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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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