One of my HCN staff  (read: local Myanmar staff) returned from Malaysia today after meeting our sponsored trainee trainees who are undergoing technician training program there. The program is to prepare them for real work at various sites where we operate in Myanmar. I did not attend this visit as I just came from Malaysia last two weeks.  Normally in every visit, we engaged the trainees thru a dialog session which followed the presentation and briefing session. The management decided to change some terms in the training contract between the company and the trainees, but still reasonably and fairly.  But this did not go well for the trainees, and they started questioning our decision.  Some even threatened to go home (Myanmar) early, without completing the training program.

I knew most are good, but fell into the trap of  one or two brash leaders among themselves. They grouped together to attack the management and her.  I pitied her. She was there to convey the message only, and explain the rationale, but instead got shot. They were shooting the messenger.

“Where have all the polite and softspoken Myanmar people I knew of gone?”, I was wondering.