12 - Purifying the Sangha, Unifying the Nation, and Maintaining Genuine Neutrality (March 1978 to February 1988)

Summary

The only way to erect such a Common Power, as may be able to defend them from the invasion of Forraigners, and injuries of one another, and thereby to secure them in such sort, as that by their owne industrie, and by the fruites of the Earth, they may nourish themselves and live contentedly; is to confere all their power and strength upon one Man, or upon Assembly of men, that may reduce all their Wills, by plurality of voices, unto one Will: which is as much as to say, to appoint one man, or Assembly of men, to beare their Person; and every one to owne, and acknowledge himself to be the Author of whatsoever he that so beareth that Person, shall Act, or cause to be Acted, in those thing which concerne the Common Peace and Safetie; and therein to submit their Wills, every one to his Will, and their Judgements to his Judgement.

Hobbes, “The Generation of a Commonwealth”, The Leviathan

Ne Win commenced his sixteenth year in power, and his fourth as President, in a calmer mood than was apparent during the previous years. He spent ten days around the Burmese New Year, thingyan, in Maymyo in 1978 with some of his children, playing golf, rather than going abroad as often in the past. However, he had a mishap of some nature and had to be flown by helicopter to Mandalay on 24 April. Nonetheless, three days later he was receiving departing ambassadors as usual. One of the achievements of the socialist revolution, the People's Health Plan, had commenced on 1 April. For all the problems of the economy, some of the social reforms that were dreamt of at the time of the 1962 coup were at least being realized, if only on paper. However, the cost was significant in other terms and it was believed by the British ambassador that Myanmar was then holding 1,500 political prisoners, many having been arrested in the workers and students demonstrations in 1974. Others would have been insurgents and other rebels caught in military campaigns against the Communist and ethnically designated separatists. However, as the economy improved, the international situation evolved in ways posing no immediate threat to the country, Ne Win's confidence grew and, within two years, there would be a significant liberalization within the boundaries of the oneparty state.