A WOMAN THEY COULDN'T SHOOT by John

[zar1963@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: A WOMAN THEY COULDN'T SHOOT by John Boorman

Coban

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z

>From The Independent (from Britain), dated July 12, 1995

*A WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SHOOT* by John Boorman

Aung San Suu Kyi's release after almost six year under house arrest in
Rangoon is as surprising as it is welcome.  Only a few weeks ago, SLORC,
the ruling military dictatorship, said she would not be released in the
foreseeable future and until there was "calm and tranquility" in the
country, a condition that their brutal methods are hardly likely to achive.
As recently as last Saturday, the newspaper the New Light of Myanmar
(Myanmar is SLORC's new name for Burma) in an article entitled "Destiny of
the Nation", was implying that Dr, Michael Aris, Suu Kyi's British husband,
was dominating his wife, adding "And who has been dominating him? Allow
Myanmar to be Myanmar way.  Myanmar has lived as an imperialist slave;
spare Myanmar from domination of any sort of foreigner again."

Suu kyi was the inspiration of my film "Beyond Rangoon"; in the film I
recreated the seminal incident during her electioneering when she and her
followers were stopped in their progress by a cordon of soldiers.  She was
told she could not pass.  She walked slowly towards the soldiers.  The
order was given to fire--three times; non of the soldiers could bring
themselves to pull the trigger she passed through the cordon.

These were soldiers who were part of a military ethos that practised
torture, rape and massacre on a massive scale. Why had they held their
fire? And where had she found her courage? Several reasons.  She is the
daughter of the revered founder of modern Burma, General Aung
San,...(omitted because of a factual error ), who was assassinated at the
age of 32.  Suu Kyi is a woman of extraordinary grace and beauty but,
unquestionalbly, her strength derives from having conquered fear. Her
philosophy is expressed in her book "Freedom From Fear", in which she
argues that if the Burmese people can ever conquer their fear, teh army
would be powerless.

She and the generals have waged a private war during these six years of
inceration.  They dangled freedom before her, if she would agree to go into
exile.  The generals were always looking for ways to be rid of her.  She
has been careful not to accept money from her husband, since Burmese
politician can be disbarred if they accept money from a foreign source.
During the last two years, SLORC has been devising a new constitution to
which they intend adding a clause stating that no one married to a
foreigner can take part in Burmese politics.  Anything to be rid of her.

Is Suu Kyi's release a ploy to disarm public opinion? SLORC's statement
says that she will have the same rights as other citizens--which is not
saying much.  They cynicism of SLORC is not to be underestimated.  Next
year is Visit Myanmar Year; the government is desperate for tourist income.

I shot "Beyond Rangoon" in Malaysia.  SLORC tried every trick to stop the
picture being made.  Whereever it plays, Burmese dissident groups hand out
leaflets giving facts about continuing torture and slave labour in their
country.

Whether Suu Kyi's release is cosmetic move to encourage tourism and foreign
investment or a genuine step towards liberation, one thing is sure: Suu Kyi
hersef will continue her heroic struggle.

End.