I met General Aung San (A Story)

[aungsoe@xxxxxxxxxxx]

My body was sweating heavily last nite as July is becoming hotter and 
hotter.  I felt the tears on my cheek.  Tears of happiness for seeing my 
idol in my dream: Aung San, Thakin Aung San, General Aung San.  His 
words make me tremble with surging power and strength in my soul. He 
appeared before me while staring at the one-kyat currency note that I 
decorated my room as a symbol of freedom and patriotism.  I said, "Hello 
Grandpa...I am Aung Soe."  He jokingly replied, "You must be Aung Hsoe 
(delinquent)."  He continued...
"Listen son..... you know me as a martyr...as a hero.  You, my 
successors, come to my grave yearly and pay your due respect and homage 
to what I have done for your freedom.  You wasted a lot of money buying 
flowers and garlands to decorate my grave.  You know I don't like the 
habit of wastefulness.  Your cries and prayers for a dead man like me 
won't make any difference to my soul."

Oh grandpa.... we do love you.  That's why we do it.  Money for flower 
is nothing costly compared to our other wasteful activities, I 
explained.  He waved his hand and continued his speech...
"Only difference you can make to my soul is to fulfill my dream of 
setting people free from fear of exercising their will and desire as any 
other free men and women of the world.  I called it 
freedom...independence.  Your past generations, the nationalists, 
launched wars against fascist imperialists and colonialists along with 
me to get the freedom and dignity back."  
Thakin Aung San paused and looked into my eyes as if he already knew 
what I want to question him the freedom of the people under his 
soldiers' hands.  "I understand why you are here away from home and 
loved ones because you think you are not free or your people...my people 
are not free at all."  I nodded in agreement.

"Before I died that morning, I saw the dawn of freedom.  I wasn't killed 
by fascists and colonialists.  I was killed by my own people who 
advocated the same cause that I believed in with my life.  You can 
forget the stories about who conspired Ko Saw to assassinate me and my 
colleagues.  It was Ko Saw himself.  Again, it wasn't Ko Saw. His ego 
and primitive thoughts for acquiring a ruling position were solely 
responsible for my death.  It is Ko Saw's hunger for power that killed 
me and left your parents crying behind, my son."  I was amazed at U Aung 
San's forgiveness for his own murderer.  He turned his back against me 
and continued looking at the mountain range that separates me from 
motherland.

"Oh my children....I have left you for 41 years now.....What have you 
all been doing to each other in the name of patriotism and freedom?  It 
was true and will be always true that our strength lies within our 
nation only.  For you, my grandsons and granddaughters, I have a word of 
caution.   I would remind you of my historic mistake in bringing 
fascists into the land as an immature freedom fighter.  I had a blind 
faith in their promise that they would grant "freedom" to the people.  I 
would forever repent for the real outcome and consequences that people 
had to experience for my personal decision.  Take a note, my grandson.  
When you fight for freedom outside the country, seek help and solidarity 
but NOT authority.  Your authority begins at home and from your people.  
So you must trust your people more than anything.  People come first.   
Also love your neighbours as you love yourself."  Great Aung San picked 
up my carbine laid next to me and asked, "Hmm...a sophisticated one.  
For whom?"   I was speechless.

"Don't explain to me, my grandson.  I know what kind of enemy you are 
having now.  Your own brothers, uncles become your enemies.  Your own 
army...my own army becomes your enemy.  I am sorry about that.  I 
couldn't believe that Ko Shuu Maung would order "shoot order" to the 
soldiers to kill your brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles.  He forgot 
who he was and who armed the army who is protecting his personal 
security.  I should have had second thought of entrusting him as one of 
my comrades.  Now he is an anti-people's freedom.  His gang is 
mistreating the people whom the people trusted as their leaders.  The 
honourable M.Ps of the independent become sort of ex-convicts who can't 
exercise their freedom of movement because they are on probation.  What 
a freedom!!  These people who are now in the command of my army are not 
the real soldiers.  They are mere robbers and thieves.  They posted the 
red billboards above my grave.  They read as "Armed Force is the parents 
of the people."  Believe me, my son, it isn't my doctrine.  It is Shu 
Maung's doctrine.  He is acting above the law.  He is the king. So are 
his gang members.  This slogan is anti-people."  General Aung San took a 
deep breath, raised his voice and continued his speech as if he was 
speaking to a troop.

"Soldiers!!! What do you think of yourselves, my wayward sons.  People 
are your parents, who raised you to become one of the finest defense 
organizations in Asia.  Make the people proud of you.  Don't make them 
regret for bringing you up.  Recall the story of a king, Azardathat, who 
killed his own father.  Even this mother-earth won't accept those who 
mistreated their own parents.  Mend your way, my sons.  Bring these 
billboards don and burn them into ashes before you are burnt alive 
because of your sins."  General Aung San's voice was full of anger.  
Gradually, his body turned into a figure of an angle and his speech 
faded out.  I begged him not to go away.  I begged aloud.  But General 
Aung San was gone.
Oh what a dream.

Aung Soe (BKK)
(Commemorating the 41st Anniversary of Martyrs Day)

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