Myanmar: Missing Portrait

Burma Digest explains why a portrait of General Aung San, Myanmar's national hero and father of opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi, no longer appears on the country's currency, the kyat.

4 comments

  • Mla

    No one can understand that even the greatest leader cannot appear in Myanmar kyats, but it is sure that they (the present leaders) are not true leaders. It means that no one recognize them as leaders of the country. One day this will become more clear.

  • Professor A. Bahar

    Symbols and Society

    Why Aung Sen’s picture vanishes from Kyat? It is all about symbols. Aung san’s picture represents the symbol of democracy and pluralism. Aung San represents modernity and Burma’s forwardlooking movement. So the answer is, it is logical for them to remove such symbols because it is inconsistent with their anti democratic vision and goals.
    To keep the country together, the military zanta as an institution naturally prides on the views of Medieval kings, not Aung San. Naturally, from that sense minorities are seen not as equal citizens but as subject people. The point is, those medieval symbols were good for their time. In replacing such an important national symbol of democracy and progress as Aung San’s picture from Kyat, the military is now even changing Burmese sociey symbolically back to the Past.

  • Maung Sein (aka) Mohamad Yusof MM

    Even though Bogyoke Aung San was father of the nation of Burma,even though it was he who led the Burma freedom struggle with a broad based understanding of unity in Diversity,even though Burmese national Hero Aung San created todays Burma Tetmaddaw which is mis-used by current SPDC military Generals, it is really shame for Burma
    to remove Bogyoke Aung San’s picture from the Burma currencies.
    It is a betrayal to country and the people.
    The main reason in doing so foolish thing is an ulterior political motive of present day military Junta SPDC to deter the spirations of non-Burman ethnic nationalities such as Arakanes,Shan,Kachin,Kaya,Mon,Karen,Chin who may try for establishment of sovereign independent countries on the basis of Right of Self-determination based on the endorsed point in Paung Loong (1947) Agreement General Aung San made with these ethnic nationalities.
    So,the military junta previously abolished all democratic constitutions
    and Paung-loong Agreement.The Removal of the pictures of Aung San from the currencies means the SPDC Junta want to distance Aung San from the political agenda of Burma so that no non-Burman ethnic nationalities
    bring the promise and Paung-loon Agreement points in any form of future discussion if democracy is to be restored by military-way.
    this is my personal opinion and do not represent the parties I associate.

    Another clear point is to dishearten our national leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and discredit her by doing so crazy-like activities.But SPDC fails to understand that only Daw Aung San Suu Kyi can save the country and people from un-thinkable desaster from the way-to-ruin path and self destructive political mis-calculation now persuing by SPDC General Than Shwe and his war-monger anti-people barabaric forces.

    But, I do hope that any future peoples representative democratic Governmet in Burma will cancel this kind of mischief and evil doing ultimately restoring the image of Father of the Burma nation on all currencies with due respect and pride.

  • Maung Sein (aka) Mohamad Yusof MM

    Your comment is awaiting moderation.
    Even though Bogyoke Aung San was father of the nation of Burma,even though it was he who led the Burma freedom struggle with a broad based understanding of unity in Diversity,even though Burmese national Hero Aung San created todays Burma Tetmaddaw which is mis-used by current SPDC military Generals, it is really shame for Burma
    to remove Bogyoke Aung San’s picture from the Burma currencies.
    It is a betrayal to country and the people.
    The main reason in doing so foolish thing is an ulterior political motive of present day military Junta SPDC to deter the Aspirations of non-Burman ethnic nationalities such as Arakanes,Shan,Kachin,Kaya,Mon,Karen,Chin who may try for establishment of sovereign independent countries on the basis of Right of Self-determination based on the endorsed point in Paung Loong (1947) Agreement General Aung San made with these ethnic nationalities.
    So,the military junta previously abolished all democratic constitutions
    and Paung-loong Agreement.The Removal of the pictures of Aung San from the currencies means the SPDC Junta want to distance Aung San from the political agenda of Burma so that no non-Burman ethnic nationalities
    bring the promise and Paung-loon Agreement points in any form of future discussion if democracy is to be restored by military-way.
    This is my personal opinion and do not represent the parties I associate.

    Another clear point is to dishearten our national leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and discredit her by doing so crazy-like activities.But SPDC fails to understand that only Daw Aung San Suu Kyi can save the country and people from un-thinkable desaster from the way-to-ruin path and self destructive political mis-calculation now persuing by SPDC General Than Shwe and his war-monger anti-people barabaric forces.

    But, I do hope that any future peoples representative democratic Governmet in Burma will cancel this kind of mischief and evil doing ultimately restoring the image of Father of the Burma nation on all currencies with due respect and pride.

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