Once upon a time in Burma, there was a peaceful coastal village near the border with a neighbouring country.

It was in mid 1965 then, under the rule of Ne Win’s military regime.

In the village, a widowed mother and her teenage daughter lived in a small but nice and clean village house. Everyday, the girl used to wash the clothes and bathe at the village common “well” just outside in front of the house.

One day, while she was hanging up her washed longyi (sarong / asian women’s wear long skirt) for drying, she heard the village head announced “Insurgents! Insurgents arrive in the village”.

Seemed nothing bothered with the announcement, she proceeded with her bathing. She was wearing only her wet longyi wrapped around her beautiful body from the breast down, the same way as all Burmese women do when they bathe.

She smiled and wished them when the insurgent group was walking pass her bathing place. They waved their hands and wished back to her.

On the next day, a coastal wooden vessel came alongside the village’s only old and squeaky jetty. Then, she heard the announcement while washing and bathing as usual.

“Sailors! Sailors arrive in the village.” She stopped bathing. Walked towards the house, stepped inside the bamboo house fence and closed the gate door. She then discreetly tittering, peeked through the bamboo fence holes to have a look at the passing sailors with their roving eyes.

Then the next day. The most dreaded day arrived. She heard the village head’s alarming voice announcing “Soldiers! Soldiers from the Burma army arrive in the village.”

She stopped bathing immediately. Then ran into the house, bringing along with her the longyi she just hung up for drying, and on the way she closed the gate door, and shut all the house doors and windows.

Her mother asked, “I know the soldiers arrived in the village. But why did you bring in back the half dried longyi and why were you closing all the doors and windows.”

The girl answered, “Because I’m worried the soldiers would assault my longyi with their raping eyes. And for the doors and windows, I shut them because the soldiers cannot be trusted. Burmese soldiers do not keep their words and promises.”

This mini story is not just a joke. It was an anecdote. There is no rain without the clouds. No smoke without a fire. This is a typical character of the so called “Peoples’ Tatmadaw”, and this character does persist till today. The army had wiped out this village long ago and the girl in the story is now a grandmother taking refuge in the neighbouring country.

People felt sympathy and empathize for all those women who were assaulted and suffered in the hands of the barbarian army. The women are their own citizens. They were so unfortunate to be assaulted, tortured and raped by their own army. If the junta couldn’t keep their own kin safe in their homeland, people naturally would not welcome them, but definitely will hate them.

Whose fault? Whom to blame or who is responsible if the people turn to violent ways? It is not correct to blame the people for whatever happens. There is always a limit at everything. If the limit of tolerance of the people reached maximum, there will be unthinkable consequences. Once the people realize that the night cannot be more darker than the midnight, then their feelings and sufferings would be blown out again. The crow junta must not call the dove black then. The roof must be responsible for the leaking rain, and not the rain is responsible for the leak roof.

All the people love Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Why? Because she cares the people. She felt how the people are suffering under junta’s iron boot. And her long struggle to bring freedom and democracy to the people has made her the peoples’ idol and an inspiration to all of us. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi never doubt her morals or her fight for freedom. She has confidence and positive thinking. She is leading her people to freedom from lack of knowledge for the improvement of the country, and the people are grateful and appreciate for the faith and determination she has. That is why the people love her, admire her, praise her. If the junta has a faith and positive thinking towards the people equals to a piece of dust under Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s foot, the people might forgive and forget all the evil atrocities the junta has committed in the past.

The junta in reality should be thankful to the people for the past 45 years for not turning to violent means because of Buddha’s teachings. Now that they have killed not only the civilians but also the monks, Buddha’s blood has been spilled.

If you think you will be still safe and sound, think again. God is going to punish you soon. Believe me. You all have to repay for what you have done, in this life or in the next, or even in the hell. This was Buddha’s teaching.

Now about sanctions. US president said “Sanctions do not mean anything if we are the only sanctioner”. Mr President, we agree with you. But Asean does not believe in sanctions. They worry it will hurt the people of Burma. So, let us look at the problem in this way.

IF SANCTIONS APPLIED : 1) No effect on the junta, but will lose face. 2) No effect on the people also. Their life could not be more darker than now. (If you want to help the people, please help directly).

IF SANCTIONS NOT APPLY : 1) Junta wins. Will survive long evil life. 2) This will save junta’s face. Some of the funds will go into junta’s pockets. People gets nothing.(If you want to help the people, please help directly)

IF NOT SUSPENDED FROM ASEAN : 1) Junta wins. Will survive long evil life. 2) No difference for the people. Many don’t even know what is Asean. 3) Junta’s relations with China as usual. 4) No revolt within the army, status quo.

IF SUSPENDED FROM ASEAN : 1) Junta will lose face and its image affected very badly. 2) No difference for the people. Many don’t even know what is Asean. 3) Being isolated, will turn wholly towards China. 4) If China reaches the point to control Bay of Bengal, there certainly will be a revolt within the junta’s army. Definitely, not all the officers and ranks will accept China comes down from the sky and control their Mother Land.

Asean and Japan should keep aside the soft approach which doesn’t work and should seek the new hard line approach together with US, EU, Australia, the rest of the world and the UN. Unless you all give a punch together, the stubborn fellow would not stop bullying the poor people.

There is a saying : “When spider webs unite , they can tie up the lion”. All Burmese people must unite and fight for freedom and democracy.