28.01.2007
GREEN APARTHEID
(A Poem about S. Africa and Burma)
_ by David Law,
1
The World knows South Africa's
30 million sufferers.
Decades they have lived in pain,
Decades they have toiled in chains.
2
10 per cent of population,
White men rule by domination.
90 per cent population,
Black and brown in subjugation.
3
White men enjoy 90 per cent
Of the nation's wealth content.
Non-whites get just 10 per cent
Of the nation's wealth content.
4
Where on Earth is this Hellation?
South Africa is that Nation.
WHITE APARTHEID is the name,
Hateful policy of shame.
5
The World knows South Africa's
30 million sufferers.
But they forget the Land of Burma's
40 million sufferers. [in 1992 when this poem was written; now 50 million)
6
1 per cent of population,
Green men rule by domination.
99 per cent population,
Brown people in subjugation.
7
Greens have seized 99 per cent
Of the nation's wealth content.
Browns get only 1 per cent
Of the nation's wealth content.
8
Where on Earth is such Hellation?
Burma, Myanmar, oh, sad Nation!
GREEN APARTHEID is the name,
Hateful policy of shame.
9
South Africa's Mandela was
Kept in jail for 27 years.
White Apartheid is the name,
A philosophy of pain.
10
Burma's Daughter Aung San Suu Kyi,
Kept in jail 3 years already (back in 1992; now a total of 10 years and counting)
No-one knows for how much more
Green Apartheid has in store.
11
The World knows South Africa's
30 million sufferers.
Please forget not Land of Burma's
40 million sufferers.
(end)
Updated Footnotes on Green Apartheid, as of January 2007
The poem was first written in Chicago, 1992. Back in 1992 while I was a medical student at the University of Illinois in Chicago, I remembered how universities across America had, in the past, demonstrated against the white apartheid policies of South Africa and could not help but compare it to what Burma was going through.
It was very gratifying to see South Africa liberated and the hope was that one day Burma would also be similarly freed. I sent a copy of my book, "Ballads for Aung San," a collection of two dozen songs and poems (including this one above) to Nelson Mandela in 1994. By that time he was a busy President --- and his aide sent back a letter with words of empathy and support. (please see the attached copy of the letter) It was heartening to see that there were people who sympathized our Cause, especially outspoken people like Bishop Desmond Tutu who still supports us to this day.
Deputy
FM Aziz Pahad
But now, in January 2007, things have changed. South Africa voted no in tandem with Russia and China who vetoed the UN Resolution regarding Human Rights in Burma. The Deputy Foreign Minister, Aziz Pahad, declared that South Africa really cares for HR in Burma and he recommended that Burma's case be heard in the UN's HR Council instead of the Security Council. This is just a cynical brush-off because who are members in that so-called UN HR Council? Nations like Libya and Cuba which will just laugh off the problems in Burma.
Hence Pahad is really kicking Burma off into a cesspool ----- his actions speak louder than his cheap words and South Africa will will be remembered for its shameful vote. Meanwhile, the lines have been drawn, and we know clearly where our friends and enemies lie. Especially the way they LIE. .
The following is the reply letter from Mandela's assistant _
Comments:
Feraya said _
David, thanks for the poem and commentary that hit the nail on the head regarding S.A. When we are down we always know who our loyal friends are; they are the ones who care enough to walk that extra mile for us.
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