Posted by Kyaw Myaing on 3/1/2002, 7:32 am I am very happy that we have you discussing on this forum. I believe firmly in the usefulness of Internet technologies and the global reach of the Internet for the exchange of ideas and experiences for the solving of long-standing problems. With this message, I would like to invite members of the ethnic races to join in the discussions. If they remain silent and indiffernet, then they will not reap the true benifit of having the oppotunity to live in the US where one of the most valuable freedoms is "freedom of speech". I always believe in the positive power of "creative visualization". That is why if we truly believe in the emergence of a a stable and just Union, we will get it. If we are skeptical and indifferent, we will not get it. One of the reasons the Revolutionary Council led by General Ne Win came to power in 1962 was because the Shans wanted to secede from the Union of Myanmar. We have come a long way since then. What we have now in the SPDC is a new generation of leaders who are more connected to the events unfolding in the world. They have more understading because they are most of them at least, the products of the higher institutions of learning such as the Defence Services Academy. They have oppotunity to see news and events from satellite TV such as CNN and the latest summaries from the internet plus regular and special reports from the Ambassadors who are posted in all the major cities of the world. I have confidence in the abilities of these Ambassadors as they are my colleagues and they, like me have had the benefit of the best education that the US could offer as part of its scholarship programme. For example, I had the opportunity to study at SAIS - School for Advanced International Studies (Johns Hopkins University) where I had the good fortune to study US foreign policy and the foreign policies of China, India and the then USSR. What I am trying to say is that the leaders in the SPDC are a new generation of leaders who are more educated, better informed and better equipped to lead Myanmar into the future. What we need from the international community is an understanding that these leaders love the country and its people, (this includes all - all nationalities) as much and no less than the leaders of the NLD and certainly no less than the MPs-elect in the NCGUB and all those who are leading the activist groups around the world. The time has come for all Myanmar people to set aside their petty differences and think positive thoughts and generate thoughts of compassion and love. If all of us did this, then it will set the right spiritual mood for the country to move forward in the healing process of "national reconciliation". Healing comes from trust and respect for each other. I certainly agree that all Myanmar citizens, from ALL national races should have access to ALL postions of civil service of the national government irrespective of race, national group, belief system of color. This is a tall order but a goal worth working for. Just for the record, when Myanmar gained independence in 1948, the first President of the Union of Burma was a Karen, Mahn Win Maung and the second President was a Shan, Sao Shwe Thaike. In my opinion, I see the essence of the person rather than the nationaly or the color of the person. I am a Buddhist and according to the view of vipassana meditation, all beings are made up of mind and matter, that is the essence. This is the ultimate reality. The terms, Bama, Shan, Kachin etc are just conventional terms. However, in a Union, it is a political fact that the majority will always have more votes than the minorities. That is why all the checks and balances will have to be built in, into the new structure of the Union, so that the minorities will have the right to present their views and so that their rights are protected. It is also important to see that all the resources of the country are shared in a just manner and that the funds are appropriated fairly and equitably to all the States and regions. That is why I say that we need a new generation of leaders with the following qualities: - education This is not only needed within the SPDC but also in the NLD, NCGUB and all other political groups and activist groups. Let us all sit down and reason together. Only love can heal the nation. Regards and metta, Kyaw Myaing
Dear Michael,
However, the Prime Minister was a Bama, U Nu. General Aung San was also a Bama.
- patriotism
- compassion
- humility
- forgiveness
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