Kanbawza Win
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

June 7, 2003: :The international community has seen how the uncivilized
Burmese Generals try to hood wink the world. An average Burmese knew at
once that a premeditated massacre was looming when the CNN Television
reported the Junta’s news of how it warned Daw Aung San Suu Kyi not to
create trouble. Obviously a massacre followed the next day. But this was
the norm of the Burmese Generals since 1962 when on 7th July they
massacre hundreds of Rangoon University students. Since then shooting into
the crowds has become a normal procedure for them and if one can
recollect they calmly massacre 10,000 people in six major cities of Burma in
1988 and hurriedly cremated them. Hence the same pattern follows now as
the dead and injured were taken away to Payalay Kone village where more
than 80 of them were cremated both dead and alive and every bit of
evidence was cast in the Mu river.

The Junta version of news highlighted in the Burmese language media
says ''Aung San Suu Kyi's foul-mouthed, rock-throwing party members may
have set fire to a car, killing four people who were trapped inside when
the flaming vehicle crashed'' clearly contradicts eyewitness accounts
whic said that they were deliberately attacked by USDA members whose
patron was no other than General Than Shwe himself, the head of the Junta.
This was confirmed by State Department spokesman Philip Reeker who said
that officials of the U.S. embassy in Yangon had gone to the scene of
the incident to investigate. "Their findings indicate that there was a
premeditated ambush on Aung San Suu Kyi's motorcade. Circumstances and
reports from individuals in the region indicate that the attack was
conducted by government-affiliated thugs," he said. In the melee Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi was wounded and this could be confirmed by the fact that the
ICRC representative was not allowed to see her.

Hence, there was not an ounce of truth in the Junta’s version. Almost
every Burmese both inside and outside the country knows that these
uncivilized Generals are prone to lie the very concept of truth. They
forced the people within their clutches to belive their version or otherwise
would be persecuted. The question is what to do with these maurading
Generals? The UN envoy Razali Ismail who is now in Rangoon for the 11th
time has clearly said that neither the soft approach of the Constructive
Engagement Policy of the ASEAN countries nor the punitive approach of
the West by means of more sanctions are working. What then?

The time has come to push for the UN to take sanctions. So far, U.S,
Canada and Scandinavian countries have taken the lead in pushing for
the UN resolutions. General Assembly and UN Human Rights Organizations
regularly condemn the Junta. But these are something like what the
Burmese say like “Thingyan Amyauk” that make a big sound only without any
effect, somewhat equivalent of firing a Big Bertha without the cannon
ball in it. The Western countries, whose grandiose rhetoric is for the
prevalence of democracy and human rights in Burma, were unable to build up
a consensus for UN sanction owing to their own different self-interest.
Japan, Australia, India and ASEAN, following their own ways, while
China follows hers. The crafty Generals see the writing on the wall and
exploited it to the full. They knew very well that the international
community is at a loss of how to deal with them. And this drives them to
persecute Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD.

Coercive UN intervention that must be authorized by the Security
Council is urgently needed. The UN Charter gives a specific mandate for this
kind of action to the Security Council. Although Kofi Annan may not
undertake coercive interventions, he can make recommendation and can
bring Burma's case to the Security Council. Without the involvement of the
Security Council the Burmese thugs will always gave a lame excuse or
polite reply the UN actions. Sending his representative a dozen times
will not do anything.

China, which hold the most sway over Burma and is eager for land route
to the Indian Ocean has been called on to help. Whether Beijing Pauk
Phaw would care to push political issues in a place where its money and
businesses loom large is a big if. But China's recent change in
president could play a part, as can be seen in their engagement in North
Korea’s Nuclear crisis. Why can’t we give a try ? ''The current Chinese
leadership under Hu Jintao has shown itself much more willing to
compromise with the U.S. on these sorts of issues,'' said, Alan Dupont, senior
fellow specialising in Asian security risks at the Australian National
University. Surely
Beijing's North Korea stance can be taken as an indicator and Burma if
pressured by Ta Yoke Pauk Phaw (Chinese) considered as the cousin of
the Generals can bend. It is also in Beijing’s interest to have a
prosperous Burma at her backyard.

The episode in Burma could have negative repercussions for the region,
with waves of economic and political migrations causing problems to its
neighbors, especially Thailand. It is time for ASEAN, and especially
the ASEAN Regional Forum, which is designed to deal with security issues,
to have some teeth and to pressure the Generals and support the UN
actions.

If the uncivilized Generals can do this to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, it is
a clear indication that the civilized world must react and prevent
another massacre and a blood bath. The only way to do is just to copy what
Alexander the Great had done in cutting the Gordian knot, which is
short and sweet.

Bruxelles, Belgique