Senior monk appeals to Burmese ruli

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BBC Summary of World Broadcasts 
November 4, 1999

Senior monk appeals to Burmese ruling council, opposition to hold peace talks 

 Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 2 Nov 99 

Text of report by Burmese opposition radio on 2nd November 

Kyakhatwaing Sayadaw [senior abbot] of Pegu - State Ovadachariya Sayadaw
[senior adviser abbot] U Zawtipala, who holds the title of Agga Mahapandita
Abhidaza Agga Maha Thatadhamma Zawtika Sayadaw [religious titles conferred by
the state] - issued an appeal during October calling for holding of talks aimed
at achieving peace. The DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma] has received this
three-page appeal. 

In his appeal, the abbot called on the SPDC [State Peace and Development
Council] military clique and the National League for Democracy [NLD] to hold
talks to find a solution. He called upon the two sides to be tolerant in
holding negotiations and asked the two sides to donate their grievances to him.
He said he is prepared to act as a mediator himself. 

He said the international situation is encouraging, but there is no peace in
Burma. He said such a situation is shameful indeed, and that it only brings
losses and suffering to the country. He urged those in power to consider the
prestige of the country and the people and called upon them to have
consideration, compassion, and love towards those who do not hold power. He
said in accordance with the maxim, sacrifice brings gains, he called upon the
government to sacrifice for the country. 

Sayadaw U Zawtipala is a member of the Shwekyin Sect [a respected and
conservative Buddhist order of monks] and has not been involved in politics.
The SPDC often presented donations to the Kyakhatwaing Monastery and built
monastic buildings within the monastery compound. The Pegu
military commander recently donated over 150 sacks of rice to the monastery and
SPDC Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt donated 50 sacks of rice. Sayadaw U
Zawtipala urged the government not to go against the will of the people. 

He said the losses the country is suffering presently are not seen by the
players, just as the play is not seen by the performers, but is seen by the
audience. The players are the leaders of the country and the
audience is the people. The sayadaw urged the players not to overlook the
audience. The sayadaw said it is his conviction to encourage those who are
capable. He urged those concerned to work in the interests of the country's
peace and development and said those capable of working for the country's
development should be encouraged and helped by all. He said the help should be
given physically, verbally, and mentally. This, he said, is his conviction. He
urged those who are bent on destruction, like an actor who destroyed the major
drum because he could not get the leading role, to give up such tendency. He
urged the two sides to be flexible in holding talks. He said according to a
maxim, the buyer and seller must communicate at the same level. He said no
transaction will takes place if the seller
wants to sell for 10 kyats and the buyer wants to pay 5 kyat. The sayadaw
advised both sides not to be inflexible in their stand. 

He urged both sides to start the peace talks before the year 2000. He explained
that he wrote the appeal in order to achieve peace by the year 2000. He said he
is willing to go anywhere to mediate for peace and assured the talks would have
the firm legal basis. He said an honest and trusted mediator is needed. The
sayadaw concluded his appeal for peace with five points for victory. U Ottara,
abbot of Waterloo Monastery, London, hereby read these five points: 

[U Ottara] 1. May the entire Myanmar [Burma] Union be free from trivia arising
from individual grudge and spite, racial prejudice, and the past preoccupation
with each other's prejudices. 

2. May the entire Union of Myanmar be free from greed, anger, envy, and
delusion which the Buddha did not like. May the people have love and genuine
goodwill towards each other. 

3. May the people of Myanmar be free from natural disasters such as from the
rain and the wind and enjoy prosperity and become a modern industrialized
nation which can stand firmly in the world and promote religion and social
welfare. 

4. May the people of Myanmar be able to discard all negative and destructive
endeavours as soon as possible, avoid all vices in order to make full use of
their valuable life as a human being, and lead a
virtuous existence and live in happiness as noble persons. 

5. I hereby conclude my appeal for peace with the blessing for all to be able
to study and practice soon the seven virtues of serenity, sharp awareness,
faith, morality, knowledge, wisdom, and sense of shame.
May they attain nirvana which is free from old age, disease, death, and
rebirth. [end recording] 


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