First of all, I would like to salute both of you for your relentless endeavor for the robust recovery of our country. For Senior General, you have gone extraordinary length to maintain stability and progress to our country. For Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, few could be commensurable to your conviction and selfless sacrifices in our country’s contemporary history. We are hoping to see a peaceful and happy state in a near future due to your joint efforts.
Secondly, democratic society which has been in the great expectation held by our people and the international community could be materialized very soon through the mutual cooperation between two of you. To this effect, there would be only one step away.
Difficult as this last step may seem to take off, your patriotic, selfless and farsighted wisdom should gird up your loin to achieve it.
In view of the importance of that you have to part ways with some errors. It is admirable to do the right thing as well as to admit mistakes. Everybody tends to rationalize what they do is always correct.
Evidently to err is human and we have to accept the fact that we all make mistakes and wrong judgments. People of Burma will forgive because on the part of public opinion you have done in the belief for the best interest of the country.
To Daw Aung Sann Su Kyi, it is rather a choice than a mistake; out of compassion you envisaged a non-violent mean to bring about democracy. So much is for the idea that you got nowhere near your goal even though the whole country rallied behind you. Nor can it bring peace and democracy to the people. NLD could not do wonders in contributing the good results for the national movement either.
Inadequacy of this approach became apparent when SPDC attempted to obliterate both Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD in 2003. Out of sheer luck, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi survived the assassination attempt. This luck does not come twice. Crucial to its success is to press through to achievement of democracy before the next plot. NLD was dying at that time in spite of the fact that some executive committee members were set free to soldier on.
Tragically NLD is in its last breath now with its head, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin Oo cut off from the party and I do not believe SPDC will contemplate to spare the body. The outlook of NLD is exceedingly bleak.
Matters are aggravated by the fact that NLD set off the latest bout of frictions among the central executive committee members. U Aung Shwe, U Lwin, U Khin Mg Swe and U Win Tin are leading the party in different views, and lawyers and spoke persons are also striking the different tone. They have been divided more than SPDC needs to see.
I am now of the opinion that rather than resuscitating to this lifeless NLD Daw Aung San suu Kyi should focus on ethnic issue and on achieving democracy as her sole concern. As an International icon for pro-democracy leader and also as a person revered by Burmese people, she is the only person to align the future of the country with democracy. In the aftermath of Mr Yettaw’s recent unwelcome visit, you have been receiving the huge surge of sympathy around the world which is in great favor for you to be successful. You have to return their goodwill in kind.
It is not that difficult to handle. You will accommodate with SPDC in upcoming 2010 election for NLD or it’s proxy to participate in the election.
Nevertheless, there are two conditions to ask for.
1. Premier for each state shall be elected from their own state.
2. Chief Of Staff for arm forces shall be answerable to the Minister of Defense and the Prime Minister.
We probably need to provide a little explanation here for Senior General; he has to be aware of the fact that the people of Burma lost confidence in their armed forces which afflicted the country with its repression for a half century. They have long wanted to draw this bitter experience to a close.
For ethnic minorities, they felt a limited autonomy under the state control in the constitution and they wanted to manage their own affairs. If they can elect their own Premier, that will satisfy their need, you will win their cooperation. It is said that there are about 20 over complaints in their inventory to draw your attention but they know simply asking you to take on these complaints looks a non-starter. You should be aware of that the government’s perceived lack of concern for the misery of the displaced bodes ill for the reconciliation. In absence of their cooperation national reconciliation is almost far from possible and you cannot achieve it without giving them a certain concession in order to organize the 2010 election peacefully. Politics is supposed to be all about the art of persuasion.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has to give firm commitment to the ethnic minorities to be satisfied with what they wish for now and she will need to try her best to achieve more with silence of gun fire and their wails. There won’t be any refugees fleeing the conflict zone and suffer in the foreign lands. In our opinion this election is not just about who wins, but about whether the national reconciliation could be accomplished with it. Many of the problems in the country have been created by decisions based on what government wants to do and not what people want it to do.
We do not know how many percent of the people had actually voted in favor of your 2008 referendum, but you should exercise all your power to guarantee their safety as long as they participate in the election. National convention that started in 1994 has drawn up 104 points for discussion, which has still many points worth to be revised. Since it took 15 years along the way to finish it has to be modified with ever-changing circumstances.
Another thorny issue in constitution is the role of the Chief of Staff. In your view of the Chief of Staff he should have unquestionable power at his disposal, which is not necessarily relevant any more. There were only a few who was able to impart their expertise on areas of political, military and international affairs. In these days there will be no more very shrewd people like you who mastered in all fields.
Next generation army chief has to concentrate on military affairs and he does not need to be an expert on international and political affairs at the same time. It is very dangerous to invest all the power to a hand of single individual because he could be prone to be a dictator and it explains why the future leaders should be specialized in their own field. Other important state affairs should be handled by the cabinet and the Hluttaw (Parliament) rather than interfered by chief of staff. These days are over when one person decides everything.
The more sophisticated the military becomes, the more danger of escalating the hostilities there is with neighboring countries as well as ethnic minorities inside the country. The Senior General should not allow the person to take charge all aspects of the administration. 2010 is not 1995 any more.
If the Senior General can make these two things happen, the rest is up for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to ensure all political and armed groups in Burma participate in 2010 election. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the only person who enables to muster all support from the various ethnic minorities and ceasefire groups. Transformation of arms group into border guards would be a task for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Any single person shall not go down the history as culprit, nor a prisoner nor his dignity damaged.
It seems unlikely that you will be able to foist responsibility on a corrupt person like U Aung Thaung to become the prime minister. That would have been you to take the blame for that. All efforts will be in vain and the image of the army will be tarnished. If decision-making power is concentrated in an incompetent person, the army could be split too.
Nobody knows how long the Senior General or Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will live, please forget about what happened for now and jump-start the long-awaited negotiation. People and the spiritual world will bless you well.
Yours Truly,
A Patriot Burmese