Response by Consulate General of th

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

Subject: Response by Consulate General of the Union of Myanmar in Hong Kong

Response by Consulate General of the Union of Myanmar in Hong Kong to the 
letter to the Editor by Maureen  Aung Thwin that appeared in Asian Wall 
Street Journal on June 9.

Prospering in Muse

	I would like to respond to the Letter to the Editor by Maureen Aung 
Thwin that appeared in your paper on June 25, 1999. The allegations made give 
an utterly different picture from what the situation really is.

	Muse-- a town on the Myanmar-China border--was a few years ago a 
backward, undeveloped town. Due to the border trade introduced by the 
government  with a view to uplifting the lives of the people living along the 
border, business has thrived to the benefit of the people on both sides of 
the border.

	With the transformation from a centralized socialist economy to a 
market economic system, Myanmar has encouraged private business and promoted 
border trade along the border with all the neighboring countries. This became 
possible because peace and tranquillity had been restored in the border areas 
as all the armed groups except one had returned to the legal fold. Emphasis 
is now placed on the development  of border areas and all the national races 
in the Union of Myanmar. Consequently, the people in  Muse and border area 
towns are prospering and the quality of lives of these people are enhanced. 

	Spreading false and fabricated news to belittle the progress  
achieved by the people is demeaning and is simply a vain attempt to disrupt 
the progress and stability of the country. The Open Society Institute is an 
infamous organisation, well known for its negative attitude  against the 
developing countries and it initiated the financial crisis in the region.


HLA THANN
Consul General
Consulate General of the Union of Myanmar

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