Myanmar poised at threshold of new era In stark contrast to actual positive situation in Myanmar, a pessimistic report commissioned by Mr. Vaclav Havel and Bishop Desmond M Tutu was announced It portrays Myanmar in most negative light It is yet another attempt to discredit Myanmar Govt

YANGON, 29 Sept — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today issued a statement concerning report of Mr Vaclav Havel and Bishop Desmond Tu Tu entitled “Threat to the Peace: A Call for the UN Security Council to Act in Burma”. The following is the full text of the statement:

The Union of Myanmar practices an active and independent foreign policy guided by the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence. Subscribing to the principles and purposes embodied in the Charter it became a member state of the United Nations soon after regaining independence in 1948 and considers the organization as a fundamental pillar of its foreign policy. Myanmar gives special emphasis to its relations with its neighbours cooperating closely in the political, diplomatic, economic and social fields. It has joined and is working diligently in organizations such as ASEAN and BIMSTEC for regional peace, security and development.

Myanmar is a union of over a hundred national races. The people of Myanmar have inherited a civilization of over 2000 years. Over a hundred years under British colonial rule constituted fertile breeding grounds for the sowing of distrust among the national races by the colonizer. The resultant internal insurgency plagued the country from the dawn of independence until recently draining an already war ravaged economy and hindering the normal process of development.

The Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces) was compelled to assume State responsibility in 1988 as the country had drifted to an anarchic situation and towards total disintegration. It was only through much effort that community peace and tranquility, prevalence of law and order could be restored.

National unity and solidarity were painstakingly restored through confidence building measures initiated by the present government. The patient endeavours of the government succeeded in the return into the legal fold of 17 out of the 18 armed insurgent groups. Most importantly, peace throughout the land paved the way for massive infrastructure construction nationwide and contributed to the revitalization of the national spirit.

The economy registered significant growth rates during the last three years. Moreover, 176 dams, 202 major bridges and 60,000 kilometers of motorways have been constructed. In the education sector, 124 new universities have been opened nationwide, the adult literacy rate is nearly 94 per cent and primary school enrolment has reached 98 per cent. In the health sector, 188 new hospitals have been opened for the people. A total of 68 billion kyats has been used for development of the border areas.

Peace, tranquility and a growing economy have transformed cities and towns into bustling places. Pagodas are filled with devotees, and churches, mosques and temple are crowded with worshippers. The crime rate is low and the fact that residents and tourists can stroll the streets at will, night or day, is testimony enough to the country’s peaceful situation.

With these positive developments in hand, the government announced a seven-step political programme in August 2003 which would definitely lead to the establishment of a modern, prosperous and democratic nation based on enduring institutions.

The first crucial step of this process was the successful reconvening of the national convention. The convention is attended by 1,088 delegates from eight categories. Sixty per cent of the delegates come from the national races. Representatives of 17 armed groups who have returned to the legal fold are also participating. The delegates are identifying basic principles for a new democratic state constitution by which to build a common future after decades of disunity and stagnation.

A constitution will be drafted with the principles agreed upon, and put to a national referendum. If approved, the constitution will pave the way for elections to the national and regional parliaments thereby ensuring a smooth transition to democracy. Myanmar is poised at the threshold of a new era.

In stark contrast to the actual positive situation described above, a pessimistic report commissioned by Mr Vaclav Havel and Bishop Desmond M Tutu was announced on 20 September 2005. The report entitled “Threat to the Peace: A Call for the UN Security Council to Act in Burma” was prepared by DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary Law Firm. The report contends that the government poses a threat to its own people and to regional peace and security and strongly urges the UN Security Council to take up the situation immediately.

The report states that “Burma” is a form preferred by leaders of the so-called “Burma’s democracy movement”. The word “Burma” is the name of the British Colonialists imposed on Myanmar. This misnomer could not be rectified by a then subject, colonized people. The reversion to “Myanmar” in 1989 is in fact the restoration of an authentic name to its rightful official status. The United Nations and all other international organizations address the country as Myanmar. The name has been accepted and recognized by all countries and peoples of the world, save a few. These few insist on using the discarded name. It is not only a discourtesy towards Myanmar and its people but it is also a politically motivated ploy deliberately used to show opposition to the government.

The report portrays Myanmar in the most negative light. There is no basis whatsoever to its claims. It has used human rights by which to heap accusations upon the government. Myanmar has on several occasions officially denounced those allegations that engage from rape, forced labour, child soldiers, refugees out flow, forced relocation, etc. These are vast exaggerations or mere outright distortions. The truth is that the government does not condone human rights violations and is in fact the guarantor of human rights in the country. The accusations are at times absurd. For instance, the allegations that as many as 70,000 children have been forcibly recruited into the army is based on an NGO interview with 20 or so deserters, in a foreign land. The allegation that 700,000 refugees have fled Myanmar in recent years is without any official authority whatsoever.

The allegations about drug trade is at total variance with the situation on the ground. As a result of the relentless efforts by the government the sown opium acreage continued to drop in line with the national plan to eradicate poppy cultivation by the year 2014. The UNODC reported a 73 per cent decline in opium cultivation between 1996 and 2004. The diplomatic corps in Myanmar have participated in public destruction of drugs for 19 successive years to the US street value estimate of over 14.661 billion US dollars. The government is also taking urgent measures with neighbouring countries to control illegally trafficked chemicals used in the production of synthetic drugs. It has been able to declare opium free zones in the country and has signed an MoU with six sub-regional countries for the creation of a Greater Mekong Sub-region drugs free zone.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is of the view that the report is yet another attempt to discredit the government of Myanmar. It is based on misinformation by a few remaining insurgents and foreign funded expatriates who are now fearful that they will soon be irrevalent when Myanmar crosses the threshold to a new era. They are after all expatriates who are funded by some western countries with a hidden political agenda.

The government is striving to overcome the challenges faced by the nation relying mainly on its own resources. It welcomes the understanding and support of the international community. However, reports as the above, are counterproductive and not of assistance in the efforts of Myanmar towards democratization. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs therefore rejects the report in its entirety.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Dated: 29 September 2005