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1992: A LETTER TO HUMAN RIGHTS ACTI (r)
Subject: 1992: A LETTER TO HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST(REPOST)
/* Written 27 April 1995 by uneoo@physics. in igc:reg.burma */
/* ----------" A letter to Human Rights Activist (6/8/92) "----------- */
1992: A Letter to Human Rights Activist
Added Note: Following is a letter, which is also my first human rights
activity in Australia, to a prominenet human rights activist in Australia,
The Hon. Justice Marcus Einfeld. I wrote to him in connection with his
AUSTCARE report on Burmese refugee situation in Bangladesh and
Thailand in 17 June 1992.(& He was kind enough to reply my letter.).
At that time, there seems to be a lot of obscured and non-factual
perception about Burmese people and Burma. I remember seeing a
report which described the Burmese society, like that of the Indians',
is ingrained with the `caste system': which totally shocked me. On the
one hand, no Burmese of dated views on Burma really speaks out,
except the expatriates who already are in Australia since mid-60s,
about Burma's political system and Burma's situations, which causing a
lack of materials on a current situation within Burma. There were a lot
of confusions among outside observers, especially the journalists,
on the issues of the ethnic minorities' revolts and SLORC's
deliberate persecution of Rohingyas; and about those of political
struggles by Burmese students and NLD.
In my letter, there was an obscured choice of word: "ethnic".
Of course, all people of Burma have their own ethnic origin.
A more precise term should be "Indigenous nationalities"
rather than "ethnic" in my letter.</B> -- U Ne Oo.
-----------------------------------------------------------
The Hon. Justice Marcus Einfeld<BR>
Federal Court of Australia
August 6, 1992.
Dear Sir,
I am a Burmese student studying at the University of Adelaide. I
graduated from, and worked at, Rangoon University until recently.
I have been in Australia for 4-years as a Scholar, pursuing a
doctorate degree.
As a Burmese student in Australia, I appreciate Australians showing
their interest in Burma. Since I am interested in Australians'
opinions on Burma, I always search for and study publications about
Burma. As Burma has been isolated for a long time, there were
inevitably mis-interpretations in some of the reports. As I go
through your reports, I was encouraged that at least there is one
in Australia, who certainly understands about Burma. Many thanks
for your report which carries incisive information and, to the
best of my belief, most promising recommendations that would help
to built a democratic Burma.
As you have rightly pointed out, we agree that Burma is ethnically
and culturally diverse. As an ethnic Burman, we are sure that we do
not want to discriminate in any way-socially or constitutionally-
against any of our minorities: Karen, Kachin, Mon, Shan and
Arakanese. People of Burma have always lived in peace and harmony.
In this context, of course, we must draw a line between the
military, which maintain hostility towards some minorities, and
Burman themselves. The military's treatment of the
minorities-especially Karen and Rohingya-which people outside Burma
could interpret as religious or racial persecution, are not the
responsibility of Burmese and Burmans.
Historically, there have been divisions between the Burmans and
Karens. This division between ethnic Karen and Burmans, which is
of little relevance to our generation, was created by British
rulers in 1930's. In our colonial period, the Karens probably get
along with the British better. The British therefore recruits
Karens for the forces within Burma. In 1930, there was a revolt,
also known as Sayasan-peasant movements, which Burmans peasants
mostly were involved. This revolt was brutally put down by the
British, using Karen forces. Since then there have been hatred
between the Burman and Karens.
After our independence in 1948, the minorities has been waging war
against Rangoon. The objective seems to be for a state of
federations, or some with total independence. This has led Gen. Ne
Win to took over power from U Nu, an elected prime minister.Burma's
history, perhaps, is more distorted within the country than outside.
We never heard the true version of what happened in 1948. Therefore,
as Burmese of younger generation, the minority revolt is seen as
unnecessary. Since the media within the country is just the Govt.'s
mouthpiece, we have never heard of the atrocities that had been
conducted by the Army. There is also propaganda, and to some
extent could be true, that some of these ethnic revolts are for
economic reasons. We never thought that the ethnic revolt was a
counter measure to Burman's repression on its ethnics. We have
never been privileged as an ethnic Burman, economically or
socially. We, Burmans, are just as poor and suffering the
military's repression as the ethnics. Since we have not
discriminated against our ethnics - constitutionally or socially,
their call for independent state is seen as unjustified. Therefore,
it lead us to believes that ethnic revolts are for economic, rather
than political objectives.
The 1988 events certainly change these views. Experiencing the
Army's brutality towards our people and students, it conceded that
these ethnic revolts are justified. The minority view on Burman,
perhaps, also have changed. The acceptance of Burmese students by
Karens forces certainly prove this.
The issue of Rohingya-Arakanese is more complicated. There have been
a reluctance to accept Rohingya as an ethnic group. The reason has
been not of their religion, but its link with the Bangladeshi
community. Although Rohingyas have lived within Burma for almost
two centuries, it would not be claimed as ethnic. Since Burma have
had a much earlier history, perhaps a few thousand years, it is
simply unreasonable to claim same status as Karen, Mon, Arakanese,
etc. Australians, probably, might have a different view on this.
There is another reason why we wouldn't agree on this. Burma is
geographically located between two giant nation and therefore more
sensitive in defining the term ``ethnics''. Of course, we cannot
possibly give this kind of recognition as ethnics to what that
might attract more complicated issues within our neighbors.
We therefore feel sad, much as being ourselves, that
Rohingya-Arakanese has to flee from their inhabitant. Although
there may be some complications, we must and we will, accept them
as citizens of Burma. We however cannot possibly accept Rohingya as
one of our ethnics. As you have correctly predicted, Burmese people
will not support independent states of any kind - on religious or
ethnics grounds. Needless to say, the sympathy from armed forces
are out of question, if one were to promote such independent states.
Despite growing resentment towards its rulers and popular demands
for democracy, the movements have an undertow from such facts. The
military always justify themselves as the saviors of Burma from
the separatists. To a Burmese, this claim of the military,
clearly, is non-sense propaganda. However we do entertain fear
that our Union might actually secede. The fact that it is a
sensitive political issue, there are possibilities that the
government itself might instigate the democratic forces to portray
as separatists.
Although there have been such fears, we can not simply allow the
present government and political system to continue. The state of
federal system, which the NCGUB has endorsed, may be found more
acceptable to both Burmese and the ethnics. There have been reports
that the various ethnics groups have accepted NCGUB. A question of
how Burma would be rebuilt seem far too early to be determined.
First and foremost, the need is to restore democratic government,
which observe an independent judicial power and freedom of speech.
I feel sure that Burmese people will find no difficulty to observe
the rules of laws, as our society have always been a lawful society.
Once democracy is restored, social justice and peace is assured.
As a Burmese, I would like to express my gratitude to you in
speaking out against the Australian companies dealing with SLORC.
The Australian Govt. hasn't shown much willingness to raise the
Human Right abuses in Burma in UN or even to call off BHP and other
companies. Unless Australian public has shown interest in Burma,
these politicians are unlikely to change their attitude. Therefore,
I would like to make the request that you and other like-minded
progressive citizens of Australia push Australian Government to
take some action on Burma issue.
Yours sincerely<BR>
Sd. U Ne Oo
<HR>
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