Except its history of foreign invasion, annexation and harsh rule, the current situation in Burma resembles the struggle for freedom in East Timor. And a Good Old Nation like Burma and its people have been encountering the same fate the East Timorese experienced and experiencing – sacrifices and bloodshed.
But the very momentous event held at the midnight - on the eve of May 20, 2002 in the island town of Dili proved the world that everything is possible for ‘freedom.’ The collective efforts of the World’s Premier Peace Organization – the UN and the neighboring countries to bring peace and freedom for suffering Timorese people proved effective. Regardless of its immense economic interest, the Indonesian government’s uneasy but virtuous willingness to let the island colony retain its independence was incredible multiplier for the Timorese freedom.
The characters who played a pivotal role for freedom in East Timor have played the same major political roles for the National Reconciliation in Burma. To name a few: Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s predecessor, the former Secretary General Kofi Annan and Prof. Gambari’s predecessor, Ambassador Sergio Vierra de Mello, the then Under Secretary General for Political Affairs and the Special Representative of the United Nation Secretary General to Burma. However, the neighboring countries and the leaders differed and that mattered.
The International community generated efforts for the Timorese Freedom and the Burmese National Reconciliation at the same time since late 1998. Unfortunate for the people of Burma but to the delight of the leaders of the military junta, the UN left Burma to deal the situation by itself with a secondary official holding a formal political title of ‘Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General’ while East Timor was put on top of international agenda drawing attention of the whole world and gained its goal. At that time, the Regime’s political hypocrisy allured successfully the international community to leave Burma alone. In 2003, after the May 30 attack on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD members in the country’s north-west Region, the Burmese military regime deceived its pledge for political reforms.
The junta failed to heed the UN Chief’s call in 2003 for the installation of a civilian government by 2006 – the year it was to take over the helm of the regional group – the ASEAN. During his last meeting with the junta leader Gen. Than Shwe at the sidelines of the 50th Anniversary of Non-Aligned Movement in Bandung in April 2005, Kofi Annan called on Gen. Than Shwe to hold the elections at the earliest. Addressing him “like my relative” Gen. Than Shwe conferred Kofi Annan an undated promise to hold election.
After four years from that moment of Timorese jubilation, the Burma issue resurfaced significantly. The UN chief sent the highest level UN official as his Special Envoy. Exactly on the fourth anniversary of the Independence Day of East Timor, the leaders of the military junta met the UNSG Special Envoy Prof. Gambari. The leaders of the junta then passed loud, clear and strong discouraging message to the UN.
More interestingly, Prof. Gambari witnessed how the Junta passed the message to UN - not through him but through the UN Representative in Rangoon. Since then, the Burmese leaders heeded none of the UN concerns. Instead, the regime even challenged the UN. During his visit to Rangoon last November, the Junta officials asked Prof. Gambari obviously either to support them or else they have no choice but to encounter the UN Security Council.
The role of the United Nations alone would neither bring peace nor would be able to implement the national reconciliation in Burma. The sole benefactor for the failure of neighboring countries to participate and support the efforts of the UN is the regime itself, which is growing innately and would inevitably create a situation precipitating into a regional security threat. Timely intervention through diplomatic and political efforts may thwart another security threat in the region.
If Indonesia that has been practicing the doctrine of ‘Pancha Sila’ – ‘the five principles of peaceful co-existence’ could boldly accept restoration of Timor Leste as an independent nation, so could China that has been practicing the same Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, following the Indonesian example. With an exception that the Burmese people wish not for the regime’s downfall, China shall utilize its tremendous influence on the regime and exert its efforts to ‘at least’ help bring it to the ‘dialogue’ table.
Again, taking Timor and Indonesia as an example, when these two bitter enemies with different culture, religion and language could set aside the old scores and managed to settle a problem, the pertinent question is why should the Burmese military regime be reluctant to hold dialogue with its own ‘bhumi putra’ - people of the same country, having the same culture, religion and language?
The Indonesian leaders proudly and boldly encountered their former long-time captive and rebel leader Xanana Gusmao at the dialogue table to settle the impasse for Timor Leste. The successful result yielded was mutually beneficial. The Timorese leaders guaranteed the security of the existing Indonesian economic interest and further, pleaded the UN Security Council and major countries including the United States to lift the sanctions imposed on Indonesia. The Burmese generals should take not of this historical feat.
Burma, being geographically sandwiched between two biggest Asian nations, its people are not interested in longing for outside assistance bypassing those two giant nations. In the same context, the Burmese people would not be realistically able to scrap the Burmese territory and rebuild it in the Pacific Ocean near the United States, the beacon of democracy and human rights.
The Burmese people, in their heart of hearts, wish to coexist peacefully and harmoniously with the neighboring countries.
Unlike any country in the world over including East Timor, Kenya and Pakistan that unfortunately have bloody multiple political conflicts, Burma and its people have a natural bent to maintain peace and harmony amongst its own ethnic community. The Burmese people once again stand reunited after the bloody crackdown on the Buddhist monks and the people last September. People of all walks life and various religions are culturally attuned to live harmoniously as members of the civil society and they would never support violence as a tool to bring about the political reforms. The Burmese pro-democracy leader Daw Aung Sann Suu Kyi solemnly stated that no more bloodshed is require for reforms to come about. She would do all her best for the entire nation and she requires the full support of the people to make freedom a reality. Historically, Burma has evidence of disintegration within the then multi-ethnic Burmese Army. But, ironically, if such an event occurs down the road , it would lead to armed conflicts and could very well eliminate the military despotism forever.
To bring peace and tranquility to Burma, the UN should review its policy of compliance on the projected dateless referendum or the elections scheduled for 2008 and 2010 respectively. The legitimacy of pronouncements of the plebiscite, premature planning of election and politically deterring individuals from participating in the elections speak volumes about the regime's political duplicity.
Various diplomatic approaches and gentle persuasion towards the regime for an inclusive participation of democratic elements in the ‘hollow’ Road Map process would only embolden the regime to probe the UN’s good faith from time to time and to ultimately make it invalid and untenable forever. The time has now come for the UN to focus on bringing all the parties concerned to a negotiating table for a comprehensive dialogue.
“Parabens, boa sorte e obrigado barak! Viva Timor Leste!,” the former UN Chief Kofi Annan proudly proclaimed at the ceremony to re-inaugurate East Timor to the world. But, he left the UN political stage without a word for Burmese people except expressing ‘disappointment’ over a slack progress in Burma. How disappointing and disheartening for the people of Burma in historic proportions, indeed!
Now, the Burmese people are hoping and praying for the day the new UN Chief to proudly proclaim: “Congratulations! Good Luck and Thank You! Long Live Burma!”
Maung Soe Aung is a Rangoon-based Burmese political analyst.