03.12.2006
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Open Letter To Mr. Kofi annan
Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary General
The United Nations Secretariat
New York
Date November 24, 2006
Dear Mr. Annan,
We are Burmese dissidents residing in the United States; after relocating from the Burma-Thailand borders where we have struggled for Burma ’s freedom and democracy since in the wake of the military takeover of the country on September 18, 1988. Today we are still relentlessly continuing with our efforts to restore freedom and democracy in Burma based in Washington DC, USA.
Mr. Secretary General, we would like to highlight the point here that Burma’s struggle for freedom and democracy has a hard and complex perspective in light of the existing political web and accompanying economic and social woes no doubt. However, it is not altogether impossible also. Today, Burma’s case is in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) chamber and the outcome rests in your hands obviously. Years ago, Mr. Razali Ismail, your former envoy to Burma has tried to initiate ‘confidence building’ between the military regime and the National League for Democracy (NLD) based on the seven steps road map but to no avail. The regime has shown no interest in that endeavour and even attempted to murder Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, at De-pe`-yin, in upper Burma, on May 30, 2003. Only the self-less sacrifice of more than 200 NLD youths and members has helped Burma’s national leader and world icon of democracy escape certain death.
Though we have called for justice via official and independent investigation into the murders on your part, like you did in Lebanon ’s ex-prime minister Rafik Hariri’s, our cry for justice is still unheard of until today. Eventually, Mr. Razali was denied visa to enter the country since then until his term ended. Than Shwe went further to show his contempt on the world body and you; by mounting brutal assaults on ethnic minorities, and forcing tens of thousands to neighbouring Thailand, where they ended up in refugee camps.
Recently, Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, your deputy in the political department has visited Burma twice and ‘as a small step’ in his own words, asked the opposition NLD to point out what they did not like about the military regime’s brain-child, the Seven Step Road Map. Even your entreaties to free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi while you were in Thailand, next door to Burma, not to mention US President George W. Bush’s, went unheeded. Than Shwe has extended the house arrest of Burma ’s democracy leader for another year out of spite on you and the international community. Further, he showed his disgust and disdain on you all by mounting genocidal wars against ethnic armed groups, resulting in huge exodus, mainly ethnic people; there are about a million mostly ethnic people languishing on the Burma-Thailand borders and in refugee camps in neighbouring Thailand; more than fifty thousands of them had died on their way to safe havens.
In this view, we have only but to conclude that you are obsessed with Than Shwe’s gimmick - Seven Step Road Map – deeming it as the only remedy to cure Burma’s prevailing ills and woes. With due respect sir, we opt to dispute you in this regard and situation of Burma. The people of Burma have overwhelmingly given their mandate to the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (1991 Nobel Peace Laureate) via the 1990 multi-party elections to shape their lives and destiny; a mandate recognized worldwide, the United Nations including, with the exception of the ruling military.
Today, the military regime has revived its oft-stalled sham show – the National Convention - participated by handpicked lackeys, among them many drug addicts and heroin traffickers. Due to lack of any semblance of legitimacy the NLD has opted to boycott the military held sham show; we also deemed it only as a farce to hoodwink the international community. Moreover, it is most unwarranted and uncalled for, on the part of the military regime, to convene this farcical show in the first place, in lieu of the overwhelming (82%) mandate given to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi led NLD. Hence, there exists on this earth, neither the authority nor the power, much less that of the present ruling military regime in Burma to abrogate, invalidate or declare the 1990 election results null and void, a fact and a reality, which you are also very well aware of as we believed.
Despite the fact, the present ruling military oligarchy in Burma is pushing ahead with its plans to legitimize its otherwise illegal rule via its National Convention, also the first step in its Seven Step Road Map, a ploy only, to establish a military dynasty in Burma. In this view and at this juncture, we would like to stress strongly that this is not an appropriate moment to offer a ‘carrot’ to the regime in Burma, but to give it a big ‘stick’ instead, to deter the regime with a stone age bunker mentality, desperately clinging onto power in Burma today from further exercising inhumane acts in Burma.
On the bright side, today Burma’s case is on the UNSC table for further action, not to mention the ILO also, about to probe the regime’s abusive behaviour on its own people. In this respect, we believe the only viable option you need to employ is to ‘persuade’ China the world’s largest communist country, prevaricating (hindering) UNSC’s path in bringing the regime to engage in the democratization of Burma. China and India exploiting Burma’s natural resources have greatly contributed negatively in the efforts to democratize Burma. China’s cooperation, as the veto power wielding country, is crucial and pivotal in putting Burma’s agenda on the UNSC table for further action.
In place of wasting time and resources focusing on affecting a political dialogue based on the self-serving Seven Step Road Map it would be far more relevant and fruitful for you to persuade China instead, to side with the other members in the UNSC, at present poised to take steps as deemed essential and warranted with a view to resolve the existing political, economic and social ills in Burma today.
Fighting Peacocks
Washington DC USA
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