Cautious welcome for ‘return home’ offer

By Kyaw Hsu Mon 

 MYANMAR citizens living abroad have cautiously welcomed President U Thein Sein’s invitation to return home and work for the country’s development.
However, they called for more detail on several issues, including dual citizenship and possible prosecution for political activities.
“Since 1988 so many people have left from the country for many reasons, including political factors. We have to think about the likelihood there would be many criminal cases and how they would be handled. The president should put more emphasis on that subject because as far as I know there are many Myanmar citizens in exile who want to return,” said a Myanmar anthropology researcher based in Thailand.
“As far as I know, dual citizenship is not legally recognised but these people were born in Myanmar and want to work for their country so what I want to know is, are there any plans to create job opportunities for them?”
Speaking to government officials and hundreds of members of 40 different business and social organisations in Nay Pyi Taw on August 17, the president said his government would “make reviews” to ensure “that Myanmar citizens living abroad for some reasons can return home if they have not committed any crimes”.
“And if a Myanmar citizen in a foreign country who committed crimes applies for returning home to serve terms, we will show our benevolent attitude in dealing his case,” the president said, in what was ostensibly an economic address.
U Kyaw Lin Oo, a columnist with The Voice who returned to Myanmar earlier this year after spending 10 years abroad, said he welcomed the president’s address to expatriates but believed the government should issue a formal legal announcement.
“The president’s speech is the first step. For the country to have peace and stability, we need to bring back those people living abroad who are interested in Myanmar’s domestic affairs,” he said.
U Thein Nyunt, Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Thingangyun, said it was both a political and legal issue.
“There should be plans made to help us attract these people back to the country. If the government announces an amnesty for those living abroad, they will instantly recognise the country’s goodwill and will return,” he said.
He said in the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) era, U Ne Win’s government welcomed back Burma Communist Party members who had been living in exile in China.
“Some members even got married to Chinese women in China but they were welcomed back in 1963 and as far as I remember in the 1980s Myanmar citizens abroad were also invited back,” U Thein Nyunt said. “We should welcome the president’s address, it’s a positive sign for us.”
Ko Min Oo, a 30-year-old engineer living in Singapore, said he was looking to see whether the government would offer incentives, such as salary guarantees, to attract skilled workers.
“We need a good job with decent remuneration. Here in Singapore many people want to go back to their home country, but they don’t because they can make more money here.”