BROTHER IN ALMS

U Gawsita was one of the leaders of the Saffron Revolution in Burma in 2007, and was one of the first few monks who were physically beaten by the army and riot police during the first stage of the government's brutal crackdown on the uprising. Following the crackdown, he fled Burma and has been since living in the United States. He has met with former President George W. Bush and addressed the US Congress about human rights violations in his country. He was featured in “Burma VJ,” a Hollywood-nominated movie about the Saffron Revolution.

In an interview with Irrawaddy reporter Ba Kaung, he shared his thoughts on the ongoing anti-government protests in Egypt against the Mubarak regime, and looks back at why the 2007 uprising in Burma failed.

U Gawsita

Answer: When I see the Egyptian army on the streets in Cairo at peace with the protesters, I felt so angry now with the Burmese soldiers. I can't really help crying, thinking why our soldiers dared beat us and the ordinary people so cruelly. I think the army in Egypt seems to be protecting its own people.

Q: So these protests have given you a sense that the Mubarak regime will collapse?

A: Yes. Cooperation between the army and the public is the key to the downfall of these regimes, which is going to take place in Egypt, I expect. But, looking at the protests in Egypt, I am now upset with the Burmese public too. I don't have any belief in building democracy networks or such. People must take to the streets, and only then will the regime collapse. It is no use merely shouting support for Aung San Suu Kyi and applauding her.

Q: But in Burma, people saw again and again that when they defied the regime on the streets they were gunned down or jailed for years. Do you think it would be sensible for the public to take to the streets again at this point?

A: Of course. They should follow the Egyptian people's example. Nothing will happen if you are standing idle out of fear of shootings and arrests. Don't you see that the people in Egypt are sacrificing their lives for the revolution?

Instead of perishing in poverty like people do these days in Burma at the hands of junta chief Than Shwe, people must take to the streets. After the lives of at least 20 people are sacrificed, Than Shwe will meet his own end.

Q: So why do you think the 2007 protests in Burma were ultimately unsuccessful?

A: First, we had no experience at all. As you know, our movement was sort of spiritual in the initial stages though it was political. When the opposition political forces failed to step in, we ourselves had to call for the forming of an interim government should no dialogue take place between us and the regime. That set off the brutal crackdown.

Q: So are you saying that the political groups failed to play their part in 2007?

A: It would be like washing your dirty laundry in the public if I said that. In retrospect, I found that many able politicians were in jail at that time. Even Daw Suu and her political colleague U Win Tin were still detained at that time. Only aging NLD politicians were not in prison. If we had Daw Suu and U Win Tin at such a critical time, change might have come about.

Q: Are you hoping for another monk-led revolution in Burma?

A: Since I am not present inside the country, I am in no position to comment on this. But there are monks inside the country who will take up such an initiative given the chance.