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SCMP-End grudges and rebuild nation

Subject: SCMP-End grudges and rebuild nation, abbot tells junta, opposition 

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Wednesday, December 22, 1999
South China Morning Post
THE MEKONG REGION=20

End grudges and rebuild nation, abbot tells junta, opposition=20
BURMA by WILLIAM BARNES in Bangkok=20

A prominent Buddhist monk has called for national unity and =
reconciliation between the military and the opposition.=20
In a series of letters, the chief abbot of Mahaghandharon monastery in =
Mandalay, Ashin Kundalabiwuntha, has tapped a well deep in history and =
moral purpose.=20

It is a central pillar of Burma's political culture that the country's =
political leaders should strive to bind the nation together - preferably =
on Buddhist principles.=20

He is in effect sending a powerful reminder to the ruling generals - and =
also opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi - that leadership should have a =
higher purpose in Burma than mere secular power.=20

The military has in recent years tried to capture the religious and =
moral high ground by seeking to identify itself as the protector of =
Buddhism.=20

Coming from a different direction, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi has reminded the =
country that her father, independence hero Aung San, said national unity =
should be achieved through the practise of Buddhist morality rather than =
force.=20

This tussle takes place on a higher plane than most foreigners are aware =
of - but one that resonates strongly with most Burmese.=20

The abbot sent letters dated November 25 to former dictator General Ne =
Win, junta leader General Than Shwe and Ms Aung San Suu Kyi.=20

"I appeal to you to set aside old grudges and take up a clean slate," he =
wrote to General Ne Win.=20

To General Than Shwe, he wrote: "You have been slandering each other. =
That saddens us." The state-controlled media and officials regularly =
taunt, tease and criticise Ms Aung San Suu Kyi in crude terms.=20

But to the opposition leader, the abbot said: "I appeal to you all to =
start a clean slate and strive hand in hand in building the nation."=20

Ms Aung San Suu Kyi has been criticised, mostly by parties sympathetic =
to the regime, for striking too strong a posture against it.=20

Buddhist monks have often played a prominent role in the struggle =
against colonial rule. One famous freedom-fighting monk, U Wisara, =
simply described the British as "wrong-viewed" in the Buddhist sense.=20

In recent times the regime has tried to control the state religion - a =
move that quickened after a monastic boycott in 1991.=20

But the monkhood remains a potential threat and religion remains a =
powerful tool. By repeatedly calling for not only "justice, liberty and =
equality" but also "spiritual renewal", Ms Aung San Suu Kyi reminds the =
military that her father said "like it or not, the spiritual and the =
political will remain part of the design of our lives".=20


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<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT =
face=3DHelvetica,Arial=20
size=3D2>Wednesday, December 22, 1999</FONT><BR><FONT color=3D#003300=20
face=3DHelvetica,Arial size=3D2><B>South China Morning =
Post</B></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#003300 =
face=3DHelvetica,Arial=20
size=3D2><B>THE MEKONG REGION</B></FONT> </DIV>
<P>
<DIV align=3Dleft><!--headline--><FONT size=3D4><B>End grudges and =
rebuild nation,=20
abbot tells junta, opposition</B> </FONT><FONT face=3DHelvetica,Arial=20
size=3D2><B></B></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=3Dleft><FONT face=3DHelvetica,Arial size=3D2><B>BURMA by =
WILLIAM BARNES in=20
Bangkok</B></FONT> <!--article--></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>A prominent Buddhist monk has called for national unity and =
reconciliation=20
between the military and the opposition. </DIV>
<P>In a series of letters, the chief abbot of Mahaghandharon monastery =
in=20
Mandalay, Ashin Kundalabiwuntha, has tapped a well deep in history and =
moral=20
purpose.=20
<P>It is a central pillar of Burma's political culture that the =
country's=20
political leaders should strive to bind the nation together - preferably =
on=20
Buddhist principles.=20
<P>He is in effect sending a powerful reminder to the ruling generals - =
and also=20
opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi - that leadership should have a =
higher=20
purpose in Burma than mere secular power.=20
<P>The military has in recent years tried to capture the religious and =
moral=20
high ground by seeking to identify itself as the protector of Buddhism.=20
<P>Coming from a different direction, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi has reminded =
the=20
country that her father, independence hero Aung San, said national unity =
should=20
be achieved through the practise of Buddhist morality rather than force. =

<P>This tussle takes place on a higher plane than most foreigners are =
aware of -=20
but one that resonates strongly with most Burmese.=20
<P>The abbot sent letters dated November 25 to former dictator General =
Ne Win,=20
junta leader General Than Shwe and Ms Aung San Suu Kyi.=20
<P>"I appeal to you to set aside old grudges and take up a clean slate," =
he=20
wrote to General Ne Win.=20
<P>To General Than Shwe, he wrote: "You have been slandering each other. =
That=20
saddens us." The state-controlled media and officials regularly taunt, =
tease and=20
criticise Ms Aung San Suu Kyi in crude terms.=20
<P>But to the opposition leader, the abbot said: "I appeal to you all to =
start a=20
clean slate and strive hand in hand in building the nation."=20
<P>Ms Aung San Suu Kyi has been criticised, mostly by parties =
sympathetic to the=20
regime, for striking too strong a posture against it.=20
<P>Buddhist monks have often played a prominent role in the struggle =
against=20
colonial rule. One famous freedom-fighting monk, U Wisara, simply =
described the=20
British as "wrong-viewed" in the Buddhist sense.=20
<P>In recent times the regime has tried to control the state religion - =
a move=20
that quickened after a monastic boycott in 1991.=20
<P>But the monkhood remains a potential threat and religion remains a =
powerful=20
tool. By repeatedly calling for not only "justice, liberty and equality" =
but=20
also "spiritual renewal", Ms Aung San Suu Kyi reminds the military that =
her=20
father said "like it or not, the spiritual and the political will remain =
part of=20
the design of our lives". <!--ArticleEnd--></P></FONT></BODY></HTML>

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