Burma should be run by taxi drivers
Bangkok Post - Thailand; May 6, 2001
Almost two months ago, I reluctantly made a trip to the Shan State in Burma to visit a sick relative of my wife.I wondered as the plane made its descent into Mandalay's super new airport, how long it would be before I saw what a mess the country was in.
It didn't take long.
On the taxi ride into the city I lost any illusions I had about 'The Road To Mandalay'. Why anybody should have to pay at the numerous toll booths for that roller coaster ride over the roughest roads I have been on since a trip to India, beats me. The comparison with poorer parts of India followed me through my whole trip.
I was surprised to find out from my taxi driver that this brand spanking new airport attends one international flight per week. There is an airport much nearer to town that would have sufficed until the country got its act together. It seemed to me like buying a video recorder when you don't have a television.
In the Shan State, coming up to Taunggyi, the soldiers were everywhere, and their camps managed to take up all the prime locations. Thanks to a couple of brave taxi drivers and a tour guide in Yangon, I managed to find out just how scared the people are of this terrible government, and how much they wait patiently for 'The Lady', Aung San Suu Kyi, to take her rightful place in power.
Both the taxi drivers I spoke to were very articulate university graduates, and they left me with the conclusion that: The taxi drivers should be running the country, and the people running the country should be driving taxis.
Mike Psciuk