BURMA DIGEST

                      A Campaign Journal for Human Rights of All Ethnic Nationalities in Burma          31.12.2006

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Welcome 2007 and Farewell to 2006

 

By_   Dr. Zafar Shah

We all wish that our country, ourselves and our world future in the New Year 2007 would be better than the old year 2006.

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

(Leo Tolstoy)

Furthermore, Dale Carnegie said that if we wish a change in the present scenario, we could not easily change the others but should change our-self first, which is easier.

Leo Tolstoy is a famous Russian author, whose classic novels include War and Peace (1863-69) and Anna Karenina (1875-77).

One of his famous quotation is_

Historians are like deaf people who go on answering questions that no one has asked them.

Although I wish to write about 2006, once I read this quotation, I am a little bit reluctant to continue. Talking about Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), I wish to relate his famous story about the most important TIME, most important PERSON and most important DEED. That was written in his famous story, “Three Questions”.

It once occurred to a certain king, that if he always knew_

1.            the right time to begin everything;

2.            were the right people to listen to, and whom to avoid; and, above all,

3.            what was the most important thing to do,

he would never fail in anything, he might undertake.

He announced throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to any one
who would teach him or give the right answers to his three questions. Numerous wise learned men came to the King, but they all answered his questions differently but the king was not satisfied with their answers.

At last the King decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom.

The hermit lived in a wood, which he never quitted, and he received none but common folk. So the King put on simple clothes, and before reaching the hermit's cell dismounted from his horse, and, leaving his body-guard behind, went on alone.

When the King approached, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut. Seeing the King, he greeted him and went on digging. The hermit was frail and weak, and each time he stuck his spade into the ground and turned a little earth, he breathed heavily.

The King went up to him and said: "I have come to you, wise hermit, to ask you to answer three questions: How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time? Who are the people I most need, and to whom should I, therefore, pay more attention than to the rest? And, what affairs are the most important, and need my first attention?"

The hermit listened to the King, but answered nothing. He just spat on his hand and recommenced digging.

"You are tired," said the King, "let me take the spade and work awhile for you."

The King helped the Hermit the whole day. At the evening while he was asking again for the answers saw a bearded man come running out of the wood. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from under them. When he reached the King, he fell  fainting on the ground moaning feebly.

The King gave the first aid treatment to save the wounded man, became tired, and fell asleep. I will cut the story short - - -

In the morning, the King begged for an answer from the hermit_

"For the last time, I pray you to answer my questions, wise man."

"You have already been answered!" said the hermit, still crouching
on his thin legs, and looking up at the King, who stood before him.

"Do you not see," replied the hermit. "If you had not pitied my weakness yesterday, and had not dug those beds for me, but had gone your way, that man would have attacked you, and you would have repented of not having stayed with me.

1.       So the most important time was when you were digging the beds; and

2.       I was the most important man; and

3.       to do me good was your most important business.

Afterwards when that man ran to us,

1.       the most important time was when you were attending to him, for if you had not bound up his wounds he would have died without having made peace with you.

2.       So he was the most important man, and

3.       what you did for him was your most important business.

Remember then_

1.       there is only one time that is important—Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power.

2.       The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with any oneelse: and

3.       the most important affair is, to do him good, because for
that purpose alone was man sent into this life!"

So the past 2006 and future 2007 is not important. The present is the most important time, Burma Digest readers are most important persons on earth for me and here I am trying to share my knowledge to you to continue the struggles for the good of our beloved country, Burma.

But as a Medical Doctor, before prescribing any medication for the betterment of our patient we need to ask the history of the patient.

We need to know the Chief Complaint, History of Present Illness, Past Medical History, e.t.c.

Then only we examine the patient and we get the Provisional Diagnosis or we have some ideas of Differential Diagnosis and do some investigations if needed.

After all these, we know the exact disease and start planning the proper treatment.

At the same time we could estimate the possible outcome, prognosis.

So although the present is the most important time we should analyze the past now and must plan what to do, think about strategies and tactics to get the best results for our future. So we need to review the old year 2006 in order to plan for the new year 2007.

I do not wish to elaborate on all the past and present but the two most important events inside and outside Burma, struggling to shake and reshape its future.

Most of these are the movements through United Nations and 88 Students’ struggle.

On International front or from the United Nations:

Goodbye our three friends from United Nations_

  1. Mr Tan Seri Razali Ismail, UN’s special envoy to Burma, resigns on our “First Independent day” i.e. 4th January 2006 with the failure. The fact that he was even prevented from entering Burma since 2004 proved that what he praised about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s wisdom, looks, attraction, diplomatic skills e.t.c. is truth and because of his stand on her side to push the SPDC Generals, the Junta hate and fear for his return.

  2. Mr Kofi Annan, UNSG, who is leaving UN on 31st December 2006, was also a friend of Burma at UN but he should push more aggressively.

  3. Mr John Bolton, USA’s Representative to UN had aggressively campaigned and pressed the UN and all the countries especially the UNSC members to bring Burma issue at UNSC. Bravo, thank you Mr John Bolton. We are sorry that the Democrats have not given you enough time to finish off the SPDC.

  4. And happy farewell to our enemy. Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand PM.

Welcome our new friends_

  1. Mr Ibrahim Gambari, UN Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs. Mr Ibrahim Gambari replaced Razali Ismail on May 18 and visited twice to Burma and pushed for reforms after meeting with SPDC Generals and opposition leaders and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. He had given briefings at the UN Security Council, which agreed to place the Burma issue on its formal agenda, in spite of a strong protest from China.

  2. Mr Ban Ki-moon 62 from South Korea, the new eighth secretary-general of the UN will take the office on Jan. 1 2007 when Kofi Annan steps down. He will be the first Asian to lead the organization in 35 years after our Burma’s son U Thant. General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa administered the oath of office to Ban. We hope that he would vigorously and relentlessly continue the good job started by his predecessor.

3.       Mr Alejandro D. Wolf, acting US Representative to UN.

4.       Thailand’s Coup leader, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin.

5.       Thailand’s new interim Prime Minister, General Surayud Chulanont.

On the local front or Inside Burma: _

Goodbye our friends or top leaders of 88 Generation Students_

  1. On the 27thSeptember 2006, Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and Htay Kywe—are arrested. Three days later Min Zeya and Pyone Cho—are arrested at their homes in Rangoon.

  2. General Saw Bo Mya, Karen rebel leader passed away on December 26, 2006.

  3. Lamung Tu Jai, The chairman of the KIO (Kachin Independence Organization), died of liver cancer at the age of 76 on 15th June 2006.

  4. Thet Naing Oo, 40, ex-political prisoner dies after assaulted by SPDC thugs.

  5. On the 16th October, Student activist and political prisoner Thet Win Aung dies in Mandalay Prison

6.       Video film footage of the wedding of Senior-General Than Shwe’s youngest daughter, Thandar Shwe and Maj Zaw Phyo Win. We also welcome the alleged illegitimate child born five months after marriage and the shameful unconfirmed rumours of the separation or divorce of the two.

Welcome_ 

  1. On the 2nd October 2006, the 88 Generation Students group led by new leaders Ko Mya Aye, Ko Jimmy etc., began the first public campaign of show of strength and defiance to SPDC by gathering signatures for a petition for the release of political prisoners and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. About half a million people sign the petition, that was later presented to the UN.

  2. On the 10th , they launched a new campaign of the  “ White Expression,” requesting the people to wear white clothing for a week as a support for them.

  3. On the 29th, they started a third campaign, called “Multiple Religious Prayer,” requesting the people to pray according to their religions in the monastries, pagodas, churches and mosques.

  4. The chairman of the KIO (Kachin Independence Organization),  Lanyaw Zawng Hra.

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The strongest of all warriors are these two -- Time and Patience. (Leo Tolstoy)

I wish to look back at his famous story, “Three Questions”,  about the most important TIME, most important PERSON and most important DEED.

I hope that we all should remember that_

Remember that_

1.       there is only one time that is important—Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power.

2.       The most important man is he with whom we are together now, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with any one else: and

3.       the most important thing to do is, to do him good, because by doing so only we could create a better world for all of us.

I wish all of you a very happy New Year. 

 

 

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