Controversies Among Us

(Dr. David Law)

                      We have too many controversial matters which, if diplomatically handled, can provide a tremendous boost to  promoting our cause for Burma Liberation.

                      As I recall, we (Burma Digest team) touched upon touchy issues such as Shan independence, Constructive Engagement, Sanctions, and pro/anti Rohingya, etc, etc. It is important to let opposite factions debate it out freely on the internet, or any other media, instead of the SPDC military regime's way which is oppressive silencing (nyein-peet) by use of force. Of course, when the debate is carried out, it is hoped that the factions will one day come to an amiable compromise instead of digging themselves deeper into the hole which they are already in.

                      This is where we, as political journalists, must come in with a third article, a reconciliation article, for the two opposing factions to persuade them to try and work with each other instead of further conflict which only makes SPDC laugh and applause as if watching a bloody cock-fight. In the end, our Cause of Liberating Mother Burma suffers, and the SPDC simply gets fatter and richer, and all our peoples, Rohingya and Rakhine, and Everyone, continue their miserable lives of slavery.

                      [Doesn't it a kind of remind you of the ancient gladiator fights in the Rome?]

                      Well, what can one reconciliatory article do? What benefit can one article do? Of course, I'm sure the two factions will not become lovey-dovey and suddenly embrace each other, but at least we all made a start.

                      A list of some controversies/conflicts among us_ this list is in no way exhaustive.

The DKBA-KNU split

                      Democratic Karen Buddhist Association  accuses Karen National Union of discrimination against Buddhist people. while the KNU accuse DKBA of producing/selling drugs and collaborating with SPDC.

The KNPP vs. KNPLF split

                      KNPLF is seen as collaborators with SPDC; and KNPP is seen as a hindrance to free trade betwee spdc and Thailand.

The Kachin In-fighting

                      How each faction opposes each other. Why are they fighting each other? It would be so much less blood spilled if they could argue politically rather than give SPDC regime the satisfaction of seeing Kachin kill Kachin.

Chin-Indian Bitterness

                      The Chin National Front has been driven out of their Head Quarter near Aizawl. It would be interesting to get an Indian or a Mizo from India on one hand, and a CNF member from the other and debate. The Mizos on the Indian side are said to have hostility to the Chins from the Burma side. Why is it that the CNF and the Chins get not much help from their Mizo cousins from the Indian side? I can understand how the Indian government is greedy to make big business with SPDC, but at least the Mizo should be sympathetic to the Zomi, but they are not.

The Chin-Naga

                      Not so long ago, SPDC regime's soldiers captured some Kuki Chins including a Christian Reverend and tortured them horribly. SPDC soldiers selected to do this onerous task were Nagas and it is easy to see why. It sent repercussions between the Kuki Chin and the Naga communities.

Chin Christian Crosses vs. Buddhist Pagodas

                      You know how the SPDC destroys crosses on the mountain-tops in Chin State and then force the Chins to build pagodas.

Tai-Thai

                      Same thing with the Thais. They do not sympathize with the Tais from the Burma side of the border. It reminds me of how the South Koreans look down on the North Koreans who escape to the South, and how the West Germans look down on the East Germans.

Even inside the Burmese Community;_

                      There are bitter factions. One small example is a Someone_ I don't want to name any name here, I'll just say a few general facts about him..

--Someone whom I used to remember as an extreme SLORC-hater, suddenly changed and became brutally frankly pro-SPDC. [SLORC is, as you know, the former name of the current SPDC military regime.]

--Someone who built his academic and political career in US, and suddenly has to leave the US.

--Someone who repeatedly said that he hated the British conquest of his beloved hometown, Mandalay; but has now settled in Britain, and acting there as if he is an unofficial mouth-piece/envoy of Burma's military Junta.

                      [Let me add that I'm not from Mandalay. I'm from Rangoon, and besides, 1885, to me, is ancient history, and I believe that whatever the British did, it is nothing compared to SPDC-SLORC-Socialist, successive dictatorships in Burma. Why cry about Mandalay of 1885 when today, Mandalay of 2005, is getting swallowed by the damn Chinese? Who cares about 1885? Forget it. ]

                      I feel sad that such an intelligent person has come to such a state_ a regime apologist_ where so many compatriots are shaking their heads and fingers at him.

                      Concerning that Someone: he has tendency of being Anti-American so much that if George Bush were to make a regime change in Burma tomorrow, he would speak out against it. He once wrote a letter about how much he hates Burmese patriots who call for an American led regime change in Burma.

                      Does anyone object strongly if the Americans drive out the hated SPDc regime from Burma? Will anyone be angry against the US?

                      Oh, that Someone. I'm so sorry his feelings must be hurt. We have to continue to let our 50 million fellow citizens suffer in slavery because otherwise that Someone will be so, so, outraged by an American led regime change in Burma.

One last idea:

                      If there was some sympathy and solidarity, we could have had safe refuges along each region of the frontiers, build up resistance centers, and strike the enemy from various sides. Instead, all we have, no matter which of the eight directions we look at, we are inundated with bitter internecine strife everywhere. Of course, part of it is SPDC's fault because they have infiltrated everywhere and their agents are fomenting suspicion and paranoia everywhere, in accordance with their policy of divide and dominate.

Dr. David Law