A Thoughtful Reply to Lee Kuan Yew

[brelief@xxxxxxx]

Subject: A Thoughtful Reply to Lee Kuan Yew from Soc.Culture.Burma

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Date: 14 Jun 1996 23:06:12 GMT

Response II to "Lee Kwan Yew Defends Burma"... Chao-Tzang 
Fax:(604)525-6924

   The cardinal issue in Burma today is not about economic
development since no one desires to live in a country or society that is
underdeveloped.  Foreign investments and investors will always be
welcomed to make money in Burma (and hopefully bring jobs and
stimulate business) by whoever is in power.  The issue in the economic
sphere is really about de-development--a problem caused by the
military since 1962 up to the present, and rooted in military-led
"Burmese socialism" and the present Burmese "free-market" looting by
general-ministers (bogyoke - wungyis).
   It is obvious that Burma's de-development, past and ongoing, is
closely related to politics.  
Burmese "socialism" was imposed by political power and by the state,
and as well the present "free -  market" looting is similarly maintained
by political power held by military men at gun-point.
   As such, the main issue is about politics and power, i.e., to whom
political power and the state belong: whether to a handful of military
brass or to the people.
   In this regard, no Asian - ASEAN leader will deny that "the people"
are the "owners" of  political power and the state.  They all apparently
ascribe to the principle of people sovereignty.  
   Furthermore, Asian - ASEAN leaders claim the moral superiority of 
Asian culture and political culture over "Western" democracy and the
Western notion of human  rights.
   The argument, in essence, is that Asian leaders are communitarian;
they value and promote harmony between rulers and the ruled, and that
they exercise power not for the benefit of individuals (or the personal
enrichment of leaders and rulers ), but for the community as a whole. 
This is a beautiful, and indeed, superior rulership ethos.
   It is certain that Asian - ASEAN leaders truly believe in the ethos
they often proclaim (in  defence against the imposition of alien notions
and standards, democracy and human rights, on Asians by the West).
   This being so, it is puzzling why Asian leaders have stooped so low
to lovingly embrace a  bunch of quite unintelligent military bosses in
Burma who, besides claiming to own the country, do not obviously
ascribe to the rulership ethos ascribed to by Asian - ASEAN leaders.
   Surely, they cannot believe that SLORC bosses are cultured
mandarins, imbued with communitarian, Confucian ideals?  The harm
and damage SLORC has perpetrated on the country and people with its
guns, prisons, arbitrary laws, brutal atrocities, and looting are all clearly
visible.
   However, Asian - ASEAN leaders being wise, moral, and
communitarian, may  have higher reasons, which mere mortals cannot
understand, for they loving embrace of an ugly, definitely un - Asian
monster.  Or perhaps they are pressured to do so by those lusting after
easy dollars which can be reaped by joining SLORC in the rape of
Burma.
   On the other hand, if Asian leaders actually possess high morals, a
strong community spirit,  and a superior rulership ethos - - it is time to
show the West that Asian values and culture are really superior to
"Western" democracy and "Western" concern for human rights.
   The right first step in this direction would be for Asian - ASEAN
leaders to recognise that the Burmese suffering under SLORC's misrule
and pillage are also fellow Asian, that they are not sub - humans who
deserves to be enslaved, plundered, and brutalised by their rulers and
their foreign patrons.
   Asian - ASEAN leaders should, at the very least, dialogue with
Aung San Suu Kyi who, at the moment -- right or wrong --  represent
the dreams and aspirations of over 40 million inhabitants of Burma.  
   They should at least find out for themselves who the real slimy,
ugly monster is --  whether it is SLORC or the LADY who represents
the people.
   Dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and other non-military leaders in
Burma will reveal to Asian - ASEAN leaders that they have been
deviously misled by SLORC into fearing the people. They may even
discover that under conditions of  harmony between rulers and ruled in
Burma, investors stand to make larger and faster profits from doing
genuine business with the people, instead of against them, i.e.,
plundering the country at SLORC's gun point.
   Unfortunately, it seems for now that Asian-ASEAN leaders, for all
their highmindedness,  Confucian, etc., have irrationally psyched
themselves into fearing the Lady and the people of Burma.
   However, one can always hope that the Asian rulership ethos and
Asian culture values proclaimed by Asian - ASEAN leaders are deeply
held convictions, and not just "smoke and mirror" conjured up to hide
the nakedness of authoritarian rule and unaccountable exercise of
power by a few  over the many, or worse, to legitimise the "fast - buck"
plunder and pillage of an unfortunate and tragic country.

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