We are gratified to see that the lower orders still prostrate themselves before their superiors in the new Democratic Myanmar. Strangely, groveling before the masters had largely disappeared during British rule in Burma; now its back, and a good thing too. People need to know their place especially when the governors are trying to build an egalitarian society.
Private Tye is reminded of Jonathan Swift's account of Gulliver's audience with the King of Luggnagg. A messenger was despatched half a day’s journey before us, to give the king notice of my approach, and to desire, “that his majesty would please to appoint a day and hour, when it would by his gracious pleasure that I might have the honour to lick the dust before his footstool.” This is the court style, and I found it to be more than matter of form: for, upon my admittance two days after my arrival, I was commanded to crawl upon my belly, and lick the floor as I advanced; but, on account of my being a stranger, care was taken to have it made so clean, that the dust was not offensive. Her Highness is now in Thailand where she is supposed to be visiting Burmese refugees, but according to The Irrawaddy, the trip to one camp has already been canceled: BANGKOK, Thailand — Local Thai authorities have reportedly cancelled the State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi’s official visit to the Tham Hin refugee camp in Ratchaburi province on Saturday, according to sources close to the camp administration. Suu Kyi will be arriving in Thailand’s capital Bangkok on Thursday for her three-day visit, and had planned to travel on Saturday to Tham Hin camp in Ratchaburi, where more than 6,000 Burmese refugees are residing. The source, who chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of issues concerning the refugee camp, told The Irrawaddy that local Thai authorities had informed the camp committee on Wednesday that the trip had been cancelled, with no reason given.
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