“We are now in a crisis: the military government is getting stronger”
U Win Tin, General Secretary of the National League for Democracy, on unity, Panglong, and the young generation
TBF: The Best Friend supports the recent statement issued by All Burma Monks Alliance (ABMA) calling for the release of all political prisoners and tripartite dialogue [between the military-led government of Burma, pro-democracy groups, and ethnic groups], including support for a Second Panglong Conference.
Do you know how many ethnic nationalities or ethnic organisations are also supporting the call for this conference so far?
UWT: “Most of the ethnic people are asking for the Second Panglong Conference. Actually, we haven’t got any regular contact with them so we don’t know how many exactly support this call.”
TBF: Do you feel that the majority of the ethnic nationalities support this call?
UWT: “Yes, yes, sure. We have some contact with Kachin and northern Shan leaders, and we have support from the Karen. The thing is, the majority of the ethnic people are supporting the call for this conference.”
TBF: Could you mention something about the ethnic groups which do not support the Panglong Conference? Why aren’t they adding their support?
UWT: “Most of the ethnic people support us. There are some groups, like some Shan and some Rakhine and some Chins, who participated and won in the elections, and they are now inside the Parliament. They do not support us. One Rakhine party said they support Panglong but they want to discuss about it only inside the Parliament, not outside.”
TBF: Can you say something about the amount of support from ethnic nationalities you need in order to bring the military regime to the table for a dialogue with the other parties?
UWT: “That all depends on the unity among ourselves. We are just waiting for the response of this government. They don’t say anything. They stay quiet, and are waiting for our move. They are just waiting. We can’t say how we will bring them to the table. We need to be united. We need more international support. Then they will come to the table. It’s too early. The military is going to stay behind the scenes. We have only one party, the USDP. They are the government. The new government must make a move to come to the table.”
TBF: So far the regime has been silent about the idea of the Second Panglong Conference. When do you expect to get a response from the Parliament or the USDP about the Conference?
UWT: “I think..we don’t know when. At the very first session of the Parliament they will give some signal about when they want to discuss with the opposition groups. That way we can force them step-by-step to come to the table, and make a real move tangible enough to come to a solution.”
TBF: If the government refuses to take part or allow the Second Panglong Conference, what will be the next step or method you will take in order to push for positive change in Burma?
UWT: “If they really refuse to participate, of course, we will be in square one again. Without the mililitary government, we can’t do anything.We can’t go alone. The government is getting stronger, by controling the Parliament. They are fighting against the nationalities, and so on. They will be too strong for us, if they don’t participate. We have to wait for them to move and wait for a second chance.”
TBF: What do you hope the results will be from a Second Panglong Conference? Is it a change of power you want?
UWT: “These are not the issues we are hoping for, such as a transfer of power. We are hoping to find a way for real preparation for a new kind of union. They [the military-backed government] must know that the present constitution does not work at all, and will only bring destitution to the country. So what we are waiting for is not the changing of power. What we want is to come to a real dialogue at the table and find some way of finding a new cooperative union that will strengthen the federal union with all nationalities, and so on. After dialogue has begun, we can wait for some time, and after that they can make some review of the constitution and find a way for a new election after coming to the table.”
TBF: Can I summarise that the NLD’s hopes for a Second Panglong Conference are a review of the 2008 constitution and a dialogue about how to create a more federal union that is acceptable to the ethnic groups?
UWT: “Yes. That’s right.”
TBF: How would you call on people around the world to help support this call for another Panglong Conference?
UWT: “To people around the world, I would say: ‘I am U Win Tin, I am from the NLD, an opposition party in Burma. I would really like to ask all the people of the world. We are now in a crisis against the military government, they are getting stronger. We need to get them to the table so we can solve the problems in our country. At the table. By making this political dialogue I hope we can solve the problems of Burma and hope it will contribute to peace in the world.”
TBF: The Panglong Conference has a high symbolic value: it was Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s father who initiated the first gathering. For the young generation, why is this Panglong Conference so important, in your opinion?
UWT: “That is the question we are very anxious about. That is what Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is propagating about the issues of Panglong. Instead of all the political programmes and parties talking about Panglong, we must ask the young people to be part of the Panglong experience. We will be determined to fight for a new kind of Union of Burma. That is very important. Without that spirit [among the young generation], it will not work. We need a very strong spirit of Panglong, of the union, of the federal state. That is very important.”
TBF: Can the international community do anything to encourage or enable dialogue between the regime, opposition parties, and ethnic nationalities in Burma?
UWT: “The international community has fought a lot to talk with the opposition groups for so long. They have done a lot. By discussion at the UN, sanctions against the military, and so on. Up till now [it unfortunately has not been enough]. The regime just keeps quiet, and they are just waiting for a chance, for a way out. The best way for the international community is to fight the government, the new regime, to keep the pressure on. The regime will be stubborn to [engage in dialogue with other groups] without the international community asking and pressuring.”
TBF: One of the main requirements for change inside Burma is unity among the population. What is your perception about the amount of unity inside the country? Are you hopeful about this, or is it reason for concern?
UWT: “Unity inside is, I think, rather strong. Because of many factors. One is because Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has got a very strong personality. She has got a very great influence and she can unite people. People are very willing to listen to her. So she is a very strong force and can unite people. That is one thing. The other is, our country is very poor. Inside the country people are poor. There is a very bad economic situation. People lead hard lives and experience hardship in daily things. This actually makes them feel united. They know that the hardship is due to the military government, and so they are united in opposing the regime. Third one is, all the people in the different ethnic nationality groups are getting united more and more. Nowadays you can say Burmese people and ethnic people are getting more united and forming more political unions.”
TBF: What about the level of unity among Burmese people in exile?
UWT: “Outside of the country, we really don’t know. Outside Burma, Burmese people have gone to many countries all over the world. They are not in political parties and are not organised in a way as a political party. We don’t know how much they are unified. We know that most have left the country mostly because of this military government. So, in their opinion the military government is the main culprit of all this political culture. In this subject they are very unified in their opinion about the future of Burma.”
TBF: Since your release [from 19 years in prison], and since the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, it seems you have had more freedom to do your work as a leader of an opposition group. Do you think this will change for the worse after Parliament convenes at the end of the month? Or do you think the situation will stay promising?
UWT: “We hope so. Nowadays there are many people behind bars, over 2,000 people, and the Burmese people suffer a lot. There might be some mass movement. People are expressing their political opinions. The military will have to come to terms with us, one day or another. Nowadays people are more aware of [ideas for] political solutions.
TBF: So you expect that you and other leaders of the NLD will continue to have some freedom to do your work?
UWT: “Yes.”
TBF: As an experienced man in many fields—politics, journalism, working and living inside and outside of Burma—what is your advice for the young generation inside Burma?
UWT: “Well, nowadays I do not have much advice to give to the younger generation. The only advice I want to give to the younger generation is to go on and fight against the military regime. As long as the military regime is still in power, there is no future for the Burmese people, or Burma itself, or any future generation. Without any future for them, it is no use to give advice to them. So my advice for them is go on and fight for your country, for democracy, for human rights, and against the military regime. That is my advice.”
TBF: The Burmese people face many difficulties in their daily lives and many people face a daily struggle to survive and feed their families. How can the Burmese population be empowered to continue their fight for freedom?
UWT: “Well, of course that all depends on the political leadership, like the NLD and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. On the other hand of course, we are very religious people, and religion has a great effect on our morale. The monks are also very important. About three years ago, the monks organised and stood up against the military. So at this time, too, we are asking the monks to have a struggle against the military.”
Garrett Kostin, Elke Kuijper
February 10th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
“We are now in a crisis: the military government is getting stronger” was a speech given by U Win Tin , the general Secretary of the NLD when he was addressing the young people on unity.(Burma Digest) When interviewed by TBF, he seemed to think that a united voice calling for the Panglong Agreement would bring the SPDC to the tripartide talk. (Burma Digest 4 February 2011)
The Panglong Agreement which was signed by the ethnic leaders and Bogyoke Aungsan with good intention was destroyed by extreme Burman nationalists/Military Generals because they objected to the principles of the agreement. This objection is passed on to their followers and recruits until today. They were determined by any means to prevent it from being successful, hence, a month or so after the agreement Bogyoke Aungsan and his colleagues were assassinated.
To the extreme Burman nationalists/Military Generals it was unacceptable that the other ethnic groups should have the same rights to equality, justice and freedom as themselves. They are superior and are entitled to rule with absolute power over others..
I don’t think reconciliation between the parties controlled by the military and those parties who believe in the the panglong /democratic spirits or principles will ever be possible. Since 1947 the military regimes and like minded people have fought for the destruction of the Panglong Agreement Now they have considered themselves successful in the election and on the road to becoming a civil government it is not likely that they will consent to have a discussion based on the spirits of the Panglong Agreement.
During the fifties years of their dominance in Burma politics, through force, bribery and indoctrination many more people have been converted or cloned to such way of thinking, thus strenthening their power. They have even recruited the Shan militia and USDP.
There will have to be other alternatives-
Only peril can bring the Burmese Dictators to reconcile with the other ethnic groups
March 4th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
UNITY
“We all must be united” “We are not united” these are the complaints we hear over and over again from the peoples of Burma, but not many have explained clearly how and what it is that they should be uniting for.
Unity is the coming together to celebrate common values, beliefs and culture. People of the same views, values and purpose may unite and together fight for something they want or something they are dissatified with. They can alter the situation by campaigning, demonstrating and lobbying governments. But such campaign is not allowed in a dictatorial regime.The more people join in the campaign the stronger the power of the people, and thus more likely to be successful.
“We are now in a crisis: the military government is getting stronger” was a speech given by U Win Tin when addressing young people on unity.
The reasons the Military Dictatorial Government is getting stronger is because by using force, manipulation, reward and punishment has managed to unite their members and followers.
During the fifties years of their dominance in Burma politics, the Generals have by using the same method have also recruited supporters from the civilains, the USDP and militia. The regime brainwashed vulnerable people and children from school age,with their passionate doctrine: that the eight states of Burma should be a unitary nation, with one Myanmar race,one language and one religion. There is no place for diversity or multicultural society. The regime with absolute power is the defender of the Nation and all must be totally loyal to the Unitary Nation. Anybody who opposes and do not follow the doctrine has to be punished, imprisoned or killed.
Hence from 1958 until today, the other ethnic nationals ,especially the peoples of the Shan State bore the worst brunt of the two military regimes’ doctrine and ambition. They set out to destroy the unity and traquility of the diverse citizens of ethnic areas.
After force occupation of the Shan States, the Sawbwas (Shan princess) were imprisoned and uprooted from their basic foundation. Ethnic nationalities were divided up into separate religion, literature, culture and, language, and each put into separate areas so as to divide rather than unite them. At the same time the policy to assimilate Shans into Burmans was put into effect. Use of threat, punishment, force, labour, portering, relocation, land confisation, gang-rape of girls and women and other horrendous human rights violations including genocide and ethnocide were the daily practice of the soldiers who rampaged into every town and village. The Shan state has now become a mere skeleton, devoid of human spirit, strength and unity. One of the worst things the regime has done to the people was to implant fear into their minds thus impairing the human’s unique gift of reasoning.
Because of the army’s restriction and regulations all opposition parties and Ethnic Resistance were isolated with little or no contact with each other. Each group until very recently has little or no knowledge of the other’s plight or suffering.
The Burman opposition who lived in Lowland Burma experienced the military’s war against citizens only after 1988, while the war of violence against the people of the Shan States began since1958 until to day.
The Burman opposition are fighting for democracy and human rights. The other ethnic nationals, beside democracy and human rights are also fighting for decolonization of the army in their ancestral and their birth country, so that they can determine their own internal affairs.
In spite of some differences in their plight and grievances all ethnic nationals including the Burmese opposition parties do have some common value and desire: they all want the rights to freedom, justice, equality and fairness: the basic human rights that all people of democratic countries enjoy, and the end to tyranny.
Using the common requirements as a common goal, strong unity can be forged amongst them. This has to be the priority and the starting point to unite and fight for their common cause. Only in the condition of freedom will they be able to move foreward to rebuild the country according to the will of the majority of people.
It will not be eas y but unity and dermination will be their hopes and strength.