Have your say about whether overseas burmese should take up another citizenship!
Let's discuss and share with us how u feel about it in this blog.
Feel free to voice out ur view in the comments.
We intend to use it for our upcoming issue 8, Oct 2006.
Editors
Thanlwin Ainmat
July 24, 2006
Discussion on whether overseas burmese should take up another citizenship
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
24 comments:
I think it is an interesting topic. Everyone has their own rights. So I don’t want to argue about this but pls support the democracy and freedom in Burma. Whoever you are or wherever you are.
It totally depends on the situation. Do you know there are many stateless people around because they are doing the RIGHT things? It will be different if Burma is free.
I think some country accept the dual citizen. No matter what we should mantain our culture language and tradition.We can change the citzen but can't change the native.
Mg Kaung Sae
Hmm... that's a hot issue nowaday. Yeah.before discuss should or should not, want to talk about why oversea myanmar change their citizenship..In singapore, most of the myanmar who changed their citizenship to singaporean don't want to pay for the dualtax.. and want to get some offer from Singapore government..In US some of the myanmar apply for the refugee or assylum..and then they try to get UScitizen ship.. ha ha.. some of them are not really doing for Democracy movement.They are doing this for their own families. Yeah.. everybody has their own choice. I accept that it's totally depend on the our country political situation, but I feel like it's running from the problem and after changing the citizenship you won't be concern about our country's problem..
First of All, we need to think for our generation. As for me, I want my childs to grow-old with Myanmar Culture and Myanmar's spirit(There r so many thing to explain about that). I also want my child to grow-old with the Dhamma of Buddha. And I want my child to b the Buddhist. That is why I don't want to b other citizenship.
I ever asked myself this question many times. People around me has been taken foreign citizenship. Are they doing the right thing? Depend! Some said "our country has no future and better take other citizenship". Some said "they do not want to pay double tax and do not want to deal with uncivilized servant from Burmese Embassy". Some said "they just do not want to go back Burma". But whatever is it, this is their personal decision and I have no right to say RIGHT or WRONG. As long as love your country, love your people and ready to contribute something good for country, it will be fine. But for me, so far I am not even thinking to take foreign citizenship although I have been living abroad for (15) years. I still have a dream for Burma!! I still have a hope for Burma!!
Perhaps many people will say "depend!" Yes, it always depends on many situations, from personal to country. Basically (roughly saying), there are two major kinds of people in this issue.
First it's about 'refugee' by any cause (political/religion/ethinic). As you all know, we have thousands of IDP (internally displaced person) in our country and many more in camps along border areas. They mostly have no hope, no life, no attachment to the land and they are forced to leave. So it's thier own right to choose citizenship which can secure more, when they got to third world nations.
Secondly, there are so-called middle-class/educated individuals. Most of them left the country legally. Most of them achieved basic technical education in overseas and started to work so they got 2nd level citizenship, usually around asian region. Most people [99/100%] who gained oversea education choose not to go back. And by human nature, we always look for higher ground. However, those people still got a chance to figure out when it comes to decide for citizenship.
One thing to be aware of, "If we let it be when things are down in choas, they will forever be. And we can never run away, even though we merely changed places and clothes".
This is only basic thought. Lets see what others think and we'll come back to discus more later. Keep on talking!
For benefit, I think those countries allow to hold dual is fine. But, like Sin, is too risky. Before you go ahead and apply citizen, singaporens how they suffer when they lose their job during Asia economic crisis, singaporeans how they worry about retirement, pls listen carefully and decide. Such a small country, Lee Sing Loong made one big wrong decision is enough for bye bye everything. I think coming not long...
On the other side, don't you think that it is too much to pay for small amount of benefit by giving up your own country citizenship, religion, curlture, relatives, friends, Burma Land, mountains, Ayerwaddy, Chindwin, Bagan, unforgettable childhood memories,....
My children growing up in Sin losing at least 25% of Burmeseship already...If I were to convert to Singapore citizen, definitely they will have not more than 25% of Burmeseship.
Sorry, I will never do that.
But, one exception, one day I believe that I can do something for my country from Singapore, I might need to convert to Sin citizen first... This is scarifice...
Appreciated the comments. Anyway, that're your calls. "Depend" is the only word we ended up whenever we talk about changing Citizenship.
If you "can" live your life at the foreign countries by sticking Burmese Citizenship, Congrads.
But, believe me, "life is not a fairy tale" for everybody.
Let me say that "Changing Citizenship is not changing attitudes and behaviors."
Not all children born under foreign citizenship will be spoilt, but they grow old with "Myanmar Culture and Myanmar Spirit". They grow old with respect to Buddha, Dhamma, and Sanga.
So what I wanna say is - In order for your children to grow old as a humble Buddhists, it doesn't depend on the citizenship, it just depends on the guardianship of the parents.
Let me emphasize the word again:
"Depend"
Forget to say this to some of you =>
"Never say never"
because you never know what is going to happen to you. :)
Just teasing.
We might partially agree with Alvin's comment # 12 about 'guardianship'. However, that 'guardianship' can't fully apply to most people in overseas due to the lifestyle, environments and mostly those guardians self. It's sad to see that about 90% of 2nd/3rd generations whose settled down in overseas are apperantly losing Burmeseness along with their citizenship. And for those who forgot their own roots, they eventually become stateless aliens.
Here's just another piece of thought. For Burmese who gave up their native citizenship for better place and work life, can you really stay away from Burma afterall? There are many people sending back money. Sponsoring their relatives. Perhaps visiting back sometimes. Even doing business with. As long as there're still many kind of attachments, can you really run away by yourselves? Ask yourself, are you really free? Just wondering...
btw anyone knows which country can take dual citizenship?
Run away from problem is not a good solution. We live abroad due to some reasons. Of course, everybody want to lead convenient life. But sametime, everybody must know responsibilities in their life. If everybody start thinking "me & my family only", I'm very sad for our country. I know that the road toward prosper and freedom Burma is rough and it may take long long time. But I still have faith in our country future.
You should take other citizenship if you wanted to but my suggestion is try to take citizenship on those countries that allow you dual citizenship. So you no need to release your own beloved country citizen. When you travel around the world, use your foreign citizen; only use your own Myanmar passport when you visit to your beloved mother land.
Like Ko Aye, I'm also asking my self this question whether I should or should not apply Singapore Citizen since I am living here for 8 Years already. The main problem is Singapore is not allowed to hold dual citizen. Most of my friends are Singaporean already. They urged me to apply. The main thing to make me hesitate is I love my country and my people so much. And I wanted to go back to my mother land when I grow old. Those Myanmar Singaporean friends told me that there are many ways to go back to mother land as a Myanmar citizen but………
I just came back from Myanmar and I saw that most individual in Myanmar lost their moral and I also saw that they don't have professional ethic. It is not because of they are struggling for their survival. So I am afraid that people moral in Myanmar will going to spoil in near future. If our country will go on like this, it is big blow to our younger generation….
yes mr anonymous, u said we should take dual citizenship, but i dont know which country give dual citizen? can anyone tell me?
I love myanmar from the bottom of my heart. But i have no choice.
MyanmarLay said...
Good topic to discuss! Well, In Singapore, more and more SPR, (Myanmar, Singapore Permanent Residence) are getting Singapore Citizenship. Why? Their main reason is dual tax even though there are so many way to b unpaid the tax to Myanmar Government (May b they don’t know). Another reason is as Singaporean, they do not need to apply Visa for most of the country. So they are thinking to get Singapore Citizenship 1st and then they want to migrant to another country. (That’s totally stupid idea, it’s just my point of view) As Singaporean they can only go to other countries without Visa. That’s all! I don’t think Singaporean can get more benefit to get a good job or safe/secure life in other countries. The last and most unacceptable reason is they scare to loose PR one day. OK! Do they know SPR is for life time? And only re-entry permit needs to renew. Normally Singapore Government gives 5yrs 1st, follow by 10yrs for these re-entry permit. But I believe some of them don’t know about it. For those who don’t even know
8/06/2006 06:13:27 PM
MyanmarLay said...
----------------------------------
-> Can share some ways to b unpaid the dual tax to Myanmar Government?Currently, I use my part-time cost to pay half.
ayugyi said...
hello friends, everybody said if the political situation of myanmar is good,and it's depend on the situation. I want to ask you guys why we are waiting for the situation. If we love our own county,we love our people, and we love the truth, why we don't make the movement.(I don't mean to shout from outside of the country)I beleive that we can make the situation that we want.. so... be united and do something for our country, follow the leaders.. be ready for that situation..after you have read all that I mentioned above, you may guess.. what I choose... I, ayugyi, prefer to die rather than run away..
7/31/2006 11:35:46 PM
--------------------------------
Not run away. At first, we have to migrant ourselves to be ready in anytime.When our country need us,we are ready to go back with plently of knowledge,education,wealth and so on.Why we sit in dark and waste our time for waiting.That's why at most we can do in shout from outside.If shout inside,....
Everybody is right in own way of thinking. But I suggest everybody must be ready to contribute when time come. Please contribute whatever you can. Do love your country! Do love your people! We must rebuild our country. We must rebuild our integrity and pride!
I never want to be another citizenship even if I live in outside of Burma. But I want to visit sometime and it's not easy to pay dueltaxes. So, what choice that I have!
Mai, USA
Once you were born in a country, you belong to it. You must embrace everything,whether good or bad, about it. My opinion is that for those who wanna play an active and leading role in Burma's future, they should remain as Burmese citizens. But, the bottom line is that you must love your country and do something good and positive for your country whether you changed your citizenship or remain as Burmese. At present, Burma is not a good place to live. But, we shouldn't stop our thinking at this point. We must think how to change the situation, how to help the poor and needy in Burma,and how to contribute for the betterment of Burmese citizens(pls exclude the evil military junta and their circles here). Loving one's country is not about holding its passport. It is about something in your mind and heart.
Oh.. It's been a while that I didn't visit to Than Lwin blog. A lot of people are participating in this topic. Quite interesting topic and there is no right or wrong answer.
I found that "depend" word is used frequently. Some people still strongly don't accept that word and some agree with it. Ammm ?
I have no offense to anyone. All I want to say is:
- No matter where you stand and believe doesn't matter. What matter is what you are doing.
- Has anyone who shout for doing something ever done something for country before?
- Will people who are only interested about own family matter do something for country when country need them?
- Will people who said they are ready for country really be reacheable when country need them?
A real decision can be made when country call for help. It really doesn't matter where you are, what you are and who you are.
ACTION SPEAKS LOUNDER THAN WORDS.
It is a very interesting issue.
As far as I am concern, I think this issue takes a very broad generalization.
Among many, some are in abroad due to their own reasons, but others due to other reasons. Whatever reason they are in foreign countries for, in fact, it doesn't matter much whether they should take up another citizenship or not. But what matters is that they observe what the country they are in requires; they practice what they are supposed to (Yawma yauh yin, Yaw ma lu kyinh.); they follow what the Golden rule says:-
'Do to others what you want them do to you' and 'Do not do to others what you do not want them do to you'. (Irrawaddy7 already mentioned on this by giving instance about Bill Gate.)
Growing old with "Myanmar Culture and Myanmar Spirit" (respecting to Buddha, Dhamma, and Sanga) is good and it is all Myanmar citizens are supposed to do.
But what if somebody asks if they (the Myanmar Culture and Myanmar Spirit) are the best of all and to name 100 persons of Myanmar people who stood out according to (the Myanmar Culture and Myanmar Spirit)?
In short, taking up another citizenship does not much matter, in my opinion, as long as they truly love their mother land.
So,
Take another citizenship if you want to but remember you are still a Burmese and it is your obligation to have Myanmar Spirit.
Do not take another citizenship if you do not want to but remember you are still a Burmese and it is your obligation to have Myanmar Spirit.
Post a Comment