WORDS OF WISDOM FROM A C.R.D.B. COL

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Subject: WORDS OF WISDOM FROM A C.R.D.B. COLLEAGUE (1994)

/* posted 4 Jun 6:00am 1997 by drunoo@xxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:reg.burma */
/* -------------" Words of Wisdom from C.R.D.B. colleague "------------ */

[ Following is a letter by Eugene Yawnghwe of Canada to the editors of
News & Views (Committee for Restoration of Democracy in Burma, Australian
Chapter, Ed. U Kin Oung) that was published in the issue of Sep/Oct-1994.
I posted here for our friends to share some valuable thoughts by Eugene
Thaike Yawnghwe. -- U Ne Oo.]
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LETTER TO EDITORS
E.Thaike Yawnghwe
Vancouver, Canada
Date: 22/8/94

The Editors
CRDB-NEWS AND VIEWS
Australia.

Dear Sirs:
        I am a regular reader of the NEWS & VIEWS, and appreciate your
efforts for the people of Burma in their long and difficult struggle for
freedom/second independence. As well, you have succeeded in creating what I
call an alternative image and reality - one reflecting what Slorc is trying
to overpower by the creation of its own reality and image of Burma/Burmese
society. You have as well given faces and names to the "inhabitants" of the
still submerged, but inevitable reality which will swamp Slorc bosses and
the military. The fact of the matter is that, simply put, the forces of
democracy and change have won the war. Slorc is simply trying to forestall
the tide of history -- with generous help from those afraid of change
and/or are propelled by the dollar sign alone.

Having said the above, permit me to be very frank. I do enjoy reading your
journal, but it seems to me that we are either admiring problems/lamenting
our sad plight or vilifying Slorc -- that is, preacing to the converted.
This ties up with another problem -- which is, investing all our hope and
dumping all our problems on one person, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

I have great admiration for her not only because of her courage, but mainly
because she is a thinker besides being a worthy national leader. We have to
nonetheless be realistic and acknowledge that a single person cannot solve
all our problem. To believe in a hero who will save us all is a lazy way of
seeing history. In fact, behind the great men of history are hundreds, if
not thousands of lesser great men, just as there are a multitude of petty
tyrants behind every big tyrant.

What we need is more people to engage in the analyses or
discussions/debates on our problems in a very substantial way. This is
important because understanding problems is part of the solution. We surely
cannot blame everything on Thakin Shu Maung and leave it at that, or worse,
leave it to Aung San Suu Kyi to come up with all the solutions.

For example, the question of national unity. What do we mean by it ? How do
we define it ? Or should there be only one way to define it ? In defining
"national unity", it is clear that it is defined is as many ways as there
are countries and nations. That is, we have to look at what are the content
of American/Australian/Canadian/British/Russian "national unity" and
"nationhood", etc. And we will have to analyse the ways in which Burmese
"nationhood" have been defined by, for example the Dobama Thakins, the
BIA/BDA/PBF elements (military thakins), U Aung SAn, AFPFL Thakins,
Communist Thakins, and military-socialists of Thakin Shu Maung. and etc. In
this connection, how should national unity be expressed in constitutional
forms or structures ? and so forth.

We will as well have to discuss/debate democracy, its meanings, content,
structures, forms, etc., since there are different ways in which democracy
is expressed. Also, we will have to discuss and debate various impartant
and/or defining moments in our history, such as the "independence
struggle", the claimed role of the military in it, the 1947 Panglong
agreement, the 1948 constitution, the communist Thakin rebellion, the Karen
(and other non-Bama) rebellion, the AFPFL period and split, 1961-62 Federal
movement, the long BSPP interregum, the many protests, the 1988 uprising,
the aspiration that fuelled it, the people/groups involved, etc. If we do
not discuss these events critically, they will be interpreted by those who
hold power, i.e., Slorc (and previously, the BSPP), and we and future
generations will have to accept their version of "historical facts". This
means that we surrender to our oppressors the right to write history and
thus defind the conditionsof our existence for now and for the future. That
is, we will be travelling/struggling against oppression by the map or
blueprint drawn by them.

The important issue is, by whose maps and formulas will we struggle and/or
under stand problems that confront us ? Hence, it is very important that we
draw our own map. If we do not have a map of our own, our own landmarks,
and if we travel by the chart drawn up by our oppressors, we will not get
to our destination. Moreover, even if Slorc/the military falls on their own
(which is very possible), we will only repeat the cycle of oppression and
protests, civil wars, poverty, exploitation, etc., which has characterized
Burma's history since ancient time. We have to lay down the foundations now
while we are struggling. We must have solutions and options thought out in
advance. Understanding of problems and clues to solutions will not
automatically strike us from heaven when Slorc falls or is somehow
overthrown.

Making our own map to guide our journey, as stated above, is only part of
the story. The other part is that we must be able to refute arguments put
forward by Slorc, their external patrons, and a host of greedy businessmen.
We must study those arguments and repute them by facts. For example, we
must research the state of investments/investors in Burma. Are investors
making money, or is it merely a "monkey see monkey do" rush intothe
"lucrative" Burma "market"? who are really investing ? What are the
bottlenecks/problems, what is actually happening ? In other words, we must
do real reasearch on Slorc, Slorc bosses and their "businesses", and make
there research works ( aand those that already exist) known to investors
and those who want to rush in for fear of not getting the slice of the
cake, i.e., address our messages to specific audience.

As everyone knows, being in the opposition is difficult. We have to work
twice as hard, be a lot smarter in every way. But although we think that
the world is moved by victors, the truth is those few who defeat the
victors are as important in bringing about change and progress. In short,
if we want a better Burma, we must will ourselves to win, which means we
must try harder. Our job is more difficult than Slorc's. We will not win
easily because, as they say, there is no free lunches.

I hape you will not be offended by this letter. And even if you are, I hope
you will print it, if only to enrage our compatriots into trying refute
what is contained in this letter. In a situation that we are in, and
considering the task aahead, it is better to have enraged people than happy
and contented ones.

Thank you for your time and patience.
ESteem, and most sincerely, E. Thaike Yawnghwe.

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