Overview of ‘Politics for People’

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_ By Tai Samyone

Introduction:

1. People’s sufferings on the ground; near starvation, child malnutrition, high maternal & child mortality rates, short general life expectancy, high prevalence of infectious diseases, lack of good healthcare, lack of clean water supply, lack of electricity, lack of credible education, lack of employment, lack of reliable income, lack of internet access, lack of media freedom, lack of labour rights, child soldiers, human trafficking, forced prostitution, drug trade, environmental destructions……… these are all real, not just political propaganda.

2. When junta approved their constitution by hook or by crook or by spooks, to carry on the fight to the next stage, pro-democracy political activists inside the country will need to take part in 2010 elections; then they will need a credible party political platform which is relevant to time and circumstances of the day. “Politics for People” will be a very noble and respectable political platform.

3. When the military install a puppet civilian government after 2010, to go on fighting against that puppet civilian government, we’ll need a good political weapon. “Politics for People” will be an effective weapon because under the new puppet civilian government people of Burma will go on suffering all the same.

How can we help?

1. How can political activists help the real people? _ e.g., like Ko Htin Kyaw and group who voiced people’s concerns for the worsening poverty, like the efforts by Phyu Phyu Thin and group to provide assistance to HIV patients.

There is a dire need today, now, for continuing support for the people of Burma. No one can wait until 2010 or much later for a government that actually takes its responsibilities seriously. People are in need of the help that brings alleviation to their suffering today. We should all support these “Politics for People” initiatives in whatever way we can. Many are not overtly political - they are humanitarian, and the SPDC seek every opportunity to crush anything that threatens their iron grip on everything - especially anything that clearly shows up their own incompetence at dealing with the countries problems.

2. How political leaders can help the real people? _ e.g., like the 88 generation student leaders who came out onto streets to protest hyper inflations after 5 fold fuel price hikes, which eventually snowballed into massive Saffron Revolution.

What leaders are there who can take action? As each new group of leaders are imprisoned and beaten by the SPDC, another springs up from the ordinary people, from ordinary monks, seeing the devastation wrought by the SPDC, people just reach breaking point. If today’s leaders are imprisoned we will become tomorrow’s leaders; to lead the next phase of civil disobedience, of non-violent protest and struggle against the vicious regime. “Politics for People” is just ordinary people wishing for an ordinary political life in which they can participate in bringing about change to a free and democratic society.

3. How activists on border areas can help the real people? _ e.g., like Dr Cynthia who is providing health care to all refugees and migrants there, like AEIOU giving tertiary education to refugee youths there.

4. How ethnic forces can help their own people? _ like Free Burma Rangers providing healthcare and other essential assistance to IDPs, Loke Shan Women Action Group recording sufferings of ethnic refugee women

There are a great many organisations, refugee camps and overseas assistance organisations that provide the essential health care, welfare, education and protection that are missing from life in Burma. Whilst these groups often find themselves having to work with the difficulties of their host nation (Thailand, India, Bangladesh, even China) their work is essential, whether it is in refugee camps, for those living in ‘other’ countries, or those living rough in the jungle as IDPs. We can help by promoting their work, helping to raise awareness and much needed funds to enable them to continue their work; until the government of Burma is ready to take responsibility for its own people and provide the services currently provided by these mostly volunteer groups operating on a shoe-string budget. We also need to be aware that promoting these groups via the UN and the international community can afford them better protection from unscrupulous elements in their host countries!

We should also consider what the ceasefire and non-ceasefire ethnic groups will do over the coming years. There is no sign that any are overly enamoured with the proposed constitution and election process; there has been no concession for a federal structure that would allow self-determination or autonomy for the ethnic states. These groups will need to make their views heard much more loudly than at present, as there is a tendency of the international community to focus their attention on Rangoon and Naypyidaw, without really trying to understand the position of the ethnic states and the various groups; as if the situation is too difficult for them to grasp. It may be that the security situation in Burma becomes worsened as ceasefire groups return to armed conflict. Those still actively opposing the SPDC continue to call for a peaceful solution via genuine dialogue, but the SPDC doggedly continues fighting, mining, raping and pillaging against unarmed villagers they accuse of aiding the freedom fighters.

5. How journalist inside and outside the country can help the real people? _ e.g., like many a faceless civilian journalists and bloggers during Saffron revolution who risked their lives and tried to record the sufferings of people and spread the word to the outside world.

While the press inside Burma remained gagged by the SPDC’s draconian censorship procedures, there is little hope that nay truth will allowed to be printed in Burma newspapers. However, the news and information is there waiting for an outlet. It is imperative that links between sources of information (i.e. people prepared to risk imprisonment) and the outside world are increased and that bond of trust established to allow the most sensitive information about the SPDC and their black deeds reaches the outside world. The excellent journalists that operate in the exiled media will be able to give a much clearer and authoritative picture of life ‘inside’ with better quality information. These links between inside and outside journalists are essential part of maintained a free press. What the next step to do is to get news about the world into Burma from outside and disseminate it widely; a positive action for “Politics for People” activists inside Burma.

6. How exile politicians can help the real people? _ e.g., by talking more about people’s real suffering on the ground in Burma, but spending less time on money making project proposals for themselves

Being an exile politician is not a career move, but is, or should be, a commitment to achieve freedom for the people of Burma and a transition to a stable democratically elected government that is not ruled by a military dictatorship acting in the wings (i.e. not under the yoke of the proposed SPDC constitution). “Politics for People” is just that; politics as practiced by all of our politicians should be aimed at benefitting all of the people; exiles and those inside Burma. There are many politicians whose tireless work and unstinting devotion to the cause of freedom is seldom doubted. Perhaps we, as supporters should be more supportive and less critical of those who seek to represent us if we know that they are trying their best. We also need to recognise that they cannot play the role of politician unless they are adequately funded for the tasks in hand. Our exiled politicians must of course become aware of the criticisms, and identify and rectify any of their own short-comings.

7. How international community can help the real people of Burma? _ e.g., by persuading or pressuring military junta to cooperate better with United Nations for direct poverty relief efforts for real people on the ground

The international community are probably aware of many of the problems that Burma faces, despite the fact that the SPDC tries at every turn to pull the wool over their eyes (e.g. their direct involvement in the illicit narcotics trade, whilst showing off their desultory drugs busts to the UNODC). These organisations are ready to help, but face a continuing struggle with the SPDC just to be allowed to operate in the country free of interference and the warped manipulation of the SPDC.

8. How ASEAN countries can help the real people of Burma? _ e.g., by persuading Burmese authorities to gradually relax their super tight control and very harsh censorship on media, press, public meetings, entertainment and stage performances, internet and telecommunications, etc.

Whilst Gambari’s recent visit has not even been able to bring independent UN monitors into to audit the referendum, he at least has not given up all hope of making progress with the SPDC - and there is certainly a great deal of change that he can try to influence. There is also a real need for the UN to pull together with other groups like ASEAN to present a unified front against the SPDC. Today, India, China and Thailand are far too forgiving and prepared to work with the SPDC, giving them succour - in exchange for gas, teak, gems, electricity or whatever. The international community needs to be persuaded that a united front within the international community is what will really work.

9. How future new puppet civilian government can help the real people? _ e.g., by being less corrupt and more transparent and accountable, and by paying heed to public opinions.

Unless the efforts of all of us and those working for change in Burma are successful in removing the SPDC from a position of power, then the junta will elect their hand-picked stooges to run a civilian government, although how many of the ‘civilians’ will actually not have had recent armed forces employment is not clear! The focus of attention for the international community, the exiled politicians and NGOs will be with a new set of faces (or maybe the same faces without the peaked military caps). Good governance is something that practically every country needs to work at; very few are completely open, totally accountable and transparent in their business and government. Burma has a long way to go, and the world has expertise in understanding where we are, and ways and means of moving towards a state of continual improvement. This expertise is available; Burma’s government (of whatever complexion) needs to be persuaded to take advantage of it.