17.09.2006
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Editorial: Just In Time
Hooray, finally at last Burma is on UNSC agenda for formal discussions!
As if the UN Security Council has suddenly come to realization that 18 years of sufferings under a brutal military regime is already too much to bear for poor Burmese people. In fact, it happens just in time as a dark age is looming ahead in the near future for Burmese people.
The regime in Burma knows that they cannot go on pretending any longer as if they are a transitional government. Every body with an ounce of sense knows that even a legitimate transitional government cannot go on and on for almost two decades, let alone an illegitimate one like SPDC regime of Burma.
Now regime’s supremo Gen. Than Shwe has got his pro-military constitution 90% finished, and it will soon be finalized in the coming session of the so-called National Convention_ we just don’t understand how they can call it National Convention when almost all credible ethnic nationality groups has boycotted it and so does the National League for Democracy.
In his constitution, Than Shwe has included many ridiculous clauses to ensure military’s control over 25%, at least, of both houses of future’s parliament. And the constitution has other more ludicrous clauses to pave the way for the top General of military to become the President of Burma.
Burmese people fought with their lives in 1988 people power movements to overthrow the then much loathed Ne Win’s dictatorship. Although Ne Win’s regime collapsed, the struggle for democracy went on in Burma as Ne Win’s disciples, Than Swe and associates, seized power after Ne Win’s down fall. In the past 18 years, Burma was in a political deadlock. The immense international adulation enjoyed by Burma’s icon of democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, and her party’s landslide victory in 1990 elections make SPDC regime appear in the eyes of international community as illegitimate robbers of power from people. But on the other hand, with Aung San Suu Kyi behind bars, her party can not reach any where near democracy. So, a deadlock, it has been so far.
But now, it seems, the regime of Burma has crafted a scheme to plunge the country into a dark era. As regime knows that they need to get some legitimacy_ even if a half-baked one_ their rubber-stamp convention will pass the constitution with preposterous pro-military clauses. And regime will get their constitution approved in a referendum by hook or by crook, by intimidation and by vote-rigging. Here we should not forget that Saddam Hussein, while he was in power, used to win 99% of votes in all elections.
If the pro-military constitution comes into being, military rule in Burma will be perpetuated for an eternity. So a dark, a very dark, age is looming ahead in the near future for the people of Burma. Time is running out very rapidly. And so every body in a position to help Burma must act NOW!
The United Nation, in the best position to help the people of Burma, must act now without any more wavering and indecisiveness. Because of big powers’ reluctance to intervene, millions of innocent lives were lost in holocaust in 1940s. And now again some big countries’ self-interests or selfishness is hampering the efforts to get United Nation’s intervention in Burma. The prospect of getting lucrative business deals with Burma’s SPDC regime has turned China and Russia into blind-supporters of the murderous military regime.
So big powers of the world please kindly trim down your self-interests a little bit and please cooperate with the US led efforts in UN Security Council to get a binding resolution for intervention in Burma before it has become all too late.
Dr. Tayza
*** If you haven’t, please sign petition for UN Security Council intervention to stop atrocities in Burma.
Comments:
T Nyunt said _
Very good thesis statement. Time has come to change Burma at the present of our trust leaders. Regret means too late. So action now!
John said _
I am really surprised when people writes, 18 years sufferings of Burmese people under military regime. It is, I believe 45 years sufferings( from 1962) of Burmese people under military regime.
Feraya said _
Yes, I totally agree. At long last the UNSC agenda is addressing Burma. All our efforts for a democratic Burma are not in vain. Every effort counts.
TEIN GYAR MIN GAUNG said _
Even though we are living apart very distant from Mother Land we can never lost our identity as BURMESE. We are feeling and suffering the same as people living inside Burma. I really want to remind all Burmese people living in or out of the country "Please be united and show the might of our Burmese Blood against the Rotten Regime".
Nyi Nge Thit said _
Though Burma issue is in the UNSC's agenda, we still need to work harder than ever. We have to prepare for the alternative solution if the UNSC's solution doesn't effect too much. Don't wait and see again. It's right that Burma has been suffering for 45 years and we need to carry on real actions.
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