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Dialogue Process In Danger (In Burm



Subject: Dialogue Process In Danger (In Burma)

DIALOGUE PROCESS IN DANGER (IN BURMA)
By Mr. B.K Sen

8-8-88 is a red letter day in the annals of Burma. On this day more than
3000 High School Students were gunned down on the Street of Rangoon by
Soldiers of Burma Army to Suppress the protest movement of the pro-Democracy
movement. Our homage to the departed souls. Proper tribute can only be given
if democracy activists complete their  unfulfilled agenda.  A quick review
of the events which happened thereafter is required and the issue to be
faced.

 The Army Junta is trying to fudge the issue. They say that the offer of
dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi is still there but first accusations and
criticisms must stop. They say that there is need for building confidence
and establishment of ground for dialogue. The million dollar question is who
is to unfreeze the dialogue process.  The burden of transferring power
peacefully is on the Junta. It was the Junta which gave a solemn commitment
of upholding multi-party democracy at the time power was seized by them. As
a one part of the commitment they held the General Election but the other
part has been betrayed. Pre-conditions for dialogue are against all norms of
Rule of Law, practice of multi-party democracy and UN resolutions. The Army
Junta  has not only demonstrated  their breach of trust, they have pursued
unashamed policy of repression , imprisonment d of activists , innocent
persons, scores of  MPs , a policy of torture , forced labour, a policy
forcing ethnic activists  to become  refugees abroad.

 The first and foremost condition for resumption of the dialogue   is for
the Junta  to give up its hypocrisy  and stop treating dialogue as a drama.
Even dramas have time limits. Debates have time limitation. Army Junta tried
to fool the people by convening a National Convention. Years have passed and
yet Army Junta have not been able to produce a constitution.  All countries
who have  constitutions  have framed their respective constitutions within a
time frame. The Army Junta should realize that time has run out for them.
They have failed.  The entire matter of constitution making process should
be left to the representatives of the people elected in the General
Election.  When the British's transferred power to the Burmese people, the
constitutional process did not take even two years.  The Junta's concern for
constitution has been sufficiently exposed.  The Burma Army ruled the
country from l962 to l974 without any constitution. From l974 upped l988
they ruled under a sham constitution of one party which collapsed in the
face of students s uprising in September 18, l988.  From l988 until now i.e.
for over a decade they are ruling the country without any constitution,
History has made it clear that Army Junta has no love for constitution. In
the struggle of power, when the junta has suffered political defeat in the
General Election where ever large majority of soldiers voted for
pro-Democracy Party, it is the bounden duty of the Junta to honour the
people's mandate and gracefully retire to the barracks. As they are master
in staging coups, that options is open to them. If the pro-Democracy party
fails to give a constitution to the country in a time-bound manner or if by
transfer to give a constitution to the country is put back in anarchy, the
Junta has always the liberty to assert their power. The transition of power
cannot result in what the Junta apprehends. If that was so the people would
have not have cast their votes in overwhelming manner to the pro-Democracy
party. Be that as it may, Junta cannot sit in judgement over that issue
because it is an accused party in the dock of history.

 The leaders of pro-Democracy movement should seriously review the
situation, find out its mistakes and formulate news strategy and tactics.
The Junta should not be fed with the notion that the pro-Democracy leaders
are dialogue-hungry, that non-violent movement does not mean cessation of
peaceful people's mobilization to keep the pressure on. That growing world
community's support has to be extended but not solely depended. The world
community specially USA, EU, Scandinavian countries and Australia have
contributed much to intensify the pro-Democracy movement. The ASEAN
countries are however following a different line. India's role is also not
satisfactory. Worst is the role of China. Her leaders/media have not uttered
a word of support to the pro-Democracy movement in Burma. On the contrary to
the disappointment of all freedom fighters they have entered into open
friendship with the junta supplying her even arms and hardware. In exchange
the junta has allowed large scale migration of China's border people into
Burma and creating yet another ethnic problem. It can be understood that
China cannot support pro-democracy movement in Burma because she herself is
having one-party dictatorship and faces a problem of her own from
dissidents. The change in government in Burma, namely power to pro-democracy
party may have a far-reaching impact on her internal situation. That one can
understand but supplying arms used in killing people cannot be understood.
In nutshell it can be stated that the international community is divided.
The international friends of pro-democracy movement in Burma have to
pressurize China to play her role. Once this shift in China's stance can be
effected, the equation will change. The saner elements in the Burma Army
will be assertive. The people's power movement will generate a new scenario.
The junta will then and only then seriously get into engagement in the
dialogue process. The inevitably of dialogue has to be seen in this
context.On this historic day of 8.8.88, the people are already thinking
whether there will be a repeat of that day.


B.K Sen

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