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7 February 1997 Dear Ms. Thant, I Wish to Thank You for Your Kind Letter of Congratulations on My Appointment As Secretary-Gener

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7 February 1997 Dear Ms. Thant, I Wish to Thank You for Your Kind Letter of Congratulations on My Appointment As Secretary-Gener ^ THE SECRETARY-GENERAL 7 February 1997 Dear Ms. Thant, I wish to thank you for your kind letter of congratulations on my appointment as Secretary-General, and for the interesting material on your father you sent with it. The booklet on the history of U Thant's term as Secretary-General reminds one of the tumultuous circumstances surrounding his appointment, and of the courage with which he took on his new responsibilities. Of the many crises he had to contend with, some have, thankfully, faded into history, while others are still on our agenda today. I must hope to match U Thant's calm as we continue the search for workable solutions! Please thank your husband for his warm regards, and accept the best wishes of myself and Mrs. Annan for you both. Yours sincerely, -* Kcrfi A. Annan Ms. Aye Aye Thant Stamford, Connecticut JAN 3 320-52 ffffffOS j/h. C-rteneJ>a(, -*.'.» cuo* 0- 4oo.dk. ' 6tu_d euce eaoe We lk- c/ 'J OuULd Justice, fU -ficrufoleJ f be afofe- 1o fecLd -/o . vuec-tTT TK "fb 5? CdCO-tJi.CrU.t.iC- cfue / (Xu_d GL (n. OU'ittCo xjucf s rct n ej a ( , Wu h us baud Jcrtn^ /uxe K 3euc{<oc ycrw ^u 'xfbe co W UTHANT In a Restless World, a Man of Peace CTr °t b.y / Aye Aye Thant with Jessica Brackman Forward Wishes for Humanity November 25th, 1993 marks the nineteenth anniversary of my father's death. On this occasion, I would like to share my I wish that men cease to hate and kill their fellow men for memory of him and my recollection of the tragic events that reasons of race, color, religion, nationalism or ideology; accompanied his funeral in Burma. I wish .that more love, compassion and understanding guide the Father was a great inspiration to me and I was always very proud management of human affairs; of him. He was a truly genuine person, with no pretense at all. In my eyes, he was more than a leader: he was great human I wish that nations enrich each other in the art of governing men being, with heartfelt compassion for all humanity. In all realms in peace, justice and prosperity; of his life, he was dedicated to peace, tolerance and justice. Father's passing was a great loss to me. Even now, I miss his I wish that all nations unite to face with courage and presence. Though he is gone, I continue to feel his wisdom and determination the unprecedented worldwide problems that lie the profound example he set. These are with me always... in store for humanity; Now, years later, I look back in an attempt to understand just I wish that the immense progress achieved in science and what Fathers death meant — to me, to my family and to the technology be equaled in the spheres of morality, justice and people of Bvirma. In the account that follows, I trace the events politics; that transpired after his passing when we brought his body back to his motherland for burial. What we encountered there was a I wish that the world listen more attentively to the concerned tragic conflict between the students, who embraced my father's voice of youth; ideals, and a repressive, violent regime. My father's death invoked a call to freedom and a aithless government used force I wish that the leaders of the great nations of our time surmount to keep it down. their differences and unite their efforts for the benefits of all mankind. This fateful event, which later became known as "The U Thant Uprising," will never be erased in the conscience of the Burmese people. Today, the political climate in Burma U Thant continues to deteriorate. I feel that it is important to remember what happened in 1974 so we can perhaps get a better understanding of the current situation. But, in the end, this essay is more personal. It is written in the hope that my father's belief in morality, spirituality and human goodness will be remembered. I pray that these qualities, which he himself embodied, be a source of strength in the struggle for justice and human decencv in his beloved country. He had served as Secretary General for ten long years. Finally, he was looking forward to writing his memoirs and enjoying family-life with his grandchildren. Then, in October of 1973, Father went to the doctor and was told that he had cancer. The doctor delivered the news in a blunt and insensitive manner. He was especially lacking in compassion and humility — two qualities my father cherished the most. Father was upset, but he put on a brave front and asked the doctor how much longer he might expect to live. The doctor wouldn't answer, but merely reiterated that Father's condition was "very serious." It was painful news for us all but Father was able, by virtue of his lifelong meditation practice, to achieve upekka or "detachment" to both his illness and the coolness of his physician. U Thant waves farewell as he steps down from his office of Secretary General, a post Reserved for ten years. Despite the seriousness of his disease. Father was able to December 22,1971 continue writing his memoirs, which he finished in March of 1974. I remember, with great pride, the way he diligently persevered during this time of great physical and emotional Last Journey of strain. It was one of many times that inspired me to hope I would someday take after him — that people might come to Burma's Illustrious Son regard me as, "my father's daughter." Secretary General My father, U Thant, passed away at the age of sixty-five on Monday,.November 25, 1974. He was at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and had been in a coma since My family, including parents, my younger brother and myself, morning. He awoke briefly at around one o'clqck in the came to New York from Burma in 1957, when my father was afternoon and, in an effort to comfort his family, he told us he appointed Burma's Ambassador to the United Nations. In 1960, was feeling better. Then he asked what time it was. These ! married U Tyn Myint-U, who was studying at a university here simple words became his last. Being a person of tremendous in the United States. The following year, when Dag self-discipline, my father had always respected time. It was therefore entirely fitting that Father should note the hour Hammarskjold was killed in a plane crash over the Congo, before he took his leave. Father was elected Secretary General. Then, on May 21, 1962, we received the tragic news that my brother. Tin Mating Thant, Father had. been ill with cancer for just one year. There had was killed in a bus accident in Rangoon. been rumors earlier — in fact, many had speculated that he retired from the U.N. because of ill-health. But in actuality, he Throughout these events — both joyous and sorrowful — my was not sick at the time of his retirement in December of 1971. father maintained a stance of calm equanimity. As he later enemy of the regime and, as such, all officials were ordered conveyed in his memoirs (an excerpt from which I reproduce not to be friendly to him or supportive in any way. here), he was able through his spiritual practice, to achieve a substantial degree of detachment from the ups and downs of In actuality. Father had no involvement at all in U Nu's life. He'had a deep inner" peace that sustained him, whatever announcement. As the Secretary General of the United Nations, the outward circumstances might be. he could not participate in national politics and he always honored this responsibility. He was blacklisted by Ne Win's government, nonetheless and the following year, when he went U Nu Revolution: 1969 back to Burma and asked for permission to see General Ne Win,. he was refused. Father was disappointed by this, but in keeping with his general nature, he carried no ill feelings. My father started out his career as a teacher and then became headmaster of a school in Pantanaw, the town where he was In the period from 1970 to 1974, Ne Win and his deputies began born. The Superintendent of the school was U Nu, who later to realize that my father was not involved in U Nu's opposition became Burma's first Prime Minister. Through their affiliation and they softened to some degree. General Ne Win, however, at the school, the two of them became very close friends. When continued to give the impression that he wasn't friendly with Burma became independent and U Nu took office, he asked my father and he didn't want others to be. He didn't.want any of Father to become Secretary of Information and, later, Secretary his people to like my father, to extend favors to him, or to for the Prime Minister. Then, in 1962, U Nu was overthrown in convey their admiration of him in any way. Ne Win let it be a coup d'etat and General Ne Win took power. known that if someone did a favor for U Thant, or showed him special respect, they would be considered a traitor to Ne Win. In 1969, U Nu visited the United States. He contacted my To keep themselves in good favor, everyone therefore had to father in advance to arrange a meeting, but Father was conceal their admiration.
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