T H E myanmartimes October 29 - November 4, 2012 Myanmar’s first international weekly Volume 33, No. 650 1200 Kyats Averting the apocalypse: U Thant’s finest hour

By Douglas Long

WITH all the hype in recent months about Myanmar ending 50 years of isolation, it bears remembering that the secretary general of the United Nations from 1961 to 1971 was a top diplomat from Myanmar. It’s also worth noting that 50 years ago this month, this particular secretary general, U Thant, not only presided over the UN during the Cuban Missile Crisis — one the most dire international emergencies of the 20th century — but also played a key role in ensuring that the situation did not devolve into an apocalyptic frenzy of nuclear destruction. The crisis unfolded over 13 days in 1962, from October 16 to 28, after photos taken by U-2 spy plane pilot Richard Heyser alerted US president John F Kennedy to the presence of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. This revelation led the US government to mull airstrikes on Cuba, but Mr Kennedy went against the advice of many Senate leaders and instead implemented a naval blockade. By October 24 the situation looked A man with a gunshot wound is treated at Kyauktaw Township Hospital in Rakhine State on October 25. Pic: Kaung Htet desperate: Reconnaissance photographs showed that the missiles in Cuba were in launch position and US and Soviet warships were engaged in a standoff, only a few hundred metres apart and pointing their weapons at one another. On the same day, the US military’s Rakhine death toll hits 67 five-level defense readiness condition (DEFCON) was advanced from Level 3 (increase in force readiness above normal readiness) to Level 2 (next step to nuclear war), still the highest in history. Historically, there has been plenty of as govt defends soldiers bluster from the US side about how military superiority forced the Soviets to back down but a report published in the Bulletin of the A number of Rakhine people while another died while being township, some were shot by Atomic Scientists on October 12 details the By Soe Than Lynn in Sittwe were killed or seriously injured brought from Taungbway village handmade firearms known as crucial, and largely forgotten, role played due to gunshot wounds inflicted to the hospital by boat. The body tumi. In the aftermath, some by U Thant’s quiet, intelligent and tireless THE secretary of the Rakhine by security forces on October 25. of another deceased man with tumi were confiscated. There diplomacy in averting disaster. State government’s information The accusations of bias were a gunshot wound was brought was no bias or mistakes made The report – written by A Walter Dorn committee has denied claims based on the fact that almost to Kyauktaw Hospital early on by the forces,” he said. and Robert Pauk, and titled “The Closest Rakhine people have been no Rohingya, or Bengalis, had October 26. U Win Myaing said communal Brush: How a UN Secretary General targeted by security forces, sought treatment at hospitals. “The forces only shot in order clashes were sparked by a Averted Doomsday” – says that documents saying soldiers acted without The Myanmar Times to frighten and disperse mobs. domestic dispute in a Rohingya in the UN archives and oral histories show “bias or mistakes” in quelling witnessed 14 Rakhine people But they continued to shoot family in Minbya township, with that U Thant “received a direct yet secret riots in Kyauktaw and with gunshot and knife wounds when the mobs became bigger violence spreading to Kyaukpyu, request from the United States, initiated Rathedaung townships. arrive at Kyauktaw Township so there may have been deaths Mrauk Oo, Myebon, Kyauktaw by President Kennedy himself, to perform The comments came as state Hospital between 6pm and due to gunshot wounds,” U Win and Rathetaung townships. intermediary functions during the crisis”. media reported on October 27 9pm on October 25. One man, Myaing told reporters in Sittwe “It started in a remote area “Thant also took bold initiatives of his that 67 people had been killed and from Tinmakyay village, died on October 26. on the border of Minbya and own accord,” the report said. “Indeed, Thant 95 injured in the latest outbreak shortly after arrival from a “ I n t h e i n c i d e n t i n of violence in the region. gunshot wound to the head, Letsaungkauk village, Kyauktaw More page 4 More page 4 3 Ne w s t h e My a n m a r Ti m e s October 29 - November 4, 2012 88 Generation Govt warns of crackdown student group Legal action will be taken against those inciting Rakhine violence ‘behind the scenes’ calls for rule of By Ei Ei Toe Lwin

THE government has warned of a planned law in Rakhine crackdown against unnamed people and organisations it accuses of manipulating the violent incidents in Rakhine State “behind By Ei Ei Toe Lwin the scenes”. A front-page statement in state media LEADERS of the 88 Generation students on October 26 threatened to expose those group have condemned a fresh outbreak of responsible and said “legal action will be violence in Rakhine State, calling for both taken against them”. sides to solve their grievances through The statement, dated October 25, referred peaceful means. to recent rioting in Kyaukpyu, Minbya, Riots broke out in Mrauk Oo and Minbya Myebon and Mrauk Oo townships that has townships in Rakhine State on October 21 left 67 dead and 95 wounded, and caused and spread to other township, claiming 67 widespread property damage. Following the lives and leaving 95 wounded, state media riots in Rakhine State in May and June, in reported on October 27. which about 80 people died, President U “We can only solve the problem through Thein Sein declared a state of emergency peaceful means, not through violent actions. in the region. We request all to work together to ensure The October riots began in Yaing Thal this issue does not escalate any further,” village, Minbya township. said 88 Generation leader Ko Min Ko “We don’t know exactly what the Naing. problem was, but the violence spread. He said the lack of rule of law meant the Both communities (Rakhine and Muslim) country was susceptible to outbreaks of clashed and set fire to each other’s houses,” violent unrest. said U Myo Thant, a communications officer “Rule of law is needed urgently in of the Information and Records Committee Rakhine State,” he said. “Frankly speaking of Rakhine State, told The Myanmar Times I think that more serious problems like on October 23. [the Rakhine conflict] will happen in the The committee was established on June future but we cannot say exactly what 5 by the Rakhine State government and kinds of problems will happen and when central government departments. and where they will appear. We need to pay “We can’t say how many Rakhine people close attention to ensure problems like this and how many Muslims died in the violence. do not develop. Rule of law is very weak in Muslim houses suffered more damage than our country.” Rakhine houses. Only Rakhine injured However, other 88 Generation leaders came to the camps, but that doesn’t mean said they suspected there were “extreme” no Muslims were injured. The state elements behind the latest outbreak, an government sent medical personnel to the Staff at Kyauktaw Township Hospital in Rakhine State tend to a Rakhine man shot oblique reference to some in Rakhine State’s Muslim villages, but we don’t have a list of through the leg on October 25. Pic: Kaung Htet Muslim community. casualties yet,” said U Myo Thant. “It is a trap to make our country go “As of last night the situation is stable,” rule of law in Rakhine. We are urging the On October 26, U Zaw Htay, director backwards at a time when it is marching he said on October 26, adding that state government to deal with this problem in of the President’s office, announced on towards democracy. It is a transitional police and Tatmadaw and security forces accordance with the law.” (See related his Facebook page that every Myanmar period, a very sensitive time for our had managed to restore order. Food and story right) citizen was equally entitled to freedom country,” Ko Min Ko Naing said. shelter were being provided at monasteries The government statement underlined of conscience and the right to freely Ko Mya Aye said the government should and other locations. the fact that the unrest took place at a time profess and practise religion subject to solve the problems by following the law “We’re living in fear,” said Mrauk Oo when Myanmar “has achieved the support public order, morality or health and to closely and without discrimination against resident U Maung Shal. “There are more and international recognition of its drive for the other provisions of the Constitution. either Rakhine or Muslim. Muslims than Rakhine. The security forces smooth transition in the democratisation The message stated that the president had “In accordance to the state constitution, came, but they were too late.” process within a short period of time and made no attempt whatsoever to restrict Eid every citizen is equally entitled to freedom. “We heard many Muslims were wounded when the international community is celebrations. We want to solve this issue within the in these riots, but we have no evidence,” watching ongoing progress in Myanmar “The government has allowed the festival framework of constitution. If one [person] said Ko Mya Aye, one of the leaders of the 88 with interest.” to take place,” agreed Ko Mya Aye. “But we commits a crime, the government must Generation student group, who is Muslim. In a related development, the Yangon- won’t celebrate, because we think security punish them according to the law,” Ko Mya “I don’t insist on stressing the number based Islamic Religious Affairs Council last is inadequate.” Aye said. of Muslim dead. All I want is a return to week called on Muslims not to celebrate peace and stability in Rakhine State. This the Eid Al-Adha festival in Myanmar on problem arose because of an absence of October 23 amid security fears. The following photographs were published as part of a photo gallery on The Myanmar Times’ website on October 29, 2012. They can be viewed at: http://mmtimes.com/index. php/in-pictures/2751-violence-spreads-in-rakhine-state.html