Burma Digest Current Issue

Printable Version

Burma Outlook

[This is the second part of the two-piece special opinion paper written by Min Khin Kyaw]

Whey haven’t the political struggles of the different ethnics of Burma succeeded their aims? What made them to have been unsuccessful for so many years but only their conditions worsen year by year as the whole nation becomes? Why does the army of Burma have too much power and can influent on them and undermining all their movements? There must be many, many answers readily available but we all have to answer these two questions sincerely from far more realistic approach.  

If there is no hope in armed struggle as they are no match to Burma’s army, what is the reason to keep this type of struggle that this has been producing a lot of war-torn populations? Maybe they have no other chance; indeed there is no chance to struggle within the framework of urban politics. However, as war is the reason that produces many painful events for hatred, false bias propagandas and misinformation for misunderstandings and misleading to control the population, there are a lot of cunning heroes as the product of civil war. As war is the only reason that can give many different types of assignments to army, war fuels the powerbases of current military generals to govern the nation with all sorts of reasons. If there were no war, the army of Burma would be out of job and it wouldn’t be the way it is now. It must be simply opposite. Then soldiers would concentrate on their lives and the causes of their direct sufferings. If soldiers have to complaint about their poverty and sufferings, they would have to blame other people but their seniors.  

I believe civil war is the cause that is prolonging the peoples’ sufferings whilst the generals of Burma’s army are causing these sufferings by abusing their roles. The generals indeed have likened the civil war as much as they like wealth and power. They’re proud of being fighters whether as the role of heroes or murderers. (If they had to choose between civil war and their wives, what do you think they’d choose?).  

Why wouldn’t the opportunists love wars fighting against each others which give them the privileges to rule as warlords, masters and godfathers, as the wars give them loads of reasons to be on power and abuse is as how they feel good as being above all existing laws, constitution and morals, as they can enjoy wars as their hobby and pathway to success and glory with the bossy lifestyle nobody on earth could get these days with the protections of doggies as loyal as their military uniforms: bullets, boots, socks, etc which they can discard anytime like a snake sheds its old skin?  

Why wouldn’t the opportunists keep the sufferings of the people as they can make themselves saviors of the nation by pointing any finger at the rebels, ethnic tensions and so-called colonial powers, these bastards can make all sorts of reasons from wars as if they were the ones really trying for uniting and stabilizing the nation? Why wouldn’t these generals and officers alike keep the current condition as you all know the perfect condition for them to make all sorts of powers, wealth and all they want?  

They also claim federation is separatism. Why wouldn’t these opportunists keep this claim as a good target as there are abundance of nutcases to believe all stupidities as they have been brainwashed for manias for any felony with the help of immoral intellects encouraging wishful hatred inside their hollow hearts (filled with all rubbish their seniors threw at them) toward each others, toward all rebels, peaceful protesters and politicians and even toward ordinary populations as if the problems behind all sufferings. Nutcases! Who are they? The military, police and other thuggish organizations of course –who are readily to commit any crime that gives a few money into their pockets, -who have no memory better than of beasts as they only know a way to survive is to eat other during current crises. As they enjoy so they even compete for serious offences for credibility- in the case of PM Soe Win. 

As their divide and rule prevailing among ignorant populations, why wouldn’t these corrupt, robbers and criminals on power keep the current crises as it is? Why would they accept any compromise as they have to give up everything? They rather defend their privileges but what would they lose by doing so? How ideal thing civil war is as you see, not to be kept as long as possible if you were in the shoes of these generals! 

I hopefully support any form to get rid of this regime that no such regime or cunning people would ever gain political powers again in Burma after we achieve democratic governance. I unconditionally oppose any form of wars within a nation that make peoples to murder themselves.   

If there is no civil war by now, the Burma generals would have to give up their blasphemy in the army. The soldiers won’t be the way they’re kept now. It’s simple that the reason why Thailand became more democratic whilst Burma hasn’t changed to keep up the necessary pace in the region with global standard. If there is no rebel to fight, soldiers will fight the generals for their own sake and it must be really good to see so; however, democracy wouldn’t be the issue or outcome. Perhaps, people would suffer in factious civil wars, not much different from current version of civil war we have kept. The American black people have already achieved many civil rights; probably they had much worse situation than the ethnics of Burma have had. Actually, civil wars has destroyed the mindset of Burmese people and spoiled their lives. This is not a blame game but what should be seen should be seen, what should be done should be done. Enough is enough but what is the way out? 

Of course, the rebel, have somehow controlled a limit of different territories but they never succeeded the standard political power over their territories. Then what about now?  

On the other hand, the regime has shown how it hates the politicians, intellects and political parties which are directly questioning its legitimacy of authority and conduct, unlike rebel groups. The armed rebels have no real threat like the political parties have as no rebel group has such capability. Perhaps, they have a limit of capability for self-defense so they don’t get being bullied that much- but the people do. When the rebels turned themselves politically for talk and negotiation (currently ceasefire and three-parties-talk) they never get the chance anyway but get bullied as leaders were assassinated as many times as recorded in the history. But I believe Politic is what the regime fear most as it doesn’t want to answer any question and legal challenge.  

Indeed no doubt! All kinds of activities of both rebels and political groups have certain impacts to cause serious concerns to the regime. The difference is the rebels challenge only for some pieces of land as their interest whilst major political parties have wider scope. Even small political parties have this kind of threat even if each of them represents certain ethnics. Actually, what the generals fear most is transparent talks for justice; so far they’ve denied everyone from all organizations engaging in Burma issue. The generals won’t accept that encourage a better life for people even if it is beneficial for both themselves and people- so far they never have considered such proposals. They want all for themselves. When you analyze the broad scenario of Burma from the view of the generals, you can see how clear the way they step every move is; to mention it with no bias, it’s just to encourage hatred between Burma army and ethnic peoples; this means civil war only.  

The short surprise privileges given to the Mon, Kachin etc during ceasefire period is just a tease or a test or to let them know who really their bosses are; and the generals have shown how well they can play the game; yes, they have bigger army, capital and arsenals and better brain; we won’t get this far if there was no international support. Ne Win and all his successors- BSPP, SLORC, SPDC- are indeed always the boss because they never considered if the people are more important than the identity, ideology and the bloody game of the army they control. But we all know this game is military game that needs military components, rather not political parts; the generals they cannot compete intellectually but in combats. So they have kept the combats that make sense for their legality and that somehow glorify them. In this case, I think the armed rebel groups should enthusiastically pursue their political interests and such potentials. The best is to focus on the future and propose the ways all ethnics can convene.  

The ethnic rebels have never achieved the full support of their targeted peoples unfortunately. Perhaps, the Karen achieved it once that their army used to be large enough to enter Rangoon and almost defeated the then Rangoon government. The rebel groups generally couldn’t even unite their factions; infighting is a common theme and has been a driving force behind their failure so far. Resources and funds are other major problems too as the ethnic populations are too poor even to support their own daily struggles- of course, the military generals never wanted to make such population become well off.  

As the Burma army has been able to recruit all different ethnic minorities to engage all different armed ethnic rebel groups in sustainable number, in spite of heavy loses for years, the Burma army has been recognized as the legitimate organization as the sole defense force of the nation. No armed rebel group so far could ever attempt to make their targeted people not to join this brutal army that dog eats dog. Or perhaps the rebels never did so to prevent that.  

Whilst the army has had this legitimacy from the majority of Burmese citizens- most are still very ignorant and fearful, it’s no use to condemn its legality- whether legal or not. It’s no doubt the army is entirely legal and it is the only recognized (by the people and the United Nation) defense force of Burma, despite the generals and their soldiers have been committing crimes and doing illegal dirty business. Whether the majority of Burmese people no longer recognizes or approves this existing army inside their mind, it still has legality as a national army has to exist, this will stay on until the people can decide again but when they get the chance again, they will have to keep this army anyway (unless Burma falls apart), the reputation and conduct of the army will have to change of course whether the constitution, the flag and the name of the army or even of the nation to be changed. The individual personals at their current position are just to be awhile. Some purposes, excluding the provoking ones, of the army are already good enough even though nobody keep them in practice anymore.  

However, currently the political authority of the people has been being held illegally by the army for a decade and a half since 1988. The 1990 election simply ensured the illegality of the current position of the generals. And there is no such thing as caretaker of Burma and never was necessary. So the generals are at no legal positions to rule the nation. There is no such acceptable condition creating such a unique position to affirm military rule as the generals will get total power upon the rights of citizens; morally must deny it thus. Even if the people had to accept it under certain circumstance that will be exactly created by the generals, it must be removed unconditionally as soon as possible. 

Nowadays, we’ve heard that the army has crises in recruiting volunteer soldiers. The youth are denying becoming soldiers- many were forced becoming soldiers or porters, not because they don’t want to join it but because of the handling of the senior officials and little opportunity is there in the army that the tiny salary can keep nobody well in the high-cost era. But as long as there is a war, there are soldiers. Rather than civil war, we must do civil uprising or urban revolution in the harmony of unity as this could give our liberty sooner- yet it depends on how corrupt are people’s reputation; we lost our opportunity in 1988 as people couldn’t make accord but made their own rules vainly as they didn’t have political skills as the opportunists and members of BSPP favored the rule of Ne Win. I have no idea how people think now as I can’t live among people to listen to their tea-talk (labat-wy, ye-nway-wy); I should wonder how many could afford such luxurious time.  

If there were no civil war, soldiers will be like the students who can cause revolution certainly even though they don’t have the condition to use their freedoms as the students can, they rather had the awareness to prefer not to shoot at crowds. If there is no civil war, the majority would not be forced to be brutal, immoral and become just opportunists in current scales. There would be no practical field to get brainwashed and aggressive and become what they are now. If the ethnics asked their rights within the framework of civil movements, people would be educated in different way but civil wars have created a new class of citizen as the better citizens – military class. The soldiers might enjoy this opportunity created by the generals in order to keep the soldiers loyal to them so their warlord positions are safe. I don’t know what the communists would choose to do in this scenario. I think what happened was deliberately set onstage politics of the then elites among the innocent ones. Burma was very immature whilst the warrior syndrome had no real cure. To be frank, civil war is no solution to achieve liberty as all nations with civil wars proved. Rather civil rights movements have sooner benefits practically. 

The soldiers can be decisive only when they have one single choice. They must be trained for defense only. All soldiers must be equipped with a great deal of awareness of civil liberty and citizen right as they are the best weapon for defending the nation, whilst every citizen develops the same way. There is no reason to oppress the citizens in order to defend them- it just doesn’t make sense. If there were no civil war, this could have already happened in Burma without much effort as intellects been born in all societies. If there were no civil war, soldiers would not have to choose if they have to kill people or not; there would be no such role for the idiosyncrasy of the army as sole caretaker of the national unity as the role of killing anyone that bothers as the duty of keeping away everything against the nation. And also a lot of resources have been wasted in wars; if they were used somewhere else, even if the kleptomaniac government made its ministers corrupt and rich, the people wouldn’t be in their current conditions, their lives must be much better- just consider about the Filipinos and Marcos’s governance. 

As we know, the army has been in the hand of greedy autocrats who can use and have used the army for their own advantages. Most of the ones enjoying the military authority and permissions to do at will have no mercy on common people. Their authority and the order to use it come from the generals who have aimed to control the people at will. As being illegal, whatever they do with this authority has no legality either; and they never used it for good. Whether they have tried to make the country to become better as they’ve claimed, they must take full responsibility for the damages and crimes they have conducted for a decade and a half, or more.  

Being on power means to take advantage of anyone come in contact. And power is corruption. This is widespread, fully practiced as modern tradition. Clear that the generals have succeeded in spoiling the army and the whole nation. I would like to nominate them for the best governance in the world award if ever to create one. The taste of the generals of the legal army is they love the army as it is now, only to add WMD and they’d rob the whole world.  

If no civil war, military generals (once it was Newin) would need a new reason to valid his position. He repeatedly hurt all ethnics for civil war. The reason the military has kept the civil war is that same simple reason. This is an old scenario I heard from people long ago. They kept the civil war although they had the chance to defeat any armed rebel group at anytime. The existing civil war has served the interests of the generals. To repeat again- they just love to see civil war be there forever so they always make sure that the ethnics to keep fighting back for no avail. But no general wants to deal with any form of political movement. Indeed 1988 uprising made the BSPP of the generals to change a plan and let people form political parties. They deny the result bluntly as they never expected people would vote for opposition. I think, until he knew the result of the election, Ne Win had believed that people loved him. He never realized how he had spoil the country and people’s lives. Now we have Than Shwe repeating after Ne Win.  

The current regime will never make peace with armed rebels, except ploys of the game. This definitely hurts both rebel and military soldiers whilst the top brash officers can benefit- the higher the rank, the bigger the share; just as you know. This method is no new. Actually it has been used as the sole method to glorify the kings’ powerful legends (Bhone, Let-yone) even before the first Burman empire was created.  Civil war, as wars with outsiders and as infighting, is traditionally maintained. No wonder actually; massacre and genocide are part of our heritage. But we know that the better the brain, the better our life. We have to stop civil war as soon as possible. Thus, we must create a condition for it.  And also must make sure the military generals won’t get a chance to hold armed competitions with neighbors militarily. We have to know that if the generals failed in creating civil war, it would try wars with our neighbors. 

There are the people who have shared interests with the regime. They are both Burmese citizens and foreigners. All these people must know what they’re doing and who they’ve been dealing with. It will be nice to reconsider. Whatever the term of their involvement, the help and support they give to the generals are prolonging the sufferings of people as much as the generals can laugh. They must know they have sided by the common enemy of Burmese people. As they are aware of the illegitimacy of the current positions of the generals and the consequences from the benefit they have given to the generals, they have the similar responsibility whatever damages happened to the Burmese people caused by the generals. Thus, it’s totally legal to claim they all are the common enemy of Burma. 

Since the 1988 general uprising, all the people have become to know the true image of their country. However, they didn’t have a common decision making process due to lack of stability in the nation. The sad thing is the uncertainty of the armed rebel groups couldn’t help the people at the time they became important. This uncertainty also damaged their strength and highlighted their true condition. The advantage of their existence and the future of their positions have been questioned. The critical skepticism on them cast by the majority of the common people is very heavy. And also the capabilities of the opposition groups, which are supposed to bring democracy for Burmese people, have been in doubt. However, unity is the opportunity to repair the damaged image, and it is the only one and the only answer to remove the current corrupt generals and to rebuild the nation. To replace current bureaucracy is one of the most important tasks that need the righteous leaders in coming era. Unless they are ready to be done, the new era cannot be started. 

Indeed, naturally every people on earth have a limit of talent and awareness to improve their condition. When they are equipped with the right knowledge, they can do better also. In this phenomenon, Burmese peoples have the same potential universally. We Burmese people can do our task ahead by ourselves with our own means.   

However, as a few outsiders who have enormous power and capitals helping the generals, ordinary Burmese people who have little capitals and no power currently have little to do in the extremely narrow chances to achieve their potentials. It’s not fair but cruel the way they have empowered the regime. Actually, this is a very serious felony against our Burmese people. I believe Burmese people will act again when they get a good chance to act together. If the capitals and powers were equal, they would already have ousted the regime. They have chosen leaders, they have seen the result of previous uprisings and they have already suffered enough.  

Then why do they endure and wait? The reasons are: 

• Fear and skepticism are constant in the society;

• The generals are cunning and wicked;

• Soldiers are in confusion- they don’t have a chance to figure out what is what; they can’t regroup in mass as they are in solid organization; and they don’t trust anyone;  

• Unless the military cannot give its loyalty to NLD from the generals, they and all people suffer; NLD must have capability to get the trust of military; NLD must persuade the military; NLD must have clear policy and its information should be available among soldiers; NLD must give hope to envision how they can achieve power;

• The mindset of military family- many feel good about being above others, especially the families of high-rank officers; they’re proud of it and supporting military culture;

• Public servants- they have to live solely on the incomes from the regime, people are very poor and have little chance to organize politically;

• All rebel groups must get the support of their targeted population; they must have the condition to get the trust and hope of these peoples; they must act hand in hand with all people and groups;

• People and all public servants must be able to imagine the picture of democratic system; they must understand it; they must see their future in it; they must have clear mind at what their future could be after they topple the regime; they must see everything clearly; (Daw Aung San Suu Kyi attempted for this but she couldn’t do much as she was detained time and again;)

• People, including all public servants, must know how they can achieve harmony to be able to work with one another; they must know what the political power is; they must know how bright the future could be; I appreciate the works of the futurists;

• People must know how they can rebuild their lives beyond the regime; they must know how the leaders will lead them; Civil war must stop and never to repeat it again; Burmese peoples are warm to outsiders but cold to each other- we have to change;

• People should stop turning on one another; they should be considerate and helpful; they should know the country is divided into many sections with a sole purpose to cripple their solidarity and harmony;

• Intelligence and information rely on each other; Burmese people must improve with them;

(If discussion on autonomy or independence is necessary, do it after we topple the regime; we better concentrating on rebuilding the nation and lives of people; and one day, we can make referendums. We should let people decide democratically. But the leaders could be different from the norm- some put their interests first whilst some put the interests of people above all.) 

It’s time already overdue to stop the generals’ monocracy. So stop the aid giving to the generals economically and politically. It’s time for the countries that love democracy, value humanity, justice, freedom and rights, and having sympathy for Burmese people to step in openly; it’s very legal to do so as the will of Burmese people and as against the will of the brutes. By any mean by anybody, it’s totally legal to openly challenge the legitimacy of the regime and its authority.  

We Burmese people must seek the help and support from anybody of any country to topple the regime. As the regime is backed by a few powerful, the significant effects of these help are clear. The little might of Burmese people is no match for the regime’s wickedness. To get rid of the generals seems impossible without the influence of extremely serious outsiders. Their active actions for democracy in Burma are completely necessary. As they have the condition to do their best, we will be very grateful if they encounter the effect of the aids given to the regime. Their success will give a wider scope of hope to the Burmese people to face the regime in any circumstance.  

How the civil workers and their posts have dragged the democratizing out of rails! They are the one, within Burma, prolonging the rule of the regime and suffering of people. They’re doing against the interest of general public by working for the regime. They’re the vehicle the generals have to ride to rule. They’re the equipments of bureaucracy. The civil servants working for the regime must know that how they’re responsible for the failure of Burma. Making the regime to be able to keep the grip on power and run everyday dirty businesses has already sent all us to hell.  

Anyone who cares about the freedom of the general populace, freedom of everyone living in or outside Burma, must stop the machine or make it to malfunction against the regime- not people. They are good to avoid all civil posts no matter how poor they are and how much they can gain. They should seriously avoid any offer from the regime. Avoid touching the generals’ shits- how warm they are. They should know how vital it is to boycott the regime silently. They should be determined to undermine the regime within their capacity. Everyone knows how hard to lead a life under the regime so they should know the common answer why they shouldn’t prolong their own suffering in denial. Unless they can undermine the regime, they rather sacrifice government posts enthusiastically and take on ordinary clean jobs even if the regime replace with other fools and selfish. They should show how they are as tough and dutiful as Burmese people are by standing by people.   

We have to doubt that how really the people inside Burma are powerful.  If they are too fearful and have no guts for giving up their short-term benefits, if they’re not ready for the long-term prosperity with dignity and freedoms, and if their leaders can necessarily give them awareness, duty and decision, what can the rest of the world do? I’m certain that people want a better life. I should mention particularly the task on every walk of life in Burma; this is what the peoples’ leaders, who are wise, knowledgeable, legally authorized and resourceful, have to do.  

It’s time for the public workers to try to do something; especially whose works directly link to the managing sectors, technical sectors and intellectual sectors which hard to replace with new workers. Their activities, such as doing not their office jobs or not to be present at office, etc, could halt the functioning of the regime’s power mechanisms; my thought must be shallow here so the workers themselves should work it out as they know every tunnel of the holes. If the regime cannot function, it can succumb to the power of the workers steadily. And other workforces can join in to become a national movement. The workers can do it and they’re with this privilege. The regime will recognize its failure only when it gets bankrupted or ends up with peaks of debt, I don’t know who will risk aiding money to this regime in this prospect. When the regime cannot pay its workers, the workers must have to get new jobs though- this is self-sacrificing and self-martyring. In fact, we’ve already got thousands of unsung heroes; (I’m saluting!).  

The best thing is not to go loggerhead with the regime before the momentum of the movement reaches the highest peak but to undermine its power from within with any possibility. Burma has skill shortages and the wages are very low. So it’s just the right time the workers should act. The regime cannot remove everyone if the regime wants the best individuals at the right positions.  

Everyone in Burma has already suffered too much; especially public workers and all other employees, and the poor who have no sufficient capital to establish own business suffer most. Burma needs its own people to do the hardest part of the task to get rid of current situation. We all have to work together. If everything can happen at the same time, we all will suffer only a short time. Unity and harmony will make us greater than ever. When we were young, we had to learn a Jataka story about a father and sons with a bunch of firewood. But we had hardly used it in practice. 

As conclusion-

We all have to change to suit the general movement and to be ready for duty. The rebels have to change their way; they should pursue alternatively whatever they see. I do believe that if there is no war, no military generals can keep the power, and in Burma, democracy will prevail.

Min Khin Kyaw

I’m a Buddhist so my idiosyncrasy is mainly based on Buddhism. And I believe in a basic statement of democracy- people are the owner of political power. Freedoms and human rights are the theme in this message.

[To read the first part of this special opinion essay, click here ]