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Dear Sirs,

Unlike the Military Regime we have no mechanical arms or ammunition, therefore the only means in defense of our freedom and our rights are through our "pens". During the last four decades we knocked consistently at closed and barred doors. I hope this time you will not dismiss our letter which echoesthe voice of the peoples inside the Shan State and Global Shan Community in exile.

As far as we understand the declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the General Assembly in 1948 and member states have reaffirmed their faith and pledge to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedom for all citizens of the world.

If our interpretation is correct, then does it not follow that some member states are not true to their pledge and are unworthy of the citizens they represent and the organisation they stand for? The SPDC does not represent any section of the population of Burma other than the armed forces.

The United Nations was born out of the struggle against Nazism and Fascism with their doctrines and practices of racial superiority and genocide. The present dictatorial regime of Burma has the same doctrines and practices which members of the United Nations abhor.

We pleaded to the United Nations, Western Governments, Japan, Thailand and ASEAN to help solve the dire political and human rights situation of Burma. Until now every nation is treading softly, softly with the excuse that they do not want to interfere in another country’s affairs. The International Governments and United Nations have failed to see that Burma’s affair is not internal but an international one, and also to view the situation as a crisis that needs addressing immediately not only on humanitarian but also on political grounds.

The Honourable Kofi Annan in his second term as the Secretary of the United Nations Stated that he would not turn a blind eye to help and protect those that are weakest and most vulnerable. Five years have passed since then and the Shans and other ethnic groups are still in the same or even worse dilemma as they had been four decades ago.

We understand that the Secretary General alone cannot solve such complicated global problems. After the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre on the 11th of September 2001 in New York, the Secretary General also called on all member states to join forces and act firmly against terrorism."

Members of the Burmese military regime who use brutal force and terrorize the citizens of Burma mustsurely be classified as terrorists and their action as an act of terrorism.

All governments, the United Nations, Media and citizens have a role to play in making the world a safer, more peaceful and happier place. In the present civilised but chaotic and dangerous world it is time to reassess the priority of human values and adhere to the principles and moral codes laid down in the United Nations.

In conclusion we would like to make a plea to you, the Secretary General and Members of the Security Council to:

1. Ignore the SPDC’s claim that Burma’s affair is a domestic matter and of no legal or legitimate concerns to the world. Please do not let them hide further behind the curtain of the so called Nation-state. If the fifty- year old Burma problem is to be solved we need International InterventionMr. Gambari, in his recent UN mission must have realized that the SPDC cannot be trusted.

2.. In the coming UN Security Meeting we request that Mr Gambari, the Secretary General and Members of the UN Security Council work toward a resolution requiring an end to the attacks on the ethnic nationals and the release of all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Khun Htun Oo.

3. For a neutral Government to mediate during a Tripartite – talk; - the problem could not be solved without the participation of Non-Burmese Ethnic Nationals. All groups must have equal participation in the process of reconciliation.

4 I am making a plea to all Governments to stop supplying the Burmese dictatorial regime with arms and ammunition used to murder Shans, Karens, Karenni, Mons, Rakhines, Chins and Kachins. Man killing man is an act of barbarism, which is the immediate cause of terrorism and chaos in the world.

 S. N.O
 

When looking at human history during the last century we find that due to the existence of tyrannical dictator governments many people suffered horrific human rights violations. The Jews had been the victims of prejudices and bigotry: the unjust treatment inflicted on them by their own human kind was at its worst during World War II when the Nazis committed the most gruesome crimes of persecution and genocide against the Jews for no other reasons than that they were Jews.
 
Some countries like Spain and Argentina also had their fair share of being under the military dictator governments during which many innocent citizens were imprisoned, persecuted, murdered and disappeared without trace.
 
In spite of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights some countries in the 21st. Century are still ruled by dictator military governments who grossly commit human rights violations against innocent people.
 
In 1962, there was a military coup in Burma and members of U Nu’s government were put in prison and this was when Burma became a land without law and order. The military readily used its power to oppress, persecute, and terrorise people especially those belonging to ethnic groups: the Shan, Karens, Kachins, Chins and others.
 
The Ethnic groups in Burma, especially the Shans are the worst victims of human rights violations in Asia: they are being uprooted from their farmlands and relocated to places where they cannot earn a living. As a result, they are suffering from malnutrition and even starvation.
 
Thousands and thousands are being tortured, young girls raped and then killed and countless massacred.
 
Many had to flee to neighbouring countries as refugees, who are being sent back or allowed to stay as cheap labourers.
 
Since the military junta took over power the ethnic groups in Burma have been living in hell. Their present predicament is similar to that of the Jews during Hitler regime. They run a risk of being subjected to awide variety of human rights violations simply because they are a member of a particular group.
 
We have been continually appealing to United Nations and Leaders of the Developed countries to please listen to our plight and help us. We would also like to appeal to you, your government and the people of Israel to please consider seriously the dire political situation of Burma. The British Government and the European Parliament have adopted the position as below, and are prepared to put greater pressure on the Burmese military junta, and we hope you will do the same too.
 
1. To stop them from inhumane treatments of Shans, Karens, Karenni, Chins and other ethnic groups in Burma.

2. To ban all new investments and encourage existing companies to pull out of Burma.

3. To lobby at the United Nations for world-wide arms and economic sanction against the Burmese military junta.
 
The ethnic groups are helpless and defenceless: they cannot compete in arms and ammunitions with the Burmese military who is also getting aids from other bigger countries.
 
We hope this is untrue, but there are rumours or news flashing around that the Israel Government has an arms deal with the Burmese military junta. We were shocked for we believed that the Israel Government, the majority of whose citizens are of Jewish origin would not be giving aids to such a regime.
 
The nations who are giving aids to the Burmese military junta are turning a blind eye to the horrific crimes they have and are committing, and are encouraging their actions instead of openly condemning them.
 
Those who trade with the Burmese military junta are supporting a murderous regime.
 
If nations ignore and do not learn from history and try to prevent mankind from destroying its own kind, mankind will be doomed.
 
The developed countries also have the responsibility to play a role in the moral and ethical issues of the world and encourage smaller nations to adopt democracy and human rights. The world would be a better place if governments and United Nations find a way to prevent a country from being taken over by the military or similar dictatorial or tyrannical; organisations. If this could be achieved there would be less human sufferings, refugees, asylum seekers, orphans and people fleeing to other countries. Surely, most people except in certain cases would prefer to live in their own homeland.
 
We humbly beg of you to please take heed of our plea. Please look back on what the many generations of Jews have been through and recall on what it was like to live under an evil dictatorial regime.
 
Yours truly,
S. N. Oo

 

December- 2000

Dear Sirs,

We the overseas- Shans are gravely concerned to hear that the Japanese Government is considering the possibility of financing the Tasang Dam on the River Salween, in Southern Shan State, east part of Burma, and also for allowing the Electrical Power Development Corporation to conduct the feasibility of study.

Even before the construction of the dam, the area around the site has been increasingly militarized, resulting in increased forced labour and forced relocation. The construction of the dam would lead to the change in the river flow and ecological imbalance.

The Salween or Nham. Khong is a river which flows down from the foot hills of the Himalayas, rushes down from north to south along the whole length of the Shan State before flowing through the Karenni, Karen and Mon States into the Indian Ocean at Moulmein .The Salween River and its many tributaries serve productive and industrious Shan farmers water for irrigating rice fields. Rice cultivation has been Shan culture for generations and most importantly, it is their livelihood. Therefore, they are resolutely opposed to the building of the dam on the Salween. They fear that if the river ceases to flow the Shan State as we know will be lost forever. The Nham Kong River is as important symbolically to the Shan as Mount Fuji to the Japanese people.

The dam will not only have devastating social and environmental impacts: large area of farmlands will be inundated and countless more people will be displaced with little hope of compensation. Even if not submerged, forests in the area will inevitably be depleted when logging companies move in to use the infrastructure built to serve the dam.

Are you fully aware that the International Labour Organisation has recently passed a resolution urging its members to re-evaluate their relation with the military regime in Burma, a country using the most intensive labour in the world?

The Shan Human Rights Foundation has reported that up to date there has been no evidence of any effort on the part of the military regime to stop the use of forced labour. In fact, only recently two elderly porters who could no longer continue to shoulder the heavy loads travelling on a very long trail was brutally killed.

The Tasang Dam Project will undoubtedly involve forced labour. Japan being one of the leading member states of ILO in Asia, we would like to make an earnest plea to you and your government:

1. To refrain from supporting and giving aid to the Burmese military regime, particularly in financing the Tasang Dam Project.

2. Not to grant permission to Electrical Power Development Corporation to conduct D/D detailed design), even if they should win the contract.

3. To put pressure on the Japanese Financial Corporation: Bank for International Co-operation MITI’s trade insurance not to finance the Tasang Dam Project.

Participation in this project will damage the EPDC’s international reputation. By knowingly participating in a project which clearly involved in the Tasang Dam would violate the resolution since it is clear that forced labour as well other human rights violations, are linked to the project.

Japan is one of the leading nations of not only Asia but the whole world. A small country, like the Shan State looks up to Japan with admiration, especially when its citizens cannot even live like ordinary human beings. They have all the human rights taken away from them: the right not to be massacred, the right not to be raped and the right to refuse to like draught animals. They don’t even have to own and cultivate farm lands for food.

We beg of you to consider justice and compassion and justice for humanity more important than political and economical interests. After all you are dealing with an evil, illegal government. . Being one of the leaders of the modern world we have hopes that you will lead other smaller nations to rectify injustice and prevent human rights violations. Also, does not an advanced country such as Japan carry the responsibility of playing a role in the moral and ethical issues of the world? We truly hope we can rely on you

Thanking you in anticipation.

On behalf of all Overseas Shan,
Yours truly,

S. N. Oo

The second time he voted in favour

To,
The Prime Minister of Japan
Office of the Cabinet-Public Relations Cabinet
1-6-1 Nagata- Cho-Chiyoda-Ku
Tokyo 100-8968
JAPAN
2006-10-07

Dear Sir,

I am Nel Adams, alias Sao Noan Oo who has previously written to you on behalf of the Shan people. In each of the letters I have asked for help from you and your government, as in the Tasang Dam Project in 2000. You have listened and acted with understanding, consideration and compassion for the ordinary citizens of the Shan State. Thank you.

Since my childhood I have high regards and respect for the Japanese people as I feel that you, the Japanese stand for honour, truth and justice.

Like many Shan people I am sad and shocked to hear that Japan is supporting China and Russia to oppose the UN Security Council’s resolution against the SPDC’s human rights abuse in Burma.

We understand that you acted with your own reasons but we feel that you are turning a blind eye to what is really going on in Burma. If you go along with this decision you are supporting the most despicable and evil regime, which does not understand the meaning of honour, truth, justice or freedom.

The U N members who oppose the resolution give the excuse that "no nation-state should interfere in another nation-state’s internal affairs". But, in the case of Burma it is not a nation –state but eight separate states according to the Constitution of the ex- Union of Burma. The two Military Regimes destroyed Burma as a nation-state when they destroyed the "Panglong Agreement" and "the 1948 Constitution".

All members of the United Nations have pledged to support the declarations of human rights and therefore have the responsibility to abide by their declaration, and if governments knowingly turn a blind eye to a regime which practises mass murder and other heinous acts then does it not follow that those members are neglecting their duty as "members of the human family"?.

The United Nations is a great Institution but it has pitfalls that need to be addressed. Some unethical governments are not true to their pledge and are not worthy of the people they represent. They are given consideration over the people they violate and terrorise. The weakest and the most vulnerable groups of people which need protection are being ignored by some UN members.
These are the forgotten people of the world and they desperately need help from the UN. We have hope that a country like Japan will, with other super powers take part in the reform and improvement of this great institution, to see that human rights are for all citizens of the world, to stamp out terrorists including governments that terrorise their own citizens.

May I request you alter your decision and vote for the U N Security Council’s resolutions against theBurmese military human rights abuses?

Yours truly,

Sao Noan Oo (Mrs. Nel Adams)

On behalf of Global Shans in exile and people of the Shan State.

I am not a politician nor am I member of an activist organisation but I represent the feelings of the majority of the voiceless people of the Shan State. I would like to thank the Thai Government for undertaking to chair a gathering of international governments who are meeting to bring about the reconciliation between the SPDC Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the Leaders of the Non-Burman nationals. I, on behalf of the voiceless people of the Shan State would also like to thank all governments who will be present to take part in the discussion of "the reconciliation and peace process" in Burma.

As we hope your kind endeavour will be successful I would be grateful if you would take the following facts into consideration: We feel that if you know the reasons for the make up and the break up of the Ex-Union of Burma you will understand the root cause of the conflicts between the parties. In 1947, the Leaders of the Non-Burman ethnic nationals participated with Bo Gyoke Aung San in jointly asking the British Government for independence. They signed the "Panglong Agreement" to form a federation in the Union of Burma, with each nation having equal status and opportunity. The Leaders of the Ethnic Nationals accepted the change and were prepared to work together with the peoples of Burma Proper.

But alas! Their hopes and aspirations did not materialise because the Constitution agreed in the "Panglong Agreement" was altered by the then Prime Minister. The Shan Leaders realised that they had been taken advantage of and made their views known to Prime Minister, U Nu, in March 1962. When Parliament assembled to discuss the issue of Federalism in Burma the army under Ne Win staged a coup and placed all members of parliament including all ethnic Leaders in prison and subjected the people to military rule.

The military coup was followed by the obsession of the Generals and their followers to have full control and Burmanise the non-Burman nationals by using arms and brute force. Being forced to abandon their language and culture had made the Shans more determined than ever to revive everything that was Shan.

 Many Shan youths formed groups to resist the army rule as they fought for their survival and freedom.

As years went by and until today the military junta are more anxious to hold on to power, and soldiers and officers more inhumane towards the citizens of the country they occupied. As amnesty international reported in 2000 Burma became an " instrument of torture", and torture was used by the authorities to keep the population in a state of fear. With such policy in mind they subjected the citizens, especially those belonging to the non-Burmese ethnic nationalities with fear and terror. Their human rights violations include ganged rape of women and young girls, extra-judicial killing, murder and genocide. They denied the citizens the fundamental human rights including the means of survival. During the two regimes many people have died through ill-treatment by the soldiers, thousands of people have fled from Burma into Thailand and many more are internally displaced, hiding in the jungle. The internally displaced people are desperate, trying to survive with whatever they can find for food; they have no shelter and have to be prepared to run in case they are seen and shot at by the soldiers.

We pleaded to Western Nations, the United Nations, Thailand and SEAN to help solve the dire political and human rights situation in Burma. So far every nation is treading softly, softly with the excuse that they do not want to interfere in other countries internal affairs. The International and United Nations have failed to see that Burma’s affairs are not internal but external, and also to view the situation as a crisis to be addressed on humanitarian grounds. Does it more than forty years of civilians being treated worse than animals need immediate attention?


The declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1948. Members of the United Nations reaffirmed their pledge and faith in fundamental human rights and freedom. Yet we see today that some members have not been true to their pledge and are unworthy of the citizens they represent and the organisation they stand for. Members of the Security Council and all democraticgovernments have the responsibility to apply stricter rules in deciding which governments should or should not be eligible to be representative of the citizens of their countries. The SPDC does not represent any sectionof the population of Burma other than the armed forces. The other section of 30 million or more of the population, especially those who have been the victims of human rights violations have no voice or any form of representation.

All citizens, governments and the United Nations have a role to play in making the world a safer, more peaceful and happier place. Knowledge through science has advanced greatly in several fields but little attention has been paid to the study of humanity. In this supposedly civilised but chaotic and dangerous world it is time to reassess the priority of human values and adhere to the principles and moral codes laid down in the United Nations’ Charter. In the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" the General Assembly proclaims "Recognition of the inherent dignity and the equal inalienable rights of members of the human family is the
foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world".

Like other non-Burman ethnic Nationals, the Shans primarily desire independence but for the sake of peacethey are prepared to join the others as one of the eight federal states and contribute to the building of peace and success of the federation.

To bring about the reconciliation between the three parties: SPDC, Daw Aungsan Suu Kyi and the Non-Burman ethnic nationals, all mediating governments should take the above facts into consideration, and look at the situation through the eyes and feelings of the parties concerned and refrain from being bias because one of the parties has a stronger voice. Unless honour, justice and fairness are taken into account the political situation in Burma will not be resolved. I trust you will not fail the parties concerned especially the victims and unrepresented sections of society in Burma.

Thank you- S. N. Oo
 

Articles

(Published by Burma Digest)

Sao Noan Oo

Burma is a country of eight ethnic states: Burma Proper, Shan, Karen, Karenni, Mon, Kachin, Chin and Arakan States, named according to the most numerous ethnic national inhabitants in each area.(however, in Kachin State, the Kachins are not the majority). The country’s history was made by a succession of different groups of people who migrated from Tibet and China, all of whom played a part in the country’s development.

Early History tells us that there had been fierce struggles for power between the Mon, Shan and Burman (or all three had been at the height of dominance at one time or the other). In the earliest part of history the Mon were the most dominant, followed by the Shan who ruled the northern parts of Burma and the Shan State for over two hundred and fifty years and the Burman about the same number of years, from Bayintnaung’s reign until the British colonisation of Burma.

The British originally ruled Burma as an appendage of India, but parts of the mountainous ‘frontier areas’ which had never been under lowland kingdom’s direct rule, were mapped into Burma and many hill populations ended up split between Burma and neighbouring countries. In the frontier areas there might have been an initial resistance to colonial rules but soon they accepted the British as their Government. In fact the period of British rule was one of the most peaceful periods, especially  in the Shan State. It was free from the Sao Hpas, also known as Sawbwas (prince) quarrelling amongst themselves, and the interference of the Burman Kings, and their armies marching to war against the Chinese or the Siamese (Thailand). The British also introduced law and order in different areas of Burma.

Most Burman nationalists bitterly resented colonial domination and they were angered and humiliated by what they considered the British divide and rule method between Burma Proper and the Frontier Areas. Up until today, they harbour  this feeling of humiliation and grudge against the British, and so vent their bitterness on people of the frontier regions. They try to erase the humiliation of colonialism and to prove their own legitimacy and superiority by linking their own political and religious activities to the accomplishments of the great Burmese Kings.

Burma has never before been so divided ethnically, politically and religiously than in the last fifty years. Under the two military regimes the people of Burma, especially the non-Burman ethnic nationals, live in fear and terror. Few people in the world and  even those living in Central Burma can really understand and imagine the extent to which the Burmese army has caused tensions and suffering in the rural regions of the Shan, Karen and Karenni States. Along with the expansion of the military’s presence throughout the country the regime also engaged in its policy of Burmanization of other ethnic nationals. The Burmese dictatorial regimes blamed the British for their divide and rule policy, which they say "resulted in suspicion and discord among national races. This subsequently led to armed insurgency that spread to various parts of the country for decades".

It is true, that the British Government had divided Burma Proper from the Hill States during their administration, perhaps with the intention of protecting the peoples of the Hill States from the Chauvinistic and bullying nature of the more worldly wise and cunning
Myanmar politicians. Members of the army seem to feel very strongly that the British had practised a divide and rule policy during the time they were in government, yet the Burmese military practiced a divide and rule policy between different ethnic groups, and within the same group, a policy which is much worse than that of the British.

One of the most popular statements of the Military regime is "Myanmar has existed as an independent kingdom for thousands of years. It has always been proud of its culture, tradition and values. Therefore colonisation by Great Britain was a great shock to the psyche of the Myanmar people."

When going back thousands of years as shown above, the Shan or Tai had their own dynasty, "The Nam Mao Long Dynasty,  expanded from Yunnan, Shan State, Assam and large areas of Central and Northern Burma. Like the Burmans, the Shans  are also proud of their history, culture and literature. The Shan State was a separate country from Burma, and had always  been autonomous during the British and Japanese regimes, and even in the days of the Burmese Kings. Therefore, when the  Burmese Military occupied the Shan State and subjected the Shan people to its rule and all forms of human rights violations it was not only a complete shock to the psyche of the Shan peoples, but it was the worst thing that had ever happened to them in  many thousands of years of history. The Shan people had everything that they valued, such as their farmlands, homes and means of survival, taken away from them by the two military regimes.

The Military Regimes have insisted that they are working to unify the country; what they cannot see is that they are doing totally the opposite. Previous to the Burmese Military regimes the Shans and the Burmans had mingled socially without prejudice  against each other and the Shan culture was to some extent influenced by that of the Burmese. But when the military regimes  tried to destroy their way of life and forced the Shans to abandon their language, literature and traditional buildings, the Shans  became aware of what the regime was doing. They became more nationalistic and were determined more than ever to ensure the  survival of their tradition and everything that was Shan. Besides the physical disintegration and suffering of society and individuals, the Burmese Military had also caused distrust, bitterness and hatred.

The military regime claimed that it has been sacrificing much of its blood and sweat to prevent the disintegration of the nation.  According to them the military coup was necessary because the Sawbwas were trying to destroy unity by planning to  secede from the Union.

By 1961 the Sawbwas realised that the Union was totally in the control of the Burmans; therefore, the question of "to secede or  not to secede" came to be an issue amongst Shan Leaders including U Htoon Myint who was anti-Sawbwas. This was not a crime as it was a right provided by the Constitution. The secession issue did not arise out of conspiracies by the Sawbwas; it originated from real grievances.

Even then the majority and more prominent Shan Leaders were committed to working out a solution with the elected U Nu Government. In March 1962, during a high level seminar on federal issues attended by Prime Minster U Nu and senior Shan representatives, General Ne Win seized power. The present long and never ending conflict could have been avoided if the debate in parliament was allowed to continue democratically, and with compromise. Ne Win and his generals were so obsessed with the idea of having full control over the frontier areas, and to further their ego and superiority complex that they put the Sawbwas and other members of the government in prison.

The Regimes’ Propaganda is that they have saved the Union from disintegrating and that they are serving the interest of the national people.

The regime is definitely not serving the interest of the people other than themselves. They are a self-elected government and  their main aim is to hold on to power by hook or by crook ; by killing or punishing all oppositions by any means no matter who they are, even those from their own group who once held the same polices as themselves. If the present Generals feel that their policies are so right why are they so afraid to be transparent? Why can’t they face the opposition and have a debate with them like any civilized people instead of using guns and ammunitions to force people to accept unreasonable terms? The Military regimes blame the British and the Shan Sawbwas for the disintegration of the Ex-Union of Burma. If the truth be  told it was because of the Shan Sawbwas and other Ethnic Leaders that the Union of Burma came into existence, and it was the military regimes that destroyed the Union when they dishonoured the "Panglong Agreement" and abrogated the 1948 Union Constitution. Yet the SPDC refuses to accept the Union of Burma as being defunct. The Generals, one after the other, continue to hold the states together by brutal force.

The fifty years of their attempt to do so have failed dismally. And the root of Burma’s decline and subsequent economic and educational decay can be traced directly to colonial arrangements and misrule practised by the Generals. By looking at these facts there is little reason to pronounce that the present day Burma is viable as a Nation state. A great nation is built by the diverse citizens of a nation; not by a handful of generals who are making Burma into an empty shell and filling it with soldiers indoctrinated with their own policy, and provided with guns and ammunition to exterminate non- Burman ethnic nationals and punish  all oppositions.

In the 1950 -1960 I had the experience of knowing and making friends with many Bamars. At that time all the ethnic nationals,  each with its own culture and religion studied and worked together. We were not free from competition but the competition was  fair and just and we accepted success humbly and failure sportingly. The difference in culture and religion did not come into  question because there was no prejudice, bigotry, or distrust amongst us.

The Military regimes insist that they are safeguarding the Barmar society and tradition. But from my observation the culture which my friends used to be proud of and those of us who were not Barmar respected and admired has been tainted with the regimes’ policies to promote its own ends- a culture which has no regard and respect for human life; a culture that values  chauvinism and superiority complex and a desire to have control over other ethnic nationals. It seems the goodness in Barmar tradition has been swallowed up and twisted by the regimes.

The British and the Shan Sawbwas have been gone for fifty years and the SPDC is still blaming them for the dire political situation in Burma. It was the extreme Burmese nationalists who assassinated General Aung San and his colleagues; it was  Ne Win who staged a coup and put U Nu and his government in prison; it is the present SPDC who put Ne Win’s family, Khin Nyunt and his followers in prison and violate human rights against their opposition. It wasn’t the Shan Sawbwas, the  British or other ethnic groups that created disunity. It is obvious that the SPDC are out to punish their people to safeguard their own power. It is almost predictable what is likely to happen next. The Military regimes and the extreme Barmar nationalists cannot even keep their own group in order.

It is time for the Generals to admit that they have misruled the peoples of Burma for fifty years.

It is time for them to regain their reason and conscience.

It is time for the generals to give up power and let democratic elected members govern the country.

The two key political issues today in Burma are (i) the restoration of democracy, and (ii) the resolution of the political rights of all ethnic nationalities. Nobody knows how Burma is going to develop; be it a genuine federation or complete independence for some of the states depends on the attitude and will of all concerned. To build a genuine federation the Barmar politicians must  prove to the other ethnic nationals that they are honourable, trustworthy and genuine in their dealings, and must not let their  chauvinism and false pride mar any success. All must move forward and past mistakes must never be repeated.

It is time too for all the ethnic peoples, including the Barmar to work together for the commongood of all nationals and for the progress of mankind. It is time that we try to understand each other’s feelings and treat each other as equals. After all, we are all human beings. Each ethnic group has its own traditions, language and literature but with tolerance and respect we can still live peacefully side by side and Burma is big enough for all. We have a long way to go because fifty years of pain, suffering misunderstanding, anger and bitterness are not easy to forget and forgive. But if there is a will there is a way. Please take this unique chance and play a part in a vision of a new society in which all of us may dwell in peace and harmony. Please be an agent of change for the betterment of the human condition; a chance to stand up effectively for human rights which are the key  to human happiness, to justice and to the welfare of the human race.
 

Published by the Burma Digest
S.N.Oo

I would like to say "Best Wishes" to Daw Aung San Suu Gyi and members of NLD on the 18th.anniversay of the founding of their party. I also congratulate them for their fight for survival amidst an almost impossible situation. I hope NLD will continue to fight for freedom, democracy, justice and fairness for all peoples of Burma.

The time has come for all democratic forces to look forward to solve the big problem that is facing them today, but just as importantly the problems of the future. The new politicians must not believe and act like the old ones. They must not exploit the situation. Burma must confront its own past. The only way for reconciliation is to know why the Union of Burma has gone sour. It will be a painful process and they will have to go through it and find the truth. Only then can the peoples of Burma move forward towards a genuine federation, freedom and democracy. No one should ignore the injustices and nightmare of the past, or lessons of history. But too often people hold on to history and use it to fuel their anger, prejudices, hate and distrust. All peoples of Burma must emerge from its past history and direct their vision towards the common goods of all concerned.

There have been so many atrocities, cruelty, murder, rape, torture and political imprisonment. In the Shan and Karen State there are countless children who have been the victims of violence, whose lives are scarred by the memory of witnessing their parents being tortured and murdered by the soldiers, and the shock of being left fatherless and motherless. In other parts of Burma children are forced to become boy soldiers, and through indoctrination become part of the system that turned them into people who are capable of terrible deeds against their fellow human beings. Generation after generation of children have become the victims of mistrust and hate when they should be having proper education and learning to reason and to have compassion for other people. What a terrible waste of good human resources.

The two key political issues today in Burma are (i) the restoration of democracy, and (ii) the resolution of the political rights of all ethnic nationalities.

It is time too for all the ethnic peoples, including the Barmar to work together for the common good of all nationals and for the progress of mankind. It is time that we try to understand each other’s feelings and treat each other as equals. Each ethnic group has its own traditions, language and literature but with tolerance and respect we can still live peacefully side by side and Burma is big enough for all.