http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/08/AR2009090802959.html
By U Win Tin
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Much attention has been focused on Sen. James Webb's recent visit to
my country and his meetings with Senior Gen. Than Shwe and
incarcerated Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi. I
understand Webb's desire to seek a meaningful dialogue with the
Burmese ruling authorities. Unfortunately, his efforts have been
damaging to our democracy movement and focus on the wrong issue -- the
potential for an "election" that Webb wants us to consider
participating in next year as part of a long-term political strategy.
But the showcase election planned by the military regime makes a
mockery of the freedom sought by our people and would make military
dictatorship permanent.
In our last free election, the Burmese people rejected military rule
in a landslide, awarding our National League for Democracy party more
than 80 percent of the seats in parliament. Yet the military has
refused to allow the NLD to form a government. In the 19 years since
that election, Burmese democracy activists have faced imprisonment,
intimidation, torture and death as they have peacefully voiced demands
for justice, individual and ethnic rights, and a democratic form of
government that is representative of all Burma's people.
While never ending our struggle for democracy, the NLD has continually
sought to engage the regime and open a dialogue -- based on peace and
mutual respect -- that could address Burma's critical political as
well as social problems. Make no mistake -- these two issues are
linked. Burma was once the rice bowl of Asia. Today, because of the
regime's destructive economic policies and its use of oppression to
maintain military rule, Burma is a shattered, poverty-stricken
country.
The regime is seeking to place a veneer of legitimacy on itself
through showcase "elections" and claiming that "disciplined democracy"
will be instituted next year. Yet in May 2008, just days after a
massive cyclone devastated Burma and killed more than 100,000 people,
the regime used a farcical process to claim that 93 percent of voters
chose to adopt a constitution that permanently enshrines military rule
and prevents those with undefined "foreign ties" from holding public
office -- catch-all provisions that would bar Suu Kyi and democracy
activists from seeking office.
Some international observers view next year's planned elections as an
opportunity. But under the circumstances imposed by the military's
constitution, the election will be a sham. We will not sacrifice the
democratic principles for which many millions of Burmese have marched,
been arrested, been tortured and died to participate in a process that
holds no hope whatsoever for bringing freedom to our country.
The demands of the NLD are reasonable. In April we issued another
declaration to encourage engagement with the military that called for
the release of all political prisoners, a full review of the
constitution, reopening of all NLD offices and the right to freely
organize. The regime's answer is the continued jailing of Suu Kyi and
2,000 other activists, massive military offensives against ethnic
groups and the enforcement of rules to gag democracy.
How can the international community play a meaningful role? First,
officials such as Webb should stop fear-mongering about China. His
language about containing China, and working with Burma's regime to do
so, is based on an outdated and unrealistic thesis. Suu Kyi rejected
such notions by informing Webb that "we will not deal with anyone with
fear and insecurity. We will deal with anyone, China, America, India,
equally and friendly. As we can't choose our neighbors, we understand
that we need to have a good relationship with China." Second, the NLD
encourages other countries and international organizations to engage
with Burma's military leaders to persuade them to engage with us and
Burma's ethnic groups. The United States and many other nations have
imposed sanctions on Burma. That is their decision and in keeping with
their justified solidarity with the democratic values that we all hold
so dear. If the regime genuinely engages with the NLD and ethnic
representatives, releases political prisoners, ceases attacks against
ethnic minorities and takes additional steps to build a true
democratic state, these sanctions will be repealed at the right time.
In the meantime, let no one doubt our resolve. The NLD is a reflection
of Burmese society. We will not be cowed or coerced into participating
in a fatally flawed political process that robs the Burmese people of
the freedom for which we struggle. We stand ready to engage, but we
are more than willing to continue our struggle for the democratic
values that so many have given their lives and their freedom to
achieve.
U Win Tin is a member of the Central Executive Committee and a founder
of Burma's National League for Democracy party. He was a political
prisoner from 1989 to 2008.
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