Bound to doom and gloom in the chronicle

Published on Thursday, 06 September 2012 17:12 Written by Maung Twe Choon

It has been some time that nothing is heard from the team of the presidential advisors. In the last week of May 2012, leader U Ko Ko Hlaing of the advisory team did make some chaotic remarks regarding the electricity cut off and advised the people by saying, “Light the candles and stay in austere way of life”.

After that remarks, there was no voice heard from the advisory team. The funny remarks of U Ko Ko Hlaing was lashed back with harsh criticism, condemnation and disapproval from the public. The boiling people’s public voices even enveloped the whole country and went up high in the sky.

Building a developed democratic country is the top aim and objective of the new government. At a critical time that the new government is trying to prove that the Myanmar people are not a pathetic and shabby natives, the presidential advisory team leader advised the people “To stay still under the candle lights” is tantamount to pushing the population back into the dark days of the 19th century.

The perfunctory suggestion is a sort of hilarious idea directed at the state strategy as well as the entire population. However, the government kicked aside the idea of U Ko Ko Hlaing and fulfilled the needs of the people by providing electricity.

The amusing ideas of the presidential advisory team were not heard for about four months. Out of a sudden, presidential advisor Dr. Nay Zin Latt remarks, over the political landscape of Myanmar, were seen in the 27 August 2012 issue of The Messenger Journal. The comment and assessment of Dr. Nay Zin Latt on the disagreement between the MPs and the constitutional tribunal is submitted herewith for the readers.

“The issue spread like wild fire across the world. The international community pays much attention over the question. They are analyzing on the level of conflict. It surpassed the level of skirmishes and confrontation and reached the full scale war level in a deadlock. The impasse immediately attracts the international community”.

Solution is given to address by amending the state constitution. The problem is moving like a fast train and growing into a large hot-air balloon. The problematic balloon is bulging as the wind of criticism blew hard. Persons concerned should weigh the possible consequence and address the problem in time. Dr. Nay Zin Latt has the appalling reputation of passing judgment even on the Lord Buddha. On page 47 of his book entitled, “Master’s mind and slave’s mind”, he wrote as follows.

“When Lord Buddha observed Vipassana (Insight Meditation), He did not meditate exactly eight hours each day. Perhaps more time when it is comfortable and may be less when travelling”.

I strongly criticized Dr. Nay Zin Latt on his error of judgment on Lord Buddha. Arahats (blessed saintly monks) were the holy persons that remained beyond worldly things and spreading loving kindness and compassion towards the human beings. The expressions of these words aimed at exposing the second-rate knowledge of Dr. Nay Zin Latt. His idea was born out of the small and skimpy intelligence. Today, problems are cropping up such as the conflict between the MPs and the constitutional tribunal; the strong protests and tough demonstrations of the peasant farmers; the unresolved situation on the affairs of the national races; the hot issue of peace process; the Rohingya crisis in Rakhine State; the slow and stagnation of economic development. Over the latest development of the country, Dr. Nay Zin Latt expressed his views as follows.

“In summing up of the whole, it is very much satisfactory to witness the result, the timing and the speed in term of reform tasks being undertaken in the country compared with other nations. I have already expressed this matter last year. Reforms undertaken in Myanmar would be a model to emulate by other countries. Now, some countries are studying the reform process in Myanmar. This is the happy moment”. Today, thousand of problems emerged.

Today, the country is facing the myriad problems. At such, Dr. Nay Zin Latt expressed that the prevailing situation of the country is satisfactory. Shall we accept his opinion? Some countries are observing our country, said he.

What are some countries observing our country? Was that over the several proposals to ask for demonstration right rejected? Why did the security guards stop farmers from staging protests? Why did the war refugees flee to Pharkant? Why are only four or five persons manipulating Myanmar’s major economic enterprises?

The last thing that should be studied was a review of the President’s message sent to the Parliament (Union Assembly) on August 23, 2012. If some countries study who the reviewer is, they will comprehensively come to know about the situation of Myanmar.

Dr. Nay Zin Latt remarked, “The President is trying to carry out wide-ranging reforms regardless of his poor health condition. At this time, the President actually needs to have good advisers around him. These advisers should be from executive, legislative and judicial sectors. These three main powers should have reciprocal control.

(From the Messenger Journal’s 27 August Issue of 2012).

In building a new nation, even the opposition supported the leadership of the President and his three entities namely deeds, words and thoughts. In this state, the President requires strong supporters to achieve success in the objectives. Where will these good supporters come from? Are they from the three main powers like executive, legislative and judicial sectors? Whether from the President's Advisory Board? Whether from the President's Office? When reviewing the situation, the voice of the President's Advisory Board went silent. The advice of U Ko Ko Hlaing given to the demonstrators for demanding power supply was to live with lighting candles. His voice was the last we heard.

We are now hearing from Director U Zaw Htay (Hmu Zaw) of the President's Office instead of U Ko Ko Hlaing. Hmu Zaw has entered the media with the article titled "Good grace ever since" about 11 months ago.

In the article Hmu Zaw wrote that it is required to hold the current government as the new government. The writer referred to past stories and historical events. Now, the past stories are totally different from the current conditions.

A political article titled "Six-month term of the new government and super ideas" written by Hmu Zaw was stated in Yangon Times Journal issued on September 29 - October 5. In the article, the writer said that the politics is historical events. Politics of today is called contemporary history.

I wrote a response in the Morning Journal issued on November 11, 2011 and criticize towards Hmu Zaw by writing, “It is a surprise to write a political commentary without having enough knowledge about politics”.

Hmu Zaw wrote another article saying there is ‘No History’. When I wrote an article in response to Hmu Zaw and sent it to the ‘Mandalay Light’ Journal. However, the Press Scrutiny Board cut off many paragraphs in my article.

If someone insists that there is ‘no history’, it is impossible to record new chronicles. The repudiation of history is a dirty trick of those who have no good historical context. If someone has courage to disclose the real truth, they must be able to reveal their history. Even if he committed some misconducts, he must switch himself into the proper way.

In Buddhist chronicles, Inguli Mala, the mighty killer to people, could abandon his cruelty, and then attained the fourth stage of highest purification mind to become an Arahat. Therefore, he is still worthy to accept worship of Buddhists.

The word ‘History’ is a bitter pill for Hmu Zaw. He refused the real history. However, the President considered about the real chronicle.

Let me give an example.

“The government is practicing new policies which are different from the previous ways based on the existing realities and the historical experiences to enjoy the lasting peace in the Union’. (Included in the message of President sent to Lower House on 26 January 2012).

“The most important components in this country are our people. This is the new historical page to be recorded in the chronicle of our country.” (Published on page 7 of the Myawaddy Newspaper issued on March 2, 2012).

The President also expressed the word ‘history’ regarding with the visit of US Secretary of State Mrs. Hilary Clinton citing ‘a historic visit…. the new chapter for the future of the country.’ He never tried to cover up the history.

During his interview with the Washington Post, he answered that the previous government was not dismantled. Instead, it developed a democratic state. (Published on page 9 of the Mirror newspaper issued on January 21, 2012)

It is true that the changing processes led by the President are opening up the new history. In this circumstance, U Khin Aung Myint, Speaker of Union Assembly said that reading out and recording of the President’s message sent to the Union Assembly on August 23, 2012 was postponed as it was objected by the parliamentarians. It can be recorded that this is the first time for the Parliament to postpone the message of the President. Such postponement can diminish the role of the President.

Dr. Aye Maung, Upper House MP of Rakhine Nationals Development Party said, “The six points mentioned in the message of the President is quite acceptable. This portion is not to be objected. However, the additional ten conclusions were the accusations against Rakhine people. When these points are reviewed piece by piece, it can be found that the accusations were groundless. Therefore we objected this message. For example, one of the accusations was that Rakhine people are plotting to skim off the properties of Bengalis as a consequence of the recent unrest”. (The detail of this situation can be read on page 26 and 28 of the Weekly Eleven News Journal issued on August 29, 2012). It was also broadcast by RFA, VOA and BBC on August 23 and 24.

The assessment paper on Rakhine conflict that was attached to the President memorandum was not acceptable. The assessment was wrong. That was why the President memo was delayed.

The President has formed an investigation committee on Rakhine issue on17 August 2012. No report has been submitted by the committee so far, but the assessment was attached to the President’s memo. Who is responsible in sending the assessment?

Rakhine representative U Ba Shin said that the points from (a) to (i) in the comment may hamper ‘Our Three Main National Causes’, the national policy of Myanmar.

As the problem is a concern of not only Rakhine nationals but also the entire nation, U Ye Tun, Lower House MP from Shan Nationals Democratic Party, also made a similar remark.

He said: “I don’t think the President wrote the assessment. Actually, such a comment should have been issued as a press release. It should not attach with the President’s memo. I think it had mistakenly happened. We would like to urge the President to make sure that a similar mistake does not happen again. Those from the top favour reform whilst lower level officials want to interfere even in parliament.” (Quoted from P-16, the 29-8-2012 issue of Weekly Eleven Journal).

Who wrote the comment attached to the President’s message? The person who gave an explanation is none other than U Zaw Htay (Hmu Zaw). His reason is that the comment was a collection of news submitted to the President. It was indeed an act of cheating history. Hmu Zaw made a remark in his article titled ‘It is time Myanmar’s economy grew’ in the 26-4-2012 issue of Yangon Time Journal. In his remark, he says it is necessary to support the President to meet the success of reform process. How is he supporting the President?

While the President saying about history, Hmu Zaw is saying there is ‘no’ history. Will he support the President by attaching wrong news comments to presidential messages? (We want him to support the President in a sincere way.)

The people are no longer naïve as history has gave them a lot of lessons. They no longer fear. Parliamentarians have bravely stood by the people. History will punish those who want to cheat history.