Dear Thunderbolt,

Thank you so much for your reply.

I think there has been some misunderstanding. Some times, I am writing these postings in a very hurried manner. So there was not much time to elaborate.

Let me put on record here about the good things and the bad things of the U Nu administration and the U Ne Win administration. I think it is good for us to analyze and talk about the past so that we can use that knowledge to guide our future actions and plans.

For the sake of the younger generation let me say something about myself. When I was in high school it was during the time of U Nu. I enjoyed very much reading the "Nation" newspaper owned by U Law Yone. His motto was, "let me write the newspapers of a country and I do not care who rules it", or something like that. The nation also had a very amusing cartoon series called "Animal Farm" poking fun at the communist form of government and communist ideology.

I also enjoyed very much the debates in the parliament which were broadcast on BBS. I remember U Nu was the first PM of modern day Burma to convene the Sixth Buddhist Synod.

On the day of the coup d'etat, when the soldiers came to take him into custody, he came out with his vest and asked, "Boh Ne Win yaw par lar". He was in fact asking whether General Ne Win was one of those who were taken into custody on that day. Don't ask me how I know, just believe that "a little birdie told me". Poor U Nu, he did not know who had staged that coup d'etat on that 2nd of Marh 1962.

I was in a class that morning and I had great admiration for General Ne Win. He was Chief of Staff at that time and he looked very charistmatic and handsome and he was not short. He had a good height. I said to myself, "well I hope the Military government will clean up all the mess that the U Nu government had created. I remember at that time, U Nu was creating all sorts of commissions to take care of this problem and that problem and he used to tell the nation, "pyat thanar baung thaung chauk htaung". (16000 problems in English). Then the Nation came out with a very funny cartoon where U Nu was saying "Oh then form a committee to clean up all the mess". By that he meant, form a committee or commission to clean up all the mess created by the earlier committees.

So our first attempt at practising parliamentary democracy ended on that fateful day, 2 March 1962.

How was our Foreign Policy at that time. Well U Nu had good relations with China, USA, India, all the members of the Bandung Conference and he got along very well with PM Chou En Lai of China. Of course the US did not like that. They wanted Burma to be their follower like Thailand. We refused to join SEATO (South East Asia Treatry Organization) which was formed by the US and its allies to counter Chinese expansion. Burma stayed neutral and our foreign policy was called "a policy of strict neutrality". Burma was one of the key players in the movement for Afro-Asain solidarity and the Non-Aligned Movement. U Nu, Chou En Lai and Tito became household words during those days.

I am not saying that there was no corruption during those times. There were many rumours going on about this man or that woman selling off their export licences.

However, the economic situation was not bad and the price of a good cotton longyi was Kyats 11 and you can buy si kyet khaul swe for One Kyat. Those were the days. If I say this much I guess you will understand what I think of U Nu's administration.

The most importatn weak point of U Nu was that he trusted General Ne Win too much. That was his down fall.

Now what about General Ne Win. His intentions were good but he also did not get good feedback from the BSPP leaders. They all tried to paint a rosy picture about the economy until it was too late. I am not saying that he was a man without any faults. However, he was man enough to say that I will retire and he did retire. He was so emotional on the day he spoke on TV to the nation that he had to call U Htwe Han to read his resignation statement.

What about his foreign policy? I think it was a big success as Burma had the ability to maneuver in any way she liked although the US and its allies did not like the way General Ne Win nationalized all foreign companies, especially the BOC - Burma Oil Company.

In my view, the UK still wants Burma to be under their thumb. The US for strategic reasons wants Burma to have the trappings of democracy so that all the American companies can do what they want not only in Burma but in all of Asia.
So enter the Dragon. Because of the rise of China, politically, economically, militarily and in the area of international relations, the US Eagle cannot do what it wished in the Asian region.

Many experts in the field of International Relations have writen many books and articles saying that the US policy towards China was wrong and that the US foreign policy towards Burma was also wrong. It is still wrong.

When I write things about Myanmar leaders past or present, I do not look at Myanmar only but do my analysis from the point of view of the whole world.

There is no such thing as a perfect leader. Leaders are also human beings like us so they too have human failings. Every leader in Myanmar or in the world has their good points and weaknesses.

That is why I have said before:

"My country right or wrong.

If right to support it.

If wrong to correct it."

So the reason you and I are discussing on this very important forum is not to insult each other or to show off who has read how many books.

My purpose in writing the things I am writing today is to find a way out of this unpleasant and dangerous situation.

General Ne Win once said, "the strength of the nation lies within its borders". I support that statement.

All Myanmar nationals and citizens should settle this political impasse with good intentions, cetena and with the interest of the nation at heart. All other things are secondary.

If we do not have the deep desire to achieve national unity, no outsider, not even the UN can help us.

We will all have to pay for our own actions, good or bad.

That is why I am calling for national unity and reconciliaiton.

It is not a dream, Mr. Thunderbolt.

It is doable and achievable if there is a will in all our hearts.

Like the song in the Broadway play "South Pacific" sung by Bloody Mary:

"You must have a dream. If you don't have a dream.

How you gonna make your dream come true".

Nice talking to you.

Km

p.s. By the way I read U Kala Yazawin, Konebaung Set Mahayasawin, The Glass Palace Chronicle translated by Professor Luce and Prof U Pe Maung Tin, Aung San of Burma by Dr. Maung Maung, General Ne Win by Dr. Maung Maung, The River of Lost Footsteps by Thant Myint Oo, Foreign Policy of Burma by Professor William C. Johnstone etc., etc. (This is just a sampling to give you an idea of what books I have read.)

This is not to boast but for the benefit of the newer generation as they will inherit all the good and the bad after the older generation pass from the scene.