Friday, March 13, 2015

National News

National News

Questioning the direction of democracy

Posted: 12 Mar 2015 09:31 PM PDT

Recent events in Letpadan and in front of the Yangon's City Hall will have prompted many to question the path that Myanmar's quasi-civilian government has chosen.

The Insider: Felicitations to Lithuania on the anniversary of its independence

Posted: 12 Mar 2015 09:16 PM PDT

Pots, kettles … and batons - Well, tensions have flared once again in Ferguson, Missouri, following the resignation of the police chief and the shooting of the umpteenth black person and two police officers, bringing simmering racial tensions to the surface.

Govt frees first batch of students

Posted: 12 Mar 2015 09:14 PM PDT

Just under half of the student demonstrators arrested on March 10 at Letpadan have been green-lighted for release, the government said, as calls grew yesterday for the release of all of those detained.

Activists and celebrities gather to denounce police crackdown

Posted: 12 Mar 2015 09:13 PM PDT

Activists and celebrities packed a Yangon hall of the Free Funeral Service Society yesterday to denounce police violence against students and other protesters in Letpadan and to demand their release from prison.

Six-way talks likely next week

Posted: 12 Mar 2015 09:12 PM PDT

Meeting between political leaders will precede debate on a constitution amendment bill, according to MPs.

Livelihoods fund gets its first private sector donor

Posted: 12 Mar 2015 09:10 PM PDT

Japanese firm Mitsubishi Corporation has become the first private sector donor to a major multi-donor trust fund aimed at improving food security and livelihoods in rural areas.

Swan Ar Shin accused of beating journalist

Posted: 12 Mar 2015 09:09 PM PDT

A reporter from Popular News Daily sought an interview but instead wound up with a beating this week when he contacted a member of the paramilitary organisation Swan Ar Shin, according to an editor.

Electrical fault blamed for fire in downtown

Posted: 12 Mar 2015 08:58 PM PDT

A fire at an electronics retail outlet in downtown Yangon was caused by an electrical problem in the roof of the shop, according to police.

Charges upgraded against Chinese arrested for logging

Posted: 12 Mar 2015 08:57 PM PDT

Tatmadaw to continue operation against illegal logging, which it says is funding arms purchases by ethnic groups.

Ministry clears four people of bird flu virus

Posted: 12 Mar 2015 08:30 PM PDT

Four people with flu symptoms have tested negative for the bird flu virus H5N1, the health ministry confirmed yesterday.
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Shan Herald Agency for News

Shan Herald Agency for News

When who came last becomes first

Posted: 12 Mar 2015 09:34 PM PDT

There are several things I had been wondering throughout my struggle through life. And one of them was why Malaysia, or Malaya as it was known before, wasn't granted Independence at the same time  like India and Burma, if the British really were in such a hurry to get rid of their colonies after World War Ⅱ.



Of course, I could have found out the answer if I had just persisted. However I was so busy doing several things at the same time that I felt lazy to launch a full inquiry. The outcome: I didn't find out any answers.

The only thing Shans know about Malaya/Malaysia is that their Federated Shan States (1922-1947), their first taste of federalism, came into being after a study trip to Federated Malay States (1895-1946).

"Please don't waste your breath on us by trying to preach us about federalism," U Tun Pay, the late prominent Shan politician, was reported as saying, in response to a statement made by a Burman leader who was apparently trying to convince Shan counterparts that there were better ways than secession to resolve differences between the Burmans and the non-Burmans. "We know by our own experience how acceptable it is to us. What you should do instead is to go and teach the generals who seem to be having a cock-eyed idea about federalism."

In 1945, the British emerged from the World War, a victor but an economically spent one. The new Labor government led by Clement Atlee, despite protests by the Conservatives like Winston Churchill, who won the war but lost the elections nevertheless, decided to grant independence to her colonies, whether or not they were ready to become their own masters.

In the case of Burma, many, including old hands of Burma, have blamed London for the slapdashery that, according to them, have resulted in chaos and war for more than 60 years.

However, with Malaya/Malaysia, even the Labor government had taken its time. What happened?

Dr Paul Lim


According to Dr Paul Lim, who visited Chiangmai, 10-12 March, and who knew the country well, having lived there, the answer was simple. "It was Malaya's rubber and tin industries that had kept the British economy afloat," he told his listeners from Burma. "That's why even Labor refused to let it go, at least not right away."

I then looked up in D.G.E. Hall's History of Southeast Asia (1955) and found his answer, though short, made sense.

Tin and rubber together had accounted for 86% of the country's exports. Earnings were $519 million in 1948 and $1.195 billion two years later. And the British owned tin mines alone accounted for two-thirds of the production.

The outcome: Independence to Malaysia came only in 1957, 9 years after Burma. And compared to Burma, its problems are, according to one commentator, pint-sized.

With Burma, the peace process initiated by President Thein Sein, seems to be the last hope. Let us therefore support and encourage the peacemakers on both sides to do better and faster, instead of blaming one side against the other(s), so the vicious circle, on rather the cycle, ends soon and we can catch up with the likes of Malaysia.
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