Wrong man for the wrong flower

http://www.mizzima.com/edop/letters/1876-wrong-man-for-the-wrong-flower.html

by John Moe
Monday, 23 March 2009 11:24

Dear Editor

Burmese and Singaporean pro-democracy activists should be outraged over the Singaporean government’s latest act of adulation shown toward Burma’s military rulers, the christening of a new orchid at the National Orchid Garden named after Burma’s unelected Prime Minister, General Thein Sein.

Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) leaders have failed to contemplate whether the hypocritical Burmese general deserves to have an orchid, the "Dendrobium Thein Sein", named after him. Instead, the government of Singapore continues to direct its relations with Burma’s military junta according to the principle of economic self-interest – utterly ignoring the desires of ordinary Burmese.



Singapore's bilateral trade with Burma reached 1.2 billion dollars in fiscal year 2007-08, with Singapore standing as Burma's third largest trading partner. The total amount of Singaporean exports to Burma accounted for 816.3 million dollars, while imports from Burma amounted to 401.8 million dollars.

Yet, amidst a vibrant trade relation, leaders of the Lion City seldom have a critical word for Burma’s men in green. The Singaporean government rarely mentions the situation of either the democratic process or human rights in Burma. Nonetheless, true-hearted Singaporean activists continue to show their concern for Burma and detained Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Recently, Singaporean activists dedicated a bouquet of eight orchids in honor of the 8-8-88 uprising of August 8, 1988. On that day, student protests spread throughout Burma. Hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life – monks, children, university students, housewives and professionals – demonstrated against the then government. However, the military violently suppressed the aspirations of the people. Do PAP leaders know of the role of Prime Minister General Thein Sein during the 8-8-88 uprising and subsequent crackdown?

Actually, as opposed to their naming of a flower after a general of the Burmese junta, leaders of a first world country – such as Singapore – should honor a world class democracy icon such as Aung San Suu Kyi with a garden and street dedicated to her.

It should be remembered that just as Singapore has a founding father in Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Burma has its own in Aung San, the father of the now embattled opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

In fact, Singapore government is well aware of the corruption within Burma’s military and their mismanagement of the economy. Commenting on the extravagant nature of the wedding of Senior General Than Shwe’s daughter, Lee Kuan Yew said, "Flaunting these excesses must push a hungry and impoverished people to revolt," and that the ruler's daughter looked "like a Christmas tree" in the video.

Lee further once commented that Burma's ruling generals “are rather dumb generals when it comes to the economy. How could they so mismanage the economy and reach this stage when the country has so many natural resources?"

Current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong should be aware that according to the 1990 general election result, Aung San Suu Kyi earned the right to be Prime Minister, as leader of the National League for Democracy, but that the military to this day continues to deny her this right.

As a matter of fact, the PAP government very much hesitates to appreciate a democracy icon such as Aung San Suu Kyi. Instead, thousands of Burmese nationals who are working in Singapore find a flower-naming ceremony in recognition of Burma’s current military Prime Minister hugely demoralizing.

While Burmese are overwhelmed with the solidarity and support they receive from Singaporean activists, such as the gift of the eight orchids, these actions should not be misunderstood as in any way coming from PAP – which instead insists on standing alongside Burma’s military leaders.