 
dollar until the end of the year. This compares to its movement 
last year between 100 and 110 kyat on the unofficial market. The 
official exchange rate is 5.6 kyat to the dollar.

One of the reason for the economic concerns  is the deteriorating 
political situation. Confrontations between Slorc and opposition 
leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the arrests in May of 262 of Mrs Suu 
Kyi's National; League for Democracy (NLD) members for 
"questioning" are the most visible troubles.

Also contributing to the worries are rumours of the deteriorating 
health of the country's main strongman, Ne Win, according to 
analysts in Rangoon.

Mrs Suu Kyi has been outspoken in calling for the suspension of 
overseas aid and for a boycott of the govenment's Visit Myanmar 
Year 1996 campaign. This has been "psychologically effective" 
among international communities and is frustrating Slorc, said 
one Burmese businessman.

"The investment climate is now looking grim," said another observer.
People are made to feel insecure by such political confrontation,"
said a third.

Their dissatisfaction could increase as the cost of living 
increases. Inflation has almost doubled, from 24 percent last 
year to 40 percent at present.

As the kyat sinks, the cost of imports rises. About 80 percent of 
Burma's consumer products and construction material are imported, 
while exports include beans, pulses, low quality rice and raw materials.

To generate more revenue for the government, Slorc has quietly 
informed businessmen it has changed the formula for calculating 
the tax it charges on imports and exports, said businessmen and diplomats.

It has created a new official exchange rate to be used exclusively for 
calculating import and export duties. From June 1, the price of imports 
and exports has been calculated at 100 kyats per dollar instead of the 5.6 
official rate it sets for actual transactions.

This could have meant a 20-fold leap in tax payments, but Slorc at the same 
time slashed the duties payable on imports and exports from 100 percent to 
10 percent. The result is that the duty rate has doubled, with Slorc hoping
its 
revenues will increase by approximately 50 percent.

The new formula has increased the price of imported consumer 
products by 20-30 percent, according to Sriwat Suwarn, the Thai 
Minister Counsellor for Commercial Affairs in Rangoon.

"Poor people and low-ranking civil servants are suffering most," he said.

The salaries of government officials range from 1,000 kyat per 
month to 2,500 kyat for those at the director-general level.

Many local businessmen disagree with the new plan but say there 
is no one to turn to with their complaints.

Mr Sriwat predicted Slorc would be forced to scrap the new formula 
because it is unworkable and will cause widespread discontent.

The military government is aware of the rising cost of products and 
early this year opened a new Government Employees Bank to help civil 
servants. The bank grants interest free loans equal to 10 times monthly 
salaries so officials can keep pace with the rising cost of living.

Slorc knows the public servants will have difficulties repaying 
the loans, whose first repayments are due next month, so a 60 
percent salary increase us expected to be announced in the next 
few weeks, according to one Burmese source.

"The 60 percent increase is to help them repay the money they borrow," 
he said.

Unfortunately, traders have already raised their prices as they know civil 
servants have more money to spend as a result of the loans. Rumours of 
a new salary hike will only add to the escalating prices, said the source.

Developments in Burma reflect Slorc's inability to handle the economy 
due to widespread corruption and an unreliable legal framework, Mrs 
Suu Kyi told Bangkok Post.

"If businessmen do not know what taxes, exchange rates or rules 
and regulations are going to in place tomorrow, they won't have 
confidence in investing in Burma," she said.

"That's one of the reason why we say this is not the right time 
to invest in Burma. It's not just a political but an economic point of view."

The unstable kyat, the unrealistic foreign exchange rate, 
inflation and the widening gap between rich and poor are key 
areas that need to be tackled, said the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize 
Laureate, developing her economic plan.

"People at the top are corrupt so everyone is corrupt. Businessmen 
complain that the demands go on and on, so they cannot quite calculate 
how much they have to invest in the form of bribes," she said.

But Thein Tun. The chairman of Pepsi-Cola Products Myanmar Co, 
places the blame elsewhere. He said export problems are caused by 
port congestion, but this should ease in two years time when new 
facilities are in place.

"There are 47 ships waiting to berth but we are  cannot export 
our commodities," he said.

To ease the port congestion, the government has recently signed 
an agreement has recently signed an agreement with three 
Singaporean companies - C&P Holding, Sinmardev International and 
Myanmar Integrated Port Service - to build wharves and other 
facilities at a new port in Thilawa, about 30 kilometers from the capital.

Construction is expected to be completed in two years.

But Mr Sriwat of the Thai Embassy said this would not be enough. 
The government should seriously consider measures to attract 
foreign investment in manufacturing industries as the value-added 
production would help reduce imports and boost exports.

Added investment would break the vicious cycle of devaluation and 
inflation, but foreign confidence in Burma is at new low.

The recent withdraw of European brewers Heineken and Carlsberg, 
and cancellations by a group of Japanese tourists planning to 
visit Burma are just some examples of the multinational pressure 
mounting on the junta.

Threats from the US to sanction Burma would not have a major 
impact on the country because it is not a major trade partner of 
Slorc, said one Burmese trader.

But it would cost the jobs of 40,000 Burmese who work in textile 
factories serving the American market, he added. (BP)

********************************************************

THE NATION: THAILAND GETS DRUG GRANT
July 17, 1996

THE United States handed the Thai government US$998,800 (Bt24.97 
million) in a ceremony yesterday to finance narcotics control 
efforts, a US Embassy official said.

"This is an annual grant of varying amounts that the United 
States through the Narcotics Affairs Section of the embassy gives 
to the Royal Thai Government through DTEC, the Department of 
Technical and Economic Cooperation," the official said.

The US government did not specify how the money should be 
allocated but understood that it will be used for interdiction, 
crop destruction and substitution, and the expansion of 
prevention efforts for special target groups.

Increased anti-narcotics efforts and development have driven much 
opium cultivation out of Thailand but the production of opium and 
its processing into heroin continues unabated across the border 
in Burma.

A joint US-Thai headhunt based on indictments in a New York court 
of 20 associates of the former opium warlord Khun Sa, who held 
territory in Burma's eastern Shan State, has led to the arrests 
of 12 trafficking suspects.

US narcotics agents have said that they believe the arrests were 
an important factor in Khun Sa's decision to arrange the 
surrender in January of his ethnic Shan-based army to the Burmese 
government.

A US State Department official said recently that Burma accounted 
for 60 per cent of the world's supply of heroin. Thai law 
enforcement efforts have also forced traffickers to develop new 
routes out of Burma through southern China, UN drug officials have said. 

*********************************************************

THE NATION: DANISH CALL GOES UNHEEDED
July 17, 1996 (abridged)

BRUSSELS - European Union foreign ministers on Monday 
individually condemned a lack of democracy in Burma, but were too 
busy to collectively discuss a Danish call for sanctions against 
the Rangoon government, diplomats said.

Denmark wanted to call for action against Rangoon following the 
death in suspicious circumstances of its honorary consul there.

"Ministers spoke to each other bilaterally, trilaterally... but 
there wasn't time for a collective discussion," one diplomat said.

Diplomats said that Britain and others are against imposing sanctions 
without the "cover" of United Nations backing. British Foreign Secretary 
Malcolm Rifkind said all EU nations were concerned about the situation 
in Burma and had individually made their views clear.

But one diplomat said European investment in the country was so small that 
EU sanctions would hardly be noticed.

********************************************************* 

BKK POST: KARENS REJECT RANGOON'S DICTATE TO LAY ARMS
July 17, 1996
Mae Sot, Tak

THE Karen National Union yesterday rejected Rangoon's demand that 
it lay down its arms before signing a peace agreement.

Karen officers said they might as well surrender if they agreed 
with the terms dictated by the State Law and Order Restoration 
Council (Slorc) talks in Moulmein late month.

The decision was announced after a meeting of KNU leaders 
including Gen Bo Mya, the president, Shwe Chai, vice-president, 
and U Ba Thein, general secretary, at its base opposite Umphang, Tak.

*********************************************************

MA: ASSK OR THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN EXPELLED FROM THE 
MYANMAR POLITICAL AREANA FOR VIOLATING PARAJIKALL
July 1, 1996 (Myanmar Alin-Burmese government run daily in Burmese)
From: <strider@igc.apc.org>

Monks who are members of a religious order, and people who study Lord 
Buddha's disciples will be able to guess the title of this article when 
they read it.  I mean the deep meaning of the word, Parajika [training 
precepts].
I am not a layman but a monk who is a member of the Buddhist Order.  This 
is why, I have used the Pali word, Parajika, that I understand.  Lord 
Buddha commanded the disciplines, and the training precepts for monks.  
There are 227 different training precepts in the abbreviated version, 
while there are more than 90 billion in the expanded version.  There are 
four training precepts which are very important for Buddhist monks 
because they can end the livelihood and existence of Buddhist monks.  
Every Buddhist monk understands these training precepts as Parajika, and 
qives special importance to their observance.  The violation of Parajika 
will bring about the expelling of a monk from the religious order, and 
excluding him from the good Buddhist monks and from performing all 
incumbent duties [if he engages in sexual activity, steals, kills a human 
being, and pretends and declares to have supernatural power.] [passage 
omitted on violation of four Parajika, and the difference in the 
lifestyles of Buddhist monks and laymen]
Now you understand that as one's life improves, one must also improve 
one's restraints.  Now let's look at the life of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and 
how she has been excluded from the Myanmar [Burmese] political arena.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is not an ordinary person and she is not the 
daughter of a tricycle [tricycle is used as a taxi in Burma] driver.  
Actually, she is the daughter of General Aung San, a national leader 
respected by all Myanmar nationals, who sacrificed his life for 
independence, and who is the jewel of all Myanmar nationals.
So she is different from the daughter of a tricycle driver.  This 
difference means there is a gap.  Therefore, they have a different 
lifestyle and status.  When there is a difference we have to consider the 
restraints.  As one's life improves one must also improve his or her 
restraints.  Otherwise it will go against nature.  If one goes against 
nature then nature will meter out punishment on that person.
It is nothing for a fishmonger to yell and use abusive terms, but if a 
school teacher, who teaches disciplines to her students, acts like a 
fishmonger then the people will dispraise and frown upon her.  It is 
because they have a different lifestyle and status.  People in a higher 
status need a higher level of restraints.  People in a higher status also 
need a higher level of national spirit which is in accordance with their 
status.  While having a strong and growing national spirit one must avoid 
things that should be avoided, retain what should be retained, restrain 
what should be restrained, and follow what should be followed.  How much 
did Daw Aung San Suu Kyi restrain from and follow things that are 
supposed to be restrained and followed?
Actually, she is extremely serendipitous.  It is not ordinary karma to be 
the daughter of Gen.  Aung San, a national leader.  The karma of other 
Myanmar women will never be able to reach hers.  This karma has 
beautified her existence, upgraded her status, and made her popular as 
the daughter of a great leader.  Because she is the daughter of Myanmar's 
national leader and architect of independence, there were good 
opportunities for her to play an important role on the Myamar political 
stage.  But the Lawkiyawisitragadi, the activity in the world of nature, 
is phenomenal.  Even though there is a high probability that something is 
going to happen, it will only happen if it is supposed to happen.  One 
might not become what he or she wants to be.  One might not get what he 
or she wants.  One must understand this phenomenon.  Unlike others, Daw 
Aung San Suu Kyi had many plausible and deserving opportunities but she 
destroyed all these opportunities by herself.
There are many national races with mettle in Myanmar and there is also a 
considerable number of them in foreign countries.  Although there are 
many national races abroad she selected the wrong life partner.  She has 
given her life to a person whose race enslaved Myanmar nationals and 
exploited Myanmar for years, and issued arms and ammunition to ruthlessly 
kill her own father, the architect of independence.  What a mistake!
She rejected persuasions and suqqestions from her mother and brother, and 
decided to marry and live with that man [thakaung thagyi] , and now she 
has two mixed-race sons.  She totally forgot about Myanmar's land and 
water and enjoyed her life in white-faced people's countries for 28 
years.  Her life is similar to a bloodless shrimp, and her national 
spirit has been destroyed.
One can see a situation clearly only if comparisons are presented in 
black and white.  Recently, I read a report in a newspaper on the 
selection of Prime Minister Bhutto's life partner. (1) He must be a 
Pakistani national, (2) His religion must be Islam, and (3) He must not 
interfere in her political affairs.  It was too late for Daw Aung San Suu 
Kyi to follow and admire this [kind of idea.]

 Concerning her position, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, until today doesn't know 
where she stands.  It is amazing to see that she is pretending not to 
know.  Buddhist scriptures say that due to, bad karma, the conscious mind 
of creatures perceives what is wrong as right when the time arrives for 
them to be destroyed.  Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is unable to see the true 
situation.  She has stopped thinking about what she cannot become, and 
she has been stubbornly striving to gain state power since the 1988 
disturbance.
I thought again and again whether she should get state power and become a 
state leader; whether she deserves to get state power and become a state 
leader; whether there is a possibility for her to gain state power and 
become a state leader.  It concerns the whole nation so one cannot think 
about this matter lightly. one must also consider the possible dangers 
that may befall Myanmar.
God forbid.  Let's says all state powers of Myanmar are in the hands of 
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and she has become a great leader.  Nowadays, there 
are some women in Myanmar who are looking up to foreigners and marrying 
them for financial reasons.  I have read quite often in the newspapers 
about such marriages.  A few days ago, I was invited to a wedding 
reception, and was distressed when I realized that it was a marriage 
between a Myanmar woman and a foreigner.  I hope these women are not 
following the steps of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
When there is a role of leader and followers to play in this world, the 
majority of the followers observe their leader.  Therefore, the majority 
of the Myanmar women will observe Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and follow her 
path that will lead them to marry foreigners.  Then they will say what is 
wrong with marrying a foreigner, we get dollars, and we also enjoy a good 
life; and they will shout loudly that this is why our great leader, Daw 
Aung San Suu Kyi, is welded [gaheset] to a pure British citizen.  That is 
why wise men referred to a Yazawwada [Buddhist story] play -- explained 
by Lord Buddha -- that said that if the head of the herd goes straight 
then the herd will go straight; if the head of the herd zigzags then the 
herd will zigzag too.
How is she going to control this kind of destruction of patriotism?  It 
would be futile for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who delightedly took a 
foreigner as her loving husband, to tell Myanmar women not to marry 
foreigners and to have patriotism.  The existence of the country depends 
upon patriotism.  If we have full patriotism then we can strive and 
overcome, and rebuild the country regardless of the situation.  If the 
whole nation loses its patriotism then Myanmar will disappear from the 
world map or only its name may remain.  Because of these reasons, the 
answers to the abovementioned questions are that she should not get state 
power and should not become a state leader; she does not deserve to get 
state power and does not deserve to become a state leader; there is no 
possibility for her to gain state power and become a state leader.  I was 
not satisfied with that, so I did more thinking.
Let's say she became a state leader.  It is not good at all for all of 
Myanmar to live anymore if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, our state leader, gives 
orders to citizens in her arrogant and stylish manners during the day, 
but serves at the feet of the longlnosed foreigner at midnight.  The 
Myanmar people should kill themselves.  That is why, my answer is 
absolutely no.
With my explanations, we can come up with a nice answer for Daw Aung San 
Suu Kyi.  She, like a Buddhist monk who has violated the four training 
precepts and has been expelled from the religious order, has made the 
wrong choice in selecting her life partner.  She has violated the great 
traditions; a violation that no Myanmar can forgive.
That is why, she lost her right to participate in Myanmar's political 
arena, and she has becomes the one who has been expelled and excluded 
from Myanmar's political arena.  She is like a person whose head has been 
cut off, or a dry leave that fell from a tree, or a broken rock-slab, or 
a short stump of toddy palm. [All these indicate that she is useless.] So 
she should not think about engaging in politics and working to gain state 
power.
What should she do?  Some ask her to leave the country.  I have a 
different idea.  A monk who has been expelled and excluded from the 
religious order for violating the four training precepts can save himself 
from being sent to hell [Theggandare, Maggandare] by becoming a layman 
and doing good deeds.  In the same manner, if she turns her back on 
politics and participates in the people's constructive works by 
contributing her knowledge, then she will be able to acquit herself of 
posing a danger to the state.  It would be like repaying her historical 
dues to the country.  I think this should be done.  I want this to be 
done.  That is why, I wrote this article.

