By Banya Hongsar : Burma is a nation in which the military has dominated for decades subsequently turning it into an under-developed country with the majority of its citizens experiencing economic hardship. The nation will never be developed unless each citizen regains his civil rights and is given political equality. It is therefore necessary for the leading progressive politicians to call for national unity and reconciliation.
After Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s release, she formally accepted an invitation by The Committee for Representing People’s Parliament and United Nationalities Alliances, which has called for a national unity conference, called the “21st century Panglong Conference”. Recently, ethnic veteran leaders from Shan, Arakhaine, and Mon States as well as leaders from urban-based political alliances, have called on Daw Suu to convene this conference before the annual celebration of Union Day on February 12, 2011.
The ruling junta will never compromise with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s party and ethnic leaders unless it is secured to remain in power for the foreseeable future. It will never attend a conference that plans to debate on the issues of national unity or union framework laid out by the 1947 constitution. However, after the failure of over two decades of democratic appeals for “tripartite dialogue,” what option is left for changing politics in Burma?
The citizens of Burma must get together and form a united opposition force, not led solely by Daw Suu, but by all levels of civil society: students, Buddhist monks, and workers from all sectors. New and old politicians, including ethnic people need to foster a stronger alliance mentally and strategically. The failure of the opposition’s strategy for the past twenty years must be reviewed urgently. Daw Suu needs the ethnic forces for her mission of change while the ethnic forces need her hands for political reform constitutionally.
Among the group of ruling ethnic leaders are different ideas for change. Some favor doing business with the ruling generals while other groups remain in armed struggle unless their demands are met. Unity and objectives among ethnic people have been fragile due to geography and political interest. So why do many believe that Aung San Suu Kyi needs to head this opposition? A federal Union of Burma can be achieved unless the majority of Burmese people, including Suu Kyi, and other Burmese politicians are informed and engaged for the whole process of political change.
Burmese politicians and ethnic leaders have one option in this critical time. They must prove to the nation and people in Burma that they have an alternative force to rule the country. They also must win the hearts and minds of Burmese hardliners, of those who never make any political compromise with ethnic leaders. These hardliners can be found among military circles and even some former military officials in the National League for Democracy (NLD).
Burma will be transforming into a new political landscape in 2011 when the new government is formed. It will be in the best interest of the nation and every ethnic community that political change is seen as a ‘bottom up process’ rather than as a ‘top down process’ (which is currently being conducted by the military). Daw Suu has publicly expressed this concept on many occasions.
Daw Suu and ethnic leaders need popular support from the crossroad. Farmers, workers, Buddhist monks, women and students should be informed on the process of the conference and what a desirable outcome might be. A true ‘Union of Burma’ must be spelled out in plain political terms that reinforces a public debate calling for a new Panglong Conference. It is a foundation of nation building that each citizen is informed and engaged in the local level for further national unity, reconciliation and consolidation in the new century.
Opposition leaders must come out with an action plan and practical agenda for the people. The opposition also must give students and monks a greater role for action so they can foster links and network for social change. No democracy is perfect, but Burma needs at least freedom of individual, freedom of association and freedom from racial discrimination.
Change needs to come from within. Though exiled Burmese politicians and activists have received resources for fostering networks and unity among democratic forces, action internationally will be limited until Daw Suu can mobilize the voice of hope internally.
