A LIGHT OF HOPE FOR PEOPLE OF BURMA

New Era Journal:15 June, 2006.

[In commemoration of the 60th Birthday of the people's charismatic leader ]
by - Zin Linn

People of Burma mark 19 June, the birthday of Nobel Peace Laureate and Burma's Democracy Icon Aung San Suu Kyi, as Women of Burma Day. On this June 19, 2005 is the Sixtieth Birthday of Burma's democratic leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. As Suu is the true blood of her father, Burma's National Hero General Aung San, she inherited the Union Spirit and the Traditional obligation for National Reconciliation Cause. Moreover, she earnestly shoulders the task of building a democratic Burma. She also gives up self-interests in order to fulfill the will of all ethnicities in Burma. That's why people recognize Suu as the Bearer of New Hope for Burma.

People from various countries who support democracy and human rights admire Suu as champion of non-violence school together with Martin Luther Kings Jr. (1964 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate) and Nelson Mandela (1993 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate).

People agree that Suu has lots of personality. She's a lady of the highest integrity. She has shown great perseverance in the face of extreme hardship. She has a concentrated mind at her targeted destination. She never allows space for depression and approaches the questions with optimism. She always keeps calm and avoids disappointment while facing harsh oppression.

One remarkable personality is that Suu used to welcome every challenge as an opportunity. To everybody's knowledge, she holds firm to her resolution and never fails to keep her words. In addition, it is her habit to respect time and never allows of time-wasting practice. As Suu has made up her mind to sacrifice her life for the benefits of her country, she's in no mood for thinking of self-congratulation. To stand on the side of justice and to defend on the side of the oppressed is her usual manner as well.

There are two exemplars, Mahatma Gandhi and her father General Aung San, in her life. From Gandhi she takes her commitment to nonviolence, from her father she takes the power of integrity that represented what she called a profound simplicity. Although she got the spiritual power from the two exemplars, she has her own political ideology that represents defending human rights and human dignity in a manner of fearless way.

Human being or man has his right to live in a free society as a dignitary. As a member of human society, everybody must have the right to be respected. In her famous book - Freedom from Fear - she expresses to be fearless as the core of her thought. She says that - It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it. Fearlessness is the best response to governmental violence. In conclusion she writes that "truth, justice and compassion are often the only bulwarks against ruthless power."

Suu often tells the people about fear that caused them to be victimized in the circle of evil life. She encourages the people to get rid of fear as possible as they can. She occasionally shows up of her fearlessness against the military regime, facing guns and bayonets that closely pointed to her while on her trip to grass roots folks. With such examples of courage, firmness and integrity, she becomes symbol of hope for people of Burma similar to her father and Mahatma Gandhi.

It may be the fact that people recognize Suu as their sole savior or the symbol of future Burma, the military junta has continuously disgraced the Nobel laureate by using all dirty tricks. But the regime cannot afford to blacken Suu's reputation and finally they committed a big crime at Dapeyin on 30 May 2003 known as Black Friday. It's a premeditated ambush or political assassination that targeted the National League for Democracy (NLD) and its leadership. But it was in vain for the supporters of the NLD sacrificed their lives defending their charismatic leader and Nobel Peace Laureate. So, it will be in vain for the regime to do away with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who represents freedom, justice and equality in current Burma.

In the post cold war era, voice of calling for democracy and human rights has been strongly echoing in the main-stream of international politics. It may be a great pity to see that the military junta is still rowing their sinking boat loaded with military dictatorship against the democracy and human rights main-stream. As the generals put their faith in militarism, they do not have enough courage to listen the voice of freedom, justice and equality. They also dare not to face with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who gets landslide victory in the 1990 General Election. The semi-dictators in the South-east Asia region, who are in the same sinking boat with the junta, also seem to be scared of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her slogan - '' Democracy must come first and foremost ahead of economic development ''.

According to Suu's political point of view, without democracy and basic human rights economic opportunities will not reach equally to all citizens but to the military elite and its cronies. In the absence of freedom, justice and equality, to build a nation's economic development may be a castle in the air. That's why the Nobel laureate of Burma demands to set up a democracy surroundings as a sign of sincerity toward the people.

In fact, the Burmese military dictators cannot afford detaining Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for so long if they do not get supports from the neighboring semi-dictatorial governments.

In other words, the region's anti-democratic leaders are worrying to see the Nobel laureate at the helm of the democratic Burma that may result the renaissance of democracy in the region. Then, she will be crowned as the region's ideological leader for democracy and human rights.

To my individual point of view, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi becomes not only a promising leader of the region but also a world-standard statesman admired by international community. As various parliaments, universities and institutions have conferred honorary awards and doctorates on her, we should recognize her as a prominent ‘statesman’ of the world today.

One outstanding program of the world body is campaign for the Eradication of Poverty. Eradication of absolute poverty and reduce overall poverty substantially in the world. The UN's goal is to reduce the proportion of people living on less than one dollar per day by one half by 2015 through decisive national action and strengthened international cooperation. But to achieve that goal, it is essential to strengthen of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. According to Suu, without these fundamental rights the campaign for Eradication of Poverty means nothing.

Holding such advance ideology and policy, Aung San Suu Kyi is rapidly establishing as an important figure in the world political stage. For that reason, people are going to honor and celebrate her sixtieth birthday as a magnificent event in every part of the globe. This glorious birthday ceremonies show that Aung San Suu Kyi does not only belong to Burma but also to the international community. In addition, the military junta can not neglect the fact of recognizing Suu as a charismatic leader of the country.

If the military dictators refuse to recognize the role of Suu in making of democratic Burma, the Statesmanship of the Nobel laureate will gain more influential power in the political arena. If the dictators tried their utmost to damage the reputation of Suu, it will reversely cause them of exposing their immorality. If the generals tried to disgrace her personality especially of her selflessness, the majority population will denounce the military. If the military regime failed to accept the tripartite dialogue offered by Suu and the NLD, it will bring down the regime together with their farce national convention.

To sum up, due to strong supports by the international democratic institutions all over the world, Suu's glorious sixtieth birthday ceremonies has been transforms into great political rallies that raise her image and dignity overwhelmingly. People of Burma are now too proud to possess a democratic leader like Aung San Suu Kyi. Moreover, Suu has been receiving more and more support from people who love democracy throughout the world. It makes the junta to be isolated more than ever. For instance, the emergence of Burma Parliamentary Caucus in some countries is an apparent progress. Subsequently, the Asean Inter-Parliamentarian Caucus on Democracy in Burma (AICD) was also established in Kuala Lumpur last year.

In reality, such political improvement has come into existence due to Suu's firm resolution. Without such a determined leader, there might not be a better future for Burma. Nevertheless, Burma has a better future under the leadership of a firm, brave, honest and selfless leader. To have such a leader is fortunate not only for Burma, but also for the Asean as well. People who are responsible as leaders of the Asean should not waste this fortune to be useless. It is truly important for them to support faithfully and unitarily the nonviolent political path rather than military's blood and iron policy. Being a democratic politician in the Asean institution, it is also important not to be selfish and narrow-minded searching for one's own country. Asean's political leaders should be fearless persons for genuine peace and prosperity of the region.

As Daw Aung San Suu Kyi represents freedom, justice and equality, people think of her as ‘the Light of Hope’ for future Burma. Asean as well as world leaders should respect the will of the Burmese people and support their new hope.