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She told the crowd: “I will pay my life for the country and people until we are free from fear and unfairness.” For the last 15 years Aung San Suu Kyi has kept her word and maintained her faith.

Nyo Myint [Top]

In Defense of the NLD

February 04, 2004—The article "Could Another Burma be Possible?" by Aung Thu Nyein (Online commentary, Jan 26) appears not have been written by a Burmese political activist, as claimed, but by an alien or anti-National League for Democracy (NLD), if not pro-State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), analyst. In any writing by an advocate for democracy, the condemnation of the military regime can be read. That article elaborately blamed the NLD and the movement. As a matter of fact, the issues raised at the World Social Forum (WSF) are not new to any activist with over a decade of experience.

The NLD can and will address the issues of concern to the people of Burma. Translating these issues to NLD party policy was addressed by the author. I wonder if any political party in this world, which is under such enormous pressure, can have written policies o­n a thousand issues. Did the African National Congress? Did the people of East Timor? Under British rule, the Indian National Congress had no time to address all contemporary global issues. The author and the participants of the WSF he quotes may know if the Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League had addressed all issues under colonial rule or not. After all, there was more breathing space under the British than the current regime.

I also wonder if the assertions made by the participants were correctly cited. o­ne of the participants mentioned in the article, when I personally asked about his comments, said he did not mean what was written. Again, the other participants in the WSF did not point the finger at the NLD and they are fed up with in-house fighting.

Yes, as an NLD member, I did speak of "accountability, transparency and monitoring" for any assistance to Burma. I did so when an official from UNICEF, at a WSF seminar, argued with us. It is our policy and the NLD has said it has not changed.

Maybe the author stayed at o­nly o­ne corner of the WSF and did not participate in other events organized by Burmese where we brought up the Burma issue and sought not o­nly solidarity but also actions against the military dictatorship. The other labor union members, students and youth, men and women of different ethnic backgrounds did not speak against the NLD. The same is true for a former Indian Prime Minister and the distinguished Socialists at the conference at the outset of the forum.

As invited, I, as an NLD member, spoke and my message was "say no to the roadmap." I read the author’s message: forget dictatorship and leave democracy alone and immediately solve the humanitarian crisis in Burma. I am not afraid to disagree because killing the microbe is more fundamental than bringing down the temperature. A few Burmese who got a so-called education from good institutions abroad and have been exposed to the outside world may tend to forget the reality of politics at home.

Similarly, some foreign-trained analysts squarely blame the SPDC and NLD, but the playing field is extremely unequal. Will the SPDC allow the NLD to hold workshops to talk about globalization, poverty eradication, HIV/AIDS or public health?

We left clear messages at the WSF: Military regime, don’t do bad things. International community, don’t say that bad is good. Yes, the humanitarian impacts of globalization will not wait until democracy is restored. If that is so, is it recommended to bring over 500 Burmese to an international forum to wear forehead banners and shout slogans about global issues but nothing about democracy in Burma?

Don’t say that good is bad!

Best Regards,
Tint Swe
NLD Member
New Dehli, India [Top]

A Naive Realist

January 13, 2004—Re: "Activists Divided By FBC’s Choice," by Min Zin (Online, Jan 10); excellent, excellent reporting and analysis. This article gives real insight into the workings of exile groups. It is unfortunate that such a predictable move by the junta should be able to throw opposition groups overseas into such disarray. Dr Zarni seems to be positioning himself as a "player"—ie, someone who thinks it is possible to beat the junta at its own games, as opposed to those who refuse o­n principle to play along (Daw Aung San Suu Kyi et al). If Dr Zarni thinks this is being realistic, I would say he is a naive realist.