text:
WHY NEVER GIVE PRIORITY TO THE BURMESE MUSLIMS ESPECIALLY PROFESSIONALS FOR THE LEGAL MIGRATION TO MALAYSIA?
Posted on November 20, 2008 by sanooaung
World Refugee Survey 2008 – Malaysia
COMMENT: WHY NEVER GIVE PRIORITY TO THE BURMESE MUSLIMS ESPECIALLY PROFESSIONALS TO LEGALLY MIGRATE TO MALAYSIA?
Malaysia government should consider the following upgrading process_
Undocumented migrants- to issue IMM13
Documented, WP/EP holders- to issue Red ICs
Red IC holders- to issue Blue ICs
Filed under: Blogging, Burma, Burmese, English Article, Human Rights, Individual Freedom, Islam, Myanmar, Myanmar Military, Politics, SPDC | Tagged: Acehnese refugees, bribery, Burmese Muslim professionals, Corruption, deportees, Filipino Muslims in Sabah, IMM13 work permits, immigration officials, individual status determinations, kidnappers, LEGAL MIGRATION TO MALAYSIA, Malaysia, non-Rohingya asylum seekers, Refugees, Rela, Rohingya refugees, Thai brothels, Thai fishing boats, The People's Volunteer Corps, traffickers, UNHCR |	Leave a comment »
Myanmar local officials demanded cash bribes for permission to donate food
Myanmar local officials demanded cash bribes
for permission to donate food
Amid prayers for Myanmar's cyclone dead,
complaints of corruption
YANGON (AFP) — Rajagopal, one of many volunteers in Myanmar bringing food to cyclone victims, said he was shocked by the desperation of the survivors in the Irrawaddy delta, where he saw corpses still hanging in trees.
But even more appalling, he said, was that local officials demanded that he and his friends pay cash bribes to win permission to bring food into the devastated southern region. Continue reading →
Filed under: Blogging, Burma, Burmese, English Article, Human Rights, Myanmar, Myanmar Military, Politics, SPDC | Tagged: Bribes, Burma, Corruption, cyclone Nargis, Myanmar, SPDC |	1 Comment »
China Olympic Games and Repression
Repression continues in China, before Olympic
Myanmar democracy activists urge
Olympics boycott
BANGKOK (AFP) –
Myanmar democracy activists called Monday on people across the world to boycott televised coverage of this summer's Olympics in Beijing, in protest at China's support for the ruling military junta.
The 88 Generation Students group, which includes some of the country's top pro-democracy leaders, also urged viewers against buying any merchandise linked to the Games.
The Olympics are set to open on August 8, the 20th anniversary of a pro-democracy uprising led by students in Myanmar.
The military, which has ruled the country formerly known as Burma since 1962, opened fire on the crowds, killing an estimated 3,000 people.
Leaders of the uprising were handed lengthy prison sentences, but when released they formed the 88 Generation Student group.
The group began new protests in August last year, harnessing public anger at a surprise hike in fuel prices that left many unable to afford even meagre bus fares to work.
Many of the leaders were again arrested, but Buddhist monks took over the protest movement, which swelled into the biggest anti-government uprising since 1988.
In a statement issued by leaders now in hiding, the group called "for citizens around the world to pressure the government of China to withdraw its unilateral support of the Burmese military junta and to boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics."
"China is a major trade partner, major arms supplier and major defender of the junta in the international arena," it said.
"The military junta in Burma is still in power to this day, despite strong and continuous resistance by the people of Burma, because of China's support."
The group said that instead of supporting the regime, China should help to facilitate a national dialogue among the military and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has spent 12 of the last 18 years under house arrest.
The military last week announced that it had completed drafting a new constitution that it plans to bring to a referendum in May. The document would bar Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace prize winner, from running in elections now slated for 2010.
Repression continues in China, one year before Olympic Games
The Reporters Without Borders list of nine things the Chinese authorities must do before the Beijing Olympic Games:
Reporters Without Borders also supports the eight demands of the Collectif Chine JO 2008 (China 2008 Olympics Collective), an alliance of nine human rights organisations based in France:
Reporters Without Borders wrote to IOC Jacques Rogge in June 2007
Repression continues in China,
before Olympic Games
When the International Olympic Committee assigned the 2008 summer Olympic Games to Beijing on 13 July 2001, the Chinese police were intensifying a crackdown on subversive elements, including Internet users and journalists. Six years later, nothing has changed. But despite the absence of any significant progress in free speech and human rights in China, the IOC's members continue to turn a deaf ear to repeated appeals from international organisations that condemn the scale of the repression.
From the outset, Reporters Without Borders has been opposed to holding the Olympic Games to Beijing. Now, a year before the opening ceremony, it is clear the Chinese government still sees the media and Internet as strategic sectors that cannot be left to the "hostile forces" denounced by President Hu Jintao. The departments of propaganda and public security and the cyber-police, all conservative bastions, implement censorship with scrupulous care.
At least 30 journalists and 50 Internet users are currently detained in China. Some of them since the 1980s. The government blocks access to thousands for news websites. It jams the Chinese, Tibetan and Uyghur-language programmes of 10 international radio stations. After focusing on websites and chat forums, the authorities are now concentrating on blogs and video-sharing sites. China's blog services incorporate all the filters that block keywords considered "subversive" by the censors. The law severely punishes "divulging state secrets," "subversion" and "defamation" – charges that are regularly used to silence the most outspoken critics. Although the rules for foreign journalists have been relaxed, it is still impossible for the international media to employ Chinese journalists or to move about freely in Tibet and Xinjiang.
And continue to read these
Support the international campaign by signing this petition that will be sent to Liu Qi, the president of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games and secretary of the Beijing municipal committee of the Communist Party of China
Pictures of the campaign
See photos of the operations carried out in Beijing, Paris, New York…
Media downloads
Download the "Beijing 2008" campaign graphic
Download the "Beijing 2008" web banner
in this country
15.10 – China
Reporters Without Borders activists rally in front of Olympic museum in Lausanne as Chinese Communist Party's 17th congress opens
New York Times researcher Zhao Yan freed on completing jail term
Arrests and incidents involving foreign journalists show government is not keeping Olympic Games promises
Congress passes law censoring disaster coverage
Calling for lawsuit's dismissal, Yahoo! says it is "political and diplomatic issue"
in the annual report
China – Annual report 2007
Chinese Difficulty is Burmese opportunity,
Boycott China Olympic
This blogger cut and pasted the original slogan " British difficulty, is Burmese opportunity" which was a famous nationalist slogan during the British Colonial revolution.
This blogger feels that the time is over due to start the campaign to boycott the Chinese Olympic as Chinese Communist Government has avoided its responsibility as a communist party to support the oppressed Burmese People against the Imperialist Military Junta.
International community sees China as a new emerging superpower, which is able to play a pivotal role to solve the problem in country like North Korea and Sudan. Chinese Communist Government who has planned the Olympic , spent billions of Dollars for preparation, and for mega sports facilities for their up coming National Event.
At the same time, Chinese communist authority must be very nervous for any negative effect towards the " Chinese Olympic" which will be a prestigious event for the Modern China. This event will be remembered in the history of China as its legacy.
Since Chinese Communist Government has blind eyes and deaf ears towards the 50 Million Burmese people's voice, we should make Chinese Communist Government difficult and Shameful for supporting the world's worse regime " Military Junta of Burma".
To Burmese freedom fighters, this is the time we should start the slogan
" Chinese Difficulty is Burmese opportunity"
This is the auspicious time , to start a campaign for boycotting the Chinese Olympic.
Sit Mone
Filed under: CHINA, Olympics, Politics, reconciliation, Refugees, Revolution, Tibeto-Burman | Tagged: Burma, Burmese History, Burmese Opposition, CHINA, Corruption, Country report, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Dictators, Ethnic Minorities, Military Junta, Myanmar, NLD, Olympics, Racial Discrimination, SPDC |	Leave a comment »
To rebuild our beloved Burma on Moral High Grounds
Posted on December 24, 2007 by sanooaung
To rebuild our beloved Burma
on Moral High Grounds
Lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
Whereto the climber upward turns his face;
But when he once attains the up most round,
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend.
Shakespeare's – Julius Caesar II.i.22.
Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Success put us in the higher position. Once at the top_ in Burmese 'Auk che loot thee'_ we forgot our origin and became very proud and arrogant.
'Pwint Kaung' Fish paste and Fish Sauce factory was nationalized. After many years General Ne Win wanted to give back the deteriorating factory to the owner and called the owner, U Pwint Kaung three times. But U Pwint Kaung refused to go back and accept his old factory. When General Ne Win rang up and asked, he replied, "Bogyoke, I could repair the ruined machines but could not changed back the ruined workers".
General Htun Kyi was removed from the post of the Minister of Trade for corruption but was never tried in open court or punished because of fear of exposing the involvement of the colleagues in the cabinet. He was famously or rather notoriously quoted while still as a Minister:
"Money can buy any thing you want. If you offer the US ten Dollar note, a hand will come out even from the graveyard to accept it. US hundred Dollar note may attract the whole body to come out to reach it." When he was removed from office and investigated by the Military Intelligence he shouted at them to go and look at Daw Kyaing Kyaing's Kyat 200 million worth of diamond earrings which he had given as bribes. So no one dare to continue with the investigations.
Daw Kyaing Kyaing is famous or notorious for her extreme greediness in bribe-taking. Once General Maung Aye was traveling in a helicopter and saw a very long convoy of teak timber lorries. He was angry and ordered his subordinates to take action on those illegal loggers as they were responsible for the deforestation of the hills and making them look like bald-heads. He fell silent when replied that those are Daw Kyaing Kyaing's peoples and properties.
If we use the concept or philosophy of General Htun Kyi as input into a barometer to gauge the level of corruption in Myanmar Military Rulers the result will be frightening. The corruption of Generals and Government servants spread up to abroad. Myanmar Embassies' staffs up to the Ambassadors and their family members would go around the Burmese Business communities and use to demand buying for them the latest most expensive hand phones, laptop computers etc… Government Procedure Code 4 or in Burmese 'Poke ma lay, meaning, Pay hma loke," that is 'start work (service) only when bribed', is widely practiced in the whole Myanmar and had even spread to Myanmar Embassies abroad. It is widely believed that this corruption leads to the burning of the Myanmar Embassy in KL.
Unemployment, insufficient income or low earning power, inflation and scarcity of goods lead to: _
Mushrooming of black-marketers everywhere including smuggling across all the borders and transport to the whole country.
Sprouting of new business of selling and buying of rations, permits and goods obtained by these rights. Even the Military authorities up to the Generals and Cabinet Ministers are practicing this. The army drivers sell their petrol, and wives of ministers use to sell sugars, condensed milk tins, soaps, cosmetics, electrical, building materials like cement and zinc coated corrugated iron sheets etc.
Military authorities and their cronies get nationalized apartments and sold off later. Some of them acquired the government land or the land government had acquired by various methods from the ordinary people. They acquired the building materials, sold part of it which can not only cover the cost of building material but the labour expenses also. Later the finished buildings were sold off with exuberant prices. This circle goes on and including the various levels of Military authorities. They built buildings in every town they were posted and also in their home town with the excuse of settling later after retirement.
Corruption became rampant. All three generations of Military governments' machinery is plagued with corruption.
There appears a special class of "Sitt, Taung Sar" a homophone in Myanmar. Sounds like the Mayor or ruler of Sittang. But the real meaning Sitt is- inspection, investigation or audit. Taung means ask or demand for bribes. Sar is taking or accepting bribery. (But the corrupt authorities failed to realize that actually that Sit Taung Sar really rhymes with Tha Daung Saar or beggars. As all the people have to work or deal with black markets and smuggling bribery became ticket of survival. Because income is not enough the corruption became essential for many government servants and Military authorities.
Drug smugglers, prostitutes and gamblers are not accepted by the public in general but their easy money some times covered up for most of misdeeds until they are exposed.
Emigration permanently or temporarily also became new phenomena.
Working as sailors or legal and illegal migrant workers in foreign country is also one of the best solutions for the people and country. They bring back hard currency and essential as well as luxury goods.
It is also a blessing in disguise for all the Myanmar people. It forced and changed Burmese into a hard working people. People are working double jobs. In the evening and nights they are taking part time or second job in addition to their regular daytime jobs.
So it is up to the person's character, moral values and upbringings, whether he is spoilt and degenerated or improved, polished and progressed in this trying hard time.
Corruption is a general concept describing any organized, interdependent system in which part of the system is either not performing duties it was originally intended to, or performing them in an improper way, to the detriment of the system's original purpose.
Specific types of corruption include:
1. Political corruption, corruption of a political system through bribery, intimidation, extortion, vote buying, destabilization, or influence peddling
2. Police corruption
3. Corporate crime
4. People's corruption
In broad terms, political corruption is the misuse of public (governmental) power for illegitimate, usually secret, private advantage.
All forms of government are susceptible to political corruption. Forms of corruption vary, but the most common are patronage, bribery, extortion, influence peddling, fraud, embezzlement, and nepotism. While corruption often facilitates criminal enterprise such as drug trafficking, money laundering, and criminal prostitution, it is not restricted to these organized crime activities, and it does not always support or shield other crimes.
What constitutes illegal corruption differs depending on the country or jurisdiction. Certain political funding practices that are legal in one place may be illegal in another. In some countries, police and prosecutors have broad discretion over who to arrest and charge, and the line between discretion and corruption can be difficult to draw, as in racial profiling. In countries with strong interest group politics, practices that could easily constitute corruption elsewhere are sometimes sanctified as official group preferences.
Alexander the Great was retorted by a pirate that because he had a small boat only that he was called a thief and pirate, but as Alexander had a navy so was called an emperor.
Yes! This is an unfair world at that time. He who kills an ordinary person is the murderer and must be punished. But he who killed a king become the ruler and ascends the throne.
There was a very popular joke in Burma (Myanmar). We all know that Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yu was General Ne Win's best friend.
Mr Lee told Ne Win, "I would be able to turn Burma in to a 'Singapore' if you allow me to rule Burma just for only three years".
Ne Win retorted immediately," I also could turn Singapore in to 'Burma' just in only three months, if you give me a chance."
That satire spread like a wild fire among all Burmese citizens without the help of any media.
Sure, Ne Win can! He and Myanmar Military Generals would be able to ruin and rob Singapore, till it bankrupt in a very short period.
He already had turned the once wealthy Burma into one of poorest country in the world. Actually Burma before Ne Win was the second most developed and wealthy country in Asia after Japan. Now she is among the least developed countries in the whole world.
If the country or a company or a person is bankrupt we could safe within five years but if the people of a country bankrupt morally, we could not safe and correct back in fifty years that is about one generation.
Successive Myanmar Military Governments not only robbed and ruin the country's wealth physically but also corrupted and destroyed the peoples' moral values in to a shambles, shabbiness and shame.
Myanmar Military Governments repeatedly brainwashed the people, by using all his government machinery and propaganda warfare techniques that he had to take over powers because of the historical needs, to save the country from the destructive hands of democracy leaders leading into division as multiple small states.
SLORC and SPDC Generals just echoed the same theme and claimed that they have no choice but to save the country from disintegration in the hand of evil forces. Namely the foreign agents, communists, Ethnic Minorities and rebels were named just to drum up the support making use of the patriotism and nationalistic spirits of the ordinary innocent naive people.
The worst of all, Ne Win planted the corrupted ideology or seed of the 'Right to rule' in the mind of the Burma Army. Successive Myanmar Military rulers not only believed and accepted it as a rule but made it in to a doctrine and determined to put it in their new constitution. They conveniently forgotten that the might is neither always right nor supreme but the knowledge or the brain rules the world.
They forgot that the military is the servant and is just like the security guard of the country and the people but not the masters, as they believed. People paid from their various taxes to the Army to protect them from the internal and external enemies, but never appointed the Army Generals to be their masters. The last free and fair General Election clearly proved this. The whole world knows this but the Myanmar Generals had given lame excuses just to hold on the power against the will of the people.
It is obvious that the security guards of a bank have no legal right at all to claim that the Directors and Managers of the bank are incompetent and they, the security guards, have the right to take over and run the bank to 'save' it. This is much more serious than criminal breach of trust and abuse of force. It is worse than a simple robbery but a great treachery. Myanmar Military Leaders are doing exactly like these security guards of the bank. The world's largest and most powerful armies are kept under the control of the civilian Defense Ministers' command. Even in the communist parties and in the various rebel groups around the world including those in Burma, the political faction keeps the right to command. The Military faction has to obey the orders.
Even in the domain of the wars and battles which is the main task and work for the armies, the Great Generals have no right at all to declare and start a war, or stop the war. Traditionally Political Leaders of the country have to decide these and the Generals have to obey the command, although they may be consulted for their advice and information.
General Ne Win took over the power in March of 1962. Military coups were quite popular in those days of early sixties in Asia, Africa and in Latin America. Now it is out of fashion and most of them reverted back to the civilian rule.
And the concept of Socialism and Communism was also very popular in those countries then because they had a bitter taste of colonialism and equate their western colonial masters with Capitalism and Democracy.
Nowadays only, most of the world realized the ugly side of Socialism and Communism especially because of their associated Authoritarian, Autocratic, Totalitarian and often Tyrant Governments. While the ordinary people have to sacrifice endlessly for the sake of the country, the leaders would enjoy not only all the best in the country but by even importing all the luxuries or went around for luxury tours to those 'Imperialist, corrupted western Democracies'.
The most important thing is that they fail to deliver their promises of Paradise on Earth. Ordinary people become poorer and there is no sign of any improvement whatsoever after all their sacrifices for the country and party. The worse of all is the fact that those rulers amassed enormous amount of wealth and are enjoying their self-made 'Paradise' at the expense of the people. The mother of worse for the Burmese people is the fact that the Myanmar Military rulers have no shame at all but very corrupt and amass all the wealth of the country, not like other pure Socialist or Communist leaders. Country's political systems were just vehicles or excuses used as a cover up operation or smoke-shield for the continued rule of the army only.
Political leaders and the governments are like the control center and the brain of the country. Military is like the limbs of the body. They have the muscular power, skeletal hard ware and some rudimentary reflexes. The limbs could not take over the place of the brain just because they have the power. They could not justify their act by claiming that they are supporting and defending brain and the whole body. There will be chaos. Myanmar Military is just doing this by giving the same lame excuses.
Like the limbs' rudimentary reflexes, the Myanmar Military Generals also have a limited education. General Ne Win had not pass the Inter A. (GCE A) And General Saw Maung was rumored to have studied up to Primary School Education, i.e. fourth standard only.
According to the Myanmar Military 'Socialists', educated class or intellectuals are undecided, ignorant and corrupted class not to be trusted in their 'Socialist' revolution or in the Military.
Actually the Military dictators knew that they could not fool the educated class easily. The intelligent class always uses their heads (brains) and use to question and analyze each and every order. The dictators and especially Military leaders never like that attitude. Subordinates must always obey the command given to them. They have no right to think whether it is right or wrong, just or not.
Command is command. All must obey. Intellectuals have no place under Military rulers. If they do not want to keep their mouth shut, they must be put into detention or leave the country to avoid the dangerous consequences.
In civilized countries the scholar is always placed above the 'man of war' believing that "Nations which trusted the gun perished by it earlier".
But in Myanmar under the Military rulers the opposite of the above rule is always correct. For Myanmar Military, power comes out from the barrel of the gun only. The might is always right for them.
And all the politicians are regarded as untouchables, low class taboo. General Ne Win in earlier days always equates them with the "corrupted, degenerated Parliamentarians" but later he introduced a "rubber stamp" Parliament to support and endorse his rule. And the army and ex-army men monopolized the politics and became Royal politicians.
Myanmar Military governments openly practice Nepotism, Cronyism and never decide on meritocracy alone.
Myanmar Military government is never transparent and is never free from corruption in all the dealings.
There is no check and balance, ACA (Anti Corruption Agency) or any organizations dealing with corruption must be independent from the administrative branch of Government. Newspapers, TVs and all the media must be free and independent to probe and do investigative reports. But those are turned into eunuchs and sycophants by Myanmar Military.
NGOs and other right groups must also not free to express their views nor even allow doing their works freely. All of them and various reporters have no free access to the government and the big companies connected them. These should be allowed as long as there is no real danger of espionage or national security. There is a danger of over protection and trying to hide under the name of national security to avoid exposure of the corruption.
There is no separation of powers in the SPDC Military Government. Administrative power of the head of the government should not let to be able to influence the Judiciary, Attorney General's office and Legislative assembly.
Governments must accept that they were elected by the people to serve the people. When people give their votes, they are not choosing the masters to whom they are going to serve as obedient slaves. The people are just choosing a servant organization to serve the people. But most of the politicians act as absolute Monarchs or Kings, once they were elected.
Dictators use to claim that people must thank them for the successful guidance of the country to progress and for the government's use of various budget money for various projects e.g. development, social, welfare and scholarships etc. But they conveniently forgot that people have voted them and even provided with salaries and all the parks they are enjoying and the money or budget they use is not from their own pockets but the peoples' money in the form of various taxes and revenues.
When these dictators accuse the people of biting the hand who feed, it clearly shows that they even have developed an illusion or delusion of who feeds who and even has a gall to degrade and equate the people with dogs.
There must be enough check and balance as stated above if our opposition groups got power.
And there must be a strict rule to limit the length and terms of the head of the government, for example two terms of five year each. If not, each and every top leader would definitely overstay and slowly becomes a dictator by misusing all his powers to quell and silenced all the dissents. This is just a human nature and greed only. If there is no time or term limits, overstaying of the leaders of their shelf-life is not their fault but our fault of not making the important rules and regulations.
Sometimes he may even think that his mission to build, protect and contribute for the beloved country is not yet completed even after staying in power for few dozens of years. And there is a usual delusion among those leaders that they are indispensable and the country could not exist without their leadership. They sometimes sincerely but erroneously believe that they have to stay on and on for the historical needs of the country.
Even the democratically elected leaders will slowly transform into dictators in time.
Long serving leaders slowly become megalomaniacs and think that the country is there because of them. They equate themselves with the country and even have illusions that there is no one except him who is qualified to rule the country. They even believe that the sky will collapse and the country would be ruined and the chaos would set in if they were not there.
Most of those long-standing regimes try to point out some fellow long survivors to justify their overstaying. Continuity and stable government became their slogan and propaganda for the political battle to stay on in power.
According to them, their stable long serving government only could guarantee peace, bring in foreign investment, ensure continuous development and progress. They use to threaten the people with the possible political and racial riots, if they were replaced.
And many of them will slowly introduce nepotism, bringing in their own children and relatives in to the line of succession. Even if they were not to take over the power immediately, they are carefully groomed to step in later after the immediate successor, who have to warm the seat for the heir apparent.
By using the proxies, e.g. the names of other family members, the children and especially in-laws, they will accumulate wealth by hook or by crook.
Nepotism is rampant and always favours the cronies of Myanmar Army and ex- Army only. No transparency in all the government dealings and corruption have even damaged the whole population nation wide, starting from all the peons and officers of each and every government and local administrative and cooperative or semi government offices up to the Cabinet Ministers. They all will neglect the people and refuse to even entertain if not bribed. Nothing can be done without greasing their palms.
Even the peons will ignore your simple request for the basic information, the guards would not let you in, the application forms will not move from one table to another, or worst of all lost if there is no bribery.
Even in the hospitals, doors will be closed, hospital attendants refuse to push the wheel chair or trolley, no one will look after or nurse the patient. Medical officers ignore the patients if there are no presents or bribes. The consultants skipped the beds and see his own private patients. (The patients they had seen in their private clinics or the relatives have gone to send presents to their houses.) The patients were advised to send their specimens to the private labs for various investigations. Although they are in the government hospital and had paid to the various persons in that ward if they need operation their relatives have to go and see the Anesthetic at home. And they have to buy the stitches, plaster, gauze and etc. from the Operation Theater Staff. If not, no one will assist the patient in the operation. He had to engage a private nurse. Biopsy must be sent to the hospital Pathologist's Private lab.
If you want to see an officer or a Minister, first of all you have to pay the PA then to the wife or children of the Ministers and Military leaders. You have to engage with the brokers specialized in the various fields and various ministries. And if there is a transfer of the relevant officer or the changing of Ministers, you have to start a new bid. If there is any ceremony, birthday, wedding etc. interested parties have to give expensive presents, jewelry, cars, gold bars and few thousands to millions of bank notes preferably the US dollars. To get the various contracts and permits, there are even generally agreed percentages to pay to various parties involved. Foreign investors need to pay up to millions of US dollars. If Ministers wives go for shopping to Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or etc. the related foreign investors have to follow them and need to settle the bills.
We are mentioning the corrupt practices of the present government and government servants so that we could avoid those kinds of corruptions if we form a new government.
Myanmar Military rulers are reported to have organized and have even donated a lot nowadays. I hereby wish to remind all of you to please remember the teachings of our Lord Buddha. Don't degrade your good-selves into the role of organizer, contractor or carpenters who have no chance of staying inside the pagodas and temples you built. Please do not just contempt been a gardener or farmer but enjoy the fruits yourselves.
Please enjoy the fruits of Dahma and practice what Lord Buddha taught us.
Redemption is never late.
There is a well-known saying in the Army," (We)Do not want to know about the hole in the water bottle. We want water only."
In the army you don't want excuses. You want results only. That means: the order must be fulfilled without any excuse.
Please stop the excuses and give us democracy with the respect of the rights of the minorities, as promised by your predecessor General Saw Maung.
According to the Transparency International's 2005 Corruption Perceptions Index, Myanmar is in the second last group position only because the corruptions of the politicians add up a lot on other countries. Actually 90% of politicians in most of Asia/Africa are corrupted. But most of the politicians in Burma/Myanmar are in opposition, no power; many of them in jail or outside the country, the marks of corruption of Politicians are almost nil and lost the honour of the last place in corruption Perceptions Index. If not Myanmar could get the last place and even could score 0.001. (10 =highly clean and 0 =highly corrupt, so 0.001 is very close to highly corrupt).
"Today's survey shows that people believe corruption is deeply embedded in their countries," said Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International.
"When a poor young mother believes that her government places its own interests above her child's, or that securing services like that child's basic health care requires a hand under the table, her hope for the future is dampened. But embedded corruption can be rooted out when people join together to change the system that facilitates it."
The Barometer indicates that corruption's impact on personal and family life is most dramatic on poor households. In addition, citizens in low income countries tend to pay a significantly larger percentage of their income in bribes than in higher income countries.
"Like a bad disease, corruption is often predictable, preventable and curable," stated David Nussbaum, Chief Executive of Transparency International.
"The Global Corruption Barometer offers a harsh diagnosis, but effective treatment is at hand. Legal changes such as anti-corruption codes and conventions are being put in place. Companies are introducing anti-corruption programmes. The world is turning against the corrupt."
Bribery is usually a hidden or tacit transaction. An illegal payment may be understood to be required in order to obtain a free service, or to speed up delivery of a required approval, such as a business permit or license, or to resolve a problem, even when a bribe is not explicitly demanded.
"An unspoken request for payment is no less corrupt than an open demand for a bribe, especially if refusing to pay means that you may not get the medicine you need to survive," said Huguette Labelle.
SPDC Generals could not be able to clear away the accumulated mass of rubbish of its own doing: corruption, mismanagement, and the deteriorating condition of the people's, physical health, moral corruptions, psychological sufferings, religious intolerances, economical destruction, low GDP, low earning power, rising cost of living and legal mess. Burma as the country is financially poor economically ruined and Burmese people are physically and mentally weak nowadays. We need strong mental strength and willpower, mobilizing all the people of Burma and of course with the help of the whole world.
So if we really are patriotic, love Burma/Myanmar and wish the country to prosper, peaceful and progress, we must recruit the help of all the Burmese people residing inside and abroad, opposition parties, all the ethnic minority groups and different race and religious groups to reeducate our citizens about the good moral values.
We certainly could correctly read rampant corruption among many of us and has summed up quite accurately that many of us ignore the good moral values. We are able to deduct that even if we obtain our second independence in the not too distant future our country's future is not very bright.
As politics is not a science but an art, very fluid and could change any time. We cannot read and predict the politics using arithmetical calculations or what we experience at present only. And surely the 8888 saga should have taught us that by now that a small spark could surprisingly trigger big political changes in a short time. Yes, in politics, expect the unexpected. Even 24 hours is a very long time in politics.
We the Reformists fight for equality, justice, transparency, good governance, an end to corruption, but all such ideals have to build on high moral grounds. If we just build our future progressive Shwe Bama country on the easy sand or shaky moral ground we are sure doomed to collapse in a very near future. We should rebuild our future paradise on the solid rock of moral ground. We were to follow and face the nature's rules of "being in reality", it means that we have to accept the reality of Burmese politics and we have to give a little leeway for some imperfection but could not compromise on morality.
Many Burmese "political geniuses" in opposition are prone to promote their own party only and downgrade other parties. See how "wise" and "realistic" they are when comes to Burmese Politics? We have to see the forest not the trees. And now in this globalize world, we have to see even various kind of jungles and numerous trees and not just only our way and our own party ways to see the true equation in Burmese politics.
There is a saying that if a frog is placed in a pot of boiling water, it would immediately jump out to avoid death. Conversely however, if the frog is placed in cool and pleasant water and slowly heated, it would swim merrily in the increasingly warm water until it is too late to escape and is eventually cooked. But scientifically speaking, the above metaphor may be factually wrong. But the wisdom contained within it is however not. Corrupt Burmese citizens may one day awake to experience a very different melting pot, one like 1950's. We got democracy but almost all of us are morally corrupted and we could face a lot of problems and turmoil endlessly.
Myanmar SPDC Military Generals believe that their incompetence can be covered up through an exhibition of power. Basically, there is a lack of good leadership and this has much to do with the fear culture currently prevalent within the military administration. No one dares to take a stand on his belief or for the truth. If the head of the Military Junta is rotten then what more can you expect from the subordinates?
Late PM of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto told his daughter, Benarzir Bhutto (who also later became the PM and suffer the same faith, deposed by the Military):
"Don't be an idiot (to believe the Army Generals), armies do not take over power to relinquish it. Nor do the Generals commit high treason (Coup against the legitimate governments) to hold election and restore democratic constitutions."
True! General Zia of Pakistan promised in July 1977 that elections would be held within three months. But he repeatedly gives excuses and postponed it for eleven years until he died in a plane crash. So we should wait for another person from Myanmar, who is doing the same thing to follow the same faith.
At the present corrupted life goes on within the Myanmar civil service without check and balance or even without a guilty consciousness. But then you must know how to lie. SPDC is hopeless. Their lie of seven steps of the road to democracy is exposed and the whole world knows that they are deceiving.
There is no central umbrella leadership in the various opposition groups so everyone seems to be doing what they like. If possible we should try to unite ourselves first. But now anyone who dares to complain about the true situation of corruption and some of the problems in the opposition will find the entire group making his life miserable by accusing as SPDC agents or spies. If someone from within the same party has done a criticism, then he has to worry of the 'Pushed into a Gauge' that could even destroy his life or his peace. See what happened to ABSDF Upper Burma, hundreds of students were arrested without a substantial proof and about half of them were executed unfairly without even given them the chance to defend themselves or even showing any proof. (Relevant students' relatives had complaint to the UN, US, UK and Japanese Embassies) Up to now, no one from ABSDF is trying to clear the air yet and future student activists would think twice before joining the rebels at the border. The truth with Politics is about the attainment of power. It is plain and simple. I would call 'telling your version of the truth', is very much part and parcel of the political game. A good politician, must master the art of even twisting the truth, or spin doctoring i.e. giving the people your version of the truth and we can call it a propaganda warfare or counter offensive. Because politics is about perception. It is how people perceive you that counts and not only what you really are.
As Benjamin Franklin wrote in his 'Poor Richard's Almanack' in 1759:
"A little neglect may breed mischief … for want of a nail, the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse, the rider was lost." Here the mischief is not little!
We could not even neglect or brush aside one of the above facts as minor and not important but must consider in detail each and every facts.
So I hereby wish to request our politicians to stop playing dirty politics. We all should try to become true freedom fighters but not the opposition politicians to earn back the rewards after the revolution or to collect the money that is really meant for the opposition activities . If all of us really love our country to become a progressive wealthy secular democratic Federal Union we need to nurture good moral values.
Not only do we need to educate our citizens about the good moral values but we must also practice what we preached. And I remember one of my professors' good advice, "Teaching is the best way to learn". Seems awkward? In order to teach someone or a class, the teacher or lecturer has to read a lot, must understand the subject thoroughly and must be equipped with the up to date latest information. Even I my self managed to learn a lot just to be able to write this article.
Wake up all Burmese/Myanmar citizens. We need renaissance of the religions we professed to. We need strong Moral and Religious Values to cleanse ourselves. We do not need the religions to fight each other. We need religions to purify ourselves. Even if we no more have a shame or self-consciousness or guilty feelings we all should afraid of Buddha, Jesus or Allah (according to our beliefs). Religions should be used to pull us out of that corruption whirl. If not even if we get our second independence our country's future would not be brighter.
U Myo Nyunt, Myanmar Studies, Perth, Western Australia, said _
Dear Bo Aung Din,
Emanating from your heart, the inner mind— mind mind, Burma (Myanmar) freedom can be achieved through the "people's will"– the people of Burma.
Those who have once propagated "the end of history" and "the clash of civilizations" have now shifted their messages of perpetual domination through "new imperialism and capitalism" by their political agenda to combat and wipe out "terrorism".
There is no end to history, it unfolds.
The present "crisis" in Burma, is the reflection of the "value wars" of the twenty first century.
Back to the path— the Noble Path. Burma (Myanmar) peoples life and destiny is in our own hands and in practicing the Buddha Dharma. Perhaps as Buddhists— we can accept the existing reality in our country- Nation, and have faith in the last words of The Buddha— "strive on". Dalai Lama in our midst now has also pointed out with other words :
"all living beings form a spontaneous idea of self "
Myanmar (Burma), as a "space" where we as Burmese democrats can contribute to life (human security) and peace ( even handed justice) rather than assist others attempt to Burma's destruction and dissolution.
Towards Peace, Security and Justice in Myanmar (Burma)
Conla Fru said _
Good article! Successive military regime created/creates this environment of highly-corrupted society. If one gets a job, the first question his/her friend or relatives ask is "in what department?" just to know if he/she can make a lot of money from this post. The whole society is suffering from this pandemic corruption disease.
Filed under: 88 Student leaders, Analysis, Burma, Burma Digest, Corruption, culture, Day dreams, Democracy, Democratic activists, Dream, English Article, Game Plan, Good Governance, Governmence, Government, History, Individual Freedom, Justice, Law, Minority Races, Moral High Grounds, Myanmar, Myanmar History, Myanmar Military, Politics, Poverty, Power corrupts, Religion, Rule of Law, Shakespeare, SPDC, SPDC Generals, Tatmadaw, Than Shwe | Tagged: Burma, Corruption, History, Julius Caesar, Moral High Grounds, Myanmar, Politics, Power corrupt, Shakespeare |	Leave a comment »
Good governance describes the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented).
Governance can be used in several contexts such as
corporate governance,
international governance,
national governance
and local governance.
Governance is the process of_
and the process by which decisions are implemented,
An analysis of governance focuses on _
the formal
and informal actors
involved in decision-making
and implementing
Actors in governance_
Government is one of the actors in governance. Other actors involved in governance_
In rural areas,
for example, other actors may include_
influential land lords,
associations of peasant farmers,
cooperatives,
NGOs,
research institutes,
religious leaders,
finance institutions
the military etc.
In urban areas_
At the national level, in addition to the above actors_
lobbyists,
international donors,
multi-national corporations, etc.
may play a role in decision-making or in influencing the decision-making process.
All actors other than government and the military are grouped together as part of the "civil society."
In some countries_
in addition to the civil society,
organized crime syndicates also influence decision-making,
particularly in urban areas and at the national level.
Similarly formal government structures are one means by which decisions are arrived at and implemented.
At the national level, informal decision-making structures,
such as "kitchen cabinets"
or informal advisors may exist.
In urban areas, organized crime syndicates such as
the "land Mafia" may influence decision-making. In some rural areas locally powerful families may make or influence decision-making.
Such, informal decision-making is often the result of corrupt practices or leads to corrupt practices. In other words Governance means_
public institutions conduct public affairs,
manage public resources,
and guarantee the realization of human rights.
Good governance accomplishes this in a manner
essentially free of abuse and corruption,
free of corruption,
and with due regard for the rule of law.
Characteristics of Good governance:
participation,
rule of law,
transparency,
responsiveness,
consensus orientation,
equity and inclusiveness,
These characteristics assure that:
corruption is minimized,
the views of minorities are taken into account and
that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making.
It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society.
But the UNESCAP United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific uses the following indicators_
Political Stability and Absence of Violence
Government Effectiveness
Regulatory Quality
Control of Corruption
By both men and women.
Participation could be either direct or through representatives
Freedom of association Freedom of expression
and an organized civil society.
Fair legal frameworks
that are enforced impartially.
Full protection of human rights, particularly those of minorities.
independent judiciary
and an impartial and incorruptible police force.
Decisions taken and their enforcement are done in a manner that follows rules and regulations.
Information is freely available and directly accessible to those who will be affected by such decisions and their enforcement.
Institutions and processes try to serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe.
Consensus orientation
Need of mediation of _
the different interests in society
to reach a broad consensus in society
on what is in the best interest of the whole community
and how this can be achieved.
It also requires a long-term perspective
for sustainable human development
and how to achieve the goals of such development.
Equity and inclusiveness
Ensuring that _
all members of society feel that
they have a stake in it
and do not feel excluded from the mainstream.
This requires all groups,
and especially the most vulnerable
to have opportunities to maintain or improve their well being.
Processes and institutions
produce results that meet the needs of society
while making the best use of resources at their disposal.
It also means sustainable use of natural resources
and the protection of the environment.
This can only result from an understanding of the historical, cultural and social contexts of a given society or community.
as well as the private sector
and civil society organizations
must be accountable to the public and to their institutional stakeholders.
A basic practical example of good governance would be
where a member of a committee,
with a vested interest in a topic being discussed at committee,
would absent themselves from the discussion
and not attempt to exert influence.
See also Ethics in Public Office and Due Diligence.
Figure 2: Characteristics of good governance
From the above discussion it should be clear that good governance
is an ideal which is difficult to achieve in its totality.
Very few countries and societies have come close to achieving good governance in its totality.
However, to ensure sustainable human development, actions must be taken to work towards this ideal with the aim of making it a reality. http://www.institutionalreform.org/
Corruption is the use of public resources for private gain –
a betrayal of the public confidence invested in individuals with access to public resources.
Corrupt practices are found in_
all branches of government,
in business,
and even within civil society.
The broader consequences are
a slowing down,
or even reversal,
of development goals, particularly in countries that are most vulnerable to economic downturns and political upheaval.
Within any given sphere
e.g., legislative,
economic,
judicial),
Corruption is largely the outcome of_
a breakdown in legitimate
or just rules and practices (institutions),
leading to unfair or arbitrary institutions
NST Online 2007/12/05
Tolerance aids good governance
KUALA LUMPUR: Tolerance is a vital element for Asean countries to have
good governance,
practise democracy
and defend human rights.
Asean Eminent Persons Group chairman Tun Musa Hitam said if Asean was not tolerant, democracy could not work and freedom would have no meaning.
He said this after delivering his keynote address at a two-day colloquium on
"Good Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights — The Way Forward for Asean"
jointly organised by the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Caucus for Good Governance and Working Group for an Asean Human Rights Mechanism.
The former deputy prime minister said Asean governments must be positive in getting feedback and criticism on any issue and use them to improve the countries' leadership and society.
In his speech, Musa said he preferred the phrase "credibility of the judiciary" than "an independent judiciary".
"Credible means independent enough to make own decisions, not because of monetary, political or psychological pressures."
The following is taken from the old ASIA WEEK site_
What Makes Good Governance?
Rule of law Legal frameworks that are both fair and fairly enforced
Transparency A free flow of information so that the members of the public can understand and monitor the institutions and processes affecting their lives
Responsiveness Serving the interest of all stakeholders
Consensus Mediating different aspirations to reach broad agreement in the best interest of the community
Equity Opportunity for all men and women to improve their well-being
Effectiveness and efficiency Meeting needs through the best use of resources
Accountability Decision-makers (in government, private sector and citizens groups) must answer to the public as well as to their own organizations
Strategic vision A long-term perspective on what is needed for society to grow
What is good governance?
Governance is the process whereby public institutions conduct public affairs, manage public resources, and guarantee the realization of human rights. Good governance accomplishes this in a manner essentially free of abuse and corruption, and with due regard for the rule of law.
Good governance at the national level
There is a wealth of UN human rights standards of direct relevance and applicability to questions of good governance.
Good governance at the international level
In a globalizing world, national and international governance are inextricably linked. International institutions of governance will be in a better position to respond to the needs of the developing world once national institutions meet the test of good governance.
OHCHR and good governance
As mandated by the General Assembly, OHCHR is the UN's system-wide focal point for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Under the Secretary-General's reform programme launched in 1997, OHCHR has also been charged with facilitating the mainstreaming of human rights in United Nations development programming.
Assistance for good governance
In 2000, policy measures, core elements and areas of programmatic collaboration for the United Nations system were established.
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Pages/WelcomePage.aspx
Filed under: Analysis, Burma, Corruption, Crimes against Humanity, Democracy, Dream, English Article, Ethnic Cleansing, Ethnic Minorities, Genocide, Good Governance, Governmence, Government, History, Human Rights, Individual Freedom, Islam, Justice, Law, Myanmar, Myanmar History, Politics, Religion, SPDC | Tagged: Burma, Corruption, Good Governance, Government, SPDC |	Leave a comment »
Let's exploit our strategic position between the two greatest civilizations
Posted on November 7, 2007 by sanooaung
Let's exploit our strategic position
between the two
greatest civilizations
Many of our cousin brothers like U Ka Yin (Pha Thi) and Daw Mon even came down earlier than Daw Shan from far north of Ko Ta Yoke village. U U Bamas and other cousin brothers of Tibet-Bama family villagers also came down from above. You and your half brother Ko Thai, Ko Laos and Ko Kam Bodia also came down from Ko Yu Nan's village.
Now China and India are negotiating with Shwe Bama villagers to build a modern high way liking their villages through our land. Recently Ko Ka Lar's village chairman U Mus Lim went to Shwe Bama and signed an agreement to lay natural gas pipe line from Ko Ya Khine's part of our village to Ko Ka Lar's village. And there is already an agreement to connect the gas pipe line from Ko Ya Khine's part of the village to Ko Yu Nan's village. So these high ways and pipelines would become the renaissance of our forefather's migration.
Dear Nan, why are you very sensitive, I am just mentioning the coincidences but not supporting those pipe-lines. You already know that I supported your policy of sanctions on SPDC. If you are not short sighted, you could still read the Burma Digest's strong condemnation of TOTAL in recent issues. It is funny that those who play with fire and burnt sometimes blamed the fire. Recently one of the ASEAN PM complaint that their state owned oil company suffered some losses because of the sanctions in the host countries they operate. Then why did they foolishly decided to follow their greed to buy the shares of TOTAL and invested in Myanmar/Burma oil exploration? They should now redeem themselves by supporting the US, UK and EU led pressure on Myanmar Generals for the rapid democratization.
They give us the Buddhism arts, culture, literature etc. You see Nan, our Shwe Bama spoken language was from Tibeto-Burman family and there are a lot of similarities with Chinese spoken language. But our Shwe Bama writing language was from U Ka Lar's village, Brami Script we took not from our native Daw Daw Mon but her cousin U Mon resided in U Thai Land's village.
Dear Nan, because of that, there are larger number of cousins of Ko Ka Chin , Ko Chin and Ko Na Ga in Ko Ti Bet's village and Ko Kala's village than in Shwe Bama village. And there are a lot more of Ko Ka Yin and Daw Mon's relatives in Ko Thai, Ko Cam Bodia's villages.
Dear Nan, it is too late tonight to continue my letter as you know, I need to wake up early to prepare to go and work intime.
Filed under: Analysis, ASEAN, Burma, Burma Digest, Burmese Chinese, Burmese Chinese Muslims, Burmese Indians, Burmese Kings, CHINA, English Article, Ethnic Minorities, History, India, Islam in Myanmar, Migrants, Migration, Minority Races, Myanmar, Myanmar History, Panthays, Politics, Refugees | Tagged: Burma, Burmese Chinese, Burmese Chinese Muslims, Burmese History, Burmese Opposition, Corruption, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Dictators, Ethnic Minorities, Military Junta, Myanmar, NLD, Panthays, Racial Discrimination, SPDC |	Leave a comment »
Migration history of Burma or Myanmar Ethnic Races
Migration history of
Burma or Myanmar
Ethnic Races
Southeast Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic and volcanic activity.
Southeast Asia consists of two geographic regions: the Asian mainland, and island arcs and archipelagoes to the east and southeast. The mainland section consists of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam; the population of which are primarily Tai peoples and Austroasiatic peoples; the dominant religion is Buddhism, followed by Islam. The maritime section consists of Brunei, East Timor,[1] Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. Austronesian peoples predominate in this region; the dominant religion is Islam, followed by Christianity.
Southeast Asia frequently refers to the area consisting of the following, although in general and certain specific usage, the area it refers to can be narrower or broader.
See also: Austronesian people, Chinese ethnic groups, Eurasian (mixed ancestry), Filipino people, Malays (ethnic group), Negrito, Tai peoples, and Southeast Asian American
According to a recent Stanford genetic study, the Southeast Asian population is far from being homogeneous.
Although primarily descendants of Austronesian, Tai, and Mon-Khmer-speaking immigrants who migrated from Southern China during the Bronze Age and Iron Age, there are overlays of Arab, Chinese, Indian, European, Polynesian and Melanesian genes. The Philippines has Asia's largest Eurasian (mixed ancestry), American and Amerasian population, and is continuously growing.
There are also large pockets of intermarriage between indigenous Southeast Asians and those of Chinese descent. They form a substantial part of everyday life in countries such as Thailand and the Philippines. Indonesia and Malaysia also has
Note: I am trying to rewrite the history of Myanmar/Burma. Actually I had already done this indirectly in Burma Digest with the pseudonym, Bo Aung Din's Compassionate letters to Nan, also known by some as Dear Nan letters. I hereby try to break those letters into separate articles representing the major ethnic races of Burma. Readers should read my Evolution of Myanmar Muslims (and excerpts, extracted from Wiki Talk Page- Burmese Indians, put in as comments) , Islam in Myanmar, Burmese Indians, Panthays, General Aung San's Acceptance of migrants as brethrens, Persecution of Muslims in Myanmar together with comments.
Thank you for your surprised phone call early Sunday morning. It was not only a surprise for me; you were also surprised that I had already got out from bed early.
Yes dear, only when you are away, I know more about your values and appreciate your daily house works which I am doing now. Actually I was surprised, because you had already read my latest letter that I just sent through Burma Digest this week.
But I was shocked when you told me that you still love me, but could not trust me fully yet!
You want me to answer three questions.
Yes! three most important questions by a Shan woman for a Bama man to answer.
Dear Nan, you already knew that I am fond of reading and I had learned a lot from the fables and fairy tales since I was young.
I am used to various types of three wise questions and answers. Three tricky questions, three most important questions disguised in many forms from the numerous stories.
And I already knew the answers to your three most important questions and even wish to reply instantly on the phone, but you requested for an official written reply in black and white on paper.
1. What are the basic facts about the Human Rights? What is the "Role of Minorities in Democracy"? How do we protect the minorities' rights from tyranny of majority.
Dear Nan, from your questions, I understand your untold hidden agenda to make a new deal, matrimonial or nuptial contract for our reunion. You wanted to make sure of my own concepts, understandings of our future reunion. I could understand your feelings of do not want to just follow the emotions to rush into a deal.
But don't worry dear; Although I intend to start writing the answers to you as a serious official, history document, I now know that it will be very dull. So instead of answering your questions directly. I will try to switch to my lighter form of writing style to the answers for your question regarding the origin of Shan, Ethnic Minorities, Minority Religious groups, mixed blooded people, newest migrants and Burma or Myanmar history, may be rightly labled as the roots of our ancestors.
Dear darling,
Kindly allow me to answer using our village peoples' migration format. It may be more appropriate and appeared informal as I am writing it to you, my love and my estranged wife.
Filed under: Analysis, Burma, Burma Digest, Burmese, Burmese Chinese, Burmese Kings, CHINA, English Article, History, Human Rights, India, Individual Freedom, Myanmar, Myanmar Military, Panthays, Politics, Refugees, Religion, SPDC | Tagged: Analysis, Burma, Burmese History, Burmese Opposition, Corruption, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Dictators, Ethnic Minorities, Military Junta, Myanmar, NLD, Racial Discrimination, SPDC |	Leave a comment »


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text:
A Tribute to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
I've just finished re-reading this classic story, which came out in 2003. When I first read it, it became one of my all-time favourites. My second reading of it has only deepened my love for such a remarkable book.
In the modern world, with so much choice for people to kill their free time and attention spans getting shorter than ever, the simple pleasure of reading a good book has taken a back-seat. It's easy for something great to pass us by; with new books having to compete with ever more all-time classics, it is impossible to read everything worth reading. It takes a really special book to be classified as a must-read. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon, is one such book.
The book is the story of Christopher Boone, an autistic teenager who attends a special needs school, and who lives with his father and his pet rat. Early in the story, Christopher finds his neighbour's dog has been killed. After being wrongly-accused by the police of committing the crime, he lashes out at the officer and is arrested. Upon his release, he decides to invoke the spirit of Sherlock Holmes, who he greatly admires, and begins his investigation into the murder of Wellington the dog.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time tells the tale of Christopher's exploration into the death of the dog, but it is not a mere murder-mystery story, like Christopher imagines it will be. It is an insight into how an autistic person may see the world, highlighting some of the difficulties they face and how their perception of reality is different from the norm. It is a book about the everyday, elevated to the exceptional through the eyes of an extraordinary boy. It is a tale of betrayal, compassion, heartbreak, beauty and joy. It is the journey of a broken family working through the most emotional scenarios with a boy that struggles to understand how and why people feel the way they do. There is an intense building of tension throughout which comes from understanding what is going on in a way that Christopher cannot, and hearing him describe the circumstances he is encountering so factually, while being able to read between the lines in a way he is unable to. This makes the sadness hit so much harder when it comes, and Christopher's eventual triumph feel so much more glorious.
What I particularly enjoy about the book, in addition to the fantastic story, is the writing style Haddon uses. Eschewing much of the flowery, poetic styles many writers rely upon, Haddon demonstrates Christopher's literal, logical brain through short, snappy paragraphs that, very occasionally, give way to longer tangents about niche subjects. It's really clever how Haddon uses style as an extension of the character, utilising it to develop the picture of who Christopher is and how he experiences the world in much greater detail than simple description ever could. Haddon breaks so many rules of writing, starting multiple sentences with, 'And then this,' or, 'Then s/he said.' It reads a bit like a first draft rather than a finished book, but it very quickly becomes so normal that it leaves you wondering why more stories aren't written so simply. The contrast to traditional writing styles helps emphasise the neurodiversity of the main character, and Christopher's personality and mind becomes so much more real because of it. Breaking the rules, like Christopher eventually learns, is sometimes the only way to achieve what you need to do, and Haddon does this in a way that makes The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time a fun and easy book to read.
This book is so good. If it was up to me, reading and analysing it would be on the agenda in every school. That it is such a wonderful story is reason enough; that it teaches us so much about writing, about neurodiversity, about misunderstandings, emotions and human relationships upgrades it to essential reading. If everybody was to read this book, the world would be a kinder, more patient, more compassionate place. Most writers spend their lives trying to create their masterpiece. Mark Haddon achieved that in his debut novel, conjuring up a story that will change the way you see the world, and make it that much more special. Fantastic.
Buy The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time on Amazon:
An excerpt of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, read by Mark Haddon:
◊◊◊
"And then I thought that I had to be like Sherlock Holmes and I had to detach my mind at will to a remarkable degree so that I did not notice how much it was hurting inside my head."
"People say that you always have to tell the truth. But they do not mean this because you are not allowed to tell old people that they are old and you are not allowed to tell people if they smell funny or if a grown-up has made a fart. And you are not allowed to say "I don't like you" unless that person has been horrible to you."
"And this is why people's brains are like computers. And it's not because they are special but because they have to keep turning off for fractions of a second while the screen changes. And because there is something they can't see people think it has to be special, because people always think there is something special about what they can't see, like the dark side of the moon, or the other side of a black hole, or in the dark when they wake up at night and they're scared.
Also people think they're not computers because they have feelings and computers don't have feelings. But feelings are just having a picture on the screen in your head of what is going to happen tomorrow or next year, or what might have happened instead of what did happen, and if it is a happy picture they smile and if it is a sad picture they cry."
Andrew Lawes' tributes to the people and things that have impacted his life in a profound way.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


50 eclectic living rooms for a delightfully creative home, turquoise and fuschia home design ideas, pictures, remodel. Home design trends and ideas for 2016! jewel rooms. 17 best ideas about eclectic decor on pinterest eclectic.
Stunning turquoise rug target decorating ideas images in, turquoise furniture ideas extravagant or harmonious. Plum turquoise living room home design ideas, pictures. Turquoise living room eclectic living room massucco.


Nothing highlights the current Spanish financial problems like a new and abandoned airport. Opened in 2009 at a cost of €1.1bn, the Ciudad Real Central Airport saw light use before being shut down in April of 2012.
Ciudad Real is a Spanish city about two and a half hours south of Madrid. The airport was to be the first linked to the Spanish high-speed AVE rail system, making the trip to Madrid only 50 minutes.
When originally designed, Ciudad Real was expected to handle the overflow from Madrid's Barajas airport 150 miles to the North. The airport never saw demand from the major airlines, however, securing only one airline's agreement upon its grand opening.
Spanish carrier Air Nostrum announced routes in 2009, but these were over by 2010. Ryanair announced in 2010 it would open new international routes to Ciudad Real Central Airport, but these lasted only six months before a breakdown in trade agreements – combined with the airport's financial difficulties – terminated the routes.
The Spanish carrier Vueling was the last airline to utilize the airport, ending their service to Ciudad Real in October of 2011.
From then on, only the occasional private aircraft would make use of the expansive facilities. Due to financial difficulties and lack of use, the airport closed on April 13th, 2012.
Currently the airport is closed and is in receivership.
Passenger traffic – estimated to be in the tens of millions – was ultimately only in the tens of thousands.
Even though the airport is closed, it still requires maintenance.
Small tasks such as painting yellow crosses on the runway to alert pilots the airport is closed, are important and must be carried out.
Story idea courtesy Mohammad G.
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ouch! this would make a great summer home.
talking to myself: I was listening to the radio in the car about some airport in Spain that went bust. Lo and behold, my knowledge on the matter allowed myself to gloat a little while peering at the ill-informed person in the car beside me. Thanks Sometimes-Interesting!
The happened to Montréal's Mirabel airport…a state of the art airport shut down after a few years. All those poor farmers that have lost their ancestral land over a ariport that didn't last.
The Mirabel airport, although a flagrant example of political bickering which doomed it's international status, is still open as a cargo airport. It is also open to general aviation.
And ancestral lands ? The area has been farmed for at most 80 years and most farmers got their land (except for the airport area itself) during the 1990s.
This Airport could boost the Trades between East and West for the Ideal location it has, right in the center of Europe, not far from north Africa, and other part of the Middle East…. Far east.
We will attract many GCC Carriers, plus other Carriers, from all over the world, offering good services, plus good rates on all the services provided by the Airport.
You may be interested in Castellón-Costa Azahar Airport, which is famous for being empty since his opening.
That's the result of the infamous Plan E, an attempt by the Spanish government to estimulate economy and employment. It was a complete failure, as you can see. A lot of the facilities that were built are now abandoned or underused, like airports and high speed train stations (AVE) in small towns.
I think this airport was used in a recent episode of TopGear. They used an abandoned international airport near Madrid. I can't imagine there would be more than one.