THAN SHWE HAS NOTHING FOR THE PEOPLE OF BURMA

Can We Take Junta’s Gestures Seriously?

Well, the straight answer to the query is simply NO.

You don’t trust a guy again, after he has broken a promise, do you? That goes for Than Shwe.

Than Shwe and his thugs haven’t played the game straight all along, and they would never ever, in the future also, much less and doubly certain, would not, after what happened lately in Burma, specifically.

They have CROSSED the THRESHOLD and there is NO WAY or REASON for them to RETURN, as they have shown their ILK as only INFIDELS in our country and the world. They are no more BUDDHISTS than they are MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS, and believers of other faiths and religions now, though they were born in Burma and brought up as Buddhists. They have practically renounced BUDDHISM, by their actions and deeds of late, as while the world watched in awe and consternation, hitting, arresting, torturing and killing the Buddhist monks in Burma.

As we all know Buddha has specifically, CATEGORIZED that HE (BUDDHA), HIS TEACHINGS (SCRIPTURES), HIS SONS or DISCIPLES (BUDDHIST MONKS), OUR PARENTS and OUR TEACHERS are on the SAME LEVEL and command PIETY and RESPECT EQUALLY from all of us, who professed BUDDHISM or called himself/herself a BUDDHIST.

However, Than Shwe has ordered his thugs – soldiers, police, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association and others – to arrest, torture, imprison and kill the revered Buddhist monks specifically, during the last peaceful shows of dissent by Buddhist monks, joined by the people and the students. The sacred MONASTERIES and places housing the Buddhist Clergy are destroyed and vacated. The revered Buddhist monks are hauled away, and subjected to torture and incarcerations far beyond the imagination of all who professed Buddhism, and also, people of other faiths and beliefs.

Thus, Than Shwe and his thugs have TREAD on the HEAD of BUDDHA himself, and there is no MEANS or WAYS to REDEEM themselves, much less, REMEDY to cure their WARPED MINDS and ILLS.

No doubt and obviously, he has gone to these lengths just to HANG ONTO POWER and RICHES only. ABSOLUTE POWER has CORRUPTED him and will bring him TOTAL RUIN.

The military misfit has BARED his upbringing and SHOWN his TRUE SELF and COLOUR at long last, that he was born a lowly being, a BEAST at HEART and FORM, while parading and posturing as a Buddhist and a CIVIL person all these long years. Today, Than Shwe has stopped masquerading under the facade of a devout and born Buddhist; he has SHED his MASK and BARED HIS FANGS, a lowly MONGREL only, contracted with RABIES also, and ready to bite anyone, even the Buddhist monks, who meant no harm to anyone, much less lift a FINGER on HIM also.

Calling for a dialogue only now, and with preconditions set also, should be translated as a sign and an evidence of Than Shwe’s inborn or inherent nature, TRICKERY and BETRAYAL. Mongrels like Than Shwe and his gang of thugs should be kept at bay and at least, at a considerable distance, as they would SHOW their BASIC INSTINCTS one day or the other – to maul and kill – like they did today.

However, in case, we would like to play the same game as Than Shwe is playing today, why don’t we call for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo, the leading student figures of the 8888 Generation Students, all Buddhist monks held in custody and all political prisoners languishing in Burma’s prisons today, before a meaningful dialogue is held as we have been calling as always, until today, but to no avail as yet.

This would be the LITMUS TEST for the SINCERITY and PURPOSE of his calling for a dialogue like he is HOWLING today and let’s see what he comes up with.

And specifically, we should INSIST on a TRANSPARENT and OPEN DIALOGUE participated by all the elected representatives (whoever is still alive today) of the May 27, 1990, elections, with NO HOLDS BARRED also. If he insists on calling for the FULL HOUSE, we can call by-elections contested by any viable candidate, including Than Shwe and his thugs, that is, if they can produce clearance certificates, as to their character, conduct and deeds as usual.

I will LAY MY LIFE ON THE LINE this WILL NOT HAPPEN.

Than Shwe would not go to such lengths for the sake of the people of Burma.

In FACT and PRACTICE, he has NOTHING FOR THE PEOPLE OF BURMA, other than to keep them in ABJECT MISERY and CHAOS.

FEAR is the most EFFECTIVE WEAPON in use in Burma today.

The military thugs have used FEAR as their PRIME WEAPON to keep the people of Burma at bay since they seized the power of the country on March 2, 1962. Since then they have brutally and successfully used it, on many occasions, to prove their point. It holds us in no awe, as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has stressed that FREEDOM FROM FEAR is our only SALVATION and ticket to FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY.

Than Shwe may be dumb, but he is not stupid enough to know that FEAR is his ONLY WEAPON against the people of Burma. In this regard, he is right to a certain extent.

Every SANE person in his RIGHT SENSES, FEARS for HIS LIFE. PERIOD. And that includes Than Shwe and his gang of thugs.

In case, we can do something that will INSTILL FEAR in the heart of the military misfit, one way or the other, he will come to know FEAR. And I will bet my life he will come COWERING like a PUPPY, in front of the people and beg for MERCY. His ilk knows when they are beaten and won’t hesitate to go on their KNEES for their DEAR LIVES.

He is ARROGANT and BELLIGERENT today, because he has BIG BROTHERS – CHINA and RUSSIA – protecting him from the international community, the same people who told us to be patient and take whatever, Than Shwe and his gang, are dishing out today.

In that regard, the United Nations led international community has the OBLIGATION to INTERVENE in Burma, at the least, given the prevailing situation where military thugs are arresting, torturing and killing innocent and unarmed people, including the Buddhist monks and students, just for peacefully showing their desire for freedom, democracy and just rights, as guaranteed and enshrined in the UN CHARTER. Failing to fulfill this obligation on the people of Burma by the UN would be ‘nailed’ and hailed as only the DERELICTION of DUTY on the part of the world body, and that would immensely pale the image of the now esteemed UN to the low of the former LEAGUE OF NATIONS whose incapability and inefficiency plunged the world into the abyss of the last GREAT WORLD WAR.

Today, the military misfits in Burma will keep on using FEAR as their most lethal weapon on the people of Burma.

Than Shwe has THROWN HIS LAST DICE and he is in SIGHT of the JACKPOT, unless the people of Burma keep on continuing with their good, valiant and selfless work – show the militarists that they have gone TOO FAR to RETURN and THEY ARE NO LONGER WANTED IN BURMA – until the day of their VICTORY.

ANY SHOW OF FEAR or RESTRAINT on the part of the people and the BUDDHIST CLERGY would only CULMINATE in UTTER DEFEAT, and recurring of the VICIOUS CYCLE – MILITARY RULE IN BURMA – more worse, unbearable and unbreakable than our much feared SANSARA, as taught by Lord Buddha.

Today, it is CLEAR and TRANSPARENT that the ULTIMATE VICTORY is in SIGHT for the Buddhist monks and the people in Burma. In order to CLAIM VICTORY as a whole and once and for all, we NEED to carry on this fight like today, without GIVING ANY QUARTERS and ASKING FOR NONE on our part also.

Than Shwe has NEVER voiced his desire for a DIALOGUE, though with preconditions.

This is a CERTAIN SIGN of WEAKNESS in the rank and file of Than Shwe’s oligarchy.

We could EXPLOIT this point to our advantage, if we know how.

There are considerable number of elements in Than Shwe’s armed forces who no longer wanted or believed in his leadership. Also, he is ageing and frail, to last for long.

No doubt, there are leadership questions in the SPDC military hierarchy.

The more we show our dissent on Than Shwe’s military rule in Burma, the “RIFT” in the military oligarchy will WIDEN, to our most liking.

The more the people of Burma, push and call for democratic changes in the country, like the Buddhist monks preaching that, concept of IMPERMANENCY – inevitable need for change in every living and non-living things in the universe – of Lord Buddha and show their desires more courageously and openly, there would be more calls for leadership change in the military hierarchy in Burma.

The Butcher of De-pe`-yin – Soe Win – has finally cheated and escaped the LAW and headed for HELL on his own recently. At least, his mentor Than Shwe has given him a plot for his last resting place, deprived of Ne Win, the late despot, as the last payback instalment for carrying out his orders to kill Burma’s freedom fighter, though he bungled the job and left the old MONGREL with a murder rap round his neck.

Now that could be a FLASH POINT and the BEGINNING of the END of military rule in Burma, if we are not too optimistic.

Who will fill the – gap – vacancy?

A henchman of Than Shwe or Maung Aye’s?

This would CERTAINLY CALL for a RIFT, no doubt.

And Shwe Mann, the current No. 3 man in the ruling junta, could be the WINNNER, if he knows HOW TO PLAY THE GAME RIGHT.

He could just SHOVE those two old MONGRELS – Than Shwe and Maung Aye – aside, and DECIDE HIS FUTURE and SIDE WITH THE PEOPLE FOR HIS PROSPERITY and POSTERITY also. This would be a FITTING FINALE to the otherwise uneventful and chaotic life of the people of Burma as today.

And Shwe Mann also, knows what is FEAR no doubt.

Hence, a word of friendly and relevant advice for Shwe Mann from all OPPOSITION ALLIANCES in Burma and overseas fighting for our country’s freedom and democracy and on behalf of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Buddhist monks, the people and the students in Burma, who have sacrificed and still giving their lives and limbs for freedom and just rights in Burma. TAKE THIS OPPORTUNE MOMENT and MAKE IT YOUR DAY, SHWE MANN!

In this way only, you can REDEEM YOURSELF and that of your FAMILY and earn a fitting place in the annals of Burma. Give their dues back to the people of Burma for a change and you will not regret it.

Hanging onto power and riches only and with NOTHING FOR THE PEOPLE like Than Shwe is doing now, will get you NOWHERE other than to DAMNATION, DOOM and ultimately HELL, lest you FORGET.

_ Setkyar Hein

PLANNING COMMITTEE
ANTI-DICTATORSHIP, PEOPLE’S FREEDOM MOVEMENT IN BURMA
WASHINGTOM DC
USA