Give Not Money, but Heart by Yukio

[brelief@xxxxxxx]

Monthly column                

(Burma Today no.4  29th January 1998)

Give Not Money, but Heart 
by Yukio Hatoyama, member of PD Burma  

 
   Myanmar's entrance into ASEAN in July 1997 and the change of the name
from SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) to SPDC (State
Peace and Development Council) in November 1997 gave us hope that
Myanmar would move toward democracy. We hoped that through dialogue with
ASEAN countries, Myanmar would recognize the validity of democracy
rather than iron control. We also hoped that the change of their name
contained the reexamination of their policies. So far, however, the
military junta has shown no sign of the change in their policy. Instead,
at the end of last year, the junta requested the NLD to stop their
conference and political activities because a UN envoy was scheduled
visit to Yangon. Judging from the junta's pattern of conduct in the
past, this request could very possibly be a sign of upcoming mass
arrests. 
  I myself twice applied for visas to visit Myanmar. There has been no
reply from the Myanmar embassy, however, so I have had no chance to
visit Yangon. It seems that the military junta will not welcome visits
by someone like myself who is a member of the Myanmar Democratization
League, composed of Japanese Diet members, and PD Burma.  
  The junta only accepts those who are willing to invest or grant aid,
and refuses those who are seeking political dialogue. This attitude
cannot last long. The junta changed the name of the nation from Burma to
Myanmar. It is said that they wanted to emphasize that the nation is
formed not only by Burmans, but by over one hundred ethnicities.  
  I n this context, the change of the name of the nation is a good sign.
The military junta, however, has not put into practice the substance of
the change. It has forced the surrender of minority armies under the
guise of cease-fires and has subsequently deployed its national army.
The junta is also suppressing freedom of expression, especially that of
the NLD and others who advocate democracy. One cannot help but be
skeptical and wonder if the junta's move towards inclusiveness is only
in name and not in practice, consistent with its past pattern of
behaviour.  
  Japanese policy toward Burma is known by the unusual name, "the north
wind and the sun." The name was taken from the Aesop fable, "The sun is
mightier than the north wind." Japanese economic aid to Burma has often
been likened to the sun.  
  Japan has not granted large scale aid toward Myanmar, but it continues
small scale aid such as agricultural equipment, fertilizer, and medical
equipment. Recent news shows that it is very hard to get gasoline in
Yangon because of the inflation of prices. Are the farmers living in
rural areas able to get gasoline to fuel their agricultural equipment?
Can precise medical equipment actually be used considering the frequent
shortage of electricity? Employing agricultural equipment and medical
equipment brings significant changes to the local areas and introduces a
new system.  
  When the equipment runs down, do people have access to the necessary
funds to purchase other equipment? Without new machines, the new system
cannot be maintained. It is possible that the alms from the sun will
only be a short flare. If this happens, the aid from Japan will be
ridiculed. It will not be "the north wind and the sun" but "the north
wind and the candle."  
  I think Burmese farmers would much prefer that a healthy and able son
conscripted by the junta be returned home than to receive a tractor. A
mother with a sick child would prefer nutritious milk than an ultrasonic
diagnosis machine. Asian countries have been seeking economic stability
and indeed they have achieved significant economic growth. But last
year, they had to face one financial crisis after another. Japan is no
exception. There is a common reason for this failure. Asian countries
have sought only the expansion of wealth and have forgotten to develop
the means for a better life suited for their nation and people. The
false management of national economies has led to many bad debts in
their financial markets.  
  It has become clear that in general, Asian nations have been
continuously borrowing sums of money far exceeding their own financial
ability. The establishment of basic standards of living and human rights
are more important than the expansion of wealth. More than material
wealth, people need a society in which they can make a stable living and
in which their children are able to choose their own future. There are
so many things that Asian countries need to achieve before seeking the
simple expansion of wealth. Asian countries must move more slowly and
must conserve natural resources.  
  Myanmar has been using its limited budget for armaments and attracting
foreign investment. The junta has also been closing its educational
facilities and suppressing the freedom of speech in the name of
stability. It seems to forget the investment in people's health and
education as well as in the conservation of natural resources. By the
time the junta achieves the stability it so desires, there will be
neither natural nor human resources left in the nation.  
  Japan was controlled by a military dictatorship until fifty years ago.
What Japan brought neighbouring countries at that time was not peace,
but destruction. In Burma, Japan left behind the Burmese National Army
as its younger brother. All Japanese are well aware that the military is
not the organization which should wield the reigns of power. Japan has
learned that those who lead a nation must be a civilian controlled
government chosen in free and fair democratic elections. 
  It is Japan's responsibility to share this lesson with the people of
Myanmar to help bring peace and stability to the nation. The sunlight
from Japan must contribute positively to Myanmar's development and its
future for many years to come. Japan must assist the military in taking
the courageous steps necessary to transfer the power to a civilian
government, to create a society in which the children of Myanmar can
study freely and choose the paths to their future dreams, and to
conserve Myanmar's natural resources for future generations. 
 
  
Yukio Hatoyama  
Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Japan  
Member of the House of Representatives.  
February 11, 1947: Born in Tokyo.  
1969: Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Tokyo University.  
1976: Ph.D. in Engineering, Stanford University.  
1986: Member of the House of Representatives.  
1990: Parliamentary Vice Minister of Hokkaido Development Agency.  
  
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