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To Break the Dead-end Together

Ko Htun Aung Gyaw..............

The recent statement made by the National League for Democracy (NLD) has turned the Burmese pro-democracy activists inside out; some have hailed the concession made by NLD and some are disappointed.  Most who are disappointed are ethnic minority leaders who feel marginalized in the political process and argue that the NLD needs to highlight their cause, too.  Most critics are from outside of Burma, but ethnic leaders who live under the military control have accepted and understand the NLD initiative. In Short, the NLD offer will be turn down by the regime; it will be the dead end for both parties.   At this Juncture, non violent strategy alone cannot reach the goal for democracy; it is time for the Burmese pro-democracy activists to favor the arm struggle and built up a leverage to reach its goal.

Is it a meaningful move made by NLD? Does the NLD have a strategy to execute its goals for democracy if the regime failed to response its offer? If the answer is yes, then the offer made by the NLD is an acceptable one.  But if there is no strategy behind this offer, it will be doomsday for the NLD, and it will loose its credibility.

If the SPDC's generals ignore the offer, it will be a dead end for both parties, with no need to argue about the ethnic rights and their involvement in the political process.  If the SPDC response positive and dialogue begins, the one-on-one discussions are necessary.  

Ethnic minorities must be patient and trust the NLD's move if the dialogue starts because a simple approach is better than a complicated one.

There are many events and bitter experiences that All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF) had faced in the past sixteen years.  Students gathered at the Thai border after the pro-democracy movement was brutally crushed in 1988 by the military, killing thousands.  Students from all ethnic backgrounds came to the border for one reason—to fight back with the help from the ethnic resistance groups—and formed an umbrella organization called All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF). They were warmly welcome by ethnic resistance leaders, but with little trust and support for arm struggle.

After 1988 uprising, the morale of the students was high and the people's support was enormous. Conditions were right for the revolution, but the students did not get the arms and ammunition that they needed to fight and start an offensive.  Why did this happen?   Ethnic leaders did not trust the students and saw them as Burmans, though they came from different ethnic backgrounds.  

The junta will not respect and respond to the NLD offer.  They will not negotiate with the NLD because there is no benefit for them to negotiate with the opposition party, they will loose political power, or at least part of it. We must prepare for this outcome and plan to support the possible uprising inside Burma.  If nothing happens by April 17, we need to call a conference and encourage the armed struggle to combine with the nonviolent struggle.  Look at the 1988 movement, the whole nation rose up and supported the student-led demonstrations but it was brutally crushed down.  Daw Aung San Suu Kyi led the non-violent movement, but now she is under house arrest and out of contact with the outside world.  Non-violent strategy is not working alone in Burma.  We need to support and encourage the student army and ethnic resistance groups to rise up and fight against the regime.  It is time for the revival of the All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF) and the formation of the Burma Independence Army (BIA), which cooperates with all resistance groups.

Ethnic leaders need to step away from their ethnic politics and instead work for national freedom to make the movement successful. 

[Excerpts from Ko Htun Aung Gyaw's "The strategic approach for the non-violent movement combined with democratic armed forces"]

Tiger Yawnghwe..................

All of us who seek to return democracy to what was envisaged in 1947 & 1948 as the federal Union of equal partners - it is imperative that we all work together to topple and overthrow the SPDC dictatorship.

This is our first task otherwise we merely argue with one another impotently and uselessly while the generals continue their oppression and criminal atrocities; and all our Peoples continue to suffer.

Nearly half a century of chauvinistic misrule from Ne Win's BSPP onwards has destroyed all trusts that was born with hope in 1947, that was all too fragile in any case; and now mistrust and mutual suspicion rule amongst our nationalities of the Burmese. This is what both the NLD and NCBUB should have sought to avoid

Concerning the lack of trust between ABSDF and ethnic freedom fighters; unfortunately this is generally true, but there are exceptions re: Lt.Col Khun Gyaw of SSA(S) who was recently captured with his men and now put on trial by SPDC. He is a Shan/ Tai-leng from Sagaing/ Kachin State and former ABSDF. Obviously there is room for improvement for co-operation.

Unfortunately in the past, Manaperlaw, Karen HQ fell to SPDC after befriending ABSDF and because of the influx of Burmese Students, SLORC-SPDC was able to send in their spies un-noticed, resulting in a security breach that the ABSDF unwittingly introduced.

Apart from historical distrust, events like the fall of Manerpalaw that had held for so many years, followed the influx of Burmese Students of ABSDF, does not help.

Sai Merngmai ...............

Ko Htun Aung Gyaw's article has some very good points to make regarding the NLD offer. But it comes unstuck immediately by trampling in an unceremonious manner on the aspirations of the ethnic groups. Shan leaders have been asserting their desire for political autonomy since 1947 and have faced the same response over and over again. Is this how democratic debate is conducted in Burma? Is this the process of debate that will become the standard for political life in Burma once the SPDC have been removed and democracy restored?

If the NLD wish to participate in a coalition government, and speak with one voice, then the coalition must demonstrate to all parties that it speaks with one voice for all groups in Burma. At present the only united party is the SPDC. I certainly haven’t heard of the NLD or PDP, ABSDF, NCUB, the NCGUB (the list goes on) talking to the ethnic groups of the ANC, ARNO, KNU, KNO, ENC, CNF, SNLD, RCSS, ISG – how many have I missed?

The article I referred to in my opening paragraph contained many good points regarding the analysis of the NLD offer to the SPDC. However, it badly missed the mark regarding the ‘ethnic minorities’. The ethnic groups of Burma will play a major role in the future of Burma; in whatever form it takes. The views and aspirations of the ethnic groups are not to be dismissed. If the NLD wants the trust of the Shan people or any other ethnic groups, they will have to earn that trust by their actions and by their ability and skill in communication with the leaders of the ethnic groups. Have I missed the part where this trust has become implicit in their actions and speeches?

The ethnic leaders will not “step away from their ethnic politics and instead work for national freedom to make the movement successful”. Instead, it is vital for the NLD and other ‘mainstream’ politic groups who have to step away from their self-centred approach to change in Burma. They need to talk to the ethnic groups and the ethnic leaders. They need to talk to the people and work towards a true coalition. Only the strength of a true coalition will face the SPDC from a position of power; an overwhelming power that the SPDC will have to face and move aside as the people regain their freedom and take their future into their own hands. The ethnic leaders will continue to work for what their people want – self-determination, freedom, democracy and independence.

Bhone Kyaw................

We, Burman and all of the ethnic people are sailing on the same boat to achieve the same goal. We are all fighting for restoring democracy and human rights, and ethnic people just aim for their self-determination rights as an extra aim because of bad suffering in the past.

Ok, we should build unity among us here outside, Burman and different ethnic nationalities. If we, Burmans, point out the weak and bad points of ethnic leaders for not supporting NLD proposal, some of the ethnic people have a lot of thing to criticize us,Burman, until the end of the world.

Ko Htun Aung Gyaw................

I am not blaming my ethnic brothers and sisters but just pointed out some of our bitter experience in the past. We need to learn from the past and correct the error in the present time. Then we are ready for the future war with the cruel regime. Ethnic politics will not win the war on Burmese regime, only if they changed from Ethnic politics to national politics then, we will level the power with the regime.

Look at Shan's announcement of Self Independent, what happened? Many Shans villagers run to the Thai side, many villages were destroyed and innocent people have been killed. Nothing changed. In addition, famous Shan fighter Col. Yok Surd disagrees with the declaration.

Kachin leader Chairman Bran Saing touring around Europe and tried to find a support for Kachin independence but he did not find any support from Europe, then he realized that the only possible way was to accept the federal union and he accepted it and never demand for independence. Now Karens are on the same path, they agreed the federal Union. Ethnic politics only creates mistrust and ethnic cleansing, nothing good for the long run. All races living in Burma need to realize that to fight against the brutal regime we all need to promote our goal from ethnic base politics to National politics for the whole Burma.

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Comments

Min Khin Kyaw, Australia, said _

 You all know NLD was elected in 1990 by the majority of people. Who are these people? Not people of Burma? Who are they? Aren't they peoples living in everywhere in Burma? Do you really remember what your people wanted to elect NLD?
            What's wrong with NLD only requested to talk with SPDC for itself, not with Ethnic leaders? What's wrong with it? Everyone does in their capability at a time? Do you swallow a whole plate but not spoon by spoon? You want to be smart but you should consider how to be smart first! This is warning for you all in the international arena, or you better cut off your face! :))))
            What have you expected from SPDC by the way? Do you think it will talk with NLD? You should already know the answer! The world is giving pressure! So what? ASEAN is at the junction! So what? Yes, I agree we have to raise the same voice! But are you doing so?
            Let it be as you can't agree with NLD or only partially agree with it! However, what is your initiative to make the world heard? NLD has struggled to be able to reach its current status (thanks to people who worked hard for the cause) but who the hell those people cannot get along with each others?! I wonder how on earth we'd get democracy in Burma with those people who think they're smarter than they really are! :))))
            Well! I'm not hostile to anyone actually but it's funny indeed that we can't even create a powerful movement we've realized that is vital in our movement! You all know the only way to reach global level is to think and act and work at the global level. We better go and live in the cages of stone-age!

U Nwe Aung, Germany, said _

I strongly support Ko Htun Aung Gyaw's opinion.
            In order to abolish the military dictatorship, all options against the dictatorship must be available without reservations. Please do not limit your capabilities in fighting against the brutal armed  regime.
           Only main-stream national politics (especially during the revolutionary phase) will lead to unity and unification of all the peoples of Burma. Ethnocentrism could delay in toppling down the military dictatorship and even weaken our democratic efforts.

Malihkrang said _

I strongly support Ko Htun Aung Gyaw’s opinion but you did not mention how do we implement them (national freedom/ national politic) in real life. On the other hand, to make acceptable by SPDC on the offer of NLD, we (every concern citizens) need to urge ceasefire groups in Burma to declare the withdrawal from National Convention urgently.

(Ko) Htun Aung Gyaw said _

Manaplaw head quarters fell not because of the influx of students; it fell because of the conflict between the grass root Buddhist Karen and the Christian Karen leadership.  If you discuss with some of the Karen leaders you will know the real cause of the split and the fall of KNU headquarters.  It was a blow not only for the KNU but also for all resistance groups operating there.  ABSDF and the students have nothing to do with that.

Sai Merngmai, still have a lot of anger on Burmans and his anger made his sway away from reality.  Ethnic base politics including Burmans is norrowly crafted and its will not lead to total victory, only national politics will give us strength and unity.  I also wish ethnic minority groups will play a major role in future Burma, but how? I do not mean Burmans will dominate the national politics, ethnic brothers and sisters will have a chance too but ethnic base alone cannot promote them as national leaders.  You said independence! Do not dream about it because SPDC like to exploit this word "independence" and easily to recruit young people and nationalist by saying "Our country is on the brink to breakaway; this and that minorities are declaring independence".  Then they can recruit more soldiers.  Do not help them to use our anger for their own benefit. Be patient and look at the big picture and you will realize the consequences.


 

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