Myanmar Embassy in Ottawa News Rele

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

                     EMBASSY OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR
                                 OTTAWA
                          MYANMAR NEWS RELEASE
   VOL.10                     AUGUST 17, 1998                    NO.21
             AN  ANALYSIS  ON  FOREIGN  ACTIVISTS  IN YANGON
  The report in the Globe and Mail on August 15 1998 "AP  and Reuters "
in Yangon was a relatively accurate account although some details were
missing and requires further analysis.
 (1)  It was obvious that the public of the capital city whom the 18
foreign  activists were   targeting  by reminding them of   8-8-88  only
help in bringing  back memories of   horrific scenes of anarchism.That
was probably the reason the public viewed the   activists with
suspicion, rounded them up and  handed them over to the police.They
apparently felt that nobody wants  the terrible events of  8-8-88 to
ever repeat in   their country.

 (2) The assumption by foreign activists and their organizers that
Myanmar   was "ripe"   for an uprising was based on a complete
misreading of the  peoples hearts and   minds, under- estimating their
sense of judgement and patriotism. History has    shown so many times
that any form of outside  interference only strengthen their   unity in
the face of foreign infringements on their country's sovereignty.
Thus    politicians who rely on foreign support  to attain positions of
power are doomed to   failure and put their future careers at stake.

 (3) The impression abroad that Myanmar people are frightened and
"cowed" by the   government security forces meant for maintaining  peace
and tranquility that they   now enjoy, is the second
misconception,leading to miscalculations. It also        trivialises the
historic courage and  wisdom of one of the most learned peoples of
Asia "The silent   majority" simply prefer to be left in peace with
their right to   adequate   food, shelter and to socio-economic
development as priorities. It is   highly probable that they have
developed a distaste for  the  kind of    political   chaos,that are
common place around the world attributable to rapid  transition from
single party to multiparty systems.

 (4) It should be realised that further attempts to destabilise the
tranquility of the Union   of Myanmar will be
counter-productive.Sanctions and further  economic measures   from
abroad will only distance the people further from party political
activities and   delay the orderly transition to a  multiparty
democratic system.


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