Burma needs true democracy not a junta-sponsored sham

By ASHIN ISSARIYA
Published on September 26, 2009

WHEN THE MILITARY regime closed schools after the 1988 democratic uprising, I had few options other than to become a monk. I eagerly wanted to gain an education in a society plagued with the darkness of ignorance. Being a monk has helped me to better understand and see the reality of life for the people of Burma.


In order to maintain control, the military authorities use coercion, fear and poverty to strip people of their choices. The main decision the majority of people in my country are left with is how to survive day to day. As long as there is a regime that places its own power and profits over the lives of people, myself, other monks and civilians are left with no other option than to utilise our inner strength and continually work for peaceful change.

People often turn to monks for spiritual and physical service, and in return monks are reliant on the alms of the people to sustain our life and work. We are linked together, and when people are too afraid to express their sorrow and needs to the local authorities they often turn to monasteries.

The military regime tells monks and nuns to not get involved in politics, but in our eyes politics concerns all people and not just politicians and big generals. In September 2007, I marched with hundreds of thousands of monks and civilians through the streets of Burma, as part of our duty to end suffering. Our demands were clear and focused on bringing peace and reconciliation to the country.

Though the military tried to cruelly crush the Saffron Revolution, Burma will never be same again. The images of soldiers shooting monks will never be forgotten. The regime's lies were revealed and a new generation of activists was born. Brutality can quiet some people using fear, while others will respond with greater resolve for peace.

There are two distinctly visible and different forces working for peace and stability in Burma.

As the monks marched they chanted the prayer of the Metta Sutra, the prayer for universal love and kindness. Like many other people we want a truly democratic government, one that fully respects the rights of people. This sort of government is attainable in Burma and I hold out firmly for a national system built through cooperation, trust and dialogue.

The military regime, wrongly named the State Peace and Development Council, believes that peace means maintaining complete control - with nobody questioning, thinking or hoping. Totalitarian control is not a necessary evil in order to keep the country together, but it is an evil that is unnecessarily breaking the country apart.

The people of Burma do not want to wait any longer for democracy. The election the military regime is pushing for in 2010 has already been arranged for the people to lose. The military wrote the constitution and they will write the names of the election winners. If the people of Burma accept this then it gives a free ticket for the Burmese generals to stay in power, just in different uniforms. We do not want the farce of governance to continue and we are ready to continue our efforts with undaunted strength.

Many people around the world have spoken out for genuine progression to happen in Burma, joining with the diverse and united voices of Burma's democratic and ethnic leaders.

The benchmarks are clear as to what must happen to have true reconciliation and peace in Burma. All political prisoners must be released, including Aung San Suu Kyi and many of my friends and colleagues who are among the 200 monks and nuns currently enduring imprisonment.

There also must be political dialogue in the country.

If Burma is going to become a peaceful country there must be cooperation between peoples and parties or else the result could be more conflict. Many others and I are ready for the discord to end.

I implore the humanity of the international community, to recognise the connection they share with the people of Burma as fellow humans. We all hold a strong responsibility to one another, to wisely use our compassion to protect each other from fear and suffering.

I also implore people to recognise the global benefits of a truly peaceful Burma. It is absolutely necessary for the international community to move beyond just voicing their concern, and follow their words with concrete actions.

Peace must happen in Burma at some point, and the time is now to achieve it and endure decades of false democracy to reach our goal.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/09/26/opinion/opinion_30113116.php