Ko Than (Kyim Myin Daing) - NLD and the new government

Between the two Cold War-era military regimes, each country has its own economic and

There were times when we had to interact with a certain group in a social context, which was unavoidable. For example,

The writer tells the new generation about the difficulties they faced in Myanmar and how they had to participate in them. Although their country has gained independence, it is still under colonial rule.

The situation was dire on all sides, having been subjected to nearly a century of manipulation and bloodletting by the

At that time, the United States offered assistance through the Economic Cooperation Association (ECA) and the Technical Cooperation Association (TCA). Our country also had a colonial past.

It has just started to recover from the pandemic and is economically and technologically backward. Therefore, assistance is needed.

It is true that it is needed. However, since it has declared that it is practicing neutrality (or neutrality), it is difficult to get this aid even though it is needed. However, after discussions with the ECA officials and the Union Government, it was decided to accept this aid. The aid was planned to be used to build the Yangon-Mandalay (four-lane highway). However, the People’s Republic of China objected, saying that it would be used for landing fighter jets. Therefore, Myanmar asked China to accept it on the grounds that it would create islands in the middle of the highway and plant trees to prevent aircraft from landing. However, China did not accept it. Therefore, the Yangon-Mandalay highway could not be built in Myanmar despite the need for it. Not only this, but there are other issues. It would be a long story to explain. Therefore, I would like to mention only the losses suffered by Myanmar here. Although most people accept this neutrality, the author would like to point out that there are some who are not interested in this neutrality.

In 1949, after the author returned from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Party leader U Ba Swe appointed him as a member of the People's Literature Committee and assigned him the responsibility of working with him.

That's why I go to the People's Literature Library on the corner of Pansotan and Merchant Street every day.

He held daily discussions with the Secretary of the People's Literature Committee, Thakin, Kyaw Sein, Journalist U Hla Kyi, (Editor of the Naung Pyi Twein Hit Taing Daily Newspaper and Manager of the People's Literature Library after the newspaper was closed). The writer's comrade U Chit Hlaing (writer Ko Ko Maung Gyi).

He was a literary man, just like the writer, and was appointed as a member of the People's Literature Committee by U Ba Swe.

Despite this, U Chit Hlaing continues to carry out duties for the Sagaing Region Federal Democratic Party and the Socialist Party.

So I couldn't attend the meeting much. One day, while the writer was at the People's Library, he heard about the agricultural

And U Ba Nyein, Deputy Secretary of the Forestry Department, wore a long-sleeved white shirt and white trousers.

He dressed up and drove his Austin to the library. The writers and the group of politicians talked for about an hour. At about 5:30, U Ba Nyan called the writer, “Come on, Mr. Than, let’s go to Strand and have a drink.” The writers left for the Strand Hotel. The writers were alone, drinking whiskey and talking. At that moment, the Minister of Agriculture, Thakin Tin, arrived and went to another table to drink. U Ba Nyan went to the table where Thakin Tin was and said to the writer, “Minister Thakin Tin is alone, let’s go and have a drink with him.”

The author is reluctant because he knows personally that Thakin Tin is a bad-tempered person when he is drunk. Thakin Tin is very polite and friendly when he is not drunk. He asked the author to sit down and say, “Are you coming with me?” U Ba Nyaung is the minister’s secretary, so he seems to be talking to me in a low tone. The author simply says, “Chairman,” as is customary.

After drinking a couple of glasses of alcohol and gaining some momentum, Thakin Tin said to U Ba Nyaeng

He asked, “What is U Ba Nyein’s neutrality policy?” The question was about neutrality.

It partly shows that he is not interested in the above. Therefore, U Ba Nyein told Thakin Tin to 'stay neutral'.

Politics is a complicated thing. If two groups are in harmony, there is no problem. But if one side is corrupt,

"If you criticize me, it's very difficult to bear," he said. Thakin Tin also gained momentum. There was no one near the table where the writers were gathered, so U Ba Nyan said to Thakin Tin, "Minister, have you ever seen a circus, either in Burma or abroad? In the circus I've seen, a young woman rides two horses on a horse, whips them and shows them around. In the circus, a woman rides two horses standing up and drives them, so there's no problem if the two horses are close together. But if the two horses get separated and she doesn't want to ride one of them, that woman will show her legs." Thakin Tin liked U Ba Nyan's words and laughed. The writer said, "It's not easy for a woman to ride two horses, "It will be a disaster," he said. This is what I still remember today, the way the minister and the secretary talked about the neutrality policy. Now, Minister Thakin Tin is the secretary.

The leader of the Workers' and Farmers' Party, U Ba Nyein, has passed away. The Burmese government, which has adopted a policy of neutrality based on the ECA and TCA experiences, has been careful about geopolitics.

After many decades, the situation changed dramatically as the People's Republic of China attempted to become a great power, while India became an economic power with nuclear weapons. In this situation, geopolitical practices could not be carried out lightly, and both countries had to be cautious and work for their own development while maintaining the friendship between the two countries. In Myanmar, the military regimes took over.

In China, the situation also changed during the reign of President Liu Shaoqi and Premier Zhou Enlai.

However, after the rise of the radical Maoists, China formed a volunteer army and invaded and occupied parts of Myanmar. Since then, the traditional geopolitical

The practice has failed.

India also joined forces with Burma when it fought against the British and won independence.

After that, Prime Minister Thakin Nu and Prime Minister Nehru worked closely together. However, after three or four decades, the situation in India did not change, but the situation changed with the rise of military governments in Burma. India received arms from China.

It was being sent through Karakoram State to rebels based in Myanmar territory.

After learning about the traditional Indian-Burmese cooperation, the East

The Myanmar government declared the Myanmar-Myanmar War and entered into a peaceful alliance with Burma. In this situation, geopolitics took on a new form and were practiced differently from the original geopolitics. Geopolitics during this period was as follows.

Then, in 2011, a civilian government led by President U Thein Sein came to power and announced that it would implement a democratic system. The military regime was completely abandoned and the risk of attack was taken.

The National League for Democracy (NLD) has also begun to implement a new model of democratic transformation, which is to work together with the NLD. After that, the situation has improved. The NLD

The National League for Democracy also won the by-election and entered parliament. U Thein Sein

The democratic transition process, in which the civilian government and democratic forces work together, has also reached a certain stage. Finally, after the visit of President U Thein Sein and National League for Democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to India, bilateral relations have expanded. Cooperation between the U Thein Sein government and the Indian government has grown and become more vibrant. In addition, Myanmar is set to serve as the chairman of ASEAN in 2014.

Due to these circumstances, Myanmar's geopolitics has become more important and more delicate.

It is also necessary to practice it. In doing so, it is necessary to have a more mature and more skillful foreign policy. The author wants to say that this is an unacceptable situation. There are some countries in ASEAN that are influenced by China, and due to their pressure, ASEAN is not interested in the East China Sea.

ASEAN seeks collective talks on South China Sea archipelago dispute

It was ruined. This problem will continue to cast a shadow even when Myanmar becomes the ASEAN chairman.

In addition, the deep-sea port and Kaladan River utilization projects, which are being carried out in collaboration with India,

And we are working with China to build dams to generate electricity.

The impact that the people will face while implementing the dam that will use the Thanlwin River

Situations such as poverty, environmental degradation, etc. also lead to the emergence of side problems.

There is a reason. While these complex problems are swirling around, President U Thein Sein's government

It is necessary to practice geopolitics in the right way and overcome the difficulties that will be faced.

There will be a greater need for a foreign policy that is aligned with geopolitics.

At the last UN General Assembly, Myanmar was among the 11 countries that supported the Syrian government, which most of the world's countries oppose, including Russia, China, and others, not only misled the international community about Myanmar's democratic transition efforts, but also

I am concerned about being put on the same level as the governments of North Korea, Iran, and Syria.

New Fragrance Magazine, June, 2013.