Sunday, August 16, 2009

The Myanmar Wayang

Who says wayang is a Malay art? Myanmar’s military rulers show that they know the art of wayang as well as anyone when they announced that they will release American John Yettaw.

John Yettaw’s swim to opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s home in May led to Aung San Suu Kyi’s further detention and after a meeting between U.S. Senator Jim Webb and Myanmar's junta leader, Than Shwe; Myanmar’s military announced that they will release him.

Senator Jim Webb favors engaging the junta and ASEAN will no doubt use this as proof its better to talk to Myanmar instead of putting more sanctions on the country. Of course the fact that ASEAN has been talking to the wind for past few decades in Myanmar is something ASEAN will not bring up.

It obvious that Myanmar’s military rulers are using John Yettaw as a pawn in their quest to keep Aung San Suu Kyi out of politics and no one is fooled by this wayang.

But who know; maybe this time the Singapore’s Foreign Ministry will say Singapore is ‘delighted’ and ‘delirious’ with the release of John Yettaw.

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