BURMA DIGEST

BURMA DIGEST

08.10.2006

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Editorial: Why do They Do It?

_ By Dr. Tayza

SPDC’s re-arresting of Ko Min Ko Naing and other student leaders comes at a time when everybody is hoping to see some positive changes towards democracy in Burma. Under the threat of a Security Council resolution for United Nations’ intervention in Burma, naturally it is the time for the regime in Burma to release political prisoners and to relax its strong hold on power a little bit.

Regime’s friends in the UN Security Council, like Russia and China, are defending it by saying that the regime is making some progress towards democracy in Burma. Even Gambari, who has been charmed by Burmese Generals during his first visit to Burma, is saying that he wants to visit Burma again to engage with Burmese Generals for national reconciliation in Burma. So if the regime has an ounce of intention to make real changes for democracy in Burma, it is the time now to show it, and to prove it.

But to the utter disappointment of everyone who is foolish enough to believe that the regime could be persuaded to engage in national reconciliation, Burmese regime has shown its true nature again by re-detaining student leaders who have been calling for national reconciliation in Burma. And the timing of this latest move clearly shows Burmese Generals’ defiance to the United Nations and the international community as a whole.

Regime gives a lame excuse for its arrest of student leaders by saying that it was done for security reasons. Regime makes ridiculous false accusations that the student leaders are conspiring with some western powers to make terrorist acts and cause instability inside the country!

But the truth is regime wants everybody inside the country to sing the song of defiance to UN Security Council along the tunes of the regime. Students and government staffs in Burma are forced to attend fake public rallies to denounce UN Security Council’s formal discussions on Burma. Small ethnic groups, which have already been forced to succumb totally, have to issue statements denouncing any forth-coming UN Security Council resolution on Burma. So, in the same way, regime expects student leaders to follow suit. But as Ko Min Ko Naing has been calling for UN intervention in Burma, he has just to go to jail_ no wonder.

And regime wants student leaders to attend its rubber-stamp National Convention and to participate in drafting of its pro-military constitution. During their detention, it is widely believed that the regime will put pressure on student leaders to force them into cooperation with its scheme of making up a pro-military constitution.

And the regime also has a habit of using famous political prisoners as bargain chips in negotiations with UN envoys. During the last visit by Gambari to Burma, it seems, regime got a deal with Gambari to make a face-saving conditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in return for Gambari’s favourable report to UN Security Council about the conditions in Burma. But the brave and determined lady refused to accept any condition or restriction imposed on her release from detention. And hence, Gambari’s lenient report on Burma’s regime became an international laughing stock. So now the regime can try the same trick using different prisoners_ this time, the student leaders_ to dupe Gambari again.

Whatever is the reason behind the re-arresting of these famous student leaders, it definitely shows very clearly that the military regime’s ruthlessness and brutal nature is unchangeable and unchanged. The Generals will never think twice to detain, and torture, any one inside the country who dares to oppose them. And they will never be reluctant to defy international community’s pleas for democratic reforms in Burma. And they will never hesitate to dupe Mr. Gambari again.

(Please sign the petition “We Want our Student Leaders Released Immediately”)

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