SPECIAL- PEACE OR VIOLENCE AT THE

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Subject: SPECIAL-  PEACE OR VIOLENCE AT  THE EXPENSE OF THE INNOCENT BLOOD

PEACE OR VIOLENCE AT  THE EXPENSE OF THE INNOCENT BLOOD
19th August 1999

By Julien Moe
Since the 1988 uprising, the SPDC has been reconstructing
the nation's economy in vain with sanctions imposed by the nations that
should be major business partners.The price of disregarding the people's
will
and demand for the installation of a democratic government is economic
hardship. Very few foreign businesses are left in Burma.  Burma has been
a
clear example that demonstrates political reforms are indispensable to
make
progress in the nation's economy.

Academic institutions have been suspended and as a result the students
have
become drug-addicts and hooligans who can contribute nothing to
society.Nations imposed sanctions on Burma and as a result hard currency
has become a rare antique for the nation.The international efforts to
resolve the tense political situation in Burma  have failed. The most
recent one was SPDC's rejection of the NLD's proposal to start dialogues
that will lead to national  reconciliation.

Although today peace between all states prevail, another deadly conflict
is
likely to occur provided that the regime does not give in.  Another
uprising
would cost SPDC tighter sanctions and worsened economic hardship and
SPDC
woulkd lose face on the world's political stage. It would cost the
nation
innocent blood. Impeccable students will die whereas
selfish Burmese politicians abroad,  who have no policy and no strategy 
to
influence the Burmese situation  but just know  only how to issue
statements
on anniversary days, have a craving to  watch the bloodshed and hail the
event afterwards. 

Today SPDC is containing possible student activists and NLD members
nationwide to deter the 9/9/99 uprising. Hundreds of students and
opponents
have been arrested and jailed during this week.SPDC could possibly
control
what will happen on the 9th of September 1999 but the people's will and
consent will never be under control. Governments come and go so will
SPDC. 

Peace talks with NLD would produce a calm and peaceful domestic and
international climate that will make nations ponder about the sanctions
that
must be lifted later.That surely will pave the way for economic
stability
and later to progress.

Since 1945 approximately 200 internal conflicts have produced an
estimated
45 million deaths, 90 % of them among civilians. Myanmar was on that
list.
Beyond the loss of life, the conflict such as the 1988 uprising devours
scarce foreign assistance resources abd the economic hardship is adding
to
the rolls of the world's poor.

In the absence of peace, poverty is certain to spread ubiquitously.This
applies  to the case in Burma. SPDC should no longer give
priorities to personal interests over the talks but ought to try to
resolve
the overdue issue with mutual understanding and good will for the future
of
the nation. Instead of saying "No" to dialogues demanded by NLD, the
regime
should listen to what NLD has to say. From there th future could be
auspicious for both parties. To achieve peace  in Burma ,  SPDC must
reconcile with NLD. But should peace be restored at the expense of the
innocent blood, the blood of the students?