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Asiaweek-1988:_Fighting_“a_Bad_King



Subject: Asiaweek-1988:_Fighting_?a_Bad_King?

Interview/ Min Ko Naing . 
(Asiaweek's Dominic Faulder)
Fighting "a Bad King"

?........ I'll never die. Physically I might be dead, but many more Min Ko
Naing would appear to take my place. As you know, Min Ko Naing can only
conquer a bad king. If the ruler is good, we carry him on our
shoulders...........? 


As Burma's leading student activist, the man who calls himself Min Ko Maing
has become an almost legendary figure. The name itself, a nom de guerre
meaning "conqueror of kings" displays an audacity in keeping with the
massive street demonstrations that nearly brought down the Rangoon
government. Even at the height of unrest, Min Ko Naing had lain low. After
last month's military takeover, rumours flew that he had fled to Bangkok.
But he has remained in Rangoon, staying underground. A former Rangoon
University zoology student, Min Ko Naing has been organising dissident
cells since 1984. He now heads the All Burma Federation of Students' Unions
(ABFSU), formed in August. The federation, he says, has issued 30,000
membership cards out of some 40,000 applications nationwide.
A fortnight ago, the ABFSU decided on a two-pronged strategy of resistance
in which 70% of the leadership would work towards achieving democracy
through political channels, while the remainder would continue underground
activity. As one student leader saw it, "if all  100 % join the political
party, there will be no one left to organise the people." Min Ko Naing says
he fully supports the legal struggle, but he continues to take careful
precautions against arrest by the military. When Asiaweek's Dominic Faulder
met him at a secret rendezvous in a Rangoon suburb recently, the student
leader concealed his face and surroundings before being photographed. With
him were key lieutenants who also go by pseudonyms - Moe Hean("Thunder"),
Moe The Zun("Heavy Rains") and Ye Naing Aung("Valiant Victory"). They
deferred to Min Ko Naing as he answered questions forcefully and
succinctly. Excerpts from the talk:

What is your strategy now?

We have given up armed struggle. We would like to avoid armed
confrontation- that is our desire. We want to pressure the army into
forming an interim government . . .  We thought about it (armed struggle),
but that would be the last resort. Many lives have been lost already. We
want that to stop.

What have you been doing since August?

We tried to keep demonstrations within the law. To the people, we were
already half the government. We maintained law and order successfully. With
the help of the monks, we assumed civil administrative responsibilities at
the ward and township levels. We also managed to supply food, especially
rice. The people began to depend on us, and that really frightened the
government.

Are you in touch with Burma's ethnic insurgents?

(Student leader) Maung Maung Kyaw has been given the responsibility of
contacting the ( rebel) Karens. We have to go two ways. If we can't have
demonstrations here, the alternative is to attack the government. 

Some suggest you are a communist.

(Laughs) I am a student who believes that the country should have
democratic ideals. Let me point out that this government labels anybody it
is afraid of as communist. None of us are communist.

How do you view dissident leaders Aung Gyi, Tin U and Aung San Suu Kyi?

I support all three leaders. It's not an easy thing to say because as
individuals they all came out (in protest against the regime). I have no
special preference for any one of them. We would like them all to confront
the government. We don't place much hope in U Nu (an ex-premier who heads
the opposition League for Democracy and Peace); he's on his own but we have
not neglected him.
we want to join forces; only then can we have a party. Since the government
announced a multi-party system (on Sept.10), some 20 parties have popped
up. Every leader has different ideas. This we regret very much.

What will your strategy be for the proposed multi-party elections?

We think the elections will not take place or will be very dirty. We have
little faith in them.

The government broke the weeks-long general strike on Oct.3. What has been
your involvement in it?

We have maintained secret links with the workers. Yes, they have gone back
to work, but only to collect their salaries to buy food with, so they can
come back stronger and continue the fight. They're not really working but
using all their ingenuity to give the government a hard time. Passive
resistance is one of the methods we're using in our struggle. We can't yet
say exactly when the government will feel the crunch.

What do you seed as the main obstacle to democracy?

The military and the man who commands it. That person is U Ne Win. If I met
Ne Win and I was in a patient mood, I would just ask him to leave the
country. If I was in a bad mood, I might do something to him. I'll always
be with the people. I'll never die. Physically I might be dead, but many
more Min Ko Naing would appear to take my place. As you know, Min Ko Naing
can only conquer a bad king. If the ruler is good, we carry him on our
shoulders. 

-------------ASIAWEEK October 28, 1998------------