Non-violence: the only viable solut

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Subject: Non-violence: the only viable solution

Friends of Burma,

  I would like to initiate a discussion that no doubt will upset some of you b
ut it is one which I think is of importance to the future of Burma and the way
 the international community views the present situation.

  Simply put, violent conflict only results in prolonged suffering and more de
aths.

  Aung San Suu Kyi has been calling for strictly peaceful means to liberate th
e Burmese people from the SLORC's oppression.

  The SLORC and ASEAN countries seem to view stability as the most important a
nd first objective of any government, no matter how control is achieved.

  Many people say the SLORC is using violent conflict and possibly staged terr
orist attacks, which it blames on the KNU and friends, to justify the current 
offensive in Karen State.

  The Thai government is trying to deal with the very difficult task of weedin
g-out KNU soldiers from genuine refugees.

  Most people, including un-named high-level members of the KNU, acknowledge t
hat it will not be possible for the KNU or anyone else to defeat the SLORC thr
ough military or geurilla conflict.

  One of the prevalent criticisms of the SLORC is that they use civilians as m
ine-sweepers. It has recently been noted by Thai newspapers that these civilia
ns, who are members of the Karen and Mon ethnic groups, are consequently being
 killed by land mines planted by the KNU.

  The continued fighting in Burma has to stop eventually!

  The SLORC says it will continue the offensive as long as necessary. That is,
 they will continue to kill Karens and others until the latter stop fighting.

  Therefore there seems to be only two probable outcomes: either the KNU and f
riends simply stop fighting and take refuge where they can as long as necessar
y, or the war continues until all Karen combatants, and countless others, are 
dead.

  (Now that some of you are ready to tear me apart, please have a little more 
patience and keep reading).

  To stop fighting does not necessarily mean to surrender.

  The people and the legitimate government of Burma should never give up their
 struggle against the oppressive SLORC. However, this struggle will be much mo
re succsessful if it is strictly peaceful.

  When the KNU finally stops killing, the SLORC, of course, will not be compel
led to do likewise.  We all know that many more people will suffer from the he
artless conduct of the army - many more people will die, be tortured, raped, i
mprisoned, etc.

  When the world sees that the SLORC has no excuse to kill, and is merely dest
roying innocent, peaceful people, then the world will be more likely to help. 
 Indonesia, ASEAN and other asian countries continue to tell us that stability
 and development take precedence over human rights.  Once there is no physical
 threat to a countries stability, then there can be no perceived justification
 for violating citizens' rights.

  Some people claim that the SLORC initiated the present offensives in order t
o finally gain control over all of Burma's territory, in anticipation of its a
cceptance to ASEAN. Without this control, they feared, they would not be allow
ed to join.

  I know that the situation is extremely desperate, but I believe that physica
l battle is counter-productive.  You may argue that, if you don't fight, then 
the SLORC will have complete freedom to enslave, torture etc.

  I suggest a better alternative is to refuse to cooperate, even if that means
 you will be killed.  If all Karen people refused to walk, work, carry, or do 
anything that the SLORC commands, then they will lose their power over you.
  Yes, they will likely kill you, but if you fight them with guns, then you wi
ll be killed anyway.

  Maybe I am an idealist - and I know that I am not expressing myself as fully
 as I want to - but I am not the only one.

  Aung San Suu Kyi is famous throughout the world for her brave, slow walk tow
ards a line of soldiers who were prepared to shoot her.  She continues to be b
oth a symbol and active supporter of peaceful resistance/
  The previous government of South Africa did not fall as a result of constant
 terrorist attacks or any armed uprising. It fell because of international sym
pathy with the peaceful resistance of a great leader. That man, Nelson Mandell
a, is now the leader of his country.

  The same thing should happen in Burma!  It may take another fifty years, but
 peaceful change is the only effective way of liberating a country.

(This is too long alredy, but I want to make a final point).

  The majority of Burmese people - I'm talking about citizens, not ethnicity -
 are Buddhist. The majority of Karenni are Christian (as far as I have read). 
   Both Jesus and Gautama insisted that there is no reason whatsoever to kill 
another person. The ideas of an afterlife and rebirth should effectively preve
nt anyone who believes in these faiths from fearing death. Everyone is respons
ible for his or her own conduct, which means that one should not commit any ac
t that does not harmonize with his or her beliefs and purpose in life.

  My point is that, like the teachings of Christianity and Buddhism suggest, n
o person can be compelled to obey any of the SLORC's commands. No one should d
o any labour for them. No one should give them any money or food or supplies. 
No one should walk in front of the soldiers to act as a sacrifice to landmines
 .
  If they kill you for your resistance, it is a tragedy that will be noticed b
y the world. If you fear them and do as they command, or fight them with guns 
and landmines, even more people will be killed.

 (incidentally, although I have studied several religions, I presently follow 
none)


  I agree that it is better to die fighting than to give-up.

  I am not saying that the KNU should surrender.
  I am just saying that peace is a much more effective weapon than war.

==================

  These are my personal views and they should in no way
  be associated with any group or individual I work with.

  I welcome any comments or criticisms of my views. Feel free to forward or po
st all or part of this message.

   Please remember that I actively and whole-heartedly support the many effort
s to bring peace and democracy to Burma, and the world.

_____________

  I do not recall seeing any reports on the treatment of the KNU soldiers who 
have already traded arms for peace.  Are they forced to labour?  Are they heav
ily taxed? do they suddenly start fighting on the SLORC's side?  Someone pleas
e post something about this.

In hope,

Martin Sieg

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