There are all kinds of leaders in this world, as many as there are different and diverse groups of people. There are dictators, politicians, military leaders, revolutionary leaders, spiritual leaders, leaders in the various fields of commerce, etc.

Some leaders last a lifetime, some for a few decades, and some only for a short period.

The leaders who stay in power for many decades are usually people who are strong in their conviction, to their beliefs and their commitment to their cause. Dictators, for instance, were/are the embodiments of their aspirations, and they strongly believe that they are the leaders the people want.

The way these people become leaders also vary. Many are chosen, and a few such as dictators, take on the role because there is nobody else who, in their minds, are capable of doing the job. No successful country has handed the power over to dictators. However, dictators cannot take absolute power without the cooperation of the masses. They can only seize a country when it is going through instability, such as national trauma, national and political upheaval, power struggles, and while the present leaders are focussing on many other issues. Dictators are also harder to dislodge once they get more support.

The question is, “Are we as strong, or strong enough in our convictions and aspirations to overthrow the dictators?”

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is without a doubt one person who embodies such a person. There are also many of us who are. There are many courageous people, such as the monks, the 8888 student leaders, the freedom fighters and others, who have died because of their aspirations and faithfulness to the cause. No suffering through horrendous torture by the regime would break their spirit of loyalty and devotion for their countrymen and countrywomen. These people are indeed highly admirable and their defiance against the junta touches our hearts deeply.

So far the SPDC generals are still ‘larger than life’, and have no intention of giving up their power. The more we fight, the stronger their grip on Burma, and they will have no hesitation in ruthlessly crushing any opposition to their authority. They ignore every condemnation thrown at them by other countries, and they do not care what other world leaders think of them, except China and Russia.

The more defiant they are, the more defiant we need to be. There is no other way.

If we have any kind of weakness, such as disunity, power struggles, competition among our groups of freedom fighters and human rights activists, this will be at our detriment.

The SPDC generals have strength, and they build on this strength by truly believing in themselves single-mindedly without any doubts whatsoever. If this is the way they survive, then perhaps we should play them at their own game and do the same for our goal to true democracy and freedom for our country.

There is without doubt a paramount need for solidarity among every group of people to fight against the inhumane and brutal Burma Regime.

The dictatorial regime should be made a thing of the past and we should all work hard to see the collapse of this evil and monstrous regime.

Revolution begins within each and every one of us.