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APRIL 28, 2000 VOL. 26 NO. 16 | SEARCH ASIAWEEK Letters Vietnam '76 What a sad true story - it brought tears to my eyes ["Goodbye, Saigon," SPECIAL REPORT, April 14]. How little we know of the suffering of others at that time, even though we were informed, adult, and able to digest the news reports. Congratulations, Lan Ai Trinh [pictured, who with her family was imprisoned in Vietnam in 1976], for opening our eyes. W. Foster Hong Kong There are lessons to be learned from Vietnam's relative economic success ["Vietnam Adrift," April 14]. The Vietnamese learned valuable lessons from their recent history. It seems they developed a love-hate relationship with the Americans during their liberation struggle. They learned to love American sophistication and technology in spite of the war. South Vietnam's colonization for a period also helped them in this regard. Moreover, the collapse of the Soviet empire has done more good to the Vietnamese than harm. Because of it, they could easily leave behind the Cold War mentality and grapple with new-world realities. The brief honeymoon with the Soviet type of communism did not much affect their mindset or economic structure (in terms of interdependence). This is unlike other Soviet-bloc countries, which got deeply enmeshed with the Soviet economy for a much longer period. D. Papa Rao Hyderabad India Taiwan Identity Issue Why is it some Taiwan people don't think they are Chinese? ["The New Taiwan," COVER STORY, March 31]. From many reports I have learned that most Taiwan people born in the 1970s and '80s claim that they aren't Chinese, and they want to be independent of China forever. I live in mainland China and maybe can understand why they refuse to accept "one country, two systems." The Communist Party rules mainland China, which also is far poorer than Taiwan. But we must admit that many ancestors of today's Taiwan people went from Fujian and Guangdong to settle in Taiwan from the 16th century: they speak Chinese and learn Chinese culture. For this reason, I can't understand how it is that they do not identify with the culture. I don't believe reunification will be realized if there is no recognition of the common culture. So the leaders of mainland and Taiwan must face this serious problem. Cai Yilun Shanghai Laying Blame for the Drugs Problem Some members of the Thai military blame Myanmar for the drug problems in their country ["'Speed' in Thailand," EDITORIALS, April 21]. This is not only unfair, it is turning facts into lies. In spite of poor support from Thailand, the military government of Myanmar managed to break the drug warlord Khun Sa with its own limited resources. Instead of blaming Myanmar, the Thai military should explain the following: How do warlords and armed insurgent groups involved in drug trafficking support themselves? From which country did Khun Sa and the United Wa State Army buy their arms and ammunition? Which country has been the transit point for drugs and profited from the activities of these groups? Myanmar has suffered a lot under the problems of drug production and trafficking. Thus it is ridiculous to accuse its government of cooperating with drug barons. Philippe P. Maegerle Zurich Singapore's Formula Your March 24 issue should have had "Singapore Ink" on the Cover - not "Singapore Inc." Much space was given to Singapore's "China problem" and the paranoia at Singapore's highest levels over control. The "China problem"? How to free and exploit globalization-driven economics, finance and learning while continuing to control people and politics in ways that served autocratically ruled countries well until the late 1990s. The debate [LETTERS AND COMMENT in same issue] between [former president] Ong Teng Cheong and [Press Secretary to the Prime Minister] Ong Keng Yong is a classic case of obfuscation and left no one any wiser. It did however highlight Singapore rulers' continuing refusal to accept criticism even from within, and it prepared readers for the raft of contradictions in the COVER STORY. My copy of your magazine does not have Singapore's serial-numbered "Approved for Distribution" sticker because I bought it in Hong Kong. People will not take risks until they know how much they might cost. There is no way to find out without more of the following: consistent press freedom, academic research that promotes questions and creativity, entrepreneurship and empowerment outside large and state-owned or controlled corporations, and politeness up and down the professional spectrum. Yes, "Lee Kuan Yew has his work cut out." But unless the other 3 million-plus Singaporeans have a say and some play in that work, it will take a lot longer than his and the next generation to "change the mindset" in Singapore enough to have continued success in intensifying competition. David Harries Jakarta. Write to Asiaweek at mail@web.asiaweek.com
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