Speech to a Mass Rally at
the Shwedagon Pagoda
Aung
San Suu Kyi
The following is the English translation prepared by the author of
the speech she delivered in Burmese to a mass rally on the open ground west of
the great Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon on 26 August
1988. Of the approximately one thousand public
addresses she calculated she had given throughout the length and breadth of
Burma between August 1988 and July 1989, this was the first and the only one
for which she had prepared text to hand. Two days earlier she had made a brief
appearance in front of the
Reverend monks and people! This public rally is aimed at informing
the whole world of the will of the people. Therefore at this mass rally the
people should be disciplined and united to demonstrate the very fact that they
are a people who can be disciplined and united. Our purpose is to show that the
entire people entertain the keenest desire for a multi-party democratic system
of government.
It is the students who have paved the way to the present situation
where it is possible to hold such a rally. The occasion has been made possible
because the recent demonstrations have been spearheaded by the students and
even more because they have shown their willingness to sacrifice their lives. I
therefore request you all to observe a minute's silence in order to show our
deepest respect for those students who have lost their lives and,
even more, in order to share
the merit of their deeds among all of us. So while doing this please keep
perfect silence for the duration of one minute.
I believe that all the people who have assembled here have without
exception come with the unshakeable desire to strive for and win a multi-party
democratic system. In order to arrive at this objective, all the people should
march unitedly in a disciplined manner towards the
goal of democracy.
In this connection I would like to explain the part I have played
in this movement. This is needed because a fair number of people are not very
well acquainted with my personal history. It is only natural and right that
those who do not know me would like to know some facts.
A number of people are saying that since I have spent most of my
time abroad and am married to a foreigner I could not be familiar with the
ramifications of this country's politics. I wish to speak from this platform
very frankly and openly to the people. It is true that I have lived abroad. It
is also true that I am married to a foreigner. These facts have never
interfered and will never interfere with or lessen my love and devotion for my
country by any measure or degree.
Another thing which some people have been saying is that I know
nothing of Burmese politics. The trouble is that I know too much. My family
knows best how complicated and tricky Burmese politics can be and how much my
father had to suffer on this account. He expended much mental and physical
effort in the cause of Burma's politics without personal gain. That is why my
father said that once Burma's independence was gained he would not want to take
part in the kind of power politics that would follow.
Since my father had no such desire I too have always wanted to
place myself at a distance from this kind of politics. Because of that I have
kept away from politics. Some might then ask why, if I wished to stay out of
politics, should I now be involved in this movement.
The answer is that the present crisis is the concern of the entire nation. I
could not as my father's daughter remain indifferent
to all that was going on. This national crisis could in fact be called the
second struggle for national independence.
This great struggle has arisen from the intense and deep desire of
the people for a fully democratic parliamentary system of government. I would
like to read to you something my father said about democracy.
We must make democracy the popular creed.
We must try to build up a free Burma in accordance with such a creed. If we
should fail to do this, our people are bound to suffer. If democracy should
fail the world cannot stand back and just look on, and
therefore
That is what my father said. It is the reason why I am participating
in this struggle for freedom and democracy in the footsteps and traditions of
my father. To achieve democracy the people should be united. That is very
clear. It is a very plain fact. If there is no unity of purpose we shall be
unable to achieve anything at all. If the people are disunited, no ideology or
form of government can bring much benefit to the country. This must be firmly
fixed in the minds of the people. If there is no discipline, no system can
succeed. Therefore our people should always be united and disciplined.
While I am talking about the need for unity I would like to say
one thing. Some may not like what I am going to say. But I believe that my duty
is to tell the people what I believe to be true. Therefore I shall speak my
mind. If my words meet with your approval, please support me. If they are not
acceptable, it cannot be helped. I am only doing what I believe to be right.
What I wish to say is that at this time there is a certain amount of dissension
between the people and the army. This rift can lead to future dangers. The
present armed forces of Burma were created and nurtured by my father. It is not
simply a matter of words to say that my father built up the armed forces. It is
a fact. There are papers written in my father's own hand where he lays
out in detail how the army
should be organized and built up. So what objectives did my father have for the
armed forces? Let me read to you one of them:
The armed forces are meant for this nation
and this people, and it should be such a force having the honour
and respect of the people. If instead the armed forces should come to be hated
by the people, then the aims with which this army has been built up would have
been in vain.
Let me speak frankly. I feel strong attachment for the armed
forces. Not only were they built up by my father, as a child I was cared for by
his soldiers. At the same time I am also aware of the great love and affection
which the people have for my father. I am grateful for this love and affection.
I would therefore not wish to see any splits and struggles between the army
which my father built up and the people who love my father so much. May I also
from this platform ask the personnel of the armed forces to reciprocate this
kind of understanding and sympathy? May I appeal to the armed forces to become
a force in which the people can place their trust and reliance.
May the armed forces become one which will uphold the honour
and dignity of our country.
For their part the people should try to forget what has already
taken place, and I would like to appeal to them not to lose their affection for
the army. We shall reach our goal of a strong and lasting Union only if we are
all able to go forward in unity. We have not yet achieved this goal. Let us not
be disunited. Therefore let us resolve to march forward in unity towards our
cherished goal. In doing so please use peaceful means. If a people or a nation
can reach their objectives by disciplined and peaceful means, it would be a
most honourable and admirable achievement.
I have a few things to say about the students who have been at the
forefront of this nationwide movement. The students are most able. They have
already demonstrated their physical courage. I believe that they will now go on
to demonstrate their moral and mental ability.
May I appeal
to the students to continue to march forward with the same kind of unity
and resolve? At this moment there are a number of student groups. I would like
these groups to come together as a unified body. I understand that they are
soon going to call a conference for this purpose. Should this occasion arise
may I pray that it will result in an entire cohesion and unity of the students.
Some students have asked me which politicians are standing behind
me. They are apprehensive that such politicians might manipulate me and then
take over the students. I am happy that the students have been so open and
honest with me. Young people are frank and free from deviousness. I answered
them truthfully. There are no politicans behind me.
What I am trying to do is to help achieve the democratic system of government
which the people want. For the achievement of this system, there are some
veteran politicians who wish to help me in various ways. I have told such
politicians that if their object is to obtain positions of political power for
themselves, I would not support them in any way. Should these politicians try
to obtain positions of political power I promise in front of this assembly of
people that I myself will not hesitate to denounce
them.
There is a sort of gulf between the older and younger generations.
This gulf will have to be bridged. There is the feeling that the older and
younger generations are quite apart from each other. This is something that
should not happen. Whether young or old the entire people should be united.
The strength of the people is growing day by day. Such growing
strength has to be controlled by discipline. Undisciplined strength or strength
which is not in keeping with right principles can never lead to a beneficial
fruition. It could lead to danger for many. Therefore please continue to use
our strength in accordance with rightful principles. At this juncture when the
people's strength is almost at is peak we should take extreme care not to oppress
the weaker side. That is the kind of evil practice which would cause the people
to lose their dignity and honour. The people should
demonstrate clearly and distinctly their capacity to forgive.
If we are to examine what it is that we all desire, that is what
the people really want at this time, the answer is multi-party
democracy. We want to get rid
of the one-party system. The President, Dr Maung Maung,
has said that he is calling an emergency party congress to decide whether there
should be a national referendum. So far as I am concerned I do not think it is
necessary to have this referendum. The entire nation's desires and aspirations
are very clear. There can be no doubt that everybody wants a multi-party
democratic system of government. It is the duty of the present government to
bring about such a system as soon as possible.
For the people's part they should continue to demonstrate for this through peaceful and
disciplined means. May I emphasize again that we have not yet arrived at our
cherished goal. Please think in advance of what should be done to bring about a
firmly established Union. Please think of the country's future. Unless we
consider the future of our country, the changes that are coming into being may
not be able to achieve much benefit for the country. My father said there is a
great need for the people to be disciplined and this cannot be repeated too
often.
We do not need to have a referendum. What we do need is a
multi-party system. It should be introduced as quickly as possible by means of
free and fair elections. Conditions necessary for the holding of free and fair
elections should be created throughout the country. The people have lost their
confidence in the government of the day. If the holding of free and fair
elections requires an interim government, such a forerunner should be created.
The main objective is not to have either the
present form of government, nor an interim government, nor to have some
other new government, but to have a government that can bring about a strong
and prosperous Union of Burma. Please do not lose sight of the main objectives,
nor forget the future welfare of the country. Should we lose sight of these, present victories will change to future failures.
What stage have we reached now? Well, our cherished aim is clearly
within sight. Let us march forward together towards that goal. Let no divisions
creep in. It is important that divisions of opinion should not arise among the
students. There should be a complete restraint on creating such divisions.
Therefore should differences arise between them now the country's future unity will be jeopardized.
While I am on the subject of unity may I speak for a while on the
union of states of which
Those who have the greater strength should show restraint and
tolerance towards those who have less strength. Here I wish to say one thing
regarding those people who are supporting the one-party system. The fact is
many members of the Lanzin Party (Burma Socialist
Programme Party) have themselves lost faith and confidence in their party. Such
party members should resign from the Lanzin Party.
They should hand in their party cards.
However, those who continue as members of the Lanzin
Party out of conviction should not be molested. Democracy is an ideology that
allows everyone to stand up according to his beliefs. They should not be
threatened or endangered. Each one should go forward towards his own goal. Do
not because of your greater strength be vengeful towards those who are of
weaker strength.
We have gone far beyond the intended time, so I must cut this
short. The final remark I wish to make is for our rally to maintain unity and
discipline. Our strength should be used for the cause of what is right. Only by
observing these requirements shall we be able to find our goal.
May the entire people be united and disciplined. May our people
always do what is in complete accord with rightful principles.
May the people be free from all harm.
To conclude I would like to reiterate our emphatic demands and
protests, namely that we have no desire at all for a referendum, that the
one-party system should be dismantled, that a multiparty system of government
should be established, and we call for free and fair elections to be arranged
as quickly as possible. These are our demands.