Burma:Badly Battered but Believing

oneonone Burma: Badly Battered but Believing Interview by Nina Somera Silent and Steady Witness. Long-time free Burma campaigner Debbie Stothard talks about the fear, Said to be built in the 6th century, the Shwedagon suffering and frustration of the Burmese people who have endured the Pagoda has not only been a religious and cultural landmark, excesses of the junta regime. She tells us how Burmese women and their but also the stage for political movements in Burma communities remain courageous and hopeful for better days, for freedom. especially at the turn of the 20th century. It has hosted protests by students and Interview by Nina Somera workers. It was also the site where Aung San Suu Kyi delivered an address to 5,000 How would you describe the sense of In rural Burma, for example, millions have people and called for the end fear in Burma? of the military regime back in been denied the right to grow food to feed 1988. The Shwedagon Most people from Burma constantly have themselves. They have been forced to grow Pagoda was again filled with to struggle with fear of some sort. There is cash crops for the military. They may have jubilation and later tension with a great sense of insecurity. No matter what been subjected into forced labour or the the monks-led Saffron they have accumulated in their lives, material regime simply confiscated their lands and Revolution in 2007. gave them to others or declare the areas as Photo by Jean-Marie Hullot from security is constantly at threat. We have seen Wikimedia Commons that when fortunes have been lost due to free fire zones. the arbitrary policy or targeted action by the In the urban areas we have seen a similar military regime. process where there is a state-sanction 26 One on One Rohingyas No.3, 2009 WOMEN IN ACTION The Rohingyas are among the ethnic minorities that are suffering repression under the military regime. Recently they hogged the headlines as photographs taken by tourists were leaked, exposing the bad treatment of Thai authorities who seized the Rohingyas’ boats traversing Thailand’s waters. There are reports that after arresting the Rohingyas, who were said to be a “threat to national security,” Thai authorities removed the engines of the already unseaworthy boats and towed them back into the waters. One capsized with four confirmed deaths and 300 other people missing. Meanwhile, the Burmese junta has also refused to acknowledge the Rohingyas as citizens. It claimed that the Rohingyas were Bengalis. Sources: Allard, Tom (16 April 2009). “Rohingya not our problem, Burma tells Bali meeting.” URL: http://www.smh.com.au/world/rohingya-not-our-problem-burma- tells-bali-meeting-20090416-a7md.html ; Human Rights Watch (26 May 2009). “Perilous Plight.” URL: http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2009/05/26/perilous-plight ; Mizzima (27 February 2009). “Burma sets condition for accepting Rohingya migrants.” URL: http://www.mizzima.com/archive/1776-burma-sets-condition-for- accepting-rohingya-migrants.html and Refugees International (12 January 2009). “Thai Government Recklessly Imperils Migrant and Refugee Lives.” URL: http:// www.refugeesinternational.org/press-room/press-release/thai-government-recklessly-imperils-migrant-and-refugee-lives Photo from Rohingyaboatpeople.com taxation system. The moment you start a have a very good sense of citizenship. In small to medium enterprise that seems to be fact, some ethnic and religious minorities making money, the local commanders will are denied citizenship. demand a share from the profits. Look at the Rohingya, for example. This In early 2003, there was a liquidity crisis because Muslim minority group has been so badly banks imposed moratoriums on withdrawals. treated and disenfranchised since their lands The regime did not respond to it adequately. were taken away from them. And then during So many businesses closed down because they the boat people crisis, the regime even refused could not pay the salaries. In 2005, the price to acknowledge that they were from Burma. of fuel went up by 900 per. In 2007, the fuel also increased by 100 per cent. Tere are at least two million undocumented Burmese people in Thailand. They will never Sometimes we don’t even see the insecurity get their documents since the regime refuses that permeates the foreigners in Burma. to acknowledge them. Most aid agencies, even United Nations (UN) agencies and diplomats are not even allowed Mutual responsibility is more of a cultural to leave Rangoon without official permission. concern rather than a conscious political And there has been this sort of Stockholm identity. People’s sense of citizenship has been syndrome when people start accusing people so eroded with the years of abuse and in the democracy movement instead of looking at the No Way but to Move. root cause that stems from Ethnic refugees the regime. from Eastern Burma move out of their How would you describe homes towards the the people’s sense of border to escape citizenship? repression by the military regime. Because of the way the regime has been running Photo from the Burma Campaign UK the country for two generations, people do not 2 7 neglect. During cyclone Nargis, when the join the army. In some exterme cases, they naval vessels of the United States, United are taken out of school. Kingdom and France were offshore, waiting for the goods to be delivered, many Sometimes teenagers have a sense of being Burmese in Rangoon were so frustrated, macho, of becoming a warrior. But when they asking, “Why aren’t they coming, why are enter the military, they find out that their salaries they waiting, why are they not coming to are not enough. Recently the regime stopped deliver the aid to us?” providing rations. Thus we have a big problem of defectors because of the bad conditions. It is just the higher ups who are enjoying the benefits. I remember speaking with a Major The movement is much stronger than who defected, I said, “You must have given people recognise or realise. But let’s face up a lot.” And then he said, “My salary was not enough. To earn, one must be at least a it, there is no freedom of movement business agent for the generals.” inside as substantive dialogue is Do you see that as an opportunity for the difficult. But when we sit down, most movement to be stronger? people are on the same page. The movement is much stronger than people recognise or realise. The problem is in the way diverse sections of the movement express themselves. Some people were explaining that it would But let’s face it, there is no freedom of be an attack of sovereignty, an act of war movement inside Burma. There is a if these crafts come in without permission. regulation that you must be registered to a But they could not understand this. They household. That means that if you are said, “They are not our government, they staying somewhere apart from your are abusing us. Just give us the aid.” household, you have to register at least One of the frustrations of classical diplomats temporarily to the local authorities where and academics in dealing with Burma is the you are staying for that night. Otherwise, fact the Burmese democracy movement the head of the household where you are always calls for UN and international staying can be jailed for seven years. intervention and this goes against this In Rangoon, after the Saffron Revolution, classical concept of sovereignty. And yet for households were asked to put the photos of the Burmese people, sovereignty is a bad every member outside the house so that the word because they don’t enjoy its benefits, local officials can check whether there are even the smallest benefit of citizenship. unauthorised guests or unauthorised absences. How much premium does the junta So the opportunities to meet and discuss are really put on the military to keep it loyal? very limited. In the border areas, most groups are also limited in their movement. There is a big problem with child soldiers. Some children are forced to join the military As substantive dialogue is difficult, people especially when they are caught in express themselves differently. But when we compromising situations like in a nightclub, sit down and analyse and have a dialogue, that their options are either to go to jail or most people are on the same page. 8 2 One on One No.3, 2009 WOMEN IN ACTION Saffron Revolution In September 2007, thousands of monks bravely marched through the streets of Rangoon to protest the exponential increase of fuel prices, which has aggravated the already poor condition of Burmese population. Referred to as the Saffron Revolution, after the colour of the monks’ robes, the action elicited hope especially as monks are highly revered in Burmese culture. Carrying Burmese flags, the monks also called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. But in a matter of days, the Saffron Revolution came to a halt as the junta ordered a brutal crackdown. 1,400 monks and 6,000 of their supporters were arrested, around 200 were killed and scores fled the country. Although they failed to oust the military regime, the Saffron Revolution has been deemed a wake-up call, exposing the insecurities of the regime. Sources: Burma Campaign UK (nd). URL: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/burma/campaigns/crackdown; Buncombe, Andrew Buncombe (27 September 2007). “Burma: Inside the Saffron Revolution.” URL: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/burma-inside-the-saffron-revolution-403645.html and McGeown, Kate (26 September 2007).

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