One year on…
Sep 17th, 2008
By Tai Samyone
Remember the rush of euphoria when the people of Burma began a protest, the monks took to the streets in support, 100,000 monks protested against the evil SPDC regime and their incompetent, uncaring despotic dictates? We actually thought that this was the beginning of the downfall of the corrupt degenerate tyranny that has plagued and ruined Burma since 1962.
Remember the gunfire, the screaming, running terrified crowds, the menacing soldiers and armed police, the SPDC thugs roaming the streets, hunting those who stand for liberty and freedom, the deaths, the videos, photos, testimonies; testimonies that would shame anyone with a conscience; the end of a short-lived dream of change.
Remember the outcry from around the world, the pleas for dialogue, or restraint, for peace. The protests and the suppression flashed across our TV screens and newspapers for weeks. The follow-up reports in newspapers and minority TV channels that remember where Burma is. The reporting has now tailed off, a forgotten crisis; the world has moved on; Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, Tibet, Darfur, Zimbabwe, Georgia, oil prices, financial market collapse.
Remember the UN, the UNSC in all its deliberations; deliberations that rumble on like a thunderstorm moving away into the far distance. The envoys, entreaties, resolutions, threats, debates, vetoes.
Remember the SPDC bully boys rebuffing any criticism, calling on the friendly powers for protection, lying to Gambari; lambasting him with propaganda, feeding him the official line on road-maps and elections. Ignoring calls for independent monitoring and rigging the results. Keep blasting Gambari with insults and lies, misinformation and half-truths.
Remember Nargis; Burma’s word natural disaster in living memory; the SPDC’s callous brutal handling of aid and the international community who could have done so much more.
Remember DASSK and the NLD; calling for dialogue and peaceful transition; one of the few voices of reason and integrity in a sea of utter hatred and divisiveness, ignorance and repression.
The international community voices concern, sanctions the regime, sends envoys, and continues dialogue. But with what result? Nothing changes; the regime stands fast. Burma isn’t really at the top of the list of what’s important; each super-power has its own self-interest that comes first; saving the people of Burma isn’t a national priority.
I was reminded of a phrase in Laurie’s 1879 tome ‘Our Burmese wars’, a jingoistic imperialist view of the first two Anglo-Burmese wars; in which the question of further annexation of upper Burma is blithely discussed, despite opposition from politicians, peace parties and others concerned with the cost of such an adventure. Laurie claims that if the British did wish to take upper Burma from the despotic tyrant, King Thibaw, then all the peoples of Burma; Burmans, Talaings, Karens, Peguese (Mons) and Shans would rise up and join them to rid themselves of such a terrible ruler. He could as well have been writing today about the wishes of the peoples of Burma to rid themselves of the SPDC.
But Afghanistan, Iraq, Georgia weren’t invaded because the people of those countries were calling for intervention; they are invaded because it was in the best interests of the invaders, not the invaded. What more can the people of Burma expect from any other country?
If the junta’s road-map is the only game in town, then what will the NLD and others do? Join in the farce of a rigged election with a predictable outcome; submit to a ‘civilian’ government of SPDC-appointed USDA thugs. Whatever the election process is supposed to be, the junta will use its usual tricks – coercion, bullying, threats, bribes, vote-rigging, miscounting, etc., etc., - to ensure that its chosen goons are elected by a massive and impossible majority. Will the NLD or any other truly representative political party get the chance of standing for election without being thrown in jail and vilified in the press?
The mockery of justice continues, peaceful demonstrators imprisoned for years on trumped up charges from stupid repressive laws. Slaughter of the innocents in villages far from the prying eyes of journalists and outsiders; rape, torture, ethnic cleansing, destruction of villages, brutally terrorizing the civilian population. So, business as usual for everyone in Burma.
If the Saffron Revolution stands for anything, then it is for the determination and perseverance of the people of Burma (monks and laity) who continue to demand freedom from oppression and self-determination in a free and fairly contested parliamentary democracy. Their voice has not been squashed with their fragile bodies, it still rings out loud and clear. Let us all remember their sacrifice and honour the fact that they gave everything for the future of us all.
_________________________
Reference
Our Burmese Wars
1879, by Col. W.F.B.Laurie
reprinted by The Naval & Military Press Ltd., UK, 2005
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:49 am
ALL ABOUT POLITICS:
Yes, they have given their all for us.
What do we have for them now?
To be truthful, NOTHING at the moment and in the distant future also, like the past two decades.
Gambari’s UN hasn’t come up with anything substantial for the people of Burma other than tabling some points for the military rulers in Burma to ponder upon. There is nothing substantial to back them up or follow. Hence and likely also, they are not giving a damn about it as evidenced today.
And Ban Ki-moon’s ‘friends of Burma’ would get ANYTHING for the people of Burma, much less get anywhere also, as long as China and Russia are happy with what they are getting from Than Shwe today.
As long as DASSK or the NLD can’t offer anything better than Than Shwe to China and Russia, Burma’s case would be in the ‘basket’ in a corner of the UNSC room.
The only tool to unravel Burma’s political deadlock and economic woes rests in the hands of the people of Burma only.
UNITY and RESOLVE of the people, only would REPLACE Than Shwe’s weapon of FEAR imposed on the people since DAY ONE of his rule in Burma, by intimidating, arresting, torturing, raping, burning, and killing people.
And Than Shwe would do ANYTHING to prevent people from getting UNITED! Hence, he has set up his USDA and hired thugs to do the dirty job of putting the WEDGE in the midst of the people, like the age old practice of DIVIDE AND RULE employed by imperialists of old and new.
DASSK “GOT WISE” to Ne Win’s ploy of setting up a military dynasty in Burma via a well-oiled MILITARY INSTITUTION since 1962 and she established her own people’s institution via the NATIONAL LEAGUE for DEMOCRACY in 1988, which is MUCH MORE BIGGER in SIZE and BETTER in QUALITY.
In plain jargon, DASSK’s FORT (NLD) is bigger and better than Than Shwe’s (fort) in all aspects.
Hence, Than Shwe though dumb is not stupid enough to IGNORE the fact.
Thus, he puts DASSK and the likes of Min Ko Naing, U Win Tin, U Tin Oo, and others under house arrest and in prisons preventing them from further ‘building’ their fort, which has already grown in size and quality than his own (military). In other words, Than Shwe has cut off the heads of the poisonous ’snakes’. Without the head a body is useless. The guy’s quite smart to say the truth.
POLITICS in my view is like building CASTLES or FORTS like since the dawn of time. The bigger you can build the stronger and powerful you are.
As long as the NLD is still LEGAL and FUNCTIONING, though a bit low profile like today, Than Shwe cannot CONCLUDE his business and hence, no way of getting the top stop in Burma also, while the likes of DASSK, Min Ko Naing and others are around. He knows that too.
Given the scenario, Than Shwe has attempted to get rid of DASSK at De-pe`-yin, way back in 2003, a job bungled by his late lackey Soe Win. Hence, he is stuck today with an attempted murder rap round his neck like our MAR NAT with a rotting DOG CARCASS around his neck.
Believe me, Than Shwe would ATTEMPT another bid to take down DASSK; this time he would make sure he hit the target straight and true. And most possibly, the time would be between NOW and 2009, before the 2010 elections.
Of course, he would call that off in case, he gets his way all through to 2010.
Once he is DOUBTFUL of his 2010 election, he would MAKE SURE DASSK take her LEAVE of this WORLD!
And that goes for NLD also. He has only to DECLARE the NLD unlawful and banned from the political scene of Burma. Who would give a damn about it, to say the truth.
Now to get to the point.
How to save DASSK?
And who could do it?
Of course, the UN or much less the US led international community would/could do ANYTHING ABOUT it, other than sending CONDOLENCES like they have been used to doing in these circumstances.
ONLY THE PEOPLE OF BURMA COULD SAVE DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI!
And the ONLY WAY to do is also, via UNITY and RESOLVE.
Once the people get UNITED and say in ONE VOICE that they WANT DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI FREE and also, all political prisoners in Burma, there is NO WAY that Than Shwe could DENY their DEMAND, specifically, at this juncture and time, when the political deadlock and economic woes are prevailing and needing immediate attention. Than Shwe could not afford a UNITED FRONT against his rule this time, specifically, after his assault on Buddhism itself last year this time. There are rumblings echoing in this respect among his own minions even.
In case, the people take matters in their own hands China and Russia also, could do NOTHING as it is an INTERNAL AFFAIR ONLY.
And the NLD has the OBLIGATION and RIGHT to UNITE the PEOPLE and HEAD the OPERATION and RIGHTLY DUBBED - FREE DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI and ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS! - as a first step before others that should follow.
The NLD should THROW the FIRST PUNCH and HIT the CHIN of Than Shwe’s for the KNOCK OUT BLOW, before Than Shwe throws his - BAN the NLD from the POLITICAL SCENE of Burma - before any time between NOW and 2009.
The NLD holding onto legitimacy and status quo would not serve, no more than holding any water today, in the cause of Burma’s freedom and democracy, given the fact that Than Shwe is DETERMINED to get his job DONE, via his 7 step road map, leading to his dream of establishing a military dynasty in Burma only.
Therefore it is NOW or NEVER for the people of Burma and specifically, for the remaining NLD leadership to make their LAST and FINAL assault on Than Shwe’s CITADEL (military institution) before they get themselves CRUSHED in 2010.
And TIME IS A FACTOR THEY CAN ILL AFFORD at the moment also, LEST THEY FORGET!
Than Setkyar Heine
Anti-Dictatorship, People’s Freedom Movement in Burma
Washington DC
USA