Letters to the Editor — August, 2010

Lastly, as regards your speculation of divisions in opinion among EU Member states as to what the EU’s policy on Burma/Myanmar should be, I would like to assure you that relations with Burma/Myanmar continue to be framed by the EU Decision (see http://europlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:105:0022:0108:EN:PDF) which is fully supported and vigilantly implemented by all 27 EU Member states and the European Commission with a view to bringing about a peaceful transition to a democratic, civilian and inclusive system of government. In this regard, let me add that EUSE Fassino’s activities and contacts with both regional stakeholders and the Burma/Myanmar military authorities are fully in line with the objectives and goals of the EU Decision as outlined above.
                                                                                                                  
David LIPMAN
Ambassador
The Head of Delegation
EUROPEAN UNION
DELEGATION TO THAILAND

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Dear Editor,

Regarding the online article, “Burma, the Opposition and Economic Development” [February 20, 2009; http://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=15159]:

As a Burmese professor in a foreign university abroad, I am outraged by the stupidity of Steinberg's attack on the NLD and the dignity of Burmese civilization and the army as a whole.

Do you, with your wits and foresight, notice this is the same sort of racist offense to colonize and kill Burmese heroes from the 1820s to 1948, till General Aung San gave us freedom from the whites. Read “Orientalism” by Said, you will see how these systematized attacks to belittle the dignity and uniqueness of Eastern thought and peoples (Burma, Iraq, Afghanistan or Palestine) are committed by racist and prejudiced intellectuals in rich nations who care so little about Burmese people, the NLD or the reputation of the Burmese as a whole, globally.
 
The NLD, and even the military are great, dignified systems poor Burma has left to reconstruct after British colonization, Fascism, Ne Win's dictatorship and the chaos of the generals.  Please read the book by Professor Thant Myint Oo and you will see how frightening the colonizers' attempts were to destroy the national reputation (negative PR) of Burma.
 
It is a shame your paper publishes bigots like Steinberg. Please accept my sincere protest to take down his article, which is mere rubbish to attack Burma/Burmese institutions (NLD, military, community leaders).
 
Kyaw S Win

Friday, February 13, 2009

Scapegoats in Chiang Mai

Regarding the article, “Student’s Murder Leads to Migrant Roundup” [February 12, 2009; URL: http://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=15099]:

This does indeed look like a hunt for scapegoats. Is there any evidence the crime was committed by a Burmese migrant? Did the students who complained to the police say why they wanted a crackdown on the presence of Burmese near their university? The Thai call the Shan the "Tai Yai" and feel much more tolerantly toward them because they regard them as ethnically related, than they do to ethnic Burmans, for whom they harbor a deep distrust, possibly due to all the historical dramas on Thai TV and in the movies showing the Burmese as war-mongering invaders.

Arthurson

How ‘Fair and Soft’ is Ye Myint Aung?

Regarding the article, “Troop Movements Reported Along Bangladesh-Burma Border” [February 11, 2009; http://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=15096]:

I wonder how Ye Myin Aung tarnishes the image of Burma by his racist remark. There are many “pure Burmese,” particularly those from upper Burma have dark brown complexions. I guess Mr Aung must be a Chinese or a Chinese descendent as he claims to be white and being posted to Honk Kong.