Greenwood SPDC article

[dawnstar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

First would someone find and net the Barnett article please?

"... when Ms. Suu Kyi has never
> been elected in any capacity whatsoever ... the only
> person I have ever met in all my travels who opposes
> tourism is Ms. Suu Kyi herself--the remainder of the
> population is 100 % in favour of tourism and
> completely against, Ms. Suu Kyi's views on this subject." - Greenwood

We see here SPDC voice "Greenwood", and why he so often sends insults to
Free Burma
movement. He is obviously recompensated by SPDC one way or another. Will
let it pass without comment, as it speaks for itself inviting obvious
retorque. ds

Republished from the: MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE YANGON
Information  Sheet No. B-1157 (I)  22nd November 1999

>      This office is presenting a letter to the Editor written by a travel
> writer Mr. Nicholas Greenwood to the Independent on Sunday of London for your
> information.
> 
> RIGHT NOW BOOKS (BURMA)
> 36c Sisters Ave
> London SW11 5SQ
> 
> 21st November 1999
> 
> The Editor
> Independent on Sunday
> 1 Canada Square
> Canary Wharf
> London M14 5DL
> Fax No: 0171 293 2043 (2 pages)
> ---------------------------------------------
> 
> Dear Sir,
> 
> As the UK's Burma (Myanmar) travel specialist, I have
> always found it ironic that your newspaper is called
> the "Independent (on Sunday)", when it is well known
> amongst media folk, that, with regard to the
> Government of Burma (Myanmar), you are anything but
> (independent). Your views and opinions on this matter
> are well known for being wholly biased.
> 
> In this connexion, you are only too keen to publish
> Patricia Barnett's letter ("Ethical  Holiday") today,
> even though Ms. Barnett is quite incapable of getting
> even the most basic of facts correct about Burma.
> Frankly it astonishes me that someone holding the
> responsible position  she does in Tourism Concern can
> write "Aung San Suu Kyi, the democratically elected
> leader of the country", when Ms. Suu Kyi has never
> been elected in any capacity whatsoever. If Ms.
> Barnett is not even aware of this most fundamental of
> facts, it also follows that everything else she has to
> say on a country about which she has practically no
> first-hand experience can be taken with an exceedingly
> large pinch of salt.
> 
> As then first  Westerner for over 30 years to have
> gained access to all areas of the country, and the
> veteran of a mere 23 trips in the past decade, I can
> tell Ms. Barnett (and your readers) that the only
> person I have ever met in all my travels who opposes
> tourism is Ms. Suu Kyi herself--the remainder of the
> population is 100 % in favour of tourism and
> completely against, Ms. Suu Kyi's views on this
> subject. Thus Ms. Barnett is way off target when she
> asks "who are we to put our opinions and needs above
> those of the people of Burma?" What she should have
> stated was "why should we kowtow to one unelected
> woman as opposed to heeding the wishes of 99.9% of the
> population?"
> 
> Lastly in your , where once again you attack Burma, it
> would appear that your writers are as ignorant about
> the country as Ms. Barnett. Under the heading "BEST
> MONUMENT", there can be no doubt whatsoever that the
> Shwedagon Pagoda should have been listed--to fail to
> do so not only displays total ignorance about the
> country, but it is also an insult to the Burmese
> people (and other Buddhists worldwide), for whom the
> Shwedagon is not only the country's most sacred site,
> but also by a long way the country's "BEST MONUMENT".
> 
> Yours Sincerely
> 
> Sd
> Nicholas Greenwood
> TRAVEL WRITER & TOUR CONSULTANT (BURMA)
> 
> ******************