Sunflowers—Than Shwe’s Latest Yadaya?

First it was physic nuts. Now it’s sunflowers. Farmers in Pegu Division, about 80km north of Rangoon, are being instructed by local authorities to grow them, in the apparent superstitious belief that the flowers symbolize long life for the regime.

The order last year to grow physic nuts at least had an apparently practical purpose—to provide oil for possible use as an alternative fuel. This time, farmers who dared ask why they were now being ordered to plant sunflowers met only official evasion.

Local sources told The Irrawaddy that the order to plant sunflowers was issued to farmers in Waw Township and Nyaunglaybin Township, Pegu Division. Each was instructed to buy one pyi (2 kg) of sunflower seed at a cost of 1,500 kyat (US $1.10). No commitment was made to buy seed from the resulting sunflower crop, and no reason was given for the order.

Sunflower translates into Burmese as Nay Kyar, which literally means “long stay.” The Pegu farmers are convinced that they are being asked to plant Nay Kyar to support the Burmese regime’s hope that it will stay long in power.

Local people point out that the astrological meaning of Nay is Saturday, the seventh day of the week. Kyar means Monday, the second day. Add the two together and—hey presto!—you have nine, a lucky number in Burma.

The head of the junta, Snr-Gen Than Shwe, is particularly fond of this superstitious symbolism, known as yadaya.

When the order went out last year for Burmese households and farmers to grow physic nuts, many believed that yadaya was behind the decision.

Physic nuts are known as kyet suu in Burmese, a combination of words with the astrological meaning Monday and Tuesday. The name of Than Shwe’s chief adversary, opposition leader Suu Kyi, has the meaning Tuesday-Monday, and it’s said that Than Shwe’s astrologer suggested that by planting kyet suu throughout the country Suu Kyi’s powers could be neutralized by this juxtaposition of four words.