BURMA DIGEST

BURMA DIGEST

08.10.2006

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Best wishes to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD

_ By Sao Noan Oo

I would like to say “Best Wishes” to Daw Aung San Suu Gyi and members of NLD on the 18^th.anniversay of the founding of their party. I also congratulate them for their fight for survival amidst an almost impossible situation. I hope NLD will continue to fight for freedom, democracy, justice and fairness for all peoples of Burma.

Next February will be the 60^th anniversary of the “Panglong Agreement”, the agreement signed by Bogyoke Aungsan and the Shan Princes and other Ethnic Leaders. After all the hopes, aspirations and efforts made by the signatories to gain Independence and form a Federated Union of Burma it is a terrible shame that sixty years of independence should turn out to be the worst period in the history of Burma.

Between them the two military regimes destroyed the Union of Burma by their brutal force and mismanagement. They thought by bullying, shooting and imprisoning opposition they could put the damage pieces together but they have not succeeded in the fifty years of their regime. It is time they learned that the more force used the more resistance there will be from the people. It is human nature.

The time has come for all democratic forces to look forward to solve the big problem that is facing them today, but just as importantly the problems of the future.

The new politicians must not believe and act like the old ones. They must not exploit the situation. Burma must confront its own past. The only way for reconciliation is to know why the Union of Burma has gone sour. It will be a painful process and they will have to go through it and find the truth. Only then can the peoples of Burma move forward towards a genuine federation, freedom and democracy.

No one should ignore the injustices and nightmare of the past, or lessons of history. But too often people hold on to history and use it to fuel their anger, prejudices, hate and distrust. All peoples of Burma must emerge from its past history and direct their vision towards the common goods of all concerned.

There have been so many atrocities, cruelty, murder, rape, torture and political imprisonment. In the Shan and Karen State there are countless children who have been the victims of violence, whose lives are scarred by the memory of witnessing their parents being tortured and murdered by the soldiers, and the shock of being left fatherless and motherless. In other parts of Burma children are forced to become boy soldiers, and through indoctrination become part of the system that turned them into people who are capable of terrible deeds against their fellow human beings. Generation after generation of children have become the victims of mistrust and hate. They should be given proper education, taught to reason and to have compassion for other people. What a terrible waste of good human resources.

The two key political issues today in Burma are (i) the restoration of democracy, and (ii) the resolution of the political rights of all ethnic nationalities.

It is time too for all the ethnic peoples of Burma to work together for the common good of all nationals and for the progress of mankind. It is time that we try to understand each other’s feelings and communicate well. Each ethnic group has its own traditions, language and literature but with tolerance and respect we can still live peacefully side by side and Burma is big enough for all.

Comments:

MOHAMAD SAYED said _

Dear Sao Noan Oo, thanks and much appreciating to you and your article about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD).

SSs Chinese said _

Ni Hao (mai soong kha), you are right! “Each ethnic group has its own traditions, language and literature but with tolerance and respect we can still live peacefully side by side and Burma is big enough for all.”

Your Comments here_