Engaging with Democracy or Authoritarianism by Htet Aung in Irrawaddy.
http:Photo -- The Lamp of Justice in the Twilight -- Photo copyright Kyi May Kaung.
Why do regime apologists jump in to blame Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy for "lack of development" in Burma. Can't they see that it is due to the junta, which has been in power since 1962, though of course individual generals have changed? The junta is the one that set up this distorted and oppressive political-economic system. It is more than the journalistic cliche of "due to the junta's mismanagement." It is systemic, systematic and deliberate. Only a system change will fix things.
Why do they think they can talk to these generals who literally won't give them the time of day?
If they like it so much why don't they give up their western passports and go live in Burma? Oops, no! "Mee-ahn mar" as they all mispronounce the place.
Former Burmese ambassador to USA, Lin Myaing, boasted on a list serv called Generation 88, that he came recently to DC and the White House to talk to the Obama administration. This may be so -- and the US may be willing to try talking.
I personally don't think it will go far. We will see, what we will see.
This time Mr. Gambari saw Daw Suu and the NLD but Sr. Gen. Than Shwe refused to see him.
So where's the "dialog?"
But of course we must keep on trying. But in doing so we must also be true to all the people who have sacrificed so much over more than 20 years, including Daw Suu, The NLD, the dissidents still in prison, the entire population of Burma which is suffering. We can't feed them to the flames to be burned alive, in the faint hope of pleasing the junta.
Did you see the movie The Duchess about Georgina, the Fifth Duchess of Devonshire? I have been to the garden at Chatsworth, the Devonshire seat. G. at the dining table proposed a deal to her philandering and cruel husband. She's accepted his bastard child into the house. She won't raise a fuss if he will let her live her own life. His response, "Deals? I don't do deals. Why should I?"
Think -- why should the junta "do a deal" with pro-democracy forces?
How do we bring them to the negotiation table?
In the famous Burmese folk tale Nga Moe Yeik, the crocodile Nga Moe Yeik is the primary vehicle for the Prince to ride when he crosses the river to see his lady.
He gets the crocodile to come to him by beating the water with a magic stick.
Which is the stick that will bring the junta crocodile to civilian masters?
But in the folk story, a jealous person goes and tells the girlfriend that the Prince's power lies in his right arm and if she, a woman, lays her head on his right arm he will lose his power. She finally manages to do so, the Prince loses his power and is swallowed by the crocodile. She has the crocodile killed and makes a hairpin of her lover's bone.
I don't like the male chauvinist second part of this story.
Text/comment copyright Kyi May Kaung
