A Polite, Realistic Reminder to the Burmese Generals

_ By Ethan Bourne (Political Analyst)

The Buddhist monks and abbots have been protesting for the simple purpose of  ridding of military dictatorship once and for all. Now that the Burmese Buddhist monks have shown their spirit and patriotism and have been marching in the streets of Rangoon and else where showing solidarity with the people. The diesel price increase has no effect on the Order of the Sangha yet Buddhist monks and abbots have been marching peacefully and asking the public to join in this national uprising to bring change to the whole country.

What the Burmese monks and abbots have been asking for is not for their own sake and benefits but for the whole people of Burma. What the monks want is not power but peace and transfer of power to the people. What the army should do is to stay calm and listen to the voices of the Sangha and what they have to say. The military leaders should come forward and accede to demands of the monks and abbots as soon as possible. In fact, this is a rare opportunity for the army to straighten things out once and for all. The Burmse people find it easy to forgive and forget. Look at how the Burmese people have been living in poverty since 1988. Moving the capital city to Pyinmana is one thing. Changing the direction of the army to help restore freedom and the right for the Burmese people to live like human beings should be a priority agenda to discuss at the 4th quarter conference. Holding to power without the will and consent of the people is not only  an unpopular burden but an undesirable trait wanted by no human beings in the world. It is time to settle peacefully and quietly without foreign interventions. Is the American intervention desirable? How about the Chinese intervention?

Neither intervention is desirable for the future of Burma. The Burmese army will be put to shame if it has to do something because the United States has told it to do it. The Burmese army will be put to shame if it has to do something because China has told it to do so. Saving face is what the Burmese generals should think of right now. In 1988 the whole nation waged a national uprising and the army was ordered to shoot and kill more than 3000 innocent, unarmed peaceful demonstrators including students and monks. Now that the monks and the people are peacefully demonstrating to express their opinions for the whole Burma. Are you, Generals, going to order the army again to shoot and kill the peacful demonstrators again?

Now is the time for you the time for you to reflect the 1988 uprising and the past and you, generals, should consider carefully to back off and accede to the demands of the monks and abbots while you can still save your own faces. You know Burma has earned the most shameful status in everything. Who did it? It is not the people who made Burma poorer and poorer. You know who. Is it not time to think twice and make a firm decision selflessly for the whole Burma? This is an unequivocal opportunity for the generals and the Burmese army to rewrite the histor of the Burmese army. This is a domestic issue that can be solved peacefully without outside help.

Fight your own ego and let it go. Discuss with comrade generals to let it go peacefully. There will be no tribunal to try you at all. The Burmese people forgive and forget very easily. If you make a decision for the people, you will reap rewards and no strings attached. The National League for Democracy, the people’s party will condone what you have done in the past. Just don’t make any major faux pas. Rewrite history and your stars on your shoulder would still be shining as bright as the rising sun.