Peace or War Lies totally in the Hearts of the Bamar Tatmadaw.
Peace or
War lies entirely in the hearts of the Tatmadaw Generals. Peace must come from
within themselves because unless they are at peace with themselves they cannot
make peace with others. Individually,
they are good Buddhists, but as members of the Institution they follow
different principles and allow anger,
suspicion, resentment and violence to implement their actions.
The Bamar Military Instititue was founded by a
group of Bamar Politicians (Doe Bamar)
with very strong feelings against the colonisation of the Bamar Heartland by
Britain, as seen by their frequent remarks, “colonization is evil, and that the
British colonization of Burma was a shock to their system, damaged their psyche
and shattered their pride.” The fear of being colonised by Foreign Power has
left a scar in the minds of Bamar Nationalists:
phobia, suspicion, anger, hate and resentment. These negative feelings
have also been directed against other ethnic nationalities because they felt
being let down by the latter due to being manipulated by the British to oppose
them.
Although Bogyoke Aungsan was one of the members of
the Institution, by the time he came to Panglong in 1947, he had altered his
view and attitude towards other ethnic nationalities. He came with a purpose,
to win and influence the Shan, Kachin
and Chin to join the Bamar people as
equal partners in the formation of the Federal Union of Burma before becoming
independent from Britain. But other Bamar Politicians, were again Phobic, suspicious and began to
regarded the signatories of the
Panglong Agreement as their
enemies. Bogyoke Aung San was assassinated
by one of his own
colleagues, and U Nu and his
supporters altered the Panglong Agreement. Ten years later, in the form of the Tatmadaw,
the Bamar Military declared war on the
Shan and other ethnic nationalities because they suspected that the Shan
and Karenni would secede and break up
the union according to the secession clause that gives them
the right to secede after ten years. The Shan and other Ethnic Leaders
did not at any time, not then and not now attempt to secede, other than try and
make the Union more democratic: more equal, just and fair. Bogyoke Aung San and the Shan Leaders brought
all the ethnic States including the Bamar Heartland together, why should they
want to break it up again? It does not
make sense. The Bamar Military Dictators used violence, terrorism and human
rights violations against other ethnic
nationalities to prevent something that is non- existent from happening for the
last 5 or six decades, and is still continuing . Is it surprising that there
are so many resistant armed forces in Burma?
The greater force used, the greater the resistance.
With regard to the
right of secession by the Shan and Karenni States, a Bamar politician asked
Bogyoke Aung San in 1947, “ What if
they( other Ethnic nationalities) should use their rights to secede?” To this
Bogyoke Aungsan replied, “the Bamar people will have to try very hard, so that
they will not want to secede and continue to stay in the Union”. The Tatmadw did try hard, but by using a
wrong method.
By using
force and threats and holding other ethnic nationalities to ransom with the
following:
1. Not to secede
2. Not to disintegrate
3. Agree to co-operate in a joint economic and
narcotic programs
4.Formation of political parties and to contest
election
5. Accept 2008 Constitution and legally amend it
as necessary
6. One National Armed Forces
the Bamar Military/ Politicians have driven them
further away.
Instead,
why not exchange Peace with loving kindness, friendship and
compassion like true Buddhists. This way the Tatmadaw and the other ethnic
nationalities can begin to build a better relationship, followed by mutual
understanding, trust and respect.
It is up to
the Generals of the Tatmadaw whether it is
to be Peace or everlasting War in Burma. For the sake of the whole country they should end the ongoing rights
abuses, and change the way they interact with civilians particularly in the
ethnic borderlands which belongs to the original indigenous people. The
Tatmadaw Institution should be reformed and transformed into a professional
army, accountable to the elected Government. This way it can prove to itself
and the world that it is a genuine protector and defender of the country and
its peoples and thus restore its damaged reputation.
A Country is stable, secure and great only when
all sections of society, Government,
Army and civilians work harmoniously together, and each group without
mis-using its power. In a modern,
supposedly civilized world using absolute power like the ancient kings,
killing all opposition is completely out of date, and create disharmony,
instability and insecurity which makes weak against outside aggression or
pressure.
Please give citizens of Burma, especially the
ethnic Bamar the chance to enjoy peace, which according to history they never
had the privilege to know what 'peace' is like other than during the
British regime.
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