Activism Change

Eternally: Burma and the Lonely Planet Boycott

Question:

Hi, everyone!  Back from a long trip overseas, and still an advocate for visiting Burma. Can we just abandon the argument right now that we backpack

for the altruistic benefit that our presence confers on the citizens of developing countries in the way of "$ and conversation". Many indigenous peoples pray for a bit more "isolation" than they are currently receiving. Tracy, I haven’t found this to be the case in Burma.  One of the problems is the majority of visitors there are on tours and benefit the little guy very little . . . as they hire buses, not horsecarts, eat at big official places, not little local ones.  I have found the local, small business are thrilled with foreign contact and an opportunity to explore the world outside their environs and ask the questions they’ve been anxious to ask. Unless one speaks Burmese, the thrill of conversing with Westerners

is restricted to the elite of the country. Nope, sorry, but this sounds like someone who hasn’t been there.  Besides, when we buy street meals for the street kids (at 30 kyat pp, about 2 cents each), it doesn’t take a lot of conversing . . . and we’re still able to joke around and relate.  One time we bought a popped seed bunch at the market assuming it was for eating and several people mimed to us that it was for hair decoration! Amazing, among the people who don’t speak English, how much you can still communicate. And the $ don’t "trickle down" particularly far when buses, trains,

roads, guesthouses, currency-change, tourist sites and guides are licensed and controlled by the regime in their entirety. Also, not true.  They may wish they could control all, but . . . And, currency exchange!  That’s funny.  Guys come up to you in the street and you meet in tea shops and exchange under the table!  The roads don’t charge. If you hire independent guide, they’re total renegades.  And I find most drivers I independently hire are taking the trip because they can visit their family on the way. Oh well ….Maybe a few folks will reconsider their actions, anyway.

To the rest of you, enjoy the show put on by SLORC for your entertainment  ….. This ignores the inter-relatedness of the world.  The main investors in Burma are Japan, China and Singapore who create their own entities in the country. And as long as the US grants MFN status to China, they’re giving a green light to Burma.   Besides, it’s silly to think that the government can put on a show entirely. The people are going about their daily lives.  Visitors, for instance, in Yangon are free to walk anywhere, talk to anyone and observe anything (outside of military installations . . . such as they do in the  US).

Response:

I don’t really want this to go on and on and on, but the last few comments should be addressed:

Translation — you want to have the last word. Can we just abandon the argument right now that we backpack for the altruistic benefit that our presence confers on the citizens of developing countries in the way of "$ and conversation".

I don’t recall anyone saying that.  As I recall, it’s a benefit that occurs because of our own selfish tourism desires. And the $ don’t "trickle down" particularly far when buses, trains, roads, guesthouses, currency-change, tourist sites and guides are licensed and controlled by the regime in their entirety.

The two days (yes, only two) I spent daytripping along the border in Burma we bought food along the street, bought gems along the street, and rented pedicabs along the street.  The only $$$ that went to the junta was $10 American to be allowed over the bridge. As with Mandela, I expect many who opposed the tactics used by the resistance while the godawful regime was in power, (i.e. disinvestment) will join in the adulation after it falls. Missing the point that their cheap vacation and personal cultural enrichment may have helped delay that moment just a little bit longer.

So, in other words, if we don’t agree with you we are selfish and cannot be glad that the regieme is out of power when that day comes? Oh well ….Maybe a few folks will reconsider their actions, anyway. To the rest of you, enjoy the show put on by SLORC for your entertainment  …..

May we assume this is your last word on the topic.  Probably not.

Response:

I don’t really want this to go on and on and on, but the last few comments should be addressed: Can we just abandon the argument right now that we backpack for the altruistic benefit that our presence confers on the citizens of developing countries in the way of "$ and conversation". Many indigenous peoples pray for a bit more "isolation" than they are currently receiving. Unless one speaks Burmese, the thrill of conversing with Westerners is restricted to the elite of the country. And the $ don’t "trickle down" particularly far when buses, trains, roads, guesthouses, currency-change, tourist sites and guides are licensed and controlled by the regime in their entirety. As with Mandela, I expect many who opposed the tactics used by the resistance while the godawful regime was in power, (i.e. disinvestment) will join in the adulation after it falls. Missing the point that their cheap vacation and personal cultural enrichment may have helped delay that moment just a little bit longer. Oh well ….Maybe a few folks will reconsider their actions, anyway. To the rest of you, enjoy the show put on by SLORC for your entertainment  ….. Tracy

Response:

I don’t really want this to go on and on and on, but the last few comments should be addressed: Can we just abandon the argument right now that we backpack for the altruistic benefit that our presence confers on the citizens of developing countries in the way of "$ and conversation". Many indigenous peoples pray for a bit more "isolation" than they are currently receiving.

Nobody backpacks because of altruistic reasons.How can we ever know how many of the locals want our presence,our "$ and conversation" and how many pray for isolation?. Unless one speaks Burmese, the thrill of conversing with Westerners is restricted to the elite of the country.

Conversing is NOT limited to the elite.It is limited to those who speak English.Many of those who speak English oppose the junta.Their opinion is highly relevant in our case.As i said before most of the people i talked to oppose the junta’s regime,but they also oppose the boycott. And the $ don’t "trickle down" particularly far when buses, trains, roads, guesthouses, currency-change, tourist sites and guides are licensed and controlled by the regime in their entirety.

This might be true.Though on my treks out of Kalaw the $ certainly trickled down the the right people.The same it true in most of the basic restaurants and  hotels,street food stalls,souvenire stalls etc.etc. As with Mandela, I expect many who opposed the tactics used by the resistance while the godawful regime was in power, (i.e. disinvestment) will join in the adulation after it falls. Missing the point that their cheap vacation and personal cultural enrichment may have helped delay that moment just a little bit longer.

There is the important question what is the dominant parameter.The junta’s survival certainly does not depend on the tourist’s $.They survived and flourished for many years without these $ and will survive in the future if this will be the ONLY way to bring them down. But it is highly probable that the tourist’s influence is shortening the junta’s days .The more tourist the shorter the fewer the days of the junta’s rule.We,the tourists have a cardinal role in shaping the public opinion. Oh well ….Maybe a few folks will reconsider their actions, anyway. To the rest of you, enjoy the show put on by SLORC for your entertainment  …..

Our goal is identical.We "just" diverge on the means to reach it.But i think,yes, am almost sure,that if you go and visit Burma for a month.Experience the country and talk to the peole,you will change your mind. As to the Lonely Planet guide books and other means of publication.They get too much involved in politics to lose their objectivity in many cases.And this is true for many other regions of the world,not just for Burma.How this affects the quality of their guides is an open question. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Tracy

Response:

Filed under: Disinvestment

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