24.09.2006
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A pledge for nonviolence
(Interview with Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan, carried out by Raluca Enescu)
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that”, once said Martin Luther King Jr. In many ways, the message of Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan, is very much alike. It is impressive how someone who has witnessed sheer violence is still, and maybe even more convinced in his belief and hope for a non-violent world.
He is the South-east Asia coordinator of Nonviolence International and Landmine Monitor researcher for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the NGO which won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1997. Regarding each matter objectively, he makes proof of a great lucidity. There’s a lot to be learned from his words!
BURMA DIGEST: In 2002, in Burma, more persons died from landmines than in any other country of the world, and the situation does not seem to improve. Why? What is happening and who is responsible?
YMP: Your question is not quite accurate. Burma/Myanmar has (fortunately) never suffered from the casualty levels of some very highly mine affected states, such as Afghanistan, Angola or Cambodia. The exact number of casualties are unknown. Gross annual medical statistics are available but it is impossible to disaggregate a landmine injury from any other form of medical trauma treated within the national medical system (such as a traffic casualty). We track those people who do seek medical attention, for reason of landmine injury, in neighboring countries, such as Thailand. This does not allow us to determine the total number of casualties, but it allows us, over several years of observation, to determine if the number is likely to be increasing, decreasing or staying the same. We can say that the number appears to be steady- neither improving nor getting worse. According to medical services based in different ethnic groups, the number of casualties from landmines is much lower than malaria, which is one of the primary causes of death in the State and Divisions of Burma/Myanmar bordering Thailand. In 2002, we published an estimate which we have never since repeated as we now feel it was too high, and instead only report on cases we can verify. While this will not reveal the total, it does inform us about the trend.
BURMA DIGEST: Is the situation, from this point of view, more dramatic in some parts of Burma than on others? Why?
YMP: Landmine use is associated with the ongoing armed conflict within the country, therefore there is more of it in those States and Divisions which are experiencing conflict now, in other States and Divisions, there may be some residual mine pollution from previous conflicts. Currently armed conflict is occuring in Karen, Karenni and Shan States, and this is primarily where new mines are being laid. Other areas may see skirmishes from time to time but not sustained conflict. Most combatant groups in Burma/Myanmar, whether the Tatmadaw or the ethnic militias, make use of anti-personnel landmines. The Chin National Army in western Burma/Myanmar publicly stated last month it will no longer use anti-personnel landmines, as have a few other, smaller armed groups. Landmines are produced by the State military industries, the KaPaSah, and also by ethnic armed groups.
BURMA
DIGEST:
The Burma Digest has been trying, over the past few months, to prove that the
ruling junta is guilty of genocide. Are there any evidences in your research
that we could use?
YMP: No. The bar for proof of genocide
is quite high. Atrocities and/or severe and condemnable violations of
International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law are certainly taking place, but
not at the level that justify the use of the term genocide, in my opinion. While
some atrocities are 'common', especially in prisons, they are not systematic
enough to justify the use of the legal concept of genocide. Some atrocities
which occur during military operations halt, once the specific military
operation halts, and if genocide was taking place we would expect to see the
atrocities continue even after the reason for a military operation ceases.
BURMA DIGEST: What do you think should be done in order to bring an end to the crisis?
YMP:
We lobby all combatant parties to enter into a genuine and nationwide ceasefire.
[In our opinion there are no ceasefires within the country, although some
armistice or non-hostility pacts of unknown duration with no protocols have been
verbally agreed in the past]
Even prior to a nationwide ceasefire we lobby all combatants to halt the use of
anti-personnel mines, as their impact is long lasting and will continue causing
casualties even after any ceasefire is agreed.
BURMA DIGEST: Do you feel that you are making a difference?
YMP: When we started our country research on Burma/Myanmar, landmine use was not reported in other media (human rights reports, news reports, etc), now it is more common, so clearly we have played a role in raising awareness of the issue. Officials in Burma/Myanmar never use to admit to this problem, now they are still not very open but none-the-less respond to it. In 2006, for the first time, the Myanmar Minister for Information organized a tour for journalists to a hospital in Bago/Pegu to see how the medical system took care of mine victims. This is the first time that I have seen this type of activity and I believe it is a direct result of our constant advocacy on the issue. We make sure that all Ministries and members of the junta receive our report each year, as well as local and international NGOs, UN agencies, various diplomatic missions whom we also request to raise the issue, and we also know that the results of our work are disseminated within the country by the shortwave radio serves, and at the turn of the year on the new Democratic Voice of Burma satellite TV broadcast.
BURMA DIGEST: A lot of readers of the Burma Digest are worldwide campaigners for human rights in Burma. What advices would you give to them, from your own experience?
YMP: Do rigorous fact checking before you raise an issue, and then have a strategy in your advocacy campaign. Make sure you have some clear short term as well as long term goals.
BURMA DIGEST: Actually, how is the situation in Burma seen from outside? Do you think people from Canada and from other democratic country are aware and able to understand what's going on in Burma?
YMP: Very few people, anywhere in the world, are able to monitor broadly the suffering that goes on outside of their own lives, or have the luxury of responding to it. For those who wish to know, information is available. Burma, in general, stays off major news due to stringent restrictions on visiting journalists. Most news about the country comes from nationals employed and trained by international wire services, and the boldness of their reporting appears to depend on prevailing political conditions, however, it appears to have gotten better over the past 2 years [very modestly, it is impossible to say this is a permanent improvement]. The question is a difficult one to answer, do most Canadians even understand the internal decisions of most of the political parties in Canada? It depends on interest. By and large, Canadian foreign policy on Burma is informed and responsible.
BURMA DIGEST: Now, that so many people from all around the world are getting involved and doing their best to help , do you think we can say yet that there is a global movement for human
YMP: I would say that there is clearly a global movement in support of human rights, and activists struggling to focus attention on Burma will benefit from that. There is more and more of a global consensus that the use of military means for problem solving is no longer acceptable. The enormous and unprecedented outpouring of demonstrations around the globe prior to the US invasion of Iraq is very hopeful. The fact that immediately after the recent conflict in Lebanon, both Israeli citizens are calling for the resignation of their government and Lebanese are calling for the disbandment of Hizballah is very heartening. In general, there is an emerging global consensus that citizens of a country have a right to a voice in their governance. All these trends are a pressure on the military junta currently ruling Burma which they cannot ignore.
BURMA DIGEST: Do you think nonviolent action can bring the end of a brutal regime, using violence every day? How?
YMP: Our closest ally within Burma/Myanmar is the National League for Democracy. They are the only party in the country to engage in the political struggle by solely nonviolent means. In 2000, they stated publicly that their foreign policy will include introducing to parliament at the soonest possible time the accession of Burma to the Mine Ban Treaty as a mater of national urgency. The continued imprisonment of the NLD leadership, and other ongoing activities to repress the party demonstrates that the military junta are very aware of the threat to their power which focused nonviolent efforts. Clearly they see the NLD as a far greater threat to their power than any of the armed groups. The NLD, and its continued commitment to the principles of nonviolence is what wins legitimacy for external Burma activists, and gives it standing in the international arena. Each round of repression by the military junta further destroys their own international standing and legitimacy. Change is coming, if somewhat slower than desired.
BURMA DIGEST: Given the fact that the ruling junta is spending nearly half of its budget on military, what impact would imposing economical sanctions have on the situation in Burma?
YMP: This is a speculative question, and has really never been tried. Although some States have imposed their own, limited, unilateral, punitive actions, economic sanctions can not really be effective unless they are universal. Unfortunately there is not enough global consensus among nations to allow for universal sanctions to be applied. Partial sanctions will be an annoyance to the military regime, but until they are universal, they may be capable of bypassing the ones imposed unilaterally by some states.
Your Comments here_
Request: If you can kindly volunteer to translate BURMA DIGEST English articles into Burmese, please let us know burmadigest@tayzathuria.org.uk .
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Click here for This week’s articles
Last week’s English articles
Burmese Generals Mindset Vs. International Response
Chronic Emergency: Speaking with Backpack Health-workers
Throwing Light on the Conspiracy Theory
Some Attributes of the Military Rule in Burma
Cultural Politics, Asian Values & Burma (3)
Burma Stall in British Trade Unions Conference