MM Lee says Myanmar junta 'dense':
WikiLeaks
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew
described Myanmar's ruling generals as "dense" and "stupid" people
who have "mismanaged" the country's vast resources, US cables
released by WikiLeaks said.
In a 2007 meeting with top US officials, Lee also
reportedly said Myanmar's envoy in Singapore had told the
city-state that his country could "survive any sanctions" because
of its abundance of natural resources.
Lee believed the Myanmar problem could be solved if
a younger generation of generals who were less "obtuse" would step
forward and possibly forge a power-sharing agreement with the
country's democracy movement, the cable said.
"They could share power with the democracy
activists, although probably not with Aung San Suu Kyi, who was
anathema to the military," it said.
Asked about the prospects of ASEAN appointing an envoy to Myanmar,
Lee suggested that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's
(SBY) military background would make him an ideal candidate for the
post.
"He suggested that Indonesian President Yudhoyono could potentially
be an interlocutor," the US cable said.
"As a former general, SBY might be able to meet with Senior General
Than Shwe and get him to listen.
In a statement issued earlier, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign
Affairs spokesman said as a principle, the ministry does not
comment on leaks.
He added Singapore has long-standing, robust and positive
relationships with all countries in the region.
The spokesman said these relationships are built on a strong
foundation of shared interests and are not based on hearsay or
gossip.
-AFP/wk
