Reading Between the Developing Events

Though advanced technology the media as well as individuals have highlighted the demonstration of monks and people in Burma and how the military junta cracked down on the protesters. The junta has tried to hide their brutality from the outside world, but for the first time they have failed. The Burmese people as well as the international communities have witnessed with their own eyes the way the SPDC members treat the citizens, shoot, beat and attack unarmed peaceful protesters. Since the military coup four decades ago, the ethnic citizens in hidden rural areas have experienced similar brutality, in addition to other heinous violations, like gang-raping of women and young girls. Nobody can imagine what they, the SPDC are capable of unless they have seen it with their own eyes, or only when it affects them and their families.

Such brutality and cruelty has also shocked the world including the United Nations, thus the UN Secretary General sent Mr Ibrahim Gambari twice to deliver messages that the UN Security Council strongly deplores the use of violence against peaceful demonstrators in Burma. The Council also emphasized the need to immediately release all political prisoners, and the need for the Government of Myanmar to create the necessary conditions for a genuine dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all concerned parties and ethnic groups, in order to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation with the direct support of the United Nations.

The Burmese military leader, General Than Shwe announced his willingness to meet Daw Suu Kyi if she was prepared to "end confrontation' ' and her support for sanctions and the "utter devastation' ' of the country.

The new sanctions imposed by the United States, Europe and Australia are definitely going to hurt the generals and their supporters. Than Shwe did not hesitate to let Mr. Gambari know how he felt and was quick to put the blame of the devastation of the country on the sanctions imposed on them. As usual the generals are ready to blame other people and everything else except themselves and their own foolish actions. When speaking in Naypyidaw he also informed the Special Envoy that “his previous visit did not bear fruit as the military had expected." The peoples of Burma as well as most international communities know that it is the junta under Than Shwe that has devastated the country. Have they not realised that more than 300,000 Shan, the same number of Karen and 20,000 Karenni have been robbed of their citizenship and driven out of their homes and country of birth? Unknown number of monks, students and oppositions are also homeless and fleeing from their cruel actions and brutality? It is about time the generals accept and undo their mistakes. It is about time too they search into their soul and discover where they have gone wrong to have put Burma and all its peoples in such a pitiful situation. How can they say that the economic and political situation in Burma is viable? It is such an utterly rubbish! When criticised by the United Nations representative about the state of the country they indignantly responded by expelling him.

It seems Than Shwe would agree to have an open discussion with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi only when the latter bows down to him and accept his totalitarian and dictatorial ideology, an ideology so different from hers. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi like her father, Bogyoke Aung San strives to make Burma into a genuine Federal Democratic Union. She believes in the aspiration and spirit of the “Panglong Agreement” that brought all the Nationalities together to ask for joint independence. This is the very confrontation the general is most afraid of, and it is the reason why Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been imprisoned for so long.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has agreed to have a talk with the ruling junta for a reconciliation process but Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan was particularly dismissive of the UN envoy’s suggestion that there should be three-way talks between the government and Daw Suu , with Mr Gambari acting as mediator. “Myanmar will never allow any outside interference to infringe on the sovereignty of the state, I would like you to know that Myanmar is a small nation and if a big power bullies her … we will have no other way but to face this and endure,” he was quoted as saying on state-run TV. Clearly the top generals are not interested in Mr Gambari or the UN playing a leading role in any future national reconciliation process, which is doubtful that there will ever be any such process unless ASEAN and China put greater pressure on them.

Daw Aung San’s decision to cooperate with the ruling junta for a reconciliation process has been highlighted in her statement made on her behalf by the visiting UN special envoy. Daw Suu’s statement, particularly the phrase, “in this time of vital need for democratic solidarity and national unity, it is my duty to give constant and serious considerations to the interests and opinions of as broad a range of political organizations and forces as possible, in particular those of our ethnic nationality races”, seems to have angered the generals tremendously.

Consequently, the generals have set out to create conflicts between Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the ethnic nationalities. According to the report in the “ Mizzima”, in November 16, 2007 - The Burmese military junta's Cultural Minister, Khin Aung Myint in Lashio, Northern Shan State, forced four ethnic armed ceasefire groups to sign and release a statement against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi'. The pre-written statement condemns Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s stance, and says that she has no right to represent the ethnic nationalities. The statement also says the groups support the Burmese junta's seven-point roadmap to democracy. The same procedure was also carried out in Myitkyina and other ethnic areas. News has just come in that the KIO official’s home have been raided by combat troops of the Burma Army and Sa-Ya-Pha, (Military Affairs Security Unit) for refusing to sign pre-written statement opposing Aung San Suu Kyi's statement.

Previous to this the SPDC also ordered villagers to gather in Lashio to demonstrate posing as a pro- military regime group to condemn the monks for taking part in politics and also to burn a picture of President Bush. In rural areas away from the watchful eyes of foreigners the SPDC have the habit of bullying civilians and ceasefire groups to do their dirty jobs for them, showing their cowardice nature. They have perfected how to lie convincingly and manipulate Asean leaders and some international governments.

All these evidences show that the top generals are not in the least interested in the international community’s efforts to encourage democratic change, and are intent on introducing a political system that will consolidate the military’s power into the future. ’Than Shwe and his supporters have no intention of taking part in the tripartite reconciliation process.

‘It is about time China and Asean leaders open their eyes and recognise how bad the real situation in Burma is, and what Than Shwe and his followers really stand for. Aseans are about to sign a historic “Human Rights Charter”, and how proud the citizens of each member states could be, but they can be proud only if it is credible and not tainted by the actions of one their members whose human rights situation is so poor that it is condemned by the majority citizens of the world. “If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem”, (President Abraham Lincoln)

Some pro-democracy activists are campaigning for international communities to boycott the 2008 Olympic in China for supporting and appeasing the military regime of Burma. To boycott the Olympic would not be fair to the people of China nor will it be fair to the athletes who have been training for several years. After all it is an event, which will bring people of all nations of the world together to enjoy and compete sportingly, and to celebrate the highest human physical achievement.

But the competitors and visitors that will be at the Olympic in China will feel uneasy in their hearts if the Chinese Government ignores the suffering of millions of people in Burma and continues to support and appease the most evil dictatorial regime in the world. By altering its policy on Burma and helping it to become a genuine democratic country China has a lot to gain, gratitude from the peoples of Burma and greater respect from all citizens of the world, especially the citizens of China. China and her people together can then welcome visitors, competitors and look forward to the 2008 Olympics with pride.

by : S. N. Oo