18 October 2002
'IS IT ALL A WASTED EFFORT?'
I do not know if UK.org. will release this comment, but I hope they do because heads have got to be shaken.
I have been a member of UK.org. For a long time, and have travelled the world. Although I follow all the printed news on Burma I rarely found myself wanting to comment on its political and social unrest. Until now that is.
The reason I choose now to place a comment is simply because I have come to the conclusion that the Burmese people trapped inside the borders of Burma have no means to help themselves and those Burmese spread around the world are only interested in their own welfare and/or their own self status, and are not interested in the fate of Burma.
I have read hundreds of letters, statements, and countless other attacks against the cruel and malicious regime the 'SPDC'. Some letters state how there are'50,000' Burmese in one area of America, yet the very people who are giving everything to free their country have to beg for funds, while others who suffer no pain, malice, or discomfort are given hundreds of thousands of dollars by foreign countries and achieve nothing accept a comfortable life style.
If my country were under the same type of rule, I would be in the hills and mountains fighting, or if abroad, I would be finding ways and means of financing the political stage. I would not be sitting around waiting for some other non-interested country, or disillusioned sympathisers to fight my battle. There are too many 'groups' among the Burmese abroad. All they do is voice their opinion and try to appear influential, when in fact; all they are doing is revealing their inadequacies.
Instead of being the big band of brothers who have access to a computer and can type, they should be donating a few dollars to those people who are on the front line of both the armed struggle and the political stage.
UK.org's founder, first introduced me to the Burma cause many years ago through his friendship with U Tin Maung Win of the CRDB and the founder of the New Era Journal, Win unfortunately, is no longer with us. I was around during the birth of the DAB and the NCGUB. I am well familiar with most groups. After attending many meetings and gatherings around the world, I became completely disillusioned by the lack of solid financial support offered by those Burmese abroad. Therefore I broke away from the Burma cause and chose another cause where I knew people would help themselves if given the chance.
Since Suu Kyi was allowed her freedom, albeit under a watchful eye, I did rather hope to see a sudden impact of Burmese voices from around the world. 'Nothing' of great impact appeared. By impact, I mean a physical show of support by seeing thousands of people on the streets of all the countries that now host those people. The only serious show has come from a party who was once elected into government under Prime minister U Nu, but was ousted by the military, where it then moved to the jungle to fight. It re-emerged when stagnation took hold during the years since the NLD was elected, and has now moved forward to a position where the SPDC is recognising it as a competent and worthy opponent whereas it will categorically deny itself from co-operating with the NLD.
How close to a problem do the people abroad need to be before they see a solution? The people inside Burma can see what those outside cannot but do not have the money to support it.
The people inside Burma cannot assess the situation outside due to news censorship, but those abroad can assess the successes and failures of the pro-democracy parties, but still they sit on the side line waiting for someone else to throw them the ball, and all they do is shout a few obscenities when they disagree with something.
Those people have the power to drive out the regime and install an elected government, what it did not have was a competent party who had the skills to defeat a regime. The power is in the pocket. If a person wants a more powerful car he spends more money. If a country needs a skilful political party to replace a weak and inadequate one, it must pay for it. The poor people trapped inside Burma have no means to pay for their freedom, but all the thousands of Burmese abroad do! But do they really care? Are all the efforts of the many who have died and those struggling to build some kind of powerhouse to take on the regime, been wasted? If something fails again and again, it is common sense to try another way, or perish in one's mistakes. In the case of Burma, it is the poor wretched and defenceless people trapped inside the country who have to suffer the pain, not those living abroad and pretending to be concerned by voicing their conceited opinions. Words do not, and have never won freedom! It requires money and a dedicated leader. Arrogance is ripe within certain areas of Burmese politics, and it seems, observing from a western angle, that attitudes of grandeur are also ripe within the NCGUB, which I have held under close scrutiny since its birth. If I revealed the amount of money it has had donated to it, even the Burmese people abroad would ask questions. One of its founders, U Tin Maung Win was also one of its biggest critics, which is why he preferred PDP associates within his CRDB organisation as the major players. To my mind, and too many in the west, Tin Maung Win was the best mind in Burma. Now it is Bo Aung Din.
If the Burmese people cannot help themselves why should the democracies of the world be bothered? Because I will no longer offer my services free, no more will I pay for rice for refugees, no more will I send medical aid bought for out of my own pocket. If the cynical and critical voices who shout so much cannot put their hand in their pocket to support a party who can free their country then the regimes assessment of its own people is correct, and it will continue to rule for years to come.
Burma's predicament is self-inflicted, and it can only be remedied through self-help! Feed your own starving and pay for your own political struggle instead of standing back while the dedicated and committed few risk all on your behalf.
Britain would have collapsed during the 2nd. World war, if its entire people left for America. Instead they chose to stay and fight together, not flee only to expect others to fight on their behalf.
Put your hand in your pocket and support a party, which is not sitting around waiting for offers of help from others. If you don't care about your fellow countrymen and women, who are not as lucky as you people abroad, then I place the shadow of shame upon you all.
I ask myself, where would Burma be today had it been impossible for any Burmese person to travel outside the country, unless one was part of the system, as it was with the former communist era? It is a proven fact that those trapped will fight harder to free themselves than those attempting rescue, because to them it is survival. Perhaps it would have been better for Burma instead of allowing the comforts of other countries to influence those fortunate enough to leave where they distanced themselves from the suffering of their countrymen.
I want to say much more, but I really believe It would be lost amid the righteous and naive minds of those who think because they are Burmese they know more about the problems than any westerner, when in fact I have done more for Burma than thousands of supposed Burmese patriots! But not any more.
John Winters
A UK.org. member but no longer associated with the Burma cause. I cannot help those who will not help themselves.
UK.org
Continued.
All of Burma is thought of as a proud people, but as time goes on this is beginning to flounder in the eyes of the west. And the people are seen as their own worst enemy, for those locked inside, are suffering because those free outside care for nothing but themselves. .
In recent weeks, it has been suggested by some, that new ideas should be looked at, and a new collective body of the right people should be formed to create a new front against the SPDC? Other than the defunct political parties created over the past decade, which people are at last beginning to see as useless, a revived body, although not new to Burma politics, already exists, it also has in its mist, long serving fighters, intelligent, motivated, dedicated, etc. etc. members. Why create yet another fools lobby, when a party, of world recognition and distinction is growing stronger daily. When elections finally reach Burma, the 'Parliamentary Democracy Party (PDP), will be right there in the forefront, and nothing can prevent that, no more will it sit in the shadows, no matter how long it takes. Things have changed dramatically in Burma politics because of the 'PDP's determination to shake the system into facing up to reality.
Today's stage did not just happen, opinions have not been voiced by otherwise silent tongues by chance or conviction, it came about by the cleverly orchestrated actions of the 'PDP', and not by those who now seek credit, whose constant changes of opinions and in some cases, allegiance, can be checked quite easily
To those who consider themselves eligible as part of the fight for democracy, stop trying to place yourselves as yet another leader because all it reveals is your lack of self esteem and confidence in that, whether you are worthy enough to be considered for membership of the 'PDP', or any other notable party, plus, adding to the already long caravan of wannabe's. A true democrat would choose an existing party of status which clearly outlines its policies, and seek membership of it, where he/she can influence change, instead of becoming a renegade by attempting to focus on one ideal under one voice.
The SPDC, WILL SMIRK AT ANY NEWLY FORMED GROUP CLAIMING TO BE YET ANOTHER FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH, AND WILL IGNORE IT WITH CONTEMPT AS IT DOES THE OTHERS.
Everyone agrees that a new front line political force is needed, the 'PDP' is already here with a pedigree as yet unequalled, and more important, is well established in the minds of the people, and the SPDC, whose own actions over the past months, are due to the growing threat the 'PDP' is beginning to mount against it. Unlike the ethnic nations who protect their own borders, therefore are not considered a threat to Burman territories, the 'PDP' is seen as a whole new ball game if it is allowed to grow in strength. By talking to the ethnic nations, the SPDC hope to suffocate future actions by the 'PDP', by requesting that the ethnic nations deny any assistance to what it considers as insurgents, when in reality, one cannot be judged as an insurgent in one's own country, as any conflict which may arise will not take part on any ethnic territory but at the regimes doorstep. The SPDC will do anything to prevent this happening because it would not take much for regime soldiers to swarm to the other side, including many senior figures. These supposedly new offers of talks are therefore nothing more than a tactic to keep the 'PDP' away from its door?
The SPDC has never been seriously challenged outside of the ethnic territories, the NLD being the passive slave was never a threat, the 'PDP' however is, and becomes more so every day! Now is the time to seek membership and show true patriotism for your country. The 'PDP' needs your money as well as your support.
SEND BOTH NOW AND SAVE YOUR COUNTRY OR FOR EVER STAY SILENT.
UK.Org.