MM lee always make baffling speech, so must also
analyze.
I'll be surprised if this article is published in ST
Reuters - Wednesday, October 10
SINGAPORE, Oct 10 - Singapore, one of Myanmar's biggest investors,
is under pressure from rights groups to use its economic clout to
push the generals down along a more democratic path.
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According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, Singapore was
Myanmar's largest source of foreign funding last year with US$47.5
million in investments, followed by Russia and Britain.
Singapore is a key investor in Myanmar's tourism sector, provides
medical care for the regime's generals and is seen as a financial
centre for the Myanmar elite.
"There are not many countries that the military regime can rely on
today, and Singapore is one of them," Sann Aung, a Bangkok-based
leader of the government-in-exile set up after the junta ignored
the 1990 election results, told Reuters.
The city-state's links with the junta have come under fire from
rights groups and led to calls to take a tougher stance.
European Union parliamentarians visiting the island last week
called on Singapore to ease bank secrecy laws and seize assets of
Myanmar's generals, or risk a proposed pact with the EU.
Burma activist groups last week urged the U.S. Senate foreign
relations committee to compel Singapore banks to freeze the
accounts of junta leaders, and prohibit U.S. institutions from
dealing with those that refuse.
Freezing the overseas assets of Myanmar's generals "would at least
deprive the regime of the means to buy more weapons, and put
pressure on it to carry out reforms," said Debbie Stothard of the
Bangkok-based Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma.
But Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong denies the generals
are using Singapore as a money-laundering centre.
"We don't play dirty money, we don't condone money laundering. Our
rules against that are as strict as any other financial centre -
London, Hong Kong, New York," Lee told CNN.
Singapore's three banks -- all of which operate offices in Myanmar
-- have declined comment, citing banking secrecy laws.
"DIRTY LIST"
Analysts say that without Singapore's expertise in areas such as
airline, airport, and hotel management, Myanmar would be a much
less comfortable place for its ruling elite.
Myanmar's top international airline, Myanmar Airways International,
is a joint venture between the Myanmar government and Region Air, a
company owned by hotel and property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, one of
Singapore's best-connected businessmen.
Activist group Burma Campaign UK lists 10 Singapore firms on its
"Dirty List" of companies for their involvement in Myanmar,
including banks DBS, UOB and OCBC, and conglomerate Keppel
Corp.
Yangon's The Strand Hotel, Myanmar's top hotel and sister to
Singapore's Raffles Hotel, is jointly owned by Myanmar's tourism
authorities and Singapore-based General Hotel Management.
The Singapore bourse is also host to the only Myanmar listed firm
-- Yoma, a real estate firm with close junta links.
Myanmar, too, has come to the aid of a friend in need. When
Indonesia banned sand exports that feed the construction sector,
general Than Shwe was quick to offer his sand and granite.
GENERAL HOSPITAL
Singapore also gives the ageing generals access to top hospitals,
where security guards shield them from the press.
Senior General Than Shwe, 73, visits Singapore for regular medical
checks. Myanmar prime minister General Soe Win, 59, was treated for
cancer at Singapore's General Hospital for months before he
reportedly died on Oct. 2. Lee says denying them medical treatment
would be inhumane.
"I mean, somebody is sick, he wants to come to Singapore, he needs
treatment and you're telling me that I shouldn't treat him because
he's not a good man?" he told CNN.
Myanmar expert David Steinberg of Georgetown University told
Reuters that Singapore could play a big role to end the
crisis.
" consults with Singapore leaders," said Steinberg, adding he
favoured a "quiet" approach. "I think a strong stand by Singapore
will be helpful. But a strong stand has to be a quiet stand. The
private advice is absolutely critical."
Lee's father, Singapore's first prime minister and now "Minister
Mentor", said in unusually blunt remarks that Myanmar's leaders had
pushed a "hungry and impoverished people to revolt".
"These are rather dumb generals when it comes to the economy," Lee,
84, said in an interview, adding a political solution has to
include the military who alone have the ability to hold the country
together.