Letters to the Editor — August, 2011
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Letters to the Editor — August, 2011


By THE IRRAWADDY Monday, August 29, 2011


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(Page 8 of 20)

Bernice Johnson


Little Time Left for UN

Regarding the article, “Gambari Had ‘Good Discussion’ in Burma: Ban” [February 11, 2009; URL: http://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=15090]:

Well, Mr Secretary-General, do not get me wrong. I really appreciate what you and Mr Gambari are doing for Burma. We really thank you all for that. However, I do not think that you have much time left. The Burmese military government's planned 2010 election is getting closer. I do not think it is necessary to explain who will win that election. The military government will not give up power so easily and the generals will do everything to get the result that favors them. I can bet my life on that.

Sometimes it makes me wonder whether the UN Secretary-General has really read the new constitution of Myanmar [Burma] carefully or not. It is rubbish. Everyone can see that, but Mr Gambari seems to put his trust on the military government's so-called road map—whatever that means. We in Burma are losing hope as year 2010 is getting closer. Now the SPDC government is not a legitimate government, but if everyone lets them win the 2010 election, they will become legitimate. Everything in Burma is in bad shape these days but it will get worse if they win. We really want to change the way it is now, but as you can all see—we are leaderless. All the people who can lead the fight for us are in prison. In my opinion, the UN must concentrate on the military government releasing all the political prisoners immediately. We do not have much time left. What are you waiting for?

Myat Minn


Questioning Tai Roots

Regarding the book review, “A Sweeping Survey of the Shan” [January 30, 2009; URL: http://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=15010:

I am a little uncomfortable with the uncorroborated perpetuation of the following opinions which are presented as fact time and time again on the Internet: first, the assertion that the terms Shan and Siam are from the same root; second, that Nan Zhao was a Shan empire. Both of these are modern myths based on limited evidence and maintained predominantly by Tai nationalists, but also by their fervent international supporters. The first idea is perpetuated to somehow connect all Tais without current autonomy to the most successful "Tai" nation state, which ironically is the least culturally, linguistically or genetically Tai and whose epicenter is the farthest away from the proposed original Tai homelands in southeastern China.

The second idea of a Tai empire prior to the second millennium CE in Yunnan is now largely discredited by Chinese historians who generally accept that Nan Zhao was a complex multi-ethnic polity with the Yi ethnic group forming the governing elite. Whereas giving young Shans some ethnocentric pride is generally to be lauded given the current oppression of ethnic culture within Burma I have concerns that the continued perpetuation of uncorroborated or discredited ideas is in the long term harmful rather than helpful. This is not dissimilar to Afro-centric so-called academics claiming African involvement in the building of Angkor or the establishment of the Yellow River civilization.

Zaw Aung Zeya


Aung San was No Hero

Regarding the article, “Young Dissidents Remember Aung San” [February 12, 2009; URL: http://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=15100]:

Who says Aung San is the hero of Burma, with his 33 men who were trained in Japan to fight the war? Rubbish! All Burmese people took part in fighting the Japanese. Ne Win followed Aung San’s path. Aung San is the main villain of Burma.

Tun Win


Karen Discarded

Regarding the article, “The Karen Old Soldiers that Britain Forgot” [February 12, 2009; URL: http://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=15101]:

The Karen were only faithful to their British masters in the past. Now they know that their masters only use them and leave them like dirty clothes. If they were faithful to Burma, they would not see this day in life. Long live Burma.

tun win


Keep Strong, Kyaw Thu!

Regarding the article, “Who is Kyaw Thu?” [February 10, 2009;
URL: http://www2.irrawaddy.com/article.php?art_id=15088]:

Kyaw Thu: you can still play an important role.



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