No Happy Anniversary for Than Shwe

By THE IRRAWADDY

Burmese monks and activists who took part courageously in the September 2007 uprising will have little chance to commemorate Friday’s anniversary publicly.

Since early this month, police, intelligence officers and armed soldiers have been combing the streets of Rangoon. arresting activists, monitoring the monasteries and intimidating young monks.

Many prominent activists have been rounded up in the year since September 2007.

On September 26 last year, security forces opened fire on the thousands of monks and demonstrators who had been calling for peaceful political change, freedom, economic progress and human rights.

The peaceful demonstrations, led by monks, impressed the world community, but not Snr-Gen Than Shwe and his
bloodthirsty army leaders, who finally ordered the brutal crackdown.

Dozens died, protesters were beaten and jailed, and monks were forcibly disrobed.

Today, Burma’s military rulers are determined to prevent any public commemoration of the anniversary. The events of September 2007 must be haunting Than Shwe and other military leaders.

Than Shwe made a token gesture on the eve of the anniversary, releasing a handful of political prisoners, including the prominent journalist Win Tin, who had spent the past 19 years behind bars. The regime appeared to be trying to stem domestic and international pressure ahead of the anniversary.

Unbroken by his time in prison, 79-year-old Win Tin vowed to continue to fight for political change in Burma.
“I will keep fighting until the emergence of democracy in this country,” he said, immediately after emerging from prison.

Win Tin’s release could shape the on-going political struggle, as he was considered to be close to detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and is known to command respect among Burmese people.

Win Tin didn’t ask for mercy from the regime, refusing on several occasions to renounce politics in return for his freedom.

Neither did he ask for aid money from those international donors who naively believe a “humanitarian space” has opened up in the country following the disaster of Cyclone Nargis. Win Tin knows the establishment of democracy is a priority, because he is aware that Burma’s real problem lies in the administration system and that it has to change.

He knows how the regime detained activists involved in the humanitarian mission to bring relief to cyclone victims.

He knows how Than Shwe manipulated UN missions and deceived the international community while rewarding apologists and cronies.

Win Tin’s brave message also serves as a reminder to some international NGOs, UN agencies and regime apologists who claim the existence of a “humanitarian space,” regarding it as a window of opportunity for the 2010 election.

It’s all there to read in the minutes of a briefing Home Affairs Minister Maung Oo received from Than Shwe in July, in which the UN and international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) were described as “puppets” of the US and the Central Intelligence Agency.

The “humanitarian space” argument is nonsense, as shown by the example of Africa, where much aid money has gone into propping up authoritarian regimes, compromising the whole aid industry.

In Burma, the “humanitarian space” in the Irrawaddy Delta can be closed at any time because the regime retains the sole power to do so, at any time it chooses.

Any argument that Burma’s military leaders in Burma are “misunderstood generals” is also absurd—these men are in truth cunning, manipulative and capable of waging war against their own people and their entire country.

Today, countless people in Burma and the international community are united in their solidarity with the monks and activists who took to the streets last year, showing these brave individuals that they are not forgotten.

Than Shwe and his brutal actions are also not forgotten—or forgiven. He will undoubtedly be held accountable.

He must know that, and he must also be very aware that the people of Burma and the monks will keep fighting until the emergence of democracy. September 26 is certainly not a happy day for Than Shwe.