Learning to live with others

It’s exactly a week from the opening of the South East Asian (SEA) Games to be held in Nyanpidaw, Myanmar, which is well on its way to undertaking market and political reforms. Like it or not, the hosting by Myanmar of the biennial games is another statement that it’s taking another step towards normalcy, political openness, and eventually (and hopefully) democracy.

The slow deliberate steps towards political reform were highlighted by the release of democracy icon, Aung San Suu Kyi, after more than 20 years under house arrest. Suu Kyi, whose father is considered the father of the Burmese (Myanmar was known as Burma until the military rulers decreed that the colonial name be discarded) armed forces. Alternately encouraged and pressured by the United States, the United Kingdom, a number of European, Asian and ASEAN countries, the military rulers decided to loosen their grip on the country which ironically, Suu Kyi playing a conciliatory role in getting her and her country’s former tormentors moving towards reform. In an interview, Suu Kyi stated that she “hated the acts of violence done to her, her followers and the country, but not the ones responsible for such acts.”

“The Lady” as Suu Kyi is called by Myanmar’s population, remains immensely popular for her ways of peace, courage and simplicity. Living behind a high-walled compound which serves as her prison, Suu Kyi is certainly one of Myanmar’s living treasures.

With a population of over 70 million, and with one of the lowest gross domestic product (GDP) rates in the region, the isolationist regime must have realized that with limited capital and foreign direct investment (nervously cautious about the future of the country), and an agricultural sector unable to spur development, it had few options.

At the same time, the regime realized the urgency of meeting the dangerously rising expectations of its people. What adds to the various challenges facing the country, are the various explosions of ethnic and religious violence which will surely be an area of concern as thousands of local and overseas spectators attend Myanmar’s grand debut as host of the SEA Games.

To be sure, participating (for the athletes) in and covering (for the media) the SEA Games will be a truly unique experience. To begin with, despite the fact that the visa-free rule has long been practiced by ASEAN-member states, Myanmar still requires visas from citizens of fellow ASEAN countries. We understand however, visas were waived for all participants and media with a SEA Games accreditation which is enough to guarantee entry into the state. There are however other day-to-day concerns related to communications.

Naypyidaw itself is a curious choice for the Games, even if it’s the capital of Myanmar. For many years, Yangon (Rangoon, the colonial name) was the political capital in all respects: the parliament; the office of the head of state; the armed forces; the major colleges and universities; financial institutions; and well-known international hotel chains are all in the city. The talk however is that during the military regime, the ruling junta thought it best to disperse the critical institutions to the other parts of the country.

It is ready for by allowing a free and almost unrestricted movement of visitors and citizens. And because there is a sincere effort on the part of Myanmar to shed its old image of being a rough regime, the country deserves all the support it can get from its neighbors, especially the Philippines which went through the same period of authoritarian rule and also found a female democracy icon in Corazon C. Aquino.

We are glad that our sports officials have recovered their senses (perhaps after being chastised by national authorities) and have ceased criticizing Myanmar sports officials for loading the dice in their favor by introducing “unknown” events in the hope of capturing more gold medals. The moment calls for sports diplomacy and looking at the wider context of ASEAN relations and how such relations figure in problems we have dealing with giant neighbors to the north who have unilaterally appropriated Philippine territory for themselves based on “history and tradition”. In assessing the integrity of our territory and upholding our national sovereignty, we need the help of all ASEAN. It must be noted that at least one country has chosen to be more sympathetic with the giant power.

What matters most now is our sending a delegation to the SEA Games and not so much engaging in a gold medal race with the host country. We would not have to worry about being stuck in this hole had we done more strategic thinking and project implementation.

Singapore, a tiny city-state of three million, is not worried about finishing behind Myanmar – and losing face. We go to Myanmar to compete in dignity especially after the pummelling administered by super typhoon Yolanda and to express solidarity with ASEAN especially Myanmar. This is simply part of learning to live with others.