Dendrobium Thein Sein? Give me a break!
On 18 Mar 2009, it was reported in the Straits Times that Myanmar Prime Minister, General Thein Sein, came to Singapore for a 2-day official visit.
Engaging the military junta of Myanmar has proven to be a tough act for Asean since Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest in 1989. Naming an orchid after a member of this ruthless regime is even a harder act to fathom.
Flowers are powerful symbols of love, peace, remembrance and appreciation; almost everything the junta is not associated with!
The military rulers of Myanmar refused to give up power peacefully in the 1990 General Election, led a bloody crackdown on unarmed monks in 2007, and delayed aids to survivors of last year's deadly Cyclone Nargis.
Engaging a despotic regime in a talk is good enough but to go the length and 'appease' such mean and heartless leaders is just too much for me to swallow. Can anyone imagine a flower named after leaders like Hilter? For that, the Botanic Garden scores a perfect 10 on 'dumb things to name an orchid after'.
And to the civil servant who suggested this act to honour the General, please google the web for news on Aung San Suu kyi, Myanmar monks, and victims of Cyclone Nargis. Then take a look in the mirror and tell yourself you have done the right thing. Can you do that with a straight face?
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=25315.1
Showing posts with label Thein Sein. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thein Sein. Show all posts
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
An Orchid by Any Other Name
An Orchid by Any Other Name
I refer to the article ‘Thein Sein gets an orchid’ (TODAY, 19th March 2009)
When I first read from the TOC (The Online Citizen) that the visiting Myanmar PM will get a new orchid strain named after him, instantaneously I felt rather uncomfortable.
This is because I was trying to reconcile between two viewpoints: Firstly, Singapore should uphold diplomatic necessities in administering formal protocols to a head of state. Secondly, Singapore should not bestow such honour in the first place to a dictator whose military junta committed horrendous acts of oppression against its own people.
Originally, I thought it should be still 'alright', since it is merely to give an unknown orchid a name. BUT when I read from the TODAY’s article that previous foreign dignitaries with orchids named after them include former South African President Nelson Mandela. The implications behind such an honour bestowed upon Thein Sein simply caused my blood to boil.
Especially so when recipients bestowed upon such honours will be equated to a symbolic rung alongside Nelson Mandela. This is simply not right. Dictator Thein Sein characterizes the very oppression which Nelson Mandela spent decades in confinement cell resiliently opposing to.
Disappointedly, our MOFA itinerary team overseeing foreign dignitaries’ visits should have thought of this irony and not had given Thein Sein such honour in the first place.
I am of the view that, the said orchid ought to be given a re-name. This orchid by any other appropriate name should be so much more tasteful than its current one.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=24528.1
I refer to the article ‘Thein Sein gets an orchid’ (TODAY, 19th March 2009)
When I first read from the TOC (The Online Citizen) that the visiting Myanmar PM will get a new orchid strain named after him, instantaneously I felt rather uncomfortable.
This is because I was trying to reconcile between two viewpoints: Firstly, Singapore should uphold diplomatic necessities in administering formal protocols to a head of state. Secondly, Singapore should not bestow such honour in the first place to a dictator whose military junta committed horrendous acts of oppression against its own people.
Originally, I thought it should be still 'alright', since it is merely to give an unknown orchid a name. BUT when I read from the TODAY’s article that previous foreign dignitaries with orchids named after them include former South African President Nelson Mandela. The implications behind such an honour bestowed upon Thein Sein simply caused my blood to boil.
Especially so when recipients bestowed upon such honours will be equated to a symbolic rung alongside Nelson Mandela. This is simply not right. Dictator Thein Sein characterizes the very oppression which Nelson Mandela spent decades in confinement cell resiliently opposing to.
Disappointedly, our MOFA itinerary team overseeing foreign dignitaries’ visits should have thought of this irony and not had given Thein Sein such honour in the first place.
I am of the view that, the said orchid ought to be given a re-name. This orchid by any other appropriate name should be so much more tasteful than its current one.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=24528.1
Thein Sein gets an Orchid
Thein Sein gets an Orchid
Thursday • March 19, 2009
Visiting Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein had a new orchid strain named after him yesterday.
The Myanmar leader signed a symbolic ‘birth certificate’ officially naming the orchid, Dendrobium Thein Sein, during a ceremony at the National Orchid Garden.
Foreign dignitaries who have had orchids named after them include former South African President Nelson Mandela.
General Thein Sein also called on Singapore’s Acting-President J Y Pillay at the Istana yesterday.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=24528.2
Thursday • March 19, 2009
Visiting Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein had a new orchid strain named after him yesterday.
The Myanmar leader signed a symbolic ‘birth certificate’ officially naming the orchid, Dendrobium Thein Sein, during a ceremony at the National Orchid Garden.
Foreign dignitaries who have had orchids named after them include former South African President Nelson Mandela.
General Thein Sein also called on Singapore’s Acting-President J Y Pillay at the Istana yesterday.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=24528.2
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