Htet Aung Kyaw
Part 3
A few days later, I visited to controversial
Dawei deep seaport project area. On the way, I saw Dawei Untiversity Just
beside Ka-myaw-kin
Bridge over Dawei
River which only link between Dawei
city and Maung-ma-kan beach, deep sea port and Long Lon Township. This area was only forest in
1988 but now I saw huge university compound. Other words, the authority moved university
from city to remote area after 88 uprising as they worry student protest in
cities.
After cross an Army based and a big
hill, I saw popular Maung-ma-kan beach which I thought wider than (Thailand)
Phuket's Patong. But strangely, there is no foreign tourist. ''In the past, the
authority not allows foreigners to stay over night in the beach for security
reason'' a local restaurant owner told me. But now the security situation is
better after the Karen National Union (KNU), New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the
ABSDF, the armed groups active this area signed cease-fire agreements this
year, he added.
As no foreigners, there is no
hotel except colony era old huts. ''But now the Dawei
Development Public Co.Ltd (DDPC) build a new hotel zone over there.
Htee-Khe border gate is open for foreign tourists and so we hope Maung-ma-kan
is popular soon'' a stake holder of DDPC told me. Htee-Khe is located Burma-Thai
Border which once our regional head-quarter for the KNU's 4 brigade and the
ABSDF's southern command from 1988 to 1997. However, Htee-Khe is now no more
armed conflict but economic zone for Dawei deep sea port and Dawei-Kanchanaburi
hi-way.
Just a mile away from
Maung-ma-kan, I saw a hot spring on the way to Na-bu-lae village where deep sea
port project started. In 1988, this area is gray zone which mean rebel troops active
and so difficult communication from Dawei. But now situation is totally
changed, the Na-bu-lae is the most develop area in region and just 8 hours
drive from Bangkok
by Na-bu-lae- Kanchaburi hi-way.
Firstly, I saw a raw new big
motor road from the western sea to heading eastern Thai border. Many trucks
with Thai alpha plate and Thai speaking men are very busy on dusty road. Beside
that road, I saw a huge Thai-style control office and project compound. Most
people in the compound are Thai and Thai-speaking Burmese. I feel that I'm in
Thai's territory although Na-bu-lae is far 130 kilometers from border. In the
sea side, the project is just beginning step. White sand and blue water in the
sunshine are very beautiful but uncertain future.
A mile away from sea port and office
compound, I saw a hundred of new houses for resettlement of villagers.
Thousands people from 5 to 10 villages of over 50500 acres land must relocate
from their home to that resettlement site soon. Some right group, including
Dawei Development Association (DDA) criticized the project is not international
standard for transparency and accountability.
A day before left from Dawei, I
met some families member of comrades who killing in battle and death in jungle.
87 of 670 casualty of the ABSDF are from our southern commend of Min-tha-mee camp,
located near Htee-khe. ''Where is my son, why he not back with you?'' a mum of
my close friends asked me. I can not control my tear and I stopped the plan to
give confirmation their death. Their families are still believed that their sons
still alive in jungle or exile. Should I give confirmation death of their sons
while they believed their sons are alive?
After 10 days in Dawei, I back to
Yangon by bus. Although the bus and road are
still very low quality, I noted a good sign that there is no more security
check point by army which extorts money from passengers. I took only 8 hours
from Dawei to Moulmein
which normally took 2 days in 1988 as we stopped every army extort gates in
every hill.
From Moulmein
to Yangon, the road is very good if compared
in Dawei area. But when I saw the huge road to Nay-pyi-taw, I surprised why
totally different Nay-pyi-taw road and the road in the rest of the country. In
fact, not only huge road but also huge parliament buildings, government house,
ministerial zone, hotel zone, military zone, so on. But no one know where the
money coming from, and how much they used to build the latest Asia's
remote capital.
This is one of the main challenges
to show transparency and accountability in Burma's today transition to
democracy. Most people in government and parliament are just only changing from
military uniform to civilian cloth, but their mindset is the same as in
military ruled era. The NLD, oppositions and ethnic delegates are very limited
in the parliament.
Could they get more seats in
coming 2015 election and could they amend the current controversial military
dominated constitution to the democratic one? No one knows.
But strangely, the international
community is very optimizing the current regime's transition plan. I feel that
the western world say only ''No'' when the Generals in uniform but they say
only ''Yes'' when General wear civilian clothes. Are they forget or trying to
forget the men in power are the same men in uniform?
Opposition leader Aung San Suu
Kyi warned western investors in EU-Burma summit in Yangon
recently. “If you want to make responsible investments in Burma, you must be
aware of the political situation in Burma, the peace situation, the social
situation, the human rights situation.” she said.
There are dozens of political
prisoners including farmer activists still in jail. Cease-fire process with armed
ethnic groups is not yet reach to political dialogue. Corruption is still rise in
everywhere, especially in civil service. Land confiscate, extort money,
cronyism, favoritism are still rise in this country.
However, I can claim the current
political situation is better than in the military era in 1990s. Business,
Media, human right and some important sector are also better than last 25
years. But if we look back 50-60 years ago the era of Prime Minister U Nu or
before first time military coup in 1962, Burma is more freedom and more rich
than now.
Therefore, let me conclude the
situation in Burma
now is only back to square one or ''Status Quo''. There is no sign showing
progress but I can claim the country and the government heading the right
direction to reach democracy. But the country still needs cooperate from every
side, all stake holders and every citizen, perhaps including exile community.
Htet Aung Kyaw is a former member
of the ABSDF and former reporter for the DVB. He visited Burma recently as the first trip in
25 years.
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