A Sensible Protest for a Senseless Sentence

May 19, 2009

While Aung San Suu Kyi was being tried in Insein prison in Rangoon yesterday, her supporters from around the world led rallies on her behalf. The junta, Burma’s oppressive military regime via torture and rape have silenced the Burmese within Myanmar, but they cannot silence those outside their jurisdiction- Burmese immigrants and others living beyond Burma’s borders.

The U.S. Campaign for Burma (USCB) organized one of the many rallies held yesterday to demand the immediate release of Suu Kyi, unconditionally. “Free Free Free Burma, Free Free Aung San Suu Kyi,” cheered the group that gathered outside the Burmese Embassy in Washington D.C. About 50 Burmese Americans and activists were present to display their support for the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Several attendees took turns at the bullhorn, screaming for those in the Burmese embassy to convey their demands to those in power in Burma. Suu Kyi is the world’s most famous political prisoner. More than 2000 of her peers remain behind bars in the Burmese capital.

“We hope to get the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s only hope to democracy. Her house arrest term ends in two weeks and the junta is only looking for ways to keep her away,” said Co-chair of USCB Tin Maung Thaw. His views are not isolated but are shared by many around the world. “There are other issues too that need to be addressed, like her physician being accused of smuggling letters to her, but how can they accuse him when the guards thoroughly checked him?”

The trial took place behind closed doors, and several western diplomats including German, Italian and French ambassadors were refused entry, but according to BBC reports, the U.S. consul was allowed access, it is believed to meet with the 53-year- old American intruder, who is blamed for the current situation, that is nothing less of a crisis for the many National League for Democracy supporters. There is little doubt however that his visit is being used as an excuse, and that the ruling junta government would have fabricated another excuse to exclude her from the elections next year. This past weekend the government revoked licenses of two of Suu Kyi’s lawyers and she was represented by two others at today’s trial, “sooner or later they will get to them as well,” said Thaw.

Insein prison is infamous for its living conditions and the prisoners are fed in lead containers. Lead is known to be a slow poison; prisoners are also tortured and beaten. I tried to go into the Burmese (Myanmar) Embassy on 2300 S St NW to get their comments, but was denied entry and asked to leave after they threatened to call the law on me.

While the international community has witnessed a harder push from the western world, ASEAN and other Asian countries have stayed aloof, primarily because of their trade interests in Burma. Perhaps the countries vast natural resources are the source of this conflict between the military dictatorship of Sr. Gen. Than Shwe and the Suu Kyi’s opposition party. Burma’s crisis is another prominent paradigm of the curse of natural resources in a weak state. ASEAN countries possess a level of leverage that western countries lack and economic sanctions are key to Burma achieving democracy. Considering China’s history of gross human rights violations, it is difficult to judge how cooperative the neighbor’s leadership will be in demanding justice for Suu Kyi and her nation. India, however, has no excuses.
The Burmese uprising against the junta has so far been non-violent, but many are growing impatient. “If the government does not heed to our requests, we will drive them away from power, by ‘all means possible’,” said rally attendee George Heine. “To put her down for further detention is a very low down scheme.”

With over 82 percent of the population in support of the NLD, the ruling junta clearly considers Suu Kyi as a threat to their regime and would do anything to keep her away from the polls. Heine, believes that things can be changed, referring to President Obama’s massive victory over his competitor. This is the new world order, he said as sounds of “Burma Burma must be free- Freedom, Justice and Democracy” flooded the embassy area.

Others however have a contrasting outlook and believe in Suu Kyi’s philosophy. Shwe Htee lost his mother and brother to this political war in the past year, but says that there is room for negotiation. “Just because I lost members of my family is not a reason for me to hate them. You cannot solve hate with hate,” he said enjoying his lunch sandwich.

Unlike with other conflicts of similar nature, the Burmese top generals cannot alone be held accountable for the situation on the ground in Burma. They are living in a bubble and could care less about who has power. It is their officials on the ground that are significant stakeholders and misinform the higher ups with false and inaccurate accounts of situation on the ground. “It is like this,” Htee explains, “the generals believe what they are told. If a stakeholder fears that his position and wealth will be jeopardized by the NLD coming into power, he will make up any story to coerce the generals into believing that this group of people want to kill the junta. The generals then order him to do anything he pleases, to stop this from happening. This on-the ground person goes on a killing spree.”

Htee believes that we need to petition and target those on the ground rather than their bosses if we wish to see any significant change in the policy in Burma.

The group later protested outside the White House, and were greeted by a group of over 200 Tamil Sri Lankans, who were there protesting the killing of Tamils by the hands of the Sri Lankan government.