My Articles

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SPDC Corruption

“Corruption is systemic in Burma and is considered by economists and businesspeople to be one of the most serious barriers to investment and doing business in Burma. Because of the Byzantine and capricious regulatory environment, rent-seeking activities are rampant and very little can be accomplished, from the micro to the macro, without paying "tea money." We think this problem will only get worse at all levels as inflation further impoverishes government bureaucrats and as senior leaders seek additional income from a shrinking number of investment projects.” …(2005 Investment Climate Statement – Burma, US Department of State.)

The whole of Myanmar government, every single official in Burma, especially the top military officers are guilty of corruption. Without corruption they will not be able to hold on to their jobs. The system is such that junior officers are supposed to take bribes/squeeze out cash from businesses and from ordinary people to feed their seniors. Their families do the same, abusing their positions and contacts. This is nothing unusual in Burma, especially since 1962, and has been getting steadily worse. There is even a saying which goes; "Eat as much as possible while one is in position, because one never knows how long this will last”.

In reality, almost the whole of Burma is involved in corruption of some sort, to be able to survive, as we can see from the following recent news items, from DVB:-

“Recently, two farmers from Bogale Township in Burma’s Irrawaddy Division were sentenced to two years each for reporting corrupt practices of their authority chairman, a charge which was rejected by the divisional court.”

“In Feb, this year, local women at Meikhtila Township, Mandalay Division were forced to join the government controlled Myanmar Women Affairs Federation and they have to pay 300 Kyat each membership fee.”

“In January this year, the local authorities of Saleh Village, Natmauk Township, Magwe Division are suing villagers with charges relating to misinformation and libel, for reporting practices of the village school headmaster.”

There are several reasons that the people of Burma have had to resort to corrupt practices.

One major reason, in particular, is poverty caused by the Junta’s war against Ethnic groups which have been going on for decades. The late Shan Leader Chao Tzang Yawnghwe said, in 1984, “Economically, the war has not only bled the country dry and wasted its abundant natural resources, but caused Burma to be kept afloat by blackmarket activities controlled by alien (mainly Chinese) merchants and financiers.”

Corruption in Burma had got worse over the years, and the main reason being the greed, extreme self-interest and incompetence of the present Senior General, Chairman of the SPDC.

The solution to the problems of corruption cannot be solved unless it comes from the top and senior government has to demonstrate honest ways of dealing with the problem.

“Rain leaks from rooftop and everywhere from the roof, unless the whole roof has been replaced, there is no other way to stop rain leaking in.”

“If, for example, a house caught fire
And there was a danger of the fire spreading to an adjacent house,
It would be advisable to remove anything such as dry grass,
That might enable the fire to spread.”……..Shantideva (AD 687 – 763)

 

Feraya

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