October 31: Soe Win’s experience as a national administrator is very limited and therefore many are questioning his potential contributions to the Office of the Prime Minister, writes

The political turmoil in Burma has become not only a regional nuisance but also an international headache. Last month, EU countries and Asean members had a diplomatic tug-of-war over Burma’s attendance to the Asem meeting in
Hanoi, Vietnam. General Khin Nyunt wanted to attend the meeting on behalf of Burma but EU governments denied him. It would have been his last attendance to an international meeting as prime minister. Now he is gone, replaced by Lt-Gen Soe Win, who became Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) after Khin Nyunt was appointed prime minister on 26 August last year.

Soe Win was head of the Northwest Army Command and chief of Special Operations at the War Office before he succeeded Khin Nyunt as Secretary-1. Now he has taken over Khin Nyunt’s job again as prime minister. His experience as a national administrator is very limited and therefore many are questioning his potential contributions to the Office
of the Prime Minister. At the moment, many believe he will be just the mouthpiece of Senior General Than Shwe, the No.1 leader of Burma.

At a special meeting last Sunday with business entrepreneurs to clarify the political change, General Thura Shwe Mann delivered an address as a member of the SPDC. Soe Win followed him with a short speech. This indicates that the new prime minister is now No.4 in the military hierarchy. There are very few people in Burma who would give him a “honeymoon period”, and Soe Win will certainly have to work very hard to
win the confidence and respect of both the local and international communities.

In his clarification speech, General Thura Shwe Mann promised to continue implementing the present state policies, including the implementation of the seven-point road map and the convening of the National Convention. There would be no change in national policies toward armed groups which had returned to the legal fold. There is no change in foreign policy and the state will continue to cooperate with the world’s nations to improve international relations.

These promises mean just one thing to the people of Burma and the world — military government will continue to rule the country as tightly as ever.

Commenting on the leadership change, some of the regional leaders, including Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said they wished Burma would continue with the seven-step political road map plan. Their remarks are most ludicrous. They are either too ignorant about Burma’s politics or
they have become anti-democracy. Implementing the road map without compromising with the democratic forces in Burma would — in essence _ be anti-democracy and totally unacceptable to the people. This fact has been repeatedly pointed out by Burma’s democratic forces and their supporters around the world.

Any regional and international leaders may express their support for the road map, but they must also emphasise that each of the seven steps be taken with the consent of the Burmese people.

Addressing last Sunday’s meeting with the entrepreneurs, Soe Win sternly warned that “the objectives of the state will not be changed for any reasons.” Does this mean that the SPDC will continue its practice of not compromising with democratic forces in Burma? Does this mean that it will
continue to ignore the people’s wishes and also the world’s opinion?

How will Burma’s neighbours and the world react to the new prime minister’s statement? The answers to those questions will come to light in the next 100 days, especially during and after the Asean summit scheduled to open in November in Vientiane, Laos.

The people of Burma expect clear, strong and decisive remarks and actions by their neighbours this time. We are fed up with the standard consolation and evasive responses by our neighbours, which will stay in our memory for
a long, long time. The future relationship between Burma and Asean will be greatly influenced by our neighbours’ actions during this political crisis.

There was one crucial point made by Soe Win in his speech. He said Burma will have a clean and dynamic government which does not oppress the people, misbehave or take bribes. This I must support with all my heart.

A government cannot function successfully if it is riddled with
corruption. An international study released last week listed Burma as the fourth most corrupted country in the world. This must be stopped. We must have a clean government in Burma first before we can democratise the country. I would like to hold the new prime minister and his cabinet
responsible for his promise to the country. This should not be just another empty promise.

In this regard, the military government must let the people work closely with them in fighting corruption. This will offer a great opportunity for the military and politicians to start a new relationship by working together against a common enemy. If the SPDC is truly serious about fighting corruption, it must work together with other forces. It cannot win the war on corruption alone.

The National League for Democracy of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi may be asked to help fight corruption. This would help the government to restart a confidence-building process with the NLD.

Prime Minister Soe Win, the ball is in your court. Let’s start anew, for the sake of the country.

Ahmyotheryei U Win Naing is a graduate of Rangoon University majoring in Political Science. He worked as radio broadcaster and translator for Burma Broadcasting Service (1956-1962), VOA in Washington, DC (1962-65), USIS in
Rangoon (1965-1974) and BBC, London (1978-1981). He now lives in Kamayut township, Yangon.