East Asia Today. October 19th 1998

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East Asia Today. October 19th 1998 

Growing Anger in Burma 

Burmese people are increasingly frustrated with the government

Burma has been a military dictatorship for thirty-six years. Generations of
student activists have struggled for democracy, but every time the military
has managed to keep the country in its iron grip. The habit of fear runs
deep in Burmese society. Fearing student protests, the authorities have
closed the universities. But despite such measures the students have
continued their protests. In this weeks postcard Irene Slegt describes a
night in Rangoon:

It's ten o' clock at night and the streets are dark and quiet. Only the
luxury hotels form bright beacons in the darkness, desperately hiding the
fact they are as good as empty. In a city with a population of over five
million, it feels almost like a curfew. On a road beside the compound
housing the Ministry of War - a huge expanse covering several hectares at
the foot of Burma's holiest Buddhist shrine, the Shwedagon Pagoda - road
blocks force us to slow down. Under the orange glow of street lights -
which do work here - huddle heavily armed soldiers. In the dark red wall
behind them holes for snipers to shoot through are carved out. It's
anybody's guess how many soldiers are behind. 

Since 1996, most senior army officers and their families have moved into
the compound. "They are afraid to live among the people", my driver said,
and grinned as if their fear gives him some satisfaction. Then he added
philosophically, "Maybe they are even more afraid than we are". 

The city was awash with rumours. Word had spread quickly that the students
were protesting again and people had heard voices in the night calling "We
want education, we want democracy, help us". 

We were on the way to the university campus where hundreds of students,
including my driver's son and his friends, had been protesting for several
days. But the university was surrounded by soldiers and riot police and it
was impossible to get close. We tried to listen for songs and protest
slogans but the night remained silent but for the chirping of the crickets.
It was not a place to linger. The police were on the lookout for curious
passers-by, especially foreigners with cameras. My driver was worried about
his son. But at the same time he was proud. "Students", he said, "Are the
ones who have to show courage, it's their moral role". But will their
courage win over people who have lived in fear for so many years?

Fear is deeply embedded in Burmese society. The opposition leader Aung San
Suu Kyi says its one of the big problems in Burma, adding that "When people
who are armed to the teeth are afraid you can imagine how fearful ordinary
people are. But the people in Burma are growing more and more angry. Angry
that there is not enough to eat in a country known for its abundance. Angry
that there is only a few hours electricity a day. Angry that they are lied
to by a regime that's filling its own pockets and doesn't care for the
people"

"Fear mixed with anger is a potent mixture" said a Burmese religious
leader. He spoke of an explosion to come, which could be ignited by any
spark. Burmese people have long been brave, long been afraid, but rarely
have they been as angry as now. And bottled up anger is not likely to find
its way out through pro-democracy student protests but could lead to
uncontrollable mob violence on the streets of Rangoon.