In accordance with Myanmar custom and tradition, the Myanmar
Engineering Society would like to convey our best wishes to you , for good
health, peace of mind and every success in your endeavors.
Our Society would like to explain to you, about the realities of our
country. Some news mentioned in the western media and exaggerated accusations
made against our nation by some big powers are far from the actual realities. We
felt that they fabricated it solely with an aim to deceive people around the
world so as to create a negative view on our country.
First and foremost, we would like to introduce background of our
Society's aims, objectives and
activities.
The Myanmar Engineering Society was founded in 1916 and was active until
1962. In 1995 it was reorganized again as a non profit and non political
organization with the moral support of the Government. Up to date, it has a
total of 10667 members including 100 ASEAN accredited engineers.
The aims and objectives of the Myanmar Engineering Society are; to
organize all the engineers in our country in order to participate in nation
building tasks; to provide support and assistance such as scholarships to
engineering students, monetary and other support to researchers, arranging Human
Resources Development training such as organizing trainings for engineers so as
to perform their responsibilities well and uphold their professional ethics,
broadening our engineer's scope and knowledge by organizing various seminars and
workshops, making arrangements for experts and professionals from local and
abroad to attend these meetings, and arranging technical tours to major projects
etc. These aims and objectives have been conceived and worked out solely with
the aim of developing our nation as well as to benefit our region and the world.
The present activities also include attending ASEAN Engineers Federation
Meetings, establishing an engineering library, promoting Information and
Communication Technology, inviting local and foreign professionals to
engineering seminars and workshops, publishing Tech Digest Journal, undertaking
Research works which includes topics related to Earthquake and Tsunami,
participating in High Rise Building Quality Control Committee, providing expert
opinion and technical support in matters concerning Industrial Development of
the Nation, attending regional meetings such as Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency and Conservation Sector Meetings and competing for technical
innovation awards.
We have been awarded first prizes for Energy Efficiency in Building in
2004 and Energy Efficiency in
In June 2006, we won the third prize for ASEAN Renewable Energy Project
Competition in Rice-husk Gasifier Systems for Rural Electrification.
Besides, we also attended regional meetings like ASEAN, BIMSTEC, ACMEC,
and other meetings. In these activities, we had been given necessary support by
our Government and it is sheer evidence that our Government is keen on uplifting
our Society and the technology standards of our country as well.
A separate Ministry for the development of the border areas was formed in
order for border areas to get direct support from the government which would
enable them to catch up with the development of the remaining parts of our
country. The 24 development zones were also formed throughout the country,
covering all divisions and states. Each zone was provided with computer
colleges, technical colleges, and arts and science colleges, so that all
nationalities from each and every state and division could enjoy equal academic
opportunities. The subjects included Information and Communication Technology
and other technical and professional subjects so as to enable local people to
create their own living as well as to elevate the living standard of
their own communities.
These efforts clearly proved the government's commitment for uplifting
level of knowledge and thinking of people of the whole nation so as to enable to
think more wisely and systematically in their daily economic and social life,
and on the issues like human rights, human trafficking, drugs abuse, HIV AIDS
etc. As you are fully aware, not only
The above deeds of our government benefit our country as well as others
and hence should be supported instead of blaming. We cannot accept the notion that those
who do not subjugate is the enemy, and should be treated likewise.
The government's present initiatives for building more schools, colleges
and universities is part of the Government's efforts
for the betterment of each and every sector of our country as well as for
the sustenance of future democratic institutions. In 1988 there were a total of
(33747) elementary, middle and high schools and that amount increased to (40531)
schools in May 2006. Simalarly, the number of colleges and universities in 1988
which stands to be (32) changed to (156) in May 2005. Comparison between 1988
and 2006 May indicates that the numbers of Institute of Technology improved from
(1) to (4), the numbers of Institute of Economics from (1) to (4), the numbers
of Computer Universities from (1) to (2), the numbers of colleges for Computer
Studies from nil to (24) and Technology Colleges from nil to (26). Thus it
clearly proved our government's commitments towards making efforts for
development of our country and our people which include development of
knowledge, technology skills and thinking skills.
When evaluating an event, an accurate evaluation and a just judgment
would be made only when the background, the environment, the characteristic
traits of those involved, the level of that country's development and all the
relevant factors pertaining to that issue could be taken into consideration. We
believe that false accusations and fabricated
plots repeatedly emitting through controlled media are serious insults to
our sovereignty, to our people and to our country.
Under the British colonialist, the policy of divide and rule created not
only antagonisms between the Bamars and other nationalities. It also created a
split even among the Bamar nationals. The split of various organizations like
the General Council of Buddhist Association (An organization formed with the aim
of demanding independence from the British), and
the Doh Bamar Asi Ayone (the society with the same aim as above), was an
evidence for this policy. Likewise, antagonism
between Karens and Bamar, the rifts between Bamar and those living on the hilly
regions (like the Shans, the Kachins, the Chins, the Kayahs etc.) during the
struggle for national independence are also recorded in history. The extreme
ideologies and differences which pervaded at that time instigated the Red Flag
communist party to go underground in 1946 prior to our independence in 1948,
bringing havocs to our struggle for national independence.
Soon after the independence the White Flag communist party, the Karen
National Union followed suit. The rising of Kachin insurgents and Shan
insurgents, the differences among the nationalities and the rifts among the
ruling political party resulted
disunity among the people. The British had systematically sown with the divide
and rule policy, and also to some western powers who deceived and bribed our
nationalities to go against the government in retaliation for our refusal to
join their South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). As a result, a civil war
erupted for 40 years in which we had to bear all the hardships, grieves and
sorrows.
Engulfed in the flames of insurgency
our nation suffered heavily in every aspect such as economically,
politically, and socially and brought a negative effect on education, health and
reign of law and order, as well as some incidents which induce more distrust and
antagonism among our national ethnics.
In 1988, soon after the present government took power in an unavoidable
situation, the government was convinced that National Solidarity is the key
factor and strived for an all out effort to gain National Solidarity, which
resulted in nearly all the insurgent groups coming into legal fold and joining
hands with the government. Hence, achievements had been made in every sectors of
our nation.
Ours is a nation with more than 130 nationalities, and which suffered in
a 40 year insurgency. The economy, social and the infrastructures are still
rather weak and national solidarity is still to be strengthened. In this
situation, some great powers who are waiting for this chance to install their
puppet government enlisted the support of the oppositions within and outside the
country, to systematically sow once again the seeds of distrust and disaccord.
This being a continuation of the ill will which they had practiced before, we
feel this as a provocation against our human rights as well against our
endeavors to build our nation.
We also wish to mention about the abuse of drugs. These drugs were banned
during the reign of
Our country had 135 different nationalities and nearly all the minor
nationalities reside in hilly terrains often rugged, which makes road
construction very difficult. The rugged terrains hinder easy access to one
another and because of the low education and poor living conditions which
resulted from the long insurgency;
there were mistrust and misunderstandings between our national brothers. The
factional clashes and the fighting between different insurgents are a testimony
to this fact. There is no permanent peace and only temporary alliance exists,
because of distrust deep in their mind. The primary cause for this is poor
education, poor communication, poor roads and the premeditated self biased
interference of other parties from inside and outside our country, who claimed
to be saviors but actually ill willed wizards.
The government realizing these true facts, on proclaiming our three main
national causes included Non-disintegration of national solidarity as one of
them. In real terms, the government put an all out efforts to improve transports
and communications and expanded these networks through out the whole country
including border areas and hilly populated areas. In addition, schools,
colleges, and universities were opened, and the local inhabitants were
encouraged to pursue these learning, so that they can participate in uplifting
their own economic life. The improved transport and communication networks now
makes travel and communication much easier and had facilitated travels among
each other, paving the way to reduce the mistrust among them. The improved
educational level also helps to reduce it. Now, the only cause remaining is the
false accusations made to divide our nationalities and our people, through
irresponsible use of all kinds of media which they can manipulate. If the wishes
of the western power are really for the good of our people, then it is our
opinion that they should discard the present devious tricks and take part in the
many endeavors to build this country systematically into a democratic state.
During the successive governments, good willed overtures were made to help the
insurgents realized the true situation and chose the right path, and eventually
most of the insurgents had returned into legal fold. You can find that the
remaining ones are those who are prospering in the evil drug business, or those
who have been thriving on the large sum of money given by some powers, for the
sake of their own motives.
In our people's mind, Shans, Kayins, Kachins or other nationals are
regarded as brothers living together and joining hands since yore, and that the
present differences, mistrusts and clashes are the consequences of outside
instigations. Therefore we are convinced that the doors are always open for
national consolidation. In our country, every nationality enjoys equal rights in
all our socio economic life, including workplaces and at places where they
reside. We wish to mention that there can never be such matters as ethnic
cleansing, license to rape, or other ill willed behavior on the government's
part.
Concerning allegations and false exaggerated accusations made against our
nation, we wish to point out the old fable in which the grandson and grandfather
were mocked in every endeavor they had tried with their donkey. Like wise,
whatever good deeds we do, the oppositions inside and outside are always
falsifying our deeds in a negative way, as if we are doing the wrong thing. At
this moment we wish to bring you to notice that they are using the method of
falsifying and repeating the accusations again and again with the hope of making
right things seems wrong.
As for our Myanmar Engineering Society, we are committed to the task of
building our nation and at the same time strive our utmost for the progress of
national solidarity. We will work for overcoming all the ill effects as
happening in the world today and proceeds towards a better life for all.
In concluding our message, we wish you once again, our best wishes for
you and your family, and that your country be prosperous with a good will for
humanity.
The