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Fw: Re: Solving the KNU problem.



--------- Forwarded message ----------
To: burmanet-l@xxxxxxx,celsus@xxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: govspkmn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1999 14:34:17 -0800
Subject: Re: Solving the KNU problem.
Message-ID: <19991204.143420.-133771.0.SAW-AUNG@xxxxxxxx>

Dear friends, 
When I read article from Burmese Embassy, London about solving KNU
problem, I find it hard to believe that SPDC is still trying to mislead 
the International community to believe that they can solve the age old
problem which they actually do not have the desire nor the heart to
do so.
In using their favorite phrase "Return to the Legal fold" SPDC used 
to brag that they have tried very hard to unite all ethnic minority 
people and 17 minority people resistant groups have already made cease 
fire agreement and have come back in to the legal fold. 
Let us now examine how much the 17 cease fire groups represent the 
minority people in Burma. There are 14 States and Divisions in Burma. 
7 States and 7 Divisions. Seven States are situated around the 
parameter of Burma Proper and the inhabitants are mostly minority people 
while Burma Proper is inhabited by mixed population. Never the less 
ethnic Burmans are the majority. As pointed out by KNU, many cease fire 
groups are smaller and splinter groups, most of which are heavily 
involved in drug trafficking except KIO, Mon and few smaller groups.
Over all cease fire groups consist of 3 groups from Kachin State, 8 
from Shan State, 3 from Karenni State, 2 from Karen State , 1 from 
Mon State. Even smaller group like Payagon Peace Unit headed by 
former KNU Central committee Padoh Aung San and family which number 
not more than 50 members is being counted as one group. 
I am just wondering why Embassador Dr. Kyaw win did not mention 
resistant groups that are still refusing SPDC's offer to come back 
to the Legal Fold. Resistant groups from Arakan State, Chin State, 
Southern Shan State, Karenni State and The Burmese Students and their
compatriots abroad who relentlessly are waging war against SPDC's 
propaganda ploy. It seem to me that SPDC or their representatives 
tried to tell to the world that 94.5 (100/18 & 17/1 =94.5) percent 
of resistant groups had come back to the legal fold and peace and 
tranquility prevail in the country. At the Fifty Fourth session of 
UNGA, Foreign Minister U Win Aung stated that Forced Labor was no 
longer practiced in Myanmar since there was no longer any fighting 
waged against insurgent groups and therefore there was no need to 
demand porterage from civilians. I try to believe that it is true 
because fighting had claimed thousands and thousands of lives. If 
that is the case, I wish General Khin Nyunt take foreign deplomats 
and journalists to the Shan State forced relocation sites, Karenni 
relocation sites, Karen State relocation sites and Mon State 
relocation sites as he had toured the Northern Shan State Cease 
fire group area and posted photograph with their leader. 
Dear friends. Did SPDC try very hard to bring the resistant groups
in to the legal fold as they claim they did? SPDC formed partnership
with cease fire groups especially with the groups in the Eastern 
and Northern Shan State, allowed them to do drug business and SPDC 
share the fruits of the business. Others signed cease fire agreement
through intimidation, coersion and ultimatum by SPDC. Before cease 
fire agreement signed, SPDC massed its troops close to resistant 
groups. Knowing that they had been out numbered and sensing the 
immediate danger, resistant groups had no choice but to sign cease 
fire agreement according to SPDC's terms. Recently, in his report, 
leader of a cease fire group in Northern Shan State grieved for 
having signed cease fire agreement. He complained that their teritory
of control have been shrinkened to one tenth of what they used to 
have before they made cease fire agreement. They can not operate 
within 5 mile distant from either motor road or railway line. They
can not carry their weapons when they travel. They have to stay 
where designated by SPDC. They can not do business in timber  industry
while SPDC soldiers are felling trees for sale.
Dear friends, SPDC made cease fire agreement is not to unite the 
people of diverse ethnic groups. Their purpose is to divide and 
rule so that they can aim more fire power at the remaining resistant
groups who resist to come back to their legal fold. When they can 
not totally subdue the remaining resistant groups, they resort 
to unleashing their acts of terror upon the innocent minority people.
A Shan is killed for being a Shan and a Karen is being killed for 
simply being a Karen. At the fifty fourth session of UNGA, UN 
special rapportuer stated clearly how the Karen villagers in Southern 
part of Burma were being raped, tortured and killed. Some were  
stabbed and others were put alive in empty rice sack and pounded 
with rice pestle till they died. Just imagine how excruciating 
pain the villagers have to bear after all the bones in their bodies 
were crushed before they died. This kind of inhumane treatment 
of SPDC troops to the innocent villagers is not accidental and 
isolated cases. It is well planned and systematic of unleashing 
acts of terror so that the minority people will flee and empty 
their home land. SPDC had demonstrated this patern of terror 
before when they constructed the natural gas pipe line and they plan 
to do it again when the construction of hydro electric dam begin in 
the Shan State, Karenni State and Karen State along the Salween 
river. 
Dear friends, SPDC had commited atrocities not only by weapons but
also by deprivation of the food and the time to grow food crops. 
Burning all the food crops and rice barn while patrolling and 
enslaving the people all the time reduce the people to human beings with
having no rights 
for life at all. International organizations and NGOs acknowlege that 
scarcity of food and the constant flow of refugees are caused 
by the Burma Military Regime. Even Budhist monks crossed the 
border and collect alms in neighboring Thai Land. 
There is a saying in Burmese. Kywet manaing Kyi mee shoh. There
was a farmer who noticed every morning that rats were climbing 
his rice barn and ate the paddy which he stored in the rice barn. 
He was angry and thought of a strategic plan which he thought was
very sound to get rid of the rats. He then implemented his plan by 
torching the rice barn. We don't know how many rats died in the 
flame but we do know that the farmer have nothing left to eat 
and had become a beggar and understandably a nuisance to his
neighbors. 
Dear General Than Shwe, General Maung Aye, General Khin Nyunt 
and the rest of SPDC members, why do you want to unite the people 
of diverse ethnic groups by force while there is alternative 
avenue that you can choose! Within a few years many countries 
have changed including your friend and role model Indonesia. Some
countries have changed by intervention and others have changed 
by the initiation of the Government itself. When the change occur
by intervention, more blood is likely to be spilt before the 
International community can actually intervene. Example: Bosnia, 
kosovo and recently East Timor. On the other hand, when the change
is initiated by the Government itself, the transition is rather 
smooth and bloodless. South Africa And Nigeria have done very well.
Afer election, the new democratic Government of South Africa
formed Truth and Reconciliation Commission headed by Nobel Peace
Prize winner and Bishop Desmond Tu Tu to solve and tackle the 
diverse ethnic problem with hatred. In his book "No Future With 
Out Forgiveness" Desmond Tu Tu described why the Government 
chose to form Truth and Reconciliation Commission instead of
persuing Nuerenberg style World Court Tribunal or ordinary 
Criminal trial of perpetrators. By forming the Commission, the 
Government was able to uncover the truth and bring the peretrators
and the victims' families together and ask for forgiveness. 
Dear SPDC members, UN is trying to encourage you to initiate change
and Japan is also trying to get involved. Why do you hesitate to
start initiation of change. It is not time to try to unite the 
people by force and seek propaganda ploy any more. By trying to 
unite the people by force, you have spent billions of dollars 
but still you have not been successful yet. On the other hand, 
if you choose to talk with opposition Leaders and minority leaders
it will not cost you more than few lunches and dinners. Never the 
less you will reap the result beautifully and your children and your
childrens' children will all be grateful and be proud of what you 
have ever done for them. As ordinary citizen and a native of Burma,
I do not have credential to advice you. I am writing this letter 
because I believe deep down in my heart that the fact and materials 
in it are true. I hope and pray  that you will not take lightly 
as a wishful thinking.

Best Regards. 
             Saw Aung Khin.

Copy to:
1/  Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary General, United Nations Head Quarters, New
York, NY. 10017
2/  Hon. Madeleine K. Albright, US Secretary of State, DC. 20520
3/  Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. c/UN Center for
Human Rights, 
     Paliasdes Nations, CH 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland.
4/  Thai Land Prime Minister Chuan Leek Pai, govspkmn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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