Burmese, Stand Up for UN - Min Khin Kyaw

Written by Min Khin Kyaw

Tuesday, 06 November 2007

Urgent Actions Needed Min Khin Kyaw   The simple truth is the junta doesn’t appreciate the world hosting the democratic movements for Burma everywhere. And the UN effort to make a peaceful democratic society in Burma is regarded as intervention. The generals do not welcome any positive thing for Burma simply because they want to keep the throne generation after generation. (What will people like the sons of Tay Za do to Burma when they become businessmen like their father?)   The junta simply hates the involvement of the UN and the international community between them and the suppressed Burmese people. Of course, they have so far expressed ‘the world to keep away from Burma’s internal affair.   However, the generals have decided to agree with the world maybe because of fear of sanction from ASEAN and other regional countries if this ever becomes true. If the generals have guts to do something against the ASEAN, they would seek silence from ASEAN or they’d voluntarily walk out of the next ASEAN meeting – if they believe ASEAN would act against them. But I don’t see this will ever to happen at all as the generals need ASEAN more than ever – simply they fear of sanction from ASEAN. So far sanctions alone have been a factor to bring the generals to dialogue and negotiation. They know the world is after democracy in Burma. But they will try to get support from anyone or any country with lies or bribery by offering natural resources which wouldn’t last long anyway as the current exploitation has been so far very many different serious concerns.   Yet the junta wants to show its pride and avenge the UN – at least making mockery. They’d do whatever within their capacity to agitate the international community and undermine UN efforts as they’re very famous for their stratagems. Not to renew to UN official in Burma is their latest move after denied entry to the many UN special envoys. However, they will greet UN’s officials with their grinning smiles. But certainly, the generals have not been up to the tasks expected they’d do. Clearly, the generals are just seeking ideas how to get rid of the world involvement in Burma.   They know the world doesn’t believe any of their attempts in any prove how the people support them; yet they are forcing mass demonstrations. They’re doing just that to get at least the upper hand in dialogue against NLD. On the other hand, they also do the same move they did again and again - that is freeing some detainees even though there are thousands more being detained without trial. And also asking the Daw Suu to accept their preempt move. Clearly we’re not seeking Daw Suu to meet the generals but totally opposite. We also want her freed and allowed to do her works as people’s leader. We never agreed with her detention; then why should we accept her being forced to accept the generals’ unreasonable demands?   Moreover, there is no explanation why Mr. Than Shwe cannot meet Mr. Gambari to start the real dialogue. Doesn’t this mean the generals are not seeing Mr. Gambari to let him achieve his mission? Instead they let him see only with the one who is supposed to meet Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi as the bridge; this is not acceptable. What the dialogue really means to the world is it is a serious meeting between the NLD and the generals – not between NLD and lower rank officials who supposed to carry messages back and forth.   As long as the junta keeps doing such things, the expected dialogue wouldn’t become real serious effort. Our skepticism will be as strong as ever as there wasn’t anything trustworthiness ever came out of the junta.   If the international community cannot unite, the junta will not consider that they have to seriously cooperate with the UN and start serious engagement with Burmese people. Then freeing Burmese people from current sufferings will be delayed further. No matter how the people hate the generals, no matter the soldiers want to revolve, the military cannot break easily; there will be no civil war. First any break-apart fraction will have to face the first reality of supplies: food, shelter and arms. Therefore, the unity of the international community is needed by the Burmese people more than ever and we Burmese people muse seek for this.   The UN previous envoys were bluntly ridiculed. If Mr. Gambari fails, it’s the failure of the UN, ASEAN, EU and US because all of them have seeking the full cooperation of the generals. Yet, we haven’t seen this but rather the generals are ignoring Mr. Gambari’s mission. It’s clear the junta moved a preempt attack on the UN by denying visa extension to Mr. Charles Petrie. We Burmese must protest against the expelling of UN official who spoke out the truth. We must encourage any UN official to speak out the truth. We must respect this and seek to keep all kinds of their missions in Burma.   Burmese in exile have supported Mr. Gambari’s mission. He has all supports and expectation from us Burmese. Not just that, he has been given support from leading ASEAN countries, China and India. But the effect of their supports hasn’t been materialized. The UN must seek transparent dialogue between two sides however.   If Mr. Gambari is denied full cooperation for the dialogue, the world must protest the generals. Hence, the world must protest against expelling or denying any UN official bluntly especially amid current national crisis in Burma. The mockery of the generals should lead to the unity among the UN members to act together for the democratic change in Burma.   Min Khin Kyaw

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 06 November 2007 )

 

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