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Editorial: Civil Defiance

SPDC military regime has never been a legitimate government in Burma; it came to power by a coup d'état, and it has been refusing for nearly 16 years to hand over power to democratically elected people’s representatives.

So, naturally, there is no need for us to regard SPDC generals as legitimate rulers of our country. And consequently we, the people, have no obligation what so ever to obey SPDC’s orders, laws, rules and regulations.

We are our own rulers.

But we still need to show them that we are our own boss and that we do not recognize them as our government. We must keep in mind that they are not a legitimate government.

To defy them or to show them our defiance is the best way to show them “Who is the boss”.   

People can avoid paying tax to SPDC tax collectors.

People can boycott businesses owned by the regime, the generals, their families and their cronies. Do not buy any commodities or any service from shops owned by regime cronies. Avoid using, as much as possible,  anything made in China.

Avoid watching TV when SPDC propaganda news are on air. Avoid watching any film which shows support to SPDC policies. Watch TV programs transmitted by Democratic Voice of Burma. Listen every morning and every night to BBC, VOA, RFA and DVB radio stations.

Avoid reading SPDC mouthpiece newspapers. Avoid buying journals and magazines published by SPDC cronies. Try to get a chance to read democracy literature, and journals published by pro-democracy organizations.

Avoid participating in any festival or any event organized by regime_ e.g., March 27 Tatmadaw Day events. Try to hold events on Special Days related to freedom and democracy movement, such as 7^th July, 19^th July, 8^th August etc. And also try to celebrate ethnic national days.

Avoid joining SPDC’s semi-political organization, the so called Union Solidarity and Development Organization.

Try to disobey any unjust law made by SPDC regime; of course try to avoid being caught by regime’s corrupt police.

Try to form small compact local political discussion groups in every street, towns and villages, to discuss and learn and share democracy political knowledge. On any available chance_ in teashops, on the buses and trains, etc_ motivate people around you to defy the regime. Try to alleviate their fears. Try to instil democracy passions into them.

Try to make hand-written pamphlets about democracy, human rights and our freedom movement, and distribute them among trusted friends.

Try to get contact, secretly with pro-democracy leaders inside and outside the country. Take their guidance and follow their advice to organize uprisings and people power movements on every possible occasion.

Civil Defiance is the best method and the most suitable method to practise inside the country under the ruthless oppression by a dictatorship. Complete oppression by the dictators make open uprisings by demonstrating on the streets impossible. If we dare try it, regime's soldiers will cold-bloodedly shoot down innocent peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators. So we need methods which can be secretly, but very effectively, practised under current conditions.

This civil defiance has been very successfully practised by African people under Nelson Mandela’s leadership in 1950s and 1960s. The apartheid regime in South Africa at that time was at least as cruel and ruthless as SPDC regime of Burma, but Mandela and his African National congress quite effectively fought against their apartheid regime by using this civil defiance strategy.

LET US DEFY SPDC REGIME NOW!

Dr. Tayza

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Comments

Dr. Kyaw Oo said_

Great job! Young patriot. Many people are quietly reading, listening to all activists' movements, and hoping for progress; although we cannot participate in writing or discussion we are at least listening and reading.
Want to hear, know in very near future, that our country has completely changed or military junta out.

Your Comments here_

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