Mizzima News

Ref: International politics on Burma at its zenith? (Mizzima online, December 8, 2008).

As the year is about to end and the junta's plan for its proposed election draws ever nearer, many democracy and human rights activists around the world are getting frustrated with the lack of progress towards a peaceful resolution to the political deadlock in Burma. Burmese activists inside the country have been sidelined through the unjustified lengthy sentencing of prison terms, while activists outside the country are in no better situation, as they are unable to produce any tangible result from their diplomatic and political initiatives because of the lack of strategic and logistic support from "friends of the Burmese people" – such as the uneasy alliance formed under the guidance of the United Nations Secretary General.

Despite rhetorical and diplomatic support for a free Burma resounding around the world, there have been no tangible results towards the resolution of the crises in Burma. With major world powers at loggerheads due to their own political and economic interests, and the global financial crisis pointing in the direction of economic recession, Burmese people have little prospect for substantial logistical help except that of megaphone diplomacy. This, all activists should painfully understand. This is a testing time of friendship among Burmese and sympathizers throughout the international community. So what does this all mean?

It is a hard time for Burma indeed, and a hard period with difficult decisions for activists too. Options are becoming limited - give up and tolerate life under oppression and unjustifiable laws, collude from within the new institutions that are foreseen to come out of the 2010 general election, or fight for freedom from oppression with strong determination and unity, using wisdom, valor and sacrifice as revolutionaries. Any means, diplomatic, economic, conspiracy and warfare are quite justified to fight a ruthless foe who is a public enemy. There are many examples in world history of how revolutionaries finally won their goals against their oppressors - China, Russia, the United States and Ireland, just to name a few. Burmese patriots during World War II similarly resorted to forming the Burma Independence Army, siding first with the Japanese against their colonial British rulers and later reconfiguring themselves as the People's Patriotic Forces, siding with the Allies against Japan, with the independence of Burma as their sole objective. Of course, time, circumstances and technology have changed over the past 60 plus years, but the objective remains the same: the "Freedom of Burma."

So, it is time to either send the marines to the rescue or else send the Rambos to crush the rogue regime at its heart.

Myo Chit                     
USA