SOME STRATEGIC CONCEPTS FOR THE REBUILDING OF BURMA/MYANMAR

by
Thang Za Dal

Preface

Burma/Myanmar is going to witness a major change in this year(2010), if the present government‘s
current plans for a general election could be implemented in time without any unforeseeable major
disturbances prematurely.(Since the overall situation in the country is very explosive and a great
portion of the population is starving, something could happen at any moment unpredictably.)
I‘m writing therefore this brief paper only with the intention of giving the would-be elected
politicians and the ordinary man in the street some strategic concepts that could be helpful in
(re)building the country from scratches.
Although I am not a specialist in any of the subjects I‘m going to deal with below, I have been
extensively studying them in general during the last 30 years of my sojourn in Germany. Instead of
going into detail, I shall deal only with the most strategic fundamental factors. And I shall therefore
refrain myself from making any comments on controversial issues.
Whatever political and economic systems - be they military rule, or parliamentary democracy, or
federalism or unitary form of state, or socialism or capitalism - are pratised, I personally believe that
the country cannot be stabilized for long and economically uplifted effectively until or unless these
strategic fundamental factors in question are taken into consideration.
Since, as already mentioned above, I‘m not a specialist in any of the fields I‘m dealing with here and
this paper itself is written only for those who would soon enter politics and also for the ordinary man
in the street, my way of presenting these concepts may be very rudimentary. Besides, as I am using
only a couple of sentences to explain many of my concepts, the reader may probably have difficulty
figuring out what I really have in mind.

01. Armed Forces

- There are no external enemies that could threaten us. Theoretically, the only countries that
would be capable of physically threatening us are China and India because of their economic
and military power. But in reality there is no reason at all why they should invade us
physically, since they can easily and more effectively exploit us economically. Or in other
words, economically we are already at their mercy since a long time ago. So they have
nothing to gain by physically invading us. And if in case they would invade us physically,
there‘s no chance for us to repel them anyway.
The simple question therefore now is: Why should we waste our meager national
treasures for the maintenance of armed forces at very high cost? The alleged main reason
 for maintaining large armed forces is for the suppression of various internal armed organi-
zations, especially that of the national races(national races is one of the official terms used by
successive governments to denote non-Burman native peoples)that have been fighting against
the central government. But if I understand the whole situation correctly, these armed national
races are actually demanding only their birthrights from the government, namely:
1. To let them preserve and promote their own languages and cultures within their own state
boundaries.(In Chin State, for example, the Chins are allowed to learn their own dialects
only up to the second class; and all signs inside the State must be written only in Burmese -
just to name two instances!); 2. To let them promote and uplift their economy freely as
they wish by exploiting the natural resources in their own states; 3. To let them govern
themselves within the framework of a federated union in co-operation with the Central
Government. Nothing more than that!
So if they get these rights I don‘t see why they should go on opposing the central
government with arms. That in turn would mean that the quantity of government armed
personnel could be drastically reduced and the funds that are normally used for the
maintenance of these armed forces could be diverted instead for the reconstruction of the
the whole country.
We should look at India as an example! India is made up of several separate races with
their own languages and cultures - and every race has the right to promote and use its own
language and culture within its own territory! Yet, India is peaceful and getting prosperous
at a steady pace.

(a) Army
For the reasons mentioned above I personally believe that the country needs not more than
50 000 to 60 000 - or 100 000 at the most - of well-paid armed combat soldiers. But they and
their families must be well-fed, well-housed and well-taken care of. With regard to military
hardwares, I think the ones that have already been acquired during the past several years
should be more than enough.
(b) Air Force
Since we don‘t have external enemies, we do not really need a strong air force. The present
strength(hardwares like air craft, and armed personnel) should already be quite enough.
(c) Navy
- As mentioned above, since we don‘t have external threats in our waters, what we could
and should do is enlarging and modernizing our navy to protect our economic zones in
our waters.
(d) Police
The country‘ Police is more than enough. They only need to be well-trained, well-fed,
well-paid and well-equipped. And their families also need to be well-housed and well-taken
 care of. The reason of maintaining a large police throughout the country is said to be the
high criminal rate. But I believe that the high crime rates could drastically be reduced to a
certain extent if the economic hardship would at least be partly solved throughout the
country. So far as I know a great deal of crimes in Burma have their root in extreme poverty.

02. Political Systems(parliamentary democracy, military dictatorship, federalism, etc)

- On these issues I shall make no comments.

03. Foreign Policy

- Since we ourselves are very weak in every field, it‘s simply too childish to believe that we
could play our neighbours against one another. Our safest guarantee for survival in this
explosive region is to strictly remain neutral. We should not forget the fact that our two
largest neighbours - China and India - are not only regional powers, but global players. So our
long-term well-being would depend on how fairly we maintain our relations with them both.

04. The Rights of National Races

- I have already briefly expressed my opinions on these issues above.

05. The Issue of the two alien ethnic Groups: Chinese and Indians
While the so-called indigenous races are reeling under a decades-long civil war, the elites of
these urban-dwelling alien ethnic groups are enjoying the fruits of the country. Although the
Chins, for example, have had played some of the most crucial roles in Burma‘s darkest hours
for the maintenance of its sovereignty, a great number of them cannot even afford cheap rubber
sandals until today, and now they are fleeing the country in the tens of thousands to second
and third countries.(It is roughly estimated that there could be about 100 000 Chins living
abroad at presnt as refugees.) However, since the great majority of the two alien ethnic
groups have been there for a few to several generations, they can no more be totally excluded
from the native societies. What should therefore be done with them is: There must be peace in
the country and they also must be made full citizens of the land so that they shall also have to
equally bear the burden of the country - not just reaping the sweet fruits of the land without
shedding blood, sweat and tears.
Note: I‘ve been writting a research paper on the Chins, which I keep on updating, as a case study to
show the plight of the so-called indigenous or national races. The present Update contains 425 pages
and is titled: The Zo People of Bangladesh, Burma and India: An Introduction[ VIII ].
Its URL: http://www.scribd.com/doc/16772511

06. Industrialization
Industrialization and its implementation should not be entrusted with just a handful of people
or a ministry. A special commission composed purely of native experts in co-operation with
 a number of selected international experts must be set up for the planning and implementation
of the industrialization processes. First of all the industrialization strategy, for example,
should be the production of domestic basic needs in order to reduce our total dependence on
both legally imported and smuggled goods from outside.

07. Economy
An independent commission comprised of economic experts(both native and foreign) must be
set up to draw up short- medium- and long-term economic strategies, policies and plannings.
And such a commission should be assigned to supervise the implementation of these policies
and their plannings with as minimal political influence as possible.

08. Finance
An independent commission comprised of financial experts(both native and foreign) must be
set up to lay down strategies and also to draw up short-and long-term financial policies. The
whole existing financial systems may need to be completely overhauled and modernized. A
very important thing one must be aware of here with regard to finance is that in several
countries, especially developing ones, political parties tend to make all kinds of financial
promises to the voters although the state treasury is completely empty and the land has
billions of foreign debt just in order to get votes so that they can remain in power.

09. Trade/Commerce
An independent commission comprised of neutral experts(both native and foreign) will also
be needed to draw guidelines for more effective, more efficient policies and plannings and the
restructuralization of the country‘s existing laws that regulate trade and commerce so that
the country can survive in the rapidly expanding globalization.

10. Agriculture
For being an agricultural society, it‘s our bloodline. Therefore, this sector must be listed
among the highest priorities. It is most important that an independent commission be set up
with neutral experts(both native and foreign) for the drawing up of its short-, medium- and
long-term policies and planning of this sector.

11. Energy
No country today can be modernized without sufficien electrification. And Burma/Myanmar
has a very great natural potential of resources for the extraction of electricity from wind, solar,
coal, hydro, and natural gas, etc. An independent commission comprised of neutral experts
(both native and foreign), therefore, must be set up to lay plans for the realization of this
sector to the fullest extent in the shortest possible future. In short: It must be so planned that
 even the remotest village or community get electricity in one way or another.
Nowadays, the technology for extracting electricity from the sun is already very advanced
and the cost for manufacturing solar panels have drastically been going down that even every
household in the country could be - theoretically - easily electrified within ten years at a
total cost of about $ 150 - 200 million. My calculations are made on the following bases:
There are about 65 000 villages in the country, or a total of 3 200 000 households(an estimated
average 50 households per village); and solar panels, which have an average lifespan of 25
years, that can supply electricity(just for simple lighting) for a small family cost at present
time an average of $ 50- 75. The cost of manufacturing solar panels could be further reduced
if these were manufactured locally as joint-ventures with some foreign solar companies.

12. Infrastructures
It‘s a known fact that for the uplifting of the living standard of a village, a community, a town,
a city or a country as as whole cannot be materialized without good infrastructures. This
sector, therefore, also have to be listed among the highest priorities. If it would be too costly
to build super-highways, for instance, at least the existing railways, shipping lines and airways
can be improved, modernized and expanded as fast as possible. It must be attempted that even
remote villages and communities are connected with at least paved jeepable or bullock-cart
roads.
With a very rough estimate of about $ 250-500 million the whole country could have some
basically functional infrastructures - provided that all the funds could be utilized without
corruption.

13. Education
An educational policy that could be most suitable for the country as a whole must be
drawned up by an independent commission comprised purely of neutral experts(both native
and foreign). It must be so planned, for instance, that everybody can afford at least the basic
education, and higher learnings also must be accessible to talented children of even the poorest
families. Just one example here to show how important this sector is: There mustat least be
one or two universities specializing in producing well-qualifed business managers for the
country, for without such qualified people in sufficient numbers, the country cannot be
efficiently developed.

14. Health
As the health of a nation is so crucially important an independent commission comprised of
neutral experts(both native and foreign) must be set up to draw practical and efficient health
policies and programme that even a poor citizen can afford.
15. Telecommunications
The telecommunications are the bloodlines of a modern nation. So, it must be given as one
of the highest priorities. Efforts must be made that even the remotest village has some
telephones and television sets and radios.
The technology in this sector is already very advanced these days that, as every can see
for himself now everywhere, telephones do not need cables anymore. People can now com-
municate each other with mobile phones, provided the necessary facilities, are there. That
means even those in the remotest corners of the country would be able to communicate each
other now thanks to this technology. With a rough estimate of about $ 50 - 100 million this
sector could be realized.

16. Television and Radio Programme

An independent commission comprised of neutral experts(both native and foreign) must be
set to lay down basic guidelines for these programme. The main roles of television and radio
programme must be the educating of the general masses in various fields that are indispen-
sible for their survival and advancement. In many developing countries, there are no such
programme at all. What they are getting daily are only some censored news, cheap enter-
tainment programme and advertisements of commerical products. As a result the levels of
knowledge and education of the general masses remain very low and the majority of them
simply become mere consumers of products either legally imported or smuggled into the
country.

17. Information Centres

Throughout the country Information Centres should be built and set up for the dissemination
of information and general knowledge on various topics among the general masses - in addition
to the television and radio programme. When and if financial resources allow at least every
circle, or town, if not every single village, should have such a centre. It would be a centre for
meeting, exchanging ideas, knowledge, education, culture, etc., among the local residents. Each
centre should be run and managed by specially trained personnel with modern facilities such
as video players, video cameras, television sets, books, news papers, journals and so on.

18. Social Welfare

Every citizen must enjoy a guaranteed minimum existence so that he can lead a “respectable“
life, that is, at least he must not be homeless; he must have enough clothes to cover his body;
he must not be starving, etc.

19. Vocational Trainings

An independent commission must be set up with experts(both native and foreign) for the
 setting up of vocational training centres that will train enough people with skills needed for
the reconstruction of the country. This commission must be entrusted with the overall plans
for the realization of this sector. A number of developing countries have such programme,
but they are so poorly planned, run and managed that they exist only in name. And in some
countries, although some skilled people are produced no financial arrangements are made for
them that their skills remained either unused or they have to work for their employers under
extremely unfair conditions. Sufficient starting capitala therefore must be provided for them;
it is just to name one example how this sector should better be planned, implemented,
managed, and used.

20. Human Resources

There are uncountable untapped human resources abroad among Burmese communities, so
plans must be made that these resources can be used for the rebuilding of the country. With
untapped resources I mean people with talents, skills, knowledge, experience, financial
resources, and know-hows that our country needs. The best examples are China and India:
Both of them are tremendously profitting from Overseas Chinese and Overseas Indians
respectively!

THE FOLLOWING CRUCIAL POINTS SHOULD BE ADDITIONALLY TAKEN INTO

SERIOUS CONSIDERATION IN IMPLEMENTING THE ABOVE CONCEPTS

° Due in great part to the recent economic and financial crises - and political instability in many
strategic corners of the world as well - worldwide international aid and soft-loans are getting
very scarce now and the prices of raw materials are extremely unstable. Therefore, the only
few resources that we could rely upon for the reconstruction of our country would be
investments from outside and the sales of our natural resources. So, it would be so crucially
important that the meager revenues that we will gain from such sources are well-managed
and wisely spent. These funds must not therefore be put in the hands of just one or two
ministries and a handful of bureaucrats.
° Every village, circle, town, district, division and state must enjoy a certain amount of auto-
nomy in running its economical, commercial, and financial activities without the direct
intervention from above on daily basis. Such arrangements would remarkably reduce
bureaucracy/red-tape and corruption to a certain extent.
° Before strategies, policies, programme and plannings in every major sector mentioned above
are made, researches and studies must be made as thoroughy and widely as possible first,
otherwise it would be too costly for the country in the long-run. And such scientific,
systematic, and thorough researches and studies can best be made only by truly qualified
people without the influence of or pressure of politicians.
 The reason why I think it‘s necessary to assign a mixture of native and foreign experts for
the tasks mentioned above is: Experiences elsewhere have shown that native experts tend to
be too emotional to see reality and alien experts tend to be too detached to the local situation.
So only the combination of them - or the compromise between them - could in most cases
produce positive results.
° Now, one may certainly wonder what roles the political parties should play, since I seem to
plead only for the use of experts or technocrats: A country cannot of course be ruled without
politics or political parties, but nearly in all developing countires politicians tend to believe
that they alone can and should decide what must be done - and how - for the country without
taking heed of the opinions of experts. What I‘m therefore only strongly pleading here is the
reduction of or minimization of the intervention and influence of politicians in every sector of
our country for which they are not sufficiently qualified.
° Regardless of the personalities or political parties that come into power in the coming
elections they should urgently undertake the following three major tasks:
* Since a large portion of the country‘s population is starving, emergency measures must be
taken as soon as possible country-wide to solve this heart-breaking problem.
* Special programme for national reconciliatory process must be made as soon as possible not
only in words but also by deeds so that those who have had sufferred - and still are suffering
at present - loss in human lives and materials on all sides of the society during the 60-year civil
war be adequately compensated - or as much as the country‘s financial resources allow.
* According to several reliable sources there are at least 2 million of people from Burma/
Myanmar who are living illegally and working in our neighbouring countries under extreme
hardship. A great majority of them are believed to be barely surviving. So special urgent
measures must be taken to bring them back and resettle them at their former native places
or at new sites with sufficient facilities and arrangements for their long-term survival.
° Last but not least: Since the obstables that the would-be elected politicians will have to
overcome in rebuilding the country are formidable, what the country badly needs now is a
number of courageous, far-sighted, honest, well-qualified and visionary politicians. However,
judging by the present situation in the country, this may most likely prove to be just a
wishful thinking. The world is changing so fast these days in many ways that even several
industrialized nations themselves are rapidly losing their orientation.

Thang Za Dal(Mr)
Grindelallee 141
20146 Hamburg, Germany
Date: 01.05.2010
Email: ssuantak07@googlemail.com