Viewing the pictures from the Armed Forces Day parade on Monday 27th reminded me of a visit to Nurnberg to see Hitler’s parade ground stadium. Hitler used the stadium for patriotic speeches and parades of his storm-troopers before sending them off to cause destruction and havoc across Europe and the rest of the world. So perhaps it is no surprise that when Than Shwe gives his speech it is as full of fascist propaganda as any spouted by Hitler, Mussolini or Tojo. Status of ancient Burmese kings stand in for the Emperors of ancient Rome or Teutonic knights of the middle ages. Than Shwe’s speech gave us the usual selection of ridiculous lies, and demonstrates Than Shwe’s lack of understanding of the route to peace in Burma.

The New Light of Myanmar’s English rendition of Than Shwe’s speech has already been derided by numerous pro-democracy activists around the world, so I will only add a little to what has already been said. The speech is usefully set out to make tearing it to pieces easier for us, so I will use the ‘Comrades’ paragraph headings as my cue. 

On the 61st Anniversary Armed Forces Day which is of historical significance as the entire people together with Tatmadaw annihilated the fascist menace on that day, I would like to solemnly inform you of matters of importance.

We still call it Revolution Day! I believe it took more than one day to annihilate the fascist enemy, but that is a goal for us – to annihilate today’s fascists, the SPDC, in one day. 

Our Tatmadaw is an indispensable patriotic Tatmadaw which was initially formed during the period of struggle for independence. As the Tatmadaw conquered the fascists of its own decision, our patriotism had to be recognized by the colonialists.

As I recall from reading the history of conflict in Burma, most of the fighting was carried out by soldiers from British, Indian, Ghurkha, Canadian, West African and Australian regiments. The BIA changed sides near the end of the conflict. True, they had communist or socialist backgrounds and never really trusted the fascist Japanese after they expelled the British from Burma. It is rather sad fact that the radical BIA was transformed into a fascist army – the very thing that Aung San and the BIA had fought against.

Since the time of colonialists occupation of Myanmar, they had practised the method of divide and rule among the national races. Upon re-entering the country, they sowed seeds of discord among national races of mountainous border areas as they had to consider granting of independence to the country.

The colonial rule rarely caused any division, except on the basis of race – black and white! The colonial rule was based on a fallacy that the British were capable of defending the empire – the Japanese invasion of SE Asia dispelled that myth, and if anything gave impetus to the independence movements across the whole area. The mountainous frontier areas were governed differently partly because the British had so few people available, and also the Shan States and other hill states had been politically separate at the time of the British conquest of lower Burma in 1886. But perhaps Than Shwe has forgotten the Panglong agreement – the Bamar, Shan and ethnic groups showed great unity at that time. The ‘seeds of discord’ have been sown by fascist elements in Burma ever since, and are now promulgated by the fascist SPDC. 

All the national races which descended from our ancestors coming to live in this nation since millions of years ago are analogous to a hundred fruits bearing from a twig.

This may seem rather pernickety of me, but I would like to point out that modern theories of mankind indicate that homo sapiens (us two legged upright humans) have only been in our currently evolved state for about 2 million years. Perhaps Than Shwe is referring to the thought process of the fascist mind when he refers to ‘millions of years ago’. On another minor point, I think that most twigs with a hundred fruits on them would break off the tree and fall to the ground. Perhaps this is the dis-integration that Than Shwe refers to. And to continue, I am not sure why sharing the same water would make us love the Union and stay together – perhaps Than Shwe is starting to add some psychedelic drugs to the water supply. 

Now the entire people are striving energetically hand-in-hand with the Tatmadaw for the emergence of a peaceful, modern, developed and discipline-flourishing democratic nation. The stability of State,
community peace and tranquillity, prevalence of law and order, uplifting of education standard and standard of living of people are essential for the multi-party democratic system.

I haven’t noticed any striving hand in hand. The one million internally displaced persons would prefer not to come that close to the SPDC for fear of being tortured, terrorised or murdered. The lethargy with which the junta approaches the National Convention can hardly be called ‘energetic’. Stability of the State, and all the others aspects are what Burma needs, and wants. It isn’t getting it, and won’t get it, until the SPDC have been removed from government; and a democratically elected government is in place; one which isn’t fettered and controlled by the fascist SPDC; one which is elected by the people of Burma. 

In a multi-party system, only when there is prevalence of law and order the dangers of violence can be averted; only when the national races can enjoy food, clothing and shelter, fraudulent bribery by money can be overcome and only through attainment of higher standard of education can trickery be avoided. Today, the Tatmadaw and the people are striving together for the emergence of a democratic state and these are tasks which need time for implementation.

The only trickery that we are seeking to avoid is that perpetrated by the SPDC. The SPDC are continuously trying to trick the people of Burma to believe blatant lies. The SPDC are continuously trying to trick the international community that they are making progress on their road-map. The SPDC are continuously trying to lie to the people of Burma that the SPDC have their best interest at heart. And only the stupid or brain-washed believe anything that they have to say. 

To state that the Tatmadaw should be strong is not untrue. Every country has the right to defend itself against aggression. But Burma has no immediate threat from external forces. Any UN-led force would liberate the people of Burma from their present government by removing the illegal regime and restoring democracy. The only use for a strong army is for the SPDC to continue its reign of terror, killing, torturing, rape and pillage – much like the ancient Burmese kings of days gone by did on other ethnic groups (in much the same way that the SPDC have a special extra degree of hatred for the ethnic groups of Burma today). 

Among the three capabilities required of a country such as political capability, economic capability and defence capability, the main (role) of the Tatmadaw, as well as, that of the citizens is the high defence capability. In order to enjoy higher political and economic capabilities, the patriotic Tatmadaw must render its assistance through its participation.

The economic situation of Burma is dire. It would be a blessing if the Tatmadaw did just that, and rendered assistance to the people of Burma. The SPDC army terrorises the people of Burma. When freedom and democracy return to Burma, the role of the Tatmadaw may well be to render assistance – building roads, ploughing fields, assisting international NGOs, etc. But I am not convinced that the SPDC need modern Russian MiG fighters and helicopters to undertake this work. The military arsenal can only be used for killing – the SPDC are intent of killing the people of Burma, not on assisting them. This must stop NOW. 

Regarding the section of what a ‘good member of the Tatmadaw’ should do, I was of course pleased to learn that the SPDC have a 60 point rule book (the British Army’s Queen’s Regulations runs to 570 pages). It is rather a shame on the profession that few if any of the SPDC soldiers abide by the rule book. ‘loyalty to the State’ – this is a good rule, and it should mean that the army is loyal to legally instituted government. At present, Burma does not have one; when the people have elected a government, the army must obey the government – no changes in the constitution should turn this on its head again! ‘protection of life’ – whose life? The SPDC are fonder of killing the people of Burma than protecting them. 

‘water and moon’ is this about reflection of the moon in water. The SPDC army does not reflect the wishes and aspirations of the people of Burma – it is more like fire and paper – the SPDC is burning the future in a bloodbath of horror.

‘culture and traditions’ - Is debasing cultural traditions by jailing those who organise ethnic festivals a way of preserving cultural traditions? I think not.

‘pasoe to the waist’ – well, I keep my sarong tightly fixed. I wouldn’t want to lose my noble principles. I’m sorry to inform Than Shwe that all of the SPDC and its soldiers have lost theirs. 

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The "world", the so-called international community, knows quite well that murderers, rapists, thugs in uniform in Burma are out of control. The United Nations, the International Red Cross, international labour bodies, the American ambassador and other ambassadors and diplomats stationed in Rangoon -- all know what is going on. What is pathetic is that they cannot even feign ignorance as an excuse. But not a finger is being lifted. Is it not time that something is done? If the "international community" and the United Nations do not have the will or the decency to educate the Rangoon junta on what lawful governance means, the least they can do is to declare openly, very clearly, and formally that the victims of state-terror have the 'right to self-defence'.

SELF-DEFENCE' ONLY ALTERNATIVE FOR VICTIMS OF STATE TERROR

by Dr.Chao-Tzang Yawnghwe. 03 August 2004