17.09.2006
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Cultural Politics, Asian Values & Burma (3)
_ By Min Khin Kyaw
Actually, it was the making of China and ASEAN that resulted as the Burmese generals took the ASEAN for granted remarkably; if this is abuse of ASEAN’s role, it happened repeatedly. The generals have to show their respect to the Chinese leaders; for this situation perhaps, the SPDC dictators needed to discriminate between China and ASEAN by showing their contempt to ASEAN, the role of this organization and its initiatives- but whether these initiatives are genuine is still a doubt among the Burmese people. Actually, the real reason behind all these is the instinctive greed of the SPDC for power. Hopefully, ASEAN would make a real and full U-turn in recovering its dignity by adjusting its policies, and try to achieve the trust of Burmese people.
As ASEAN always lays itself like a bridge across a dirty canal of the SPDC military regime to let it cross in order to reach the EU and the US, ASEAN has taken its own voluntary position standardized by its own actions and integrity. Its past aggressive approach in promoting and protecting its constructive engagement is like the lid gets the heat before the pot itself (a Burmese saying). Perhaps, the pot heated the lid how the fire didn’t do. I cannot speculate what the behind-door deals were taken place between the SPDC and each ASEAN country but to compare with China, India, Japan and the Koreas, what do you think the way ASEAN is seen by the junta? Action is truer than the words! I believe the ASEAN has been learning the psyche of the SPDC and has known the generals’ true color enough already. People of no integrity never respect anyone who behaves like they do; criminals have no respect to other criminals. As ASEAN was acting mediator between the world and the SPDC military regime, it’s no surprise the generals had looked down the ASEAN. This is how the Junta sees the ASEAN nations and the rest as well. The egocentric manner of the SPDC military generals is so simple that they think they’re the best, or at least better than any Burmese on earth, including the architects of the Burmese independence, U Thant (former General Secretary of UN) and Ms. Suu Kyi.
By the way, I believe the future democratic government of Burma would try its best to develop the regional relationship and will take ASEAN as very siblings. Indeed, we should take ASEAN beyond exploitation, abusing and using it for self-interest.
After Indonesia has ousted its old Suhato regime, the relationship between Rangoon and Jakarta became as dead as dodo. If the SPDC was genuine to the people of Burma and ASEAN and its promises for democracy were true, it should have enhanced this relationship more than ever to learn for power transaction to the elected representatives. But this didn’t happen and it became to copy Chinese model, to keep the power. It’s what the military regime means by the Burmese way; rather call it the illegal regime’s way of lie to the world of who knowingly willing to believe. ASEAN should admit this in order to carry out the future tasks.
Also what makes a point to the military regime’s policy toward the ASEAN is that the the regime has never showed how it has respect to the Christianity and Islam. So after it has realized it cannot use ASEAN nations, it has nothing much to do with them anymore, and one of the reasons is due to its lack of respect to their religions. To proof this claim, I rather mention how the SPDC never mentioned publicly about the wellbeing of Islamic peoples. Maybe it would do after reading my article. Perhaps, it’s how the SPDC military regime views as a way interfering of the domestic affair of other nations.
Now you don’t need to wonder why Than Shwe didn’t meet with ASEAN special envoy when the envoy visited to see him and Daw Aung Suu Kyi. In reality, I believe that the SPDC never expected ASEAN would do this again after it has dumped the Thai’s roadmap- which never been revealed due to the lack of cooperation from the SPDC regime. It’s that simple, you can’t make the horse drink (if you haven’t made it thirsty). The SPDC must have had a thought that ASEAN has learnt a lesson from its roadmap-initiative. But ASEAN came back with a new approach and the generals believed they must let ASEAN know the situation without saying a word. And that was what did happen. Yet ASEAN still keeps ridiculing the generals by claiming constructive engagement. The SPDC knows what it means and has no respect at all, rather naturally because nobody has respect for such constructive engagement, even if it is meant seriously and not a lie. But we know the meaning of both words- the Burmese way used by the SPDC and ‘the constructive engagement’ used by a few governments other than the ASEAN- are very same.
It’s time for ASEAN to revitalize its honor and reclaim its standard in the world. I don’t know how but in my opinion, it should adjust between its goals and its dignity. And for its own sake, ASEAN must monitor the actions of each member by adjusting its policies and making decisions and agreements. But this is up to the ASEAN leaders themselves and their politics. I don’t believe in the value of non-interfering attitudes. If it is political value, it’s not a value of humanity but a way of turning blind eyes on others’ sufferings or achievements. I don’t think good neighbors should be watching a house in the neighborhood burning into ash. It’s a selfish way of seeing others. I believe many Burmese can see how the Junta sees the ASEAN nations, especially Thailand. We’ve been under this mindset called Burmese way.
It’s clear that the UN has failed in balancing its responsibility: solving the global crises and further achievements for the world. It seems its existence is merely a meeting place, where political leaders from different nations argue officially. In this circumstance, I don’t see any possibility that the UN will create a better condition for the humanity, human rights and the global order and stability; even unlikely to be possible by letting both India and Japan become its permanent members in UN Security Council. All matters could become worse if the two nations tend to value such Asian values, alongside China, and try to make it global measure!
By looking at the SPDC generals’ blatant shamelessness, due to so-called Asian values and support for cruel regimes by the Asian heavy weights, then you can imagine the reasons behind the North Korean leaders’ daring missile tests. Actually, nothing wrong with the true Asian values; however, the political values of the Asian leaders are so extreme! How do you know China and Russia are not behind the Kim’s government and its stone-headedness? We have to pursue to halt China not to become the strongest black sheep in Asia. But why doesn’t China want to become a better country to shape a better world? Is it how a leftist government’s approach to humankind? Does China look at the world lower than its suffering small farmers and workers? The world might have been trying to solve the puzzle due to the growth rate of China itself. I don’t think Russia will be used by China and the SPDC in the way ASEAN was succumbed to become a bridge. But as long as India, Japan, Russia and the Koreas are backing the SPDC, the Burmese people will have to wait for a good time without set date. And the result seems becoming a hard way through bloodshed and cruelty toward a new significant event in human history for freedom and dignity. I’ve got great admiration to the people who fought for liberty and written new chapters in human history.
Everybody knows that the simplest way to free Burmese people from the current situation is toppling the SPDC regime and establish human rights and democratic values. It’s clear that the hollow Asian political values, on the face of human plight, only is preventing for a better future of Burma; and what more? They only see Burma as trade partner government to government. I hope ASEAN would further welcome all constructive criticisms necessarily and tolerantly.
Well, could anybody give a clue of what Asian value is? But must consider how the Europeans were a hundred years ago or before it. I read mentioning about European’s the dark age as criticism and joke. What’s happening in Asian values nowadays? And what are the systems of Asian politics as the members of the United Nations and other organizations? Do they mean that making contrary and differences does mean getting different values whilst mimicking and reflecting each others’ cultures? But what unique to the SPDC regime is the generals are trying to wear the masks whilst they cannot cover their naked body, as the Asian leaders are trying to mean they see nothing. But they are actually seeing the natural resources of Burma. They’re comfortable anyway as the Europeans do not get involved in the feeding directly by the way of caring the vices of people, NGOs and the media.
I want to know what Burmese way is if it were not what I know! All I understand is a way that copying and copying everything from all foreign cultural sources is the only phenomenon in Burmese culture! Sorry to say that but it’s true. And this is to blame to the life under the severe suppression, the way of cruel generals- the worst beasts in the world indeed. What is Burmese modern lifestyle apart from being shaped by the military regime? How the more-than-half-a-century-long tyranny- no freedoms no permission to develop anything- has caused Burmese people lack of innovation, invention, creativity and artistry?! This is the Burmese way that the military generals are talking about and they’re willing to maintain it with all respect.
Even during the time of warring monarchs of absolute authority of the different kingdoms, the life of Burmese peoples wasn’t that bad. They had freedoms of belief, innovation and creation. The evidence is that the cultures we’ve inherited are so obvious and rich as are characteristically and artistically instinctive. Of course, those monarchs, a part from a few exceptions, didn’t try terrorizing everyone like the SPDC does. Gracelessly, Gen. Than Shwe has been trying to promote himself into a monarch!!! How awfully graceless and stupid! If he ever became a king, we could crown him with nothing of course due to his two devil horns on his head; not like a rhino in any form!!!
And Burmese education (except basic calculation, reading and writing) set up by the BSPP (the ousted Burmese Socialist Programming Party let by U Ne Win) was aimlessly chaotic for every student and so many graduates ended up with no proper jobs within their fields of . Actually, textbook for history subject was full of distorted facts, propaganda of the Ne Win regime and misguidance. Magazines, newspapers and all sort of publishing giving information never gave real facts and what truly important to the people, and the situation got worse when paper and ink became more and more expensive. The quality of all writing forms, cartoons, etc became gradually deteriorated. Who really tried to fix these problems? That is a condition of Burmese culture along the regime’s Burmese way and style. And much more has to be pointed out of course! The SPDC once gave the order that all entertainers, singers and movie stars must cut their hair short! What sort of order interfering people’s lifestyle? The SPDC mouthpieces always mention that the corrupt way of western style! But it’s militarism that they’ve given order to cut hair short. That’s bullying and jealousy! Why can’t people enjoy their lives? Of course, they always say that whilst they’re fighting enemies at frontlines, those … are doing (such and such). Who make them to fight? Definitely they cannot talk back or run away from their units? I’m sorry for those unfortunate soldiers, as they don’t volunteer to fight. But the generals, with their military cunning views, who given such stupid orders and make policies of never developments, must take all responsibility for what they have done to our culture as well! In fact, ancient Burmese way of the man hairdo was to let the hair get long enough to make a tiny ball on the head. Actually, short hair was for young children. The short hair style was of Mon people or Thai people in ancient time. The hair style the general’s forced to do is the modern style anyway that was borrowed from the west since the English rule.
The true Burmese traditional communalism [mutual socialism designed and developed through generations to help, to work for free of charge (generally light works as villagers lived as huge family but usually they receive feast and drink from the host as return), to lend and borrow (tiny amount of items, usually not money) without interest] built on compassion and generosity was misused as forced laboring by a false socialism and replaced corruptions, hypocrisy, and the opportunistic ways of the users. The nation was malformed within its three decades by under the self-isolationist Ne Win regime.
Ne Win’s style was, as much as I was aware of, he never accepted complaints, so didn’t his men, but he enjoyed being reported false information that pleased him; I don’t know if he really cared. But we knew he stole public properties that people were saying he was the ninth richest man on earth and how he misspent his wealth. What certain is Ne Win made himself the most powerful and wealthiest man in Burma and his men enriched themselves whilst the people were getting worse gradually. They knew what was wrong but they were hypocrites to acknowledge anything wrong.
His main propaganda was he had to take power in order to save Burma from the communists and the federalists whom he accused as separatists. It is how a liar said he built a brothel to save the girls. It’s what Ne Win and his BSPP was all about. And it was well-claimed Burmese way! They were the ones who gave birth to the motto that says, ‘Burmese way, Burmese style’. When his position was challenged he forgot what Burmese way was and said ‘military doesn’t shoot to the sky’.
And whoever tries to help people develop for real, whoever gains popularity among civilians, whoever thought to be trusted by people was eliminated by the Ne Win. There are a few significant cases that both people from the public and the military officials suffered from accusation of corruption and forced to retired or jailed. This is one of the many ways that Ne Win used. And the current SPDC military regime controlled by Than Shew has been pursuing the same method to make himself (a king?)! He might think he was a king in Burma but definitely he’s a sucker to his Chinese counterpart.
What we’ve witnessed is a cold blood murderer couldn’t end his ideal life in ideal way. For the Buddhist majority that might be enough because we believe in hell, not a way of forgiveness or vengeance, as kamma the rule of nature. How evil they were, it is always virtuous to forgive anyone, especially the dead, because Forgiveness is freeing oneself from mental suffering. But our struggle in life for freedom must be strengthen until we achieve our goal. Do it with compassion, self motivation and determinism that you will never give up. The passion for our goal must be the only thing in our mind, no anger, no hatred.
Worse is the SPDC purely made of military plutocrats- the egocentric and kleptomaniac mindset seems the only role models that all men working for them have to learn from them and achieve their way in order to become so cunning, to dare to kill and torture anyone, must be able to do any kind of possible harm to whom they suspect and do not like. They can bully anyone they thought arrogant, they can ask money, they can keep people with no reason. They have believed they have put everyone under their boots! That’s Burmese way of militarism and that’s what truly in practice in Burmese army- rank and order, their law and order. There must be many Than Shwe and many Soe Win raised and kept for one purpose- for pragmatic brutality. Stalinism is the faith they worship.
This is true cultural and character damage put onto the Burmese young generations. Of course, they cannot brainwash everyone. But the majority soldiers (under the strict command, severe punishments, extreme poverty, in the life of no opportunity) to know the truth and to be able to put in others’ shoes is difficult. As they are forced molding, they rather become inhumane and this is what the BSPP achieved and what the SPDC has maintained. Their stresses, grievances, anger and hatred of their commanders turn their mindset into negligence, hopelessness and careless manner into cruelty; their respect makes them worse. But I don’t believe the soldiers are damaged permanently; as human, they must change. They might commit crimes as been ordered as being in military service. They’ve definitely volunteered in the suffering of the people but the generals are the ones responsible for whatever happening because the generals have kept the shape of the military as a tool to use. I do believe that when the ordinary soldiers who dream of no more than ordinary life can become ordinary again. If they are put among ordinary people, they would become normal and can manage normal lifestyle.
Many young people, whoever grew in that culture, especially the children of higher ranking officers, adapt that kind of behavior and infected AIDS like symptoms but no cure yet in Burma. They don’t seem having a sense of equal right and opportunity, rather above all. Like soldiers, they could become normal again only when their fathers received retirement. If a culture teaches to be strong, people will be strong. If a culture teaches to be wicked, people will be wicked. Military culture is never supposed to rule a society.
(To read part 1 2) To continue next week.
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Last week’s English articles
Choose the way of negotiation or else
Speaking with a retired Officer from Burmese Army
Are Burma's ASEAN Neighbours Washing Their Hands Off?
Cultural Politics, Asian Values & Burma (2)
Scholarships for Burmese Students
Global Day against Salween Dams