{"id":2536,"date":"2016-04-10T15:07:02","date_gmt":"2016-04-10T20:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legacyinstitute.org\/wordpress\/?p=2536"},"modified":"2016-04-10T15:19:05","modified_gmt":"2016-04-10T20:19:05","slug":"myanmar-government","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legacyinstitute.org\/wordpress\/2016\/04\/myanmar-government\/","title":{"rendered":"Myanmar Government"},"content":{"rendered":"

Latest from The Guardian<\/em>:<\/p>\n

April 2, 2016<\/p>\n

Aung San Suu Kyi set to get PM-type role in Myanmar government <\/a><\/h1>\n

Bill to appoint Nobel laureate as powerful state counsellor, bypassing ban on her becoming president, passes upper house<\/strong><\/p>\n

Published: 1 Apr 2016<\/p>\n

\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Aung_San_Suu_Kyi#\/media\/File:Remise_du_Prix_Sakharov_%C3%A0_Aung_San_Suu_Kyi_Strasbourg_22_octobre_2013-18.jpg\"<\/a>
https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Aung_San_Suu_Kyi#\/media\/File:Remise_du_Prix_Sakharov_%C3%A0_Aung_San_Suu_Kyi_Strasbourg_22_octobre_2013-18.jpg<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u201cI think by now I have made it fairly clear that I am not very happy with the word \u2018hope.\u2019 I don’t believe in people just hoping. We work for what we want.\u201d
\n<\/em>\u2014Daw Aung San Suu Kyi<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dear Friends and Fellow laborers,<\/p>\n

I am receiving emails asking me what this means for Myanmar (Burma) and will it affect any COG members there.<\/p>\n

My answer is somewhat complicated unless you know something about the recent history of Myanmar.<\/p>\n

Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi derives her power in Myanmar because she is the beloved daughter of General Aung San, a hero of Myanmar independence.\u00a0 In World War 2, the Japanese invaded and conquered Myanmar.\u00a0 They were later driven out by the combined forces of the British, Americans and Chinese.\u00a0 However, Myanmar remained a part of the British Empire.<\/p>\n

Aung San, the father of Aung San Suu Gyi is recognized as the founder of the Union of Burma because he organized the various ethnic groups into a cohesive political force to pursue independence from the British.<\/p>\n

On January 27, 1947, an agreement was signed with the British Prime Minister Clement Atlee to declare Burma\u2019s independence within one year.\u00a0 Aung San was assassinated soon after.<\/p>\n

After his assassination, political unrest and insurgencies plagued Myanmar until Ne Win\u2019s coup d\u2019etat in 1962 which established a military controlled government.<\/p>\n

Aung San Suu Gyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party has been the leading voice of dissent.\u00a0 This has posed quite a dilemma for the military government who, since 1989 have kept her in prison or under house arrest.\u00a0 She is dangerous to their remaining in power and yet, she is loved by all the people.<\/p>\n

There remains a static stand-off in which the military and the NLD do not want to push too hard.\u00a0 The military has the guns after all.\u00a0 The military proved in the 1988 protests that they were willing to kill hundreds, even monks, to maintain their power.<\/p>\n

This recent election changes things for the better.\u00a0 Aung San Suu Kyi will be given real power, even though she does not hold the presidency.\u00a0 It is one of her party members who is president.\u00a0 The military still holds a great deal of power in the legislature and they still have the guns.<\/p>\n

However, this change will allow Aung San Suu Gyi to influence a slow opening of more human rights for the people of Burma.\u00a0 Even more important, money will now pour into Burma.\u00a0 Aung San Suu Gyi is loved all over the world.\u00a0 She is the only non-Head of State ever to address the U.S. Congress[1].<\/p>\n

This move will do more than anything else to legitimize the rogue military regime in Myanmar.\u00a0 Since the generals and their families all have major stakes in businesses with international aspirations, this is a smart move on their part.\u00a0 They give up a part of their political power and gain a lot by legitimizing a once pariah nation.\u00a0 International sanctions are already being lifted so foreign concerns can gain access to the riches of Myanmar\u2019s natural resources which include oil and gas, gold, platinum and gems, Rare Earth Minerals (REMs) and even uranium.<\/p>\n

This year Myanmar holds the chairmanship of ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), and Myanmar is ready to put on a smiling face.\u00a0 But there are still problems under the whitewash.<\/p>\n

This is real progress.\u00a0 More economic opportunities are opening up.\u00a0 Here in Thailand, many migrant workers are going back to find work in Myanmar.<\/p>\n

The COG brethren will benefit from economic development.\u00a0 Some Legacy grads perhaps will find good employment due to their English language skills.\u00a0 We will know more after our trip to Myanmar for the Spring Holy Days.<\/p>\n

Warmest regards to all,
\n\"tlsig\"
\nT. Leon Sexton<\/p>\n

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