Myanmar: Blood Diamonds and Myanmar
Written byPreetam Rai
The movie Blood Diamond reminds blogger Man Actually of his younger mining days in Myanmar. “And being once a miner myself deep in the jungle far north Myanmar's very own Jade Mines, you guess! how this movie would be so special to me..Along with the Archer and Solomon, the whole week I was thinking and wondering about Dee Rum, Hong Hkong, my dear comrades, the miners and how they are doing? I have always wanted to write about my experience in the jade land but whenever I tried to start the story I felt mentally draining and lost in translation emotionally hence never been able to materialize the story.”
Written byPreetam Rai
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26 comments
Mr. Richard
Mines may creates HIV/AIDS because labor can earn money easily and entertain themself by using drugs and CSW.But it is not because of Militarary as shown in Blood daimond. If you don’t want to buy our gem, we have no problem and it is unrenewable natural resources. It’s value will increase more in future.
Here We want to say that there is no such things as in Blood daimond in Myanmar. If you want to prove what your said, not reference other sources. Come and see in Myanmar. So you can verify proudly.
If you didn’t know clearly, please silent.
Richard,
You were wrong again second time.
You mentioned of a Professoe from the famed University of John Hopkins refusal to buy gemas from Myanmar.
You may not know the reason of that refusal ,ie. if he buy gems from Myanmar,his hand might be tainted with Myanmar Trade Mark and probably he may not get the “fundings or financial supports” for his so called Aids Internatinal Research Program.
We know quite well how the Universities in the West have to strugle how to sustain the expenses and stay alive.
Interesting debate.
1. The writer named “normanwu” apparently is one of few somehow-successful businessmen that gets benefit by dealing with the military regime.
2. “Toe Sein” and “Middlepath” appears to be two out of those thousands of stupid people hired by the military regime to do propaganda and counter-propaganda in the net. (By the way, Mr. Toe Sein, I would suggest you to learn some English).
3. “Nilar” must be sayint the truth i.e. she does not stand at the side of the military regime, NOR those Burmese in exile. She seems to be honestly saying not to make bad image of Burma by comparing it to the situation in Blood Diamond.
But, her very defensive TONE is making the readers feel like she is hiding the true situation of Burma today i.e. child soldiers/child labour/working conditions like a slave/young girls becoming prostitutes/increase in theft & robberies in daylight/CORRUPTION elsewhere inside Burma/lack of elericity even in Rangoon, however the country has been finding huge GAS! (about 4 hours inside 3 days)/lack of infractures (the extended roads and newly built bridges and dams will of NO USE unless other infractures are there in Burma. In some serious cases, those dams damage nearby villages and farms)/the regime’srepression to minority races and also the Burmese etc. etc.
Burmese people are peaceful by nature. And, due to the teaching of Buddhism, they try to be content. Those two factors when combined with FEAR to the regime who is ruthless PLUS the fact that the opposition (be it the opposition inside Burma or outside Burma) cannot give effective leadership just make the military regime stay in power this long.
– Burma is rich in natural resources even before it found natural gas.
– Burma USED TO produce graduates that one can somehow say is International level. But, the regime has destroyed the education system (schools opening for a short period, then closing for long periods, then opening again for short period where they have to sit exams and due to the order of the regime almost all those sit in the exam passing it. In some cases, the student named so-and-so is in a foreign country. Someone sit the exam on behalf of that person in Burma and that student pass the exam!)
– Instead of bringing up the country’s economy and making people live better life, the regime is all too busy making money for themselves. They are busy also killing ethnic minority in border areas. Right now, KNU is under serious offense by the regime led splinter group.
3. No comment to “Klone”.
4. Thank you Richard who to me seemingly has interest in FAIR AFFAIRS and spends time for a country’s affair, not of your own.
Nanda
Hi Nanda,
We, the people in Myanmar think that our country are still poor because of civil wars, not only Military but also oppisitions.
But for infrastructure,you should know that the effectiveness will come in long term. Please study world banks research papers. It have not direct productivity but indirectly productive and poverty alliviation.It returns will be significants in long terms or 20 years. In our country, the roads, constructed by british colonial government to produce our natural resources, give benefits until now. I am making research about the effectiveness of infrastructure in Myanmar. So please do not follow the propanganda.
I am not hiding the true situation in Myanmar but you are saying exaggregate about myanmar. I am studying development economics and I understand the situation of developing countries. I have been to nearly the whole Myanmar including border Areas. But I will not say everything negative side as you.
I think the people from Myanmar will actively follow the oppoisition if they always say the truth and work more than the blame talk to military government. The people in Myanmar know what is true or false because they are in Myanmar. If they heard the news from opposition was very different from the real situation of their surrounding, they will think that there is another lier. How can they believe to follow?
And the other truth is that the military government changing and trying correcting their past about child labor, corruption, and education system.( This year many student fails in their exam, and in some area, noone pass in results.)
So the opposition should change their methods only blaming government falses and exaggregating.
PS. English is necessary for condition but not sufficent condition to learn knowledges. If the people can communicate and he has high knowledge in his area or profession, it will be ok.
Dear Nilar,
Thanks for your post.
And, congratulations to learn that you are doing research about the effectiveness of infracture. (Now that am guessing you are one of those scholars sent abroad to further your study. That is not my concern though).
For your guidance, I visit Burma about once in a year and I notice what have changed and what have not yet, and what will never change.
I doubt certain things like the regime’s severe corruption and style of never giving thought of doing things for the betterment of majority of people inside Burma will never change. (What makes me feel sad most is seeing people turning to be opportunists. Many people are there to change sides and even their belief if certain incentive such as money is there).
If you read again what those people like “middle path” etc. wrote, you will note that they are all writing for and on behalf of the regime.
The regime and its mouthpieces are placing blame on the Sanctions. (I wonder if they ever give thought to WHY the sanctions are put on Burma. The sanctions are there as an attempt to correct the regime).
It in fact is not the Sanctions that made and is making Burmese poor, it is the regime’s STUPID mismanagement. We don’t have to care about sanctions if ever we were self-efficient!
Whenever I see the weary faces of people on the roads under the heat of sunshine & dust or under heavy rain, I feel sad and mad at the regime.
Under the Proper Management of a government that has the “ABILITY” and “INTENTION” TO MAKE THINGS GOOD FOR ITS PEOPLE, a country whether it has natural resources or not can become rich. (Yes, most of the politicians are corrupt in one way or the other. But, if compared to the corruption of Burma’s military regime, it is 1 to 1,000,000!).
As you maybe aware of, as per The World Factbook, Singapore has almost nothing (it has only fish and deepwater ports). Japan has almost nothing (it has only “negligible mineral resources and fish). Yet, look at today’s Singapore and Japan which is world’s no.2 economic power after the USA. It is interesting to see that Afghanistan and Nigeria are also very rich in natural resources!
Burma is a natural resources rich, beautiful and peaceful where peace-loving and innocent (and poor, Yeah!) people live.
But, there are certain UGLY things inside and about Burma which has been being done mainly by military regime and by a few others such as drug dealers alike.
People inside Burma are just innocent, their minds are beautiful….. This we Burmese (and also foreigners) know.
Am sure you are proud being a Burmese and you want Burma seen as a nice country in everyone’s eyes. That is my wish too. I am proud being a Burmese. Am still holding my Burmese passport and citizenship however it is just easy for me to change to another citizenship though. (Changing to another citizenship would make me released from paying tax to Burmese embassy who does nothing for us, but taxing). I was born as a Burmese and will take my last breath as a Burmese citizen.
Yet, I am ashamed that we have and accept such stupid military regime for such long time.
As adults, we have to have the courage to see things as they are.
Best regards,
Nanda
I agree wit u Nanda, the things not much changed yet in Myanmar.
Nilar and Daw Nanda,
Very interesting comments,from two sides of the coin.One saying from her true hearts while other as usual would say what she heard of what others would like to hearie negative developments.
There were some spelling mistakes from my last comment and I appologise for the inconveniences in reading.I’m also a strong believer in life long learning and if I can afford to pay for a private tuition in learning English I’ll take Daw Nanda advice.Please do not make any judgement based on supposition.
Hi Nanda
I have no time to debat.
But I want to make one deal.
Lets go back to Myanmar. See the advidence. If you can shows there is the same situation in Gems Mines as in Blood Daimonds, I will kill my self. If not, you should admit that you are a lier and you are using our country image for your benefits.
Can you deal?
Nilar,
I’m glad to know that there are few and dedicated Myanmar scholars like you who would like to see growth and development in the country.
I understand that you are pursuing a post graduate study on Develoment Economics in Japan.
I was involved in some major infra: projects in Myanmar with Japanese partners and if needed I am willing to share my knowledge to anyone who is doing something for the good of Myanmar.
It is time for all of us who are outside to consider what is the best path of growth and development for
Myanmar.
Wishing a Happy Myanmar New Year .
Hello there Ni Lar,
I think I did NOT say Burma’s situation is same as the situation in Blood Diamond. What I stated was how bad things are in Burma due to the mismanagement, ruthless selfishness, and stupidity of the military regime and how majority of people in Burma are suffering.
After your study and going back to Burma and when you serve in related field, am sure you will start complaining that the government is not paying you the salary you worth. That happens to all the Professors, Director Generals, Managing Directors and below ranked civil servants of Burma.
And, that is the excuse all of them give for taking bribe. Sadly, their excuse is true fact though.
No Deal is needed. And, I do not want you to kill self.
I was attending my Masters degree when 1988 uprising occured and seems you and me are of same generation. All those Burmese scholars that I see abroad adore Burma and are proud of being Burmese. Yet, they are not blind not to see the REALITY of Burma.
Best regards,
Nanda
PS. Another SHAMEFUL and SAD thing about Burma caused by the regime is….. many of those scholars have to work part time to make money. They INTENTIONALLY do not finish their studies in a given time because the longer they stay abroad, they can make more money.
And,……. in worst cases (there are many such cases), they obtain citizenship of the country they came to further their studies and serve that FOREIGN country!
Hi Nanda,
What is the topic here? I am saying that about blood daimond and Myanmar. You can not answer directly the thruth. I am saying that is exaggregating. Do you really understand?
Donot worry for killing my self. Actually you afraid to admit that you are a lier.
You have no right to evalute other people affair that what shold do or what may be in the future. Do not think that other people may the same as you.
I am here for only study. The aim of the doner who give the fund and what our aim is the same to serve our country development. This is not the first time I studied in abroad. I do not care the salary or benefits because I came from rural area and poor family. I am proud myself as a hornest, hardworking poor. I can proudly say that I have never been in bribary and corruption process.As a Buddhism I am always spritully rich, even physically poor. How about you?
I am also ashame for those selfish people staying ouside and seeing all in negative views, saying bad thing of her own countries, and doing nothing for her country.
Even foreigner are helping for our country poverty alliviation. But some of those only concerned for getting the power and their own benefits are saying bad things, blaming others,but actually should evalute theirself what they are doing. If you want to correst thoes bad things (not as worse as the exile’s saying and in blood daimond), there are many ways that produce benefits more than costs.
I may be appriciate you if you are like Min Ko Naing, or Ko Ko Kyi who are staying in Myanmar, scarifying themself for their believes and for their people.
You should not ashame for being Myanmar. But you should ashame for a lier and selfish person.
Come and see how we are doing for our country if you have time.
Sayar U Toe Sein;
Thanks for your encouraging.
How can I contact you?