Earning respect.. (r)

[m.win@xxxxxxxxxx]

Dear Indiana:

Appreciate your intervention and forceful argument. However, Ko Soe Than
might not be SPDC agent. It could be that he piously believe in
NON-VIOLENCE. I have no problem, if he keep his believe to himself and
like-minded ones, so long as he refrain from CURSING others who might have
different opinions.

There are thousands of tactics available in trying to CHANGE the balance of
power to the benefit of the democratic forces, or if you like, opposition
camps. Without correcting the IMBALANCE nature of the existing political
climate, all of us know there will never be a DAILOGUE, must less a
meaningful, fair and earnest one. If we insist to negotiate from an inferior
position we are recently in, we'll have to settle for a NEGOTIATED
SURRENDER.
I personally see the oppositions' struggle divided into two main categories,
to swing the
imbalance nature to their favours. One is NON-VIOLENCE and the other, ARMED
STRUGGLE. Although I won't dare to say that these actions are well
coordinated or even have connection with one another. This is the pattern of
oppositon movements, I believe.

The act of recent hostage-takers falls into the category of armed struggle
and to be more exact URBAN GUERILLA. It is of course not befitting to launch
this kind of action in a foreign country, must less in Thailand for we stand
to lose a lot, since we are forced to rely on this host country to advance
our cause internationally. But this should not be interpreted as an
encouragement or either rejection. I'm only trying to look at it from a
distance, as an observer. It is also true, what Ko Soe Than pointed out that
if such actions were to be used, it should be within the country.

He wrote elsewhere:

"If they were really brave, they would find a way to get into the inner
circle and assassinate KN or MA.  Security around them is not as tight as
one might think and I believe you can easily infiltrate them if you try hard
enough or know the right people to approach.  Besides, KN public appearance
around the country makes it quite vulnerable and easy!  Every heard of
sharp-shooter?"

So at least, he's not totally for NON-VIOLENCE.

The point I'm trying to drive here is that the opposition camps have no
centralized command and as such, every group will be trying to resist and
struggle in everyway they see it fit. Nobady can reign in on them. It is
what we could term
"DIVERSE ACTIONS COMMON GOAL", i.e., to get rid of the Burmese military
clique.
All these diverse actions - political activities within SPDC control sphere
(I don't
like to call legal fold), international lobbying, armed resistance, just to
name a few - might change the imbalance nature of the now exsisting politcal
atmosphere, leading to a sensible dialogue to benefit all conflict parties.
Or it may not simply work out, only heaven knows.

Hope I'm not taking too much of your time.

S. Wansai

----- Original Message -----
To: Soe Than <c04061998@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <burmanet-l@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, October 03, 1999 8:06 AM
Subject: Re: Earning respect..


> At 06:56 PM 10/2/99 -0700, you wrote:
> >Ako Indiana khmyar -
> >
> >Please forgive me for posting my response or reply in public.
>
> I dont mind conducting this argument in public.  That is one of the
blessings of democracy and free speech.
>
> >Gen. Aung San was a nationalist who fought fascist Japanese and colonial
British.  In other words, these are foreigners.  He has earned many respects
for his true conviction and what he has done for Burma.
> >
> >What is happening here is quite different.  A civil affair.  Burmese v.s.
Burmese.
>
> So you condone violence, as long as it is against someone of a different
culture, or different color?  But in the case of a civil dispute, only one
side can use violence, the other side must humbly beg for justice, no matter
what abuses he suffers?  This is strange.  Why would anyone make this
argument?
>
> >I must urge you and your colleagues to find another way to fight against
the Military Regime.  Please follow a none-violent path.  We need not to
shed one innocent blood.
>
> If you are a reader of this list, you know that there is a daily shedding
of innocent blood throughout Burma, approved of and conducted by your SPDC
dictatorship.
>
> The world community perhaps can ignore this reality, because it is
happening far away from them.  It will be harder to do that now, as the
crisis is brought closer to home for them.
>
> >I do not need to go into lengthy explanation on what I meant.  It
explained for itself.
>
> So you claim.  As I said earlier, this is the dictator's tactic of using
(usurped) authority in place of logic and reason.
>
> >I know that ASSK would never, ever look at them as heroes.  She would not
advocate this and I believe you know this also.
>
> As General Secretary of the NLD, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has the
responsibility to uphold internationally accepted norms of conduct.  Also, I
believe that, personally, she would always avoid violence to the greatest
extent possible.
>
> Everyone knows, however, that there may appear a situation in life in
which following one's principles are more important than maintaining social
norms or even preserving life.  One example is Bogyoke Aung San's decision
to take up arms against the British and Japanese occupations of Burma.
>
> I do not believe he did this because the British and Japanese were
"foreigners".  He did it because, out of love for his suffering countrymen,
he could no longer personally tolerate the injustice and violence of the
British and Japanese rule.
>
> What do you think were the motives of those who took your embassy?
>
> >We do not believe violence in our civilized and progressive society.  We
must reject it at any cost or avoid it.
>
> There is no civilized society in Burma today, in the common understanding
of the word.  And, to the extent that the international community aids and
abets the criminal SPDC regime, the rest of the world has yet to achieve a
fully civilized society.
>
> Violence is, unfortunately, sometimes the only path to justice.
Otherwise, why do states keep armies?
>
> Your pious talk of non-violence cannot hide your sympathy for the most
violent and unprincipled regime in Asia today, Mr "Soe Than".