Myanmar Targeted by Globalists

The CFR Task Force Report in many ways seems to have established the basis for the recent Asia Society Report, including recommendations to work with ASEAN and China to put pressure on Myanmar.[33] Again, economic pressure is recommended to persuade Myanmar to implement the advice of the IMF, World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank; which became a primary requisite for the 2010 Asia Society Report. China is urged to use its influence to push for reform of Myanmar’s economy and government, presumably with the view that China is a paragon of good governance. [34]

The cultural penetration of Myanmar recommended in the 2010 Asia Society Report was laid out in the 2003 CFR Report, suggesting that the American Center in Rangoon could serve as the focus for cultural exchanges and influence.[35] Myanmar comprises fourteen ethnic-based states. Hence, the references by both the CFR and Asia Society regarding the use of “non-Burman” ethnic groups. One can expect to see American agitation among ethnic minorities in order to divide the nation.

Why Myanmar?

Myanmar’s economy is an anomaly in the “new world order.” Myanmar has a command economy. Hence the demands from both the CFR and Asia Society are the same: “economic reform” in accordance with the “advice” of the World Bank and the IMF. The issue is that of economic and financial exploitation by foreign capital, and one therefore needs to look beyond the condemnation of the regime as “repressive,” “anti-democratic,” “corrupt,” etc. Like Kosovo, the country is rich in mineral resources, including: petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, and hydropower.[36] There are investment opportunities open to outside corporations, but in partnership with the State.[37]

Unlike free market states such as New Zealand, which have dismantled the great public works projects, Myanmar still has a large-scale public works program that employs 23,000, including 16,000 engineers and technicians. [38] The Public Works division has established a Central Training Centre in Thuwunna, Thingunyun Township. “The training courses for the craftsmen and construction workers in the various trades, as well as refresher training courses for engineers and supporting staffs are being conducted at the Centre.”[39] The Department of Housing constructs low cost housing and new satellite towns, industrial zones and commercial complexes. Unlike the haphazard manner of free market economies, housing development is planned. Slum squatters have been housed in accommodation with a minimum of 600 sq. ft.[40]

Much of the economy is co-operative based, under the supervision of the Ministry of Cooperatives. According to the 1992 Cooperative Societies Law, “Under this Law, a Primary cooperative society can be formed with a minimum of 5 persons. Any person who has completed the age of 18 years and is a citizen, associate citizen or a naturalized citizen can become a member of the society.” Cooperative societies can then form into larger syndicates.[41] 551 industrial cooperatives (2009 figures) have been formed. One cooperative, “the Myanmar Inventor Co-operative Society is producing electric power by using rice husk consuming generators,”[42] an indication of the alternative energy methods that the state has long aimed to pursue, as part of a program that aims at autarchy or self-sufficiency. “A total of 1259 livestock and fishery cooperative societies have been formed and the total production value for fiscal year 2007-2008 is 19078 million kyats.”[43] There are cooperative healthcare facilities, including over 202 general clinics, two hospitals, 16 indigenous health care clinics, and 35 polyclinics.[44]

The cooperative system is part of Myanmar’s finance policy:

A total of 1719 saving and credit cooperative societies have been formed with the aim to extend loan at low interest rate to the needy members. Cooperative Bank has been formed for cooperative banking activities.[45]

The Ministry of Industry has five departments and directorates under its auspices. Industrial development is coordinated via the Directorate of Myanmar Industrial Planning. [46] Under its supervision are institutions responsible for automobile and diesel engine industries, agricultural machinery industries, machine tools and electrical industries, tire and rubber industries, and industrial construction services.[47]

State Banking: The Basis of Real Sovereignty

The banking sector is under state supervision, a heresy among the free market ideologues, without which there can be no real sovereignty. To quote:

The Central Bank of Myanmar Law (1990) empowers the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) to act as the sole issuer of domestic currency, to act as a banker to the Government, to act as an adviser to the Government in respect of economic matters, to inspect and supervise the financial institutions, to manage the international reserves of the State, to perform the transactions resulting from the participation of the State in intergovernmental organizations and to undertake all the responsibilities in the name of the Government in dealing with the aforesaid organizations on behalf of the Government

In particular, the Central Bank of Myanmar is also empowered to set reserve requirements, maximum discount rate, maximum and minimum interest rates on loans and deposits, asset and liability ratios and minimum cash margins. Thus, the Law enables the Central Bank of Myanmar to less rely on quantitative credit control and more on indirect instruments of monetary control including the use of reserve requirement ratio and interest rate policy.

Accordingly, the Central Bank of Myanmar has currently used such monetary policy instruments as reserve requirements, interest rate policy and limited open market operations in order to maintain adequate level of money supply for ensuring balance between economic expansion and general price level.[48]

A Banking Supervisory Committee closely oversees the private banking sector. Foreign currency operations are the prerogative of three state banks. “Imports are permitted commensurate to the level of export earnings or service earnings,” under the direction of Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development and the Ministry of Finance and Revenue.[49]

The operation of this type of economic and banking system is more likely to explain the vitriol against the Myanmar regime than allegations of “human rights” abuses. It seems coincidental that those states that are targeted for “exposure” in the global news media by Human Rights Watch, etc., also happen to be the states that do not fit into the Brave New World of Soros, Rockefeller, et al.  While the description of Myanmar’s economic system might be dismissed as regime propaganda, the Ministries seem quite frank in stating the shortcomings that are yet to be dealt with. However, what does seem salient is that Myanmar is a planned economy, striving for an autarchic state, and with a strictly supervised banking system. It is little wonder that the globalists are so keen to have Myanmar’s rulers embrace the advice of the IMF and the World Bank, and to become an “open society” like so many others that have succumbed to “velvet revolutions.” Much to the consternation of the global banksters, although Myanmar has long been a member of the IMF, the regime has showed no willingness to co-operate with the institution, has refused to furnish data, and has not repaid previous debt or interest accruing from 1987. Myanmar’s rulers have refused to enter into the IMP/World Bank “Heavily Indebted Poor Countries” initiative,[50] and have therefore remained out of the clutches of the international money-lenders.

Against this autarchic planned economy is posited the ideology of the much touted National League for Democracy (NLD), which is the preferred option of the globalists; the focus of their hopes. The NLD advocates the type of economic reforms demanded by predatory capital. The NLD manifesto calls for the revision and amending of “foreign investment laws for setting multiple increases in foreign investment.”[51] Further: “To revise the laws, circulate orders, rules and regulations and the management system, that restricted economic enterprises, and some will be amended, and some are to be abolished, as seemed fit.”[52] “The present various types of revenue system shall be revised and amended to benefit the private enterprises.”[53] “Various enterprises of economic sector must completely base itself on the market economy.  Special encouragement shall be made for a quick development of private enterprises.”[54]

Economic development is focused on establishing a market economy and taking the state out of is supervisory role, and negating the planned economy. The NLD manifesto states of this: “The nationalized economic enterprises that are included in all the above sectors of economy, shall be given back to their original owners respectively and for those enterprises whose original owners can no longer take responsibility for them, the state shall try and get the economic expertise and financial investment to continue to run the business.”[55] “The business enterprises will not be nationalized.”[56] “With the exception of some enterprises, if immediately abandoned, could cause devastation to domestic economy and increase unemployment shall be retained, the remaining nationalized enterprises shall be abolished and privatized…”[57] “Shall allow foreign investment that will benefit the development of the country’s economy, according to the principles of a market economy.”[58]

The National League for Democracy is committed to opening up Myanmar to international exploitation and domination by High Finance. Hence the visit by John McCain to the much-touted to NLD leader Suu Kyi.