[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

delayed reply to editor



Dear Editor,
This message was supposed to send during  the black out time.

Thanks for your explanation of your rules on the Burmanet. It seems clear to
me that  recent postings of Ma Aye Aye Soe Win and other friends did nothing
wrong and not in contradiction with your major policy.
 But I think you still need to explain a bit more of which postings made you
think of offensive and counter-productive. Your details will be useful for
us in the future postings.
The intention of my message was to make clear that Burmanet itself is not
undemocratic or  bias. It is absolutely fantastic to learn you have no
censorship on the incoming  messages . Burmanet sounds different to other
mailing list I suppose,  Cheers!
I want to insist that the role of  Burmanet is unique in   the struggle for
democracy in our motherland.

Burmanet is responsive , our questions are answered on line. Burmanet should
get credit for it. Because even our Burmese  political parties are ignorant
to the questions  They are mute and deaf besides they are sometimes blind
when they face critics.
 They talk , hear and see only when they meet foreign NGOs , MPs , etc, etc.
They can even smile when they meet people like George Soros.

 How can we trust them they are representing the oppressed people of Burma?
Some people argue that NCG is made up of representatives of the people that?
s why we need to respect them . (  Should not question?)

Even if they are elected they must be open to criticism and discussion. Have
they forgotten they should be servants of the people? We should not be
servants to them. There should be no master but all working together as
equals in the democratic movement.
I want to point out that;

NCGUB ( Australia)  is not made up of peoples representatives elected in
1990 elections . Despite the fact that, there are two MP living in Sydney at
the moment.
 U Tin Htut ( Eim Me , Delta region MP and U Denial Aung ( Lahu MP) . They
both are well respected by the Burmese community here, but not by the NCGUB
itself. Because they do not even have a respectable position in NCG ( Aust)
The chief representative of NCGUB is called Ms Amanda Zappia who is also
chief rep. Of FTUB in Australia. She is also big boss for the Australia
Burma Council , Free Burma Coalition ( Australia)  , Burma office ,   the
list goes on and on.
(Personally, I am grateful to her because she sponsored me to resettle in
Australia but this should not make me silent)

I should say I reject racism and respect Australians who are working for a
free Burma but I believe we must separate people and organizational style.
Why are there so many positions centralized around Amanda? Why are there
never meetings where we are all invited of the FBC like everywhere else in
the world. ( Ko Zarni might know the answer)  . I fear the centralization
and exclusion reflects a real problem in our movement

 In Australia the grassroots elect their leadership. The east Timor
community has Hose Ramos Horta, the Bouganville community has Moses Havini.
How can we claim to support democracy in Burma when peoples  representatives
are being degraded in favor of someone who does not have the same  political
credibility as our Burmese People Representatives .

 We should have our leading activists related  to the Burmese community
from time to time so you do not get stale and inflexible leadership that
does and will not change.
The impact of having a Non- Burmese in all these major organizations is
still accounted . ( Burmese activists  in Australia might know exactly what
I mean) .
Why do all these organizations give such power to one individual? It is like
names of these organizations are for sale to the highest bidder. It is like
a competition to get the most names. No, we need active, democratic
organizations that include all people and work effectively rather than 1000
names that are the same person with no grassroots support .

Our situation resembles an Australian octopus that has been appointed as
the  Queen of the Andaman Sea by the Burmese sharks!

The young people, students, supporters of democracy are speaking out now
because we know Burma will be free. When it is free we want it to be open
and democratic. Not centralized and closed. We have had enough of leaders we
cannot question, being treated like idiots.

These debates are one of the most important thing we can do now. We need to
build a culture of discussion and respect, not hiding any thoughts and just
gossiping behind.

Toward a democratic Burma,

Maung Maung Than in Sydney

Ph-Fx 612 97378637