[Myanmar] What Our Readers Say

[News_Editor]

Naypyidaw Offers to ‘Hand Over’ Rohingyas to UN

“What the UNHCR is doing is to get better conditions for these stateless people,†she [uNHCR rep] added. So you admit that UNHCR’s mission in Rakhine state is to help the Rohingya people? Not the Arakanese? Then rumors about bias against Arakanese people by the UNHCR are true.

—Moe Gyaw

Naypyidaw Offers to ‘Hand Over’ Rohingyas to UN

So it’s simple as that? Shipping these poor people like soulless items to another strange land. Then to be fair, the govt needs to uproot and ship all other immigrants – Indians also brought by the British and Chinese who are increasing flooding the country, especially upcountry. What a mess it would be. Can’t the govt or people have some heart? Where is the mantra of loving kindness to all beings? Nobody wants to be born into such an outcast life. Remember your karma. Let them live. Give them a chance to a peaceful stable life. We all deserve that, for God’s sake.

—Dis Gus Ted

Naypyidaw Offers to ‘Hand Over’ Rohingyas to UN

The President’s action is completely right for his people and our nation’s stability. Illegal immigrants have to be treated as illegal immigrants. How can a country like Myanmar treat them as native ethnics? Myanmar is one of the poorest countries and is still struggling to give safe lives and services for its own people.

The Rohingya population is growing very quickly and now it is 800,000 already even though they are illegals. Food, land, services, money, etc. are limited resources for every nation. This is the reason why the world is trying to adopt family planning. Look at Bangladesh, what they said and how they treat them. Even UNHCR do not recognise them, so why should Myanmar alone take them?

—Violet

Kill the Constitution

Maybe it’s also time to annul the lop-sided exploitative MoUs that the Than Shwe government signed with the Chinese. One should at least bring these agreements out in the open and the people of Burma can decide, for example with a referendum, whether they agree to let the Chinese go ahead with these devastating mega-projects, such as the Myitsone dam and the gas/oil pipeline. If the majority of the people agree that these massive constructions will benefit the people of Burma, then they should say so openly and democratically. Otherwise these projects have to be killed, just like the constitution.

—Tocharian

Farmers Work to Win Back Seized Land

It is about time the law permitted private ownership of land for farms, orchards, pastures, and other livelihoods, as well as private dwellings. And the law must prohibit confiscation of privately owned and farmlands without equitable and fair settlement with, and the consent of, the people concerned. We should abandon the bully-wins-all mentality and authoritarian practice.

—Nyi

A Lesson in Poverty

It is true much of Burma is under poverty, but in my experience I find Burmese people, though poor, have real hearts of gold. On my trip to Mandalay, in the outskirts of the city, many years ago, I came across an old man splicing bamboo. I was thirsty and asked him for a glass of water. The gentleman just said, “Oh son, you don’t need to ask for water when you are thirsty, it’s right there for you to drink as much as you can.†How many of you rich guys in the world would say that with a big wrinkled smile? Even our high-class education has never bred that kind of love and sympathy for humanity. I feel really sorry when people just go on poking fun at the “poverty†of the Burmese; in fact, it is the philosophical poverty of those who have seen Burma only through their “one eye.†Military machine, feudal system, they are far away from the reaches of the great people of Burma. I salute you from a foreign land.

—Saif Ali Khan

‘Right to Protest’ Framework Issued to Burma MPs

It could be a big step forward if the implementation and the way judges handle things follow suit. The lack of independence of the judiciary is still a major problem in Burma. You can write new laws every day, it won’t mean anything if the execution lags behind.

Another problem is the one Ko Ko Gyi points out. Reform is a pet of the elite in the cities. At a lower level some local officials don’t get it and go about their business as before.

—Adam Selene

Suu Kyi Makes Parliamentary Debut

A hen in a house full of foxes? I hope she can transform herself from an ‘informed optimist’ to ‘informed realist.’ Her choice of compromise to work for the betterment of the people has to be admired. I do not want to doubt about her political judgment, but after all she is still human.

—Tettoe Aung

KIO Rejects Offer of Peace Talks

Gen. Gun Maw and his men are absolutely reasonable and right in holding their guns and fort. Min Aung Hlaing’s deputy is no more sincere than a carnivore or viper for that matter at these talks for ceasefire or peace. The fact that the Burma army stays within striking distance of Laiza proves the point, and it is beyond a shadow of a doubt that Min Aung Hlaing’s Burma army is paid and commissioned by the Chinese Reds next door to secure Kachin state prior to Daw Suu’s rule of law takes hold in Burma. any bets?

The Chinese have their deadline/schedule to meet/complete their Myitsone dam project, rail, road and pipelines passing through Kachin land by 2013. The KIA is in the point/vanguard position to safeguard Burma’s sovereignty, future and territorial integrity today, I say. Hence, it is the obligation and historical duty of all people in Burma to join, support and protect the KIA and the Kachin people from falling prey to the conspiracy of the Chinese communists and the Burma army.

Daw Suu has the privilege and honor to serve notice on and call for the immediate withdrawal of Burma army forces out of Kachin State—that is the most warranted and non-negotiable issue to achieve solidarity/unity: the first step to national reconciliation, not to mention annulling the threat of turning Burma into a province of China at this time and juncture.

—George Than Setkyar Heine

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