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MAILBAG - Military can't hold out f



Subject: MAILBAG - Military can't hold out for ever in Burma

THE NATION - July 17, 1999

MAILBAG

Military can't hold out for ever in Burma

According to the opinion piece by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi which appeared in
The
Nation [July 13], she says that if Asean can persuade or put pressure on
the
present military regime in Burma to convene the parliament that was
elected
by the people in 1990, then this could be the first step towards
democracy.

I believe that the government leaders in Asean know well that the
solution
to Burma's problem is to convene the people's parliament, which was
freely
and fairly elected by the people of Burma.

If these Asean leaders really value and love democracy and cared about
the
Burmese people, they would push for the convening of the Burmese
parliament
and join pro-democracy organisations around the world which are already
strongly calling for that action. By continuing to support the Burmese
junta, many Asean leaders are supporting a government which abuses and
kills
its citizens all the time. The International Labour Organisation (ILO)
has
just decided that Burma is the worst abuser of forced labour in the
world.

By convening parliament, it will be possible to reach the people's
desired
goal (return of democracy) through compromise between the Burmese
military
junta and elected members of Parliament, striking some kind of balance
between them. By taking this step, both sides can proceed to a good
future
for Burma. The return of democracy in Burma will lead to a good
relationship
between all Asean members. The fall of Suharto's dictatorship in
Indonesia
shows that it is not possible for a military to hold on to power forever
because eventually they must return the mandate to the people.

For a real dialogue to take place, the people on both sides of the
dialogue
should respect each other. Also, the international community must be
involved through internationally prominent people, and diplomats must
serve
as liaisons between leaders from Asia and the West.

The problem right now is that the minds of the generals who lead the
State
Peace and Development Council (SPDC) junta do not want change. They are
not
sincere because they really do not want dialogue. Maybe they cannot even
understand what dialogue really means. Unfortunately, for the SPDC any
so-called ''dialogue'' means that the military leaders will do whatever

they
want, whenever they want and the other side must obey and follow them.
This
is not real dialogue.

The Burmese army must be for the people, by the people, of the people --
not
only for the benefit of a ruling group of generals and their families.
The
ordinary Burmese people provide tax for allowances, uniforms, food,
arms,
equipment and every other type of supplies for the army. A real
democratic
Burmese army would think that whatever the army wants to do, it must
first
see whether the people agree with that action or not.

In order to set up a democratic country, the Burmese junta must move
forward
and take real steps to have an honest dialogue with the National League
for
Democracy. They should start by allowing parliament to convene
immediately.

Thet Oo

Secretary, Data and Research Department, Federation of Trade
Unions-Burma

Washington, USA