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To,
The Honourable Gordon Brown,
The Prime Minister of Great Britain and Members of Parliament
House of Commons
London WA 1 OAA
4th. September 2007

From,Sao Noan Oo (Mrs. N Adams)

Dear Prime Minister and Members of Parliament,

I have written to the Prime Minister, the Honourable Tony Blair and some MPs several times, but I would like to introduce myself again. I am Nel Adams alias Sao Noan Oo, a Shan citizen of UK. I have been campaigning not only for the love of my country of birth and its people but also for honour, truth, justice and freedom

Unlike the SPDC, the citizens of Burma, especially the Non-Burman Ethnic Nationals have no guns or ammunition; all we have is our pen, and now our computer. I am not a politician but I have been through the British, Japanese, U Nu and the two Military Regimes. I do not know much about politics but I do know what it is like to be living under an evil regime that has neither conscience nor any form of ethics, and compassion for its fellow human beings.

Burma, under this regime is getting from bad to worse and its citizens subjected to endless suffering. It is imperative that something practical is done about it soon. I would be most grateful if you would allow me to submit some articles I have written so that you might understand the real situation in Burma. The root of the conflict between the military and the resistance movements goes a lot deeper than that viewed by the International Super Power. By reading some of the articles I have written I hope you Learned Honourables would come up with a better solution of bringing peace to Burma.

Thank you,
Sao Noan Oo (Mrs. Nel Adams)

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To,
Honourable Ban Ki-moon,
The Secretary General
United Nations

U N Plaza
New York –Ny10017
U S A
2007-08-13

Dear Sir,

I am a Shan living in the UK. I campaign for the love of my country and her people, and for honour, truth, justice and freedom. I don’t know much about politics but I do know quite a lot about the root of the conflict between the two Burmese military regimes and the non-Burmans ethnic nationalities. I have been under the British, the Japanese, the U Nu Government and the Military regimes. Since then I have been following everything that is happening in Burma, especially in the Shan State.

I would be most grateful if you would allow me to submit to you a few points concerning the resolution of finding peace in Burma:


Round and Round in Circle

Super Power and International Communities with all their good intentions, generosity and noble mindedness want to help bring peace to Burma but they have not yet succeeded in doing so; they seem to be going round and round in circle. This is because they do not understand how Burma was constituted. Nor have they made much trouble to find out the roots of why the non-Burman ethnic nationals rose against the Military Regimes.

Burma was shut away from the outside world until the SPDC was confident enough in the working of its policy and propaganda machines, and the army strong enough to suppress the voice of the people. They were also waiting for the time when no one from the old generation was left to tell the true story of their lies and deceitful actions. They have managed to distort the history by giving wrong information to foreigners and indoctrinating the citizens with lies and myths. Most foreigners were made to understand that the ex-Union of Burma was one Myanmar Nation State and not a Federation of eight nations, Burma Proper, Chin State, Kachin State, Arakan, Mon, Karenni and Karen and Shan States.

The seven non-Burman Ethnic nationals are resisting the Military rule not because they are war mongers nor are they terrorists. They are
resisting because the two military regimes, the SLORC and SDPC dishonoured the “Panglong Agreement” and destroyed the 1948 Constitution agreed by Bogyoke Aungsan, the Leader representing Burma Proper and the Leaders of the other Ethnic Nations. This was followed by imprisoning all members of Parliament, and increasing use of force and human rights violation, ethnic cleansing and genocide against all non-Burman ethnic nationals. Daw Aungsan Suu Kyi was caged because the Generals are afraid that she might follow her father’s footstep and honour the Spirit and legality of the Panglong Agreement “

The ethnic nationalities have a strong political aspiration to establish a genuine federal union as agreed during the 1947 Panglong Agreement but the Military regime is adamant that they be the one to control power and are unwilling to give equality and democratic rights to others.

The junta's pledge of democratic and economic reforms is merely a propaganda. All the delegates in the National Convention are forced to agree with their ready made policies, which grant the military's Commander-in-Chief the supreme power. The general population is threatened with lengthy imprisonment if they dared to voice their opinions.

If the SPDC continues to put its seven-step road map to be accepted by force, without the involvement of the Burmese Opposition, NLD and the Non-Burman Ethnic Leaders, then should it not be the responsibility of the U N, the International Super Power and all citizens of Burma who care for justice and democracy to ignore the SPDC’s plan?. The lives and welfare of all people of Burma and the future generations depend on the Constitution. Therefore it has to be a Constitution based on law and democratic principles. It has to be agreed and accepted by all the nationals of Burma. Past mistakes must never be repeated because the people of Burma will not be able to withstand another sixty years of a dictatorial government who lacks any decency or any form of ethics.

It is essential that Mr. Gambari himself should understand and listen to the voice of all the nationals of Burma and not only to the Burmans, which has wrongly been termed “the majority”

In order to bring peace to Burma, the Main Burma Players must fully understand and take into account the key political issues: the restoration of democracy and resolution of the political rights of all ethnic nationalities.

For further information please visit the web site loisamseep under Shan State with several sub-headings including human rights violations of the military regimes against the Shan civilians.

I also submit the articles below:

Respectfully yours,

Sao Noan Oo

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The Truth and Legality of the “Panglong Agreement”
By S. N. Oo


In the article, “Conflicting Interests Impede Burma’s Democratisation” written by Nehginpao Kipgen, in the Asian Tribune, 2007-06-21, he wrote “In fact, with the nullification of the 1947 Panglong Agreement and the subsequent constitution, all ethnic nationalities of Burma can claim pre-independence status.” I totally agree with this statement but what I am not clear about is what came after, “claiming pre-independence status is likely to create more instability and violence in this volatile situation. Building the Union of Burma would better serve the interests of the different nationalities”.

The SPDC and the extreme Burman Nationalists disagreed with the principles and spirit of the Panglong Agreement and the 1948 Constitution and that was the reason why Bogyoke Aungsan and colleagues were assassinated. They pressurized and made the then Prime Minister, U Nu change the Constitution in favour of their wish. When the ethnic leaders democratically brought this into the open and asked for a debate in Parliament Ne Win and his army staged a coup and put all members of parliament in prison. Like it or not the Panglong Agreement between the Burmese Leaders and Non-Burman Ethnic Leaders is a fact and reality that binds the different nations together as the Union of Burma. The Military Regimes destroyed the Agreement, thereby destroying the Union. For the last forty or more years they have by force tried to glue the broken pieces together and have failed dismally; instead they have made all the nationals of Burma live in fear and terror. They turned Burma into a prison, caged all those who opposed them. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been locked up because the military is frightened that she would honour the spirit and legality of the Panglong Agreement by following the wish of her father, General Aungsan one of the leading signatories representing the people of Burma Proper.

If the Ethnic nations are to dismiss their claim of pre-independence status it will mean that they are to erase the truth, the make up and break up of the Union of Burma, the existence of the Panglong Agreement, the Independence, the Assassination of Bogyoke Aungsan and the Military Regime and its human rights violations. All these incidences are the truth and nothing but the truth. Britain honoured the agreement of returning Hongkong to China; and likewise Portugal did the same with Macau. Agreements between decent parties are to be honoured otherwise the world will be in chaos like Burma is at present.

Building the Union of Burma would better serve the interest of people only by the consent of the people of all nationalities, like it was done through the Panglong Agreement. The legality and spirit of the Panglong Agreement and the 1948 Constitution have to be adopted and only then can all the nations move forward and implement its shortcomings through parliament by the votes of the legally elected parliamentarians. If the Agreement is dishonoured and the Constitution abrogated then the status of the different nations has to be regarded as a free nation, forcibly occupied by the military regimes.

What is so wrong with all the nations of Burma forming a genuine federation with equal rights and equal status? Why are the Generals so afraid of the Panglong Agreement and the 1948 Constitution? Why is the regime afraid of a free and fair competition? Is it because it lacks the confidence of competing justly and fairly
that it uses violence to make people do according to their demand? If the Regime has the trust and respect of the people they will also have the support of the people without the need to use violence.

All the resistance groups have asked for a tripartite reconciliation and discussion and yet the regime has turned a deaf ear to them. If the Generals think that their ideology and policies are correct why are they afraid to meet and have an open discussion with others?

The truth has to be confronted and debated otherwise ill feelings between the aggressor and the victims could not be forgiven and forgotten. The Regime has been given several chances by the citizens of Burma as well as the UN and the International Communities to take the country forward but it has chosen to take it backward into the dark ages when human beings destroy other human beings, when there was no moral principles and law and order. The Military Regimes of Burma will surely be remembered as one of the most evil, dictatorial regimes. Their rule will also go down as the darkest period in the history Burma during which all citizens lived in fear and terror.

The Generals are getting old, it is about time they search their conscience and atone and apologise to the citizens of Burma for their misrule of the country and its citizens. It is about time they admit that their judgement was a mistake, and transfer power and governing to the democratically elected members. They tell the world that they will be adopting democracy soon, but democracy is only a word unless it is done with the consent of the majority of people, and democracy is not democracy if it is not based on honour, truth, justice and freedom.

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To the United Nations and Member States

Please help the people of Burma regain their basic Human Rights and Freedom

In the last few weeks it has been shown that most Burmese people could not bear to see what is happening to their country and have made known to the SPDC their disappointment and disapproval; they have been very brave to demonstrate in spite of the danger they are facing. Their action should be applauded and example followed. At this moment whether they fail or succeed to initiate any change in the country depends not only on the Burmese but people and governments all over the world.

The two Burmese Military Regimes have been terrorising the citizens of non-Burman ethnic nationals for four generations and the Burmans for two generations. The farmers and those living in rural areas where foreigners and journalists cannot reach have had no means of survival since the SPDC relocated them and took away their lands and livelihood; now hopelessness for survival has hit the middle class in towns and cities.

Surely, what is happening in Burma is the beginning and expansion of terrorism on a large scale. If it is correct to say that the meaning of “terrorists” is a group of people who terrorises other people by using violence to achieve their political ends, then should the word “terrorist” not also apply to those people who hide behind a screen, called government? This heinous act has now spread to citizens who have been indoctrinated or bribed by their masters, the SPDC. The new terrorists are doing the dirty jobs, while the SPDC are using and cowardly hiding behind them.

If people are desperate for survival they will resort to anything. In Burma society has completely broken down and as there is no law and order the people are beginning to abandon their conscience, and disregard the meaning of right and wrong. Bribery and corruption are the norm. State Terrorists are a social menace, and the suffering they inflict on other people is enormous.

This is a plea to people, especially Governments all over the world to help free Burma from the “State Terrorists” and the spread of terrorism. This plea goes particularly to the Governments of China, Russia, India and SEAN

The United Nations was born out of the struggle against Nazism and Fascism after World War II at the General Assembly in 1948. It is a unique Institution working for the benefit of all Mankind; “member states have reaffirmed their faith and pledge to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for the observance of human rights and fundamental freedom for all citizens of the world”.

The Burmese people have no “human rights”; it has been taken away from them since 1962. They are now asking the United Nations and Member States to please help them regain their basic human rights and freedom. Please do not fail those in need


For further information please visit my web site loisamseep. info under Shan State, sub-divided into Campaign, Human Rights, discussion etc.

Thank you,
S. N. Oo
 

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To,
His Excellency Mr. Wen Jiabao
The Prime Minister of the Republic of China
Care of the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China
49-51 Portland Place
LondonbW1B 1JL

31st May 2007

Dear Sir,
I am writing not as a politician, nor as a member of any political organisation but as an ordinary citizen of the world. I am a Tai (Shan) who is now living in the UK.

I would like to bring to your attention that since 1962 until the present day the peoples of Burma have been living in fear and terror. There has been relocation of villagers, confiscation of farmlands, murder, gang rape of women and girls, extrajudicial killings, imprisonment and other heinous crimes committed by the two military regimes against the ordinary citizens especially the non-Burman ethnic nationals.

I would like you to please imagine how a mother would feel when her son or daughter is the victim of such treatment: she is sorrow stricken especially when she has tried to bring up the child with love and care until he or she reaches adulthood. Her basic instinct is to love, nourish, provide warm clothing and shelter for her child. She also tries to teach her child to be a decent citizen and to understand right and wrong, and to respect the law of the land.

You as a Prime Minister, Sir are so much wiser than I am but unlike me when engaging with foreign governments your decisions are based mainly on politics and economy. I would therefore like to make a fervent plea to you when dealing with the Burmese military you would please consider the millions of citizens in Burma who have suffered for more than four decades: many have had the experience of fathers, mothers and relatives being, imprisoned, raped, murdered, executed and their homes and lands confiscated.

Looking back in history China has one of the oldest civilisations in the world; there had been Great Leaders and Philosophers, as well as many geniuses in the fields of inventions and medicines. All the past and present that make up China is something very admirable and an envy of the world.

In recent years, politically and economically China has progressed by leaps and bounds. I am sure China will go far and I have hopes that China will be a good example to all countries, especially those of Asia not only in the progress of economy and politics but also in the progress of mankind. As a Prime Minster of a great nation we have faith and hope that you adopt amongst your other policies a policy to relieve the suffering of all citizens of the world.

As you well know from your experience with the Dais in China, the Tais in the Shan State are also peace loving people who wish to live in harmony with their own as well as other societies.

China is the only country that can make the Generals of Burma see sense and to act responsibly, humanely and ethically, and to bring about the reconciliation of all the different ethnic nationals in Burma.

Respectfully yours,

Sao Noan Oo


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SPDC, an Organisation of Terrorism and Crime against Humanity

By S. N. Oo

The Burmese Military Regimes, the SPDC and the SLORCs have forcibly and illegally ruled over Burma for forty five years, and during their regimes have enforced their own law and ideology to kill and imprison anyone who opposes them, or kill freely people with different racial and religious background. They have subjected people to criminal acts that are contradictory to the moral principles of Buddhism, and the principles laid down in the United Nations Charter. They have betrayed and broken the rules held esteem by the majority of people in Burma.

In the forty five years of their regime they have deceived the people of Burma and the World Communities under the cover of Government, Buddhism, Member of the United Nations and Loyal, Super Military Regime of Burma.

They have been loyal, to nobody else, but the military personnel who have the same ideology and who can act in the same way as themselves

During the forty long years they have managed to cunningly incorporated many vulnerable people of Burma into their organisation.

Some people joined the organisation first by persuasion, then by force

Some People joined the army to serve their country

Some under aged youths are being kidnapped into the army

Some are brainwashed with the reasons that the Union will break up without the army or that other ethnic groups or foreign countries will take over; etc

Some also joined the army as a means of survival

Once in the organisation these people have no choice, but unexpectedly and unwillingly become trapped in the Generals’ terrorist and criminal organisation and through fear, have to obey the orders of the Generals and their Officers. There is nothing worst than being caught in such an organisation. It is like being a member of the mafia of the underworld- only the regimes’ mafia is a much, much larger one.

There is no doubt that there are countless people who are the victims and got caught in such a trap and want to get out. Now is the time to break away from the organisation and bring the regime down by joining the rest of the population led by the courageous Monks.

This is the only way to regain their freedom and to rebuild their country democratically so that all peoples can live in peace and harmony with each other, and most of all to bring smiles and dignity back to all citizens and their future generations. They have not only in lived in fear and terror long enough but also from starvation and under nutrition and other related diseases.

May all people of Burma regain their freedom

May all people of Burma regain their basic human rights

May all people of Burma live in peace and harmony

May all people of Burma regain their dignity and smiles on their faces

May the farmers of Burma regain their agricultural lands to produce bountiful wholesome food, so that the people do not suffer the fear of starvation

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Summary of the darkest and most terrifying Period in the History of Burma
BURMA DIGEST
Oct 8th, 2007

Summary of the darkest and most terrifying Period in the History of Burma ;
The Military Regimes of Burma; 1962- 2007+?


By Sao Noan Oo

The Burmese Military Generals are obsessed with the idea of making Burma into “One Myanmar, one Nation, one Culture, one Language and one Religion” This obsession is fired by False Pride, Anger, Hate, Paranoia, Power and Greed. They, like the assassin of General Aung San disapprove of “The Panglong Agreement” the spirit of which was equality of status and opportunity for all peoples of Burma. The “Panglong Agreement” was agreed and signed by General Aung San who represented the peoples of Burma Proper and Leaders of the Ethnic National in February 1947.

As soon as they forcibly took over the whole of Burma, the SLORC/SPDC set out to make their idea into a reality firstly by dishonouring the “Panglong Agreement and abrogating the 1948 Constitution. By putting members of Parliament, the Prime Minister, U Nu and his cabinet, Ethnic Leaders and their Officers in prison until they felt that all the Parliamentarian were aged and helpless to challenge them; Sao Kya Saing, the Sawbwa of Hispaw , who they thought posed the greatest threat was murdered. The Sawbwa of Yawnghwe, the first President of the Union of Burma died in prison under suspicious circumstances.

Taking the Shan State as example: The military regime in 1962- 2007+?

The Military targeted the non-Burman Ethnic nationals by flooding the towns and villages with soldiers, with the aim to exterminate all those that do not conform to their need.

The military destroyed everything that portrayed Shan culture and architecture, and forbade the teaching of Shan language and literature. The people suffered enormous heinous human rights violations perpetrated by the two military regimes during the forty five or more years of their occupation.

They shoot people down for no crime or reasons, used people for forced labour, and when they are tired or too old to perform the job they just shoot them to death.

Forced relocated 300,000 villagers, and confiscated their homes and farmlands, the means of their survival, causing starvation, and an exodus of citizens fleeing to neighbouring countries and to live as IDP in the jungle. Societies and families became disintegrated. Well documented in “Dispossessed” compiled by Shan Human Rights Foundation in 1998.

Soldiers using rape as a weapon of war against Shan girls and women – well documented in the “Licence to rape”, researched and compiled by The Shan Human Rights Foundation and Shan Women Action Networks in 2002.

The Shan Human Rights Foundation reports monthly on the ongoing violations perpetrated by the Military Regime against the innocent citizens. The violations ranges from extrajudicial killings, mass murder, forced labour, extortion of money, robbing, torturing and imprisonment. In spite of all the publicity and pressure from organisations and governments of the world there is no stop to their violent activities.

Similarly the military regime used the same methods of human rights violations against the other non-Burman ethnic nationals, particularly the Karens.In 1988 the people, mainly university students recognised that the totalitarian and brutal rule of the junta was unfair and unjust so they demonstrated for democracy, freedom and better living conditions. During a peaceful demonstration
in Rangoon and other parts of the country the military cold bloodedly shot down 3000 students. About this time Daw Aung San Suu Kyi joined and became Leader of the NLD. She was imprisoned by the SPDC because she did not agree with their policies, and the Generals were afraid that she might re-establish the spirit of the “Panglong Agreement”, i.e. equality in status and opportunity for all nationals of Burma, signed by her father General Aung San and Leaders of the non- Burman Ethnic Nationals.

The military also committed the Dapayin Massacre, the number of those being murdered is still unknown. There was also an attempt to assassinate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Fortunately she escaped unharmed.

In 2007, the political and economic situation in Burma under the Military Junta has become from bad to worse. There is no freedom of action or freedom of speech; people are living in fear and terror every day of their lives. Recently the fear of not being able to survive which the Shans and other ethnic nationals have felt for a very long time is now being felt by many people in towns and cities.

The military due to their mismanagement and misrule have ruined the whole country politically and economically. The people are terrified to act or to speak, terrified of being imprisoned, terrified of being tortured, terrified of being starved and terrified of being killed. The regime has destroyed the soul and spirit of the people.

The courageous monks thought perhaps if they, the disciples of Buddha were to make a peaceful demonstration on behalf of the people the juntas might listen. Droves of monks took to the street to demonstrate so as to make the Generals realise the damage they have done to the country and its people. But alas! Instead of listening to their advice the monks were tortured, murdered and
locked up for protesting peacefully. This has shocked almost the whole world, yet one or two Super Power remained unmoved. News is still coming out that wounded bodies of protestors are being gruesomely murdered by running heavy vehicles over their bodies.

Claiming to be Buddhists yet the Junta has abandoned the moral principles of Buddhism. The monks have refused to receive alms from the members of junta and their family to make them come to their senses that they have acted wrongly, but the SPDC has taken it as a humiliation and have vented their anger on the monks instead of showing remorse and atonement. Under the cover of Buddhism, Government, a member of the United Nations, and Super, Royal Burmese Military the SPDC members have committed crimes against humanity. They have terrorised citizens, committed ethnic cleansing and genocide. They also committed the massacre of 3000 students in 1988,” and countless during the “Dapeyin Massacre”.

In the recent demonstration by citizens and monks they have shown that that they are not prepared to listen to reason. They have also shown that they have reached a depth where there isn’t a grain of compassion or decency left in their being.

Looking at the summary of what the Regime has committed during the forty five years of their rule is more than frightening. It is hard to imagine what the detailed accounts would be. It is up to the International Criminal Court of Justice to decide.

In the name of “Government” the military junta has built up a huge organisation of terrorism and crimes against humanity. There is no difference between a terrorist organisation set up by ordinary citizens and the terrorist organisation set up by members of the SPDC who do not have the legal right to form a government. For the sake of humanity let’s hope countries that believe in
honour, truth, justice and freedom will make greater efforts to get rid of such an organisation posing as a government.

Representing Burma as a member of the United Nations the SPDC has dishonoured the pledge in the UN Charter, made by all members of the United Nations. Contrarily they have and continue to commit gross human rights violations against the citizens of Burma. It is a disgrace to the United Nations and should not have been allowed to represent the people of Burma without their consent. The SPDC does not represent any faction of society other than the armed forces.

Countries that are indifferent to the SPDC’s crimes against humanity are encouraging them to do the same over and over again, and they are damaging the credibility of the United Nations. The United Nations is a unique institution, an institution that should not fail people who desperately ask for help and protection.

In the name of “Tatmadaw” the SPDC Generals order soldiers and thugs to shoot unarmed citizens during a peaceful demonstration. They even torture, kill and imprison monks. It must be very difficult for some soldiers who sincerely
believe in the teachings of Lord Buddha and at the same time have to obey the orders of their superior to bully, rape and kill human beings, especially when they are from the same country, town and villages. It is sad that some fell into
the clutch of such an organisation against their will, and can’t get out even if they want to. Like the citizens some decent officers and soldiers are also the victim of the devils. Let’s hope that all citizens of Burma will soon be free from the darkness and evil that surround them.

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In Response to Recent Articles
By S. N. Oo

I thank Gazala Paul for writing such an extensive article and his recommendation on Future Federalism in Burma, but I would like to respond to certain points.

In the article “A Cry from Burma”, he wrote, “The military claimed that it had to take over power (1962) because there was a secession plot by the leaders of the ethnic nationalities.”

During 1948- 1958 the semi-democratic government under U Nu was at first going pretty smoothly, but being pressurized by the Burman nationalists U Nu changed the Constitution: e.g. The Upper Chamber of Nationalities was becoming more and more under the control of the Burmans. Buddhism was declared the state religion, which was contrary to the original Constitution, and this angered the Christians and the Muslims. (This is not to rekindle old wounds, but to explain facts and to avoid past mistakes)

By 1961 the Sawbwas realised that the Union was not only totally under the control of the Burmans but becoming under the Military; therefore, the question of “ to secede or not to secede “ came to be an issue amongst Shan leaders including U Htoon Myint who was anti- Sawbwas. This was not a crime, it was a right provided by the Constitution.( The Shan State had the right to secede after ten years , 1958) The secession issue did not arise out of conspiracies by the Shan leaders; it originated from real grievances. The aspiration of the Non-Burman ethnic leaders was for all nationalities to work together as equal partners.

The majority and more prominent Shan leaders were committed to working out a solution with the elected U Nu Government. That was the reason why they called for a recess of Parliamentarians, to have a discussion on “Federation” In March, 1962, during a high level seminar on “federal issue s” attended by Prime Minister U Nu and senior Shan Representatives and lawyers on both sides, the Military under General Ne Win staged a coup. The present long and never ending conflict could have been avoided if the debate was allowed to continue.

The military further claimed that “Without a strong military presence, there would be ethnic violence”
This is also propaganda of the military regime. It has shut away the truth and has been drumming this into the citizens of Burma and the international communities for years, and yes, some are naive enough to believe whatever the junta says. This is because the regime has been practising how to lie convincingly for years; the generals sound so genuine yet they are blatantly lying.

It is true that in the Shan State there are various ethnic races but during the Sawbwa regime and under the British rule from 1887- 1942 all these groups had lived peacefully together. The people were able to enjoy basic human rights with continuous peace and stability. There were no prejudices or bigotry between the groups. This does not mean that Feudalism should be revived; it would not be right for the 21st. century.

After the military coup, the various groups have been corrupted and indoctrinated to think ill of each other by the Burmese military’s divide and rule method. The regime has shattered the eight regional states of the Union of Burma. In each of the regional states they have caused conflicts between the national races like the Pa-O and Was against the Shan, and within each national race Buddhists against those of other religious background, and ceasefire groups against the resistance groups. All society and family units have been completely destroyed. Like Harn Yawnghwe stated the regime has atomised the whole population of Burma, mentally and physically. Yet it is surprising that in spite of the junta’s cunning and evil efforts there is a realisation amongst all ethnic leaders that they must work together for the common good of all concern. In fact the ethnic Nationalities are united in their resistant movement and their political struggle.

Several ministers and diplomats of Asian countries warned recently a sudden regime change in Burma could lead to an Iraq-type anarchy with rival factions battling each other for power.
This is exactly what the junta wants the world to believe. Are some governments so very ignorant of human psychology that they cannot identify whether somebody is lying or telling the truth? “Like Kyaw Zwa Moe wrote, “both ethnic groups, ceasefire and non-ceasefire have called for a form of democracy that would provide autonomy for their respective states”. The ethnic nationalities do not want to fight with each other, neither do they want to dominate; they want equal opportunity and status. It is only members of the military and those with the same mentality who are power mad, and try to hold on to power by force. They murder or get rid of anybody who is a threat to them, not by election or fair means but by guns and ammunition. They even kill or imprison their own people, like Khin Nyunt and many others. Kyaw Zwa Moe wrote, “anarchy is the best description of Burma’s present state, a military-ruled system of anarchy”. I totally agree with him. Any form of anarchy couldn’t be any worse than the present situation in Burma where the people are terrified and facing starvation.

Unlike Iraq all ethnic groups in Burma have no conflict amongst themselves. As has been identified by most people interested in Burma the problem facing the country for nearly half a century is a political and constitutional one, and not a conflict between the different ethnic nationalities. It is a conflict between the SPDC and all the ethnic nationalities, including the Bama citizens.

It wasn’t any of the ethnic minority as termed by the SPDC and colleagues who assassinated the “Independence Hero” General Aung San; who revolted against the Government of the Union of Burma for having a democratic debate in Parliament, who continuously commit crime against humanity in all ethnic states, who put Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in prison because she objects to their unfair and inhumane policies, who have just murdered and put in prison unknown numbers of peaceful protestors and still secretly hunting them down. Surely, anything is better than under such a regime?

Without this dictatorial military presence the people of Burma will regain their soul and spirit to rebuild their country. As for the people lacking in education and not having any experience in governing as mentioned by some, what about the present Generals? Than Shwe is the least educated and backward of all. None of the military personnel have any experience in civil administration that is why Burma is now one of the poorest and backward countries where the people are starving and living in fear and terror every day of their lives. Those who prefer to live in such a country should try it and are welcome to it, but please don’t speak on behalf of those who yearns for freedom and a better life.
It is pleasing to know that the United Nation’s human rights rapporteur, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, will be going to investigate human right situation in Burma . We have great admiration and faith in him. He is one of very few or the only one who does not believe everything the junta tells him. He is fair and he treats all nationalities equally, and does not neglect those who are most vulnerable. He is brave, uses his own judgement and gets down to finding out the truth. Let’s hope the junta will not reverse its decision. He is not liked by them.

I support Sao Yawd Serk, the Commander of SSA in his call for unity amongst all citizens of Burma. He said although the objectives of the Burman political opposition are different from those of the Shan they are not opposed to, but are supportive of each other. He also called for closer ties between the Burmans and the Shans so as to keep up the momentum of striking while the iron is hot or catch the fish before the water becomes muddy (sic).

The Shan State Armies came into existence because of the unfair, unjust and bullying nature of the totalitarian and dictatorial regimes. They are not war mongers. The peoples of the Shan State want just to be able to live freely in their own country of birth. Like all citizens of Burma they are fighting for their rights, honour, truth, justice and freedom. This surely is the common aim for all citizens of Burma? We must get rid of the misunderstanding, distrust and the fear created by the junta. All peoples of Burma can together rebuild the country into a genuine Federation based on true democracy. No doubt there will be plenty of talk but if it is based on fairness there is no reason why the final settlement cannot be reached satisfactorily.

I would like to call on the United Nations and member nation states to please:
1. Study carefully how Burma was constituted before the military coup so that they can understand the root of the conflict that has been going on for nearly half a century.
2. To carefully study the psychology of the generals; whether they are sincere or not when they say that they are working towards Democracy. Whether there will ever be a tripartite talk, because without such a talk there can never be democracy and peace in Burma.
3. Please research and study carefully the real situation of Burma; not only in towns and cities but in hidden villages.
4. Recognise that the generals are not children to be coaxed to do the right thing nor are they adolescents who have committed their first offence and need to be offered an incentive to reform; they are hardened criminals who do not have any consideration for other people’s points of view. They are without any human decency.

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13.09.2007
Than Shwe’s 19 years of Dictatorial Regime
By S. N. Oo

The Military Regime of Burma, under Than Shwe has been in power for nineteen years and the Generals and their followers are celebrating their great success.

What Success?

Than Shwe has successfully joined the ranks of the most evil and worst dictators of the world.

Like his predecessor Ne Win, Than Shwe shut Burma away from the outside world for several years to improve the regime’s military power, and propaganda machine. During this period the Generals were already brainwashing their own citizens as well as the international Governments and communities with distorted facts and lies. The large extent of the population purges in SPDC Myanmar is possible only because they have managed to incorporate tens of thousands of people into the regime either by force, bribe or brainwashing. As seen recently they have brainwashed thugs to behave like them.

Using force and guns to terrorise innocent citizens and deprive them of freedom and basic human rights

Like Ne Win, Than Shwe put all oppositions, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Khun Htoo Oo, the Leaders of the 88 students in prison and many others because they are a threat to them. In 1988 they gunned down uncountable number of students for demonstrating peacefully. Peaceful demonstrations are not allowed as shown recently.

In making life of citizens unbearable, by causing huge number of deaths, continual hunger, exhaustion from back breaking forced labour. Only rarely, did the SPDC carry out killings in public. Yet people certainly knew about the disappearance, internments and killing of all sorts of the regime’s victims.

Using rape as a weapon of war. Even a girl of seven was raped by the SPDC soldiers. Well documented in the “License to Rape”

Destroying societies and family units, and creating uncountable number of orphans

In taking away the ancestral lands and livelihood of thousands of Shan farmers in the Rice Bowl of the Shan State starting from 1997, resulting in an exodus of Shan fleeing to Thailand as documented by the Amnesty International and Shan Human Rights Foundation. The same occurred in Karen and other ethnic areas.

Causing conflict, enmity and distrust between the Burmans and other ethnic nationals by putting the blame on the latter that they were intending to destroy the Union of Burma.; it was the military regime that destroyed the Union as they dishonoured the “Panglong Agreement” and abrogated the “1948 Constitution”

They have not only destroyed the Union of Burma but also its Constitution, Law and Order, environment, education and most important of all the soul and spirit of the people.

One of the SPDC’s well known policy is in Myanmar, there should be only one language, one culture and one religion, and therefore intentionally they committed ethnic cleansing; they sought to destroy other ethnic, national, racial or religious groups … in whole or in part, the term used in the United Nations Convention as Genocide.

And many, many more……

Since the military regime took over power they have continually destroyed the livelihood of thousands of people in rural areas, and in some areas there is no means of survival at all. The se people flee to neighbouring countries to become refugees, while others hide in the jungle as IDP, eating anything they can find. When seen by the SPDC soldiers they are being shot at, some are wounded and some died on the spot. Now, the difficulty of survival has reached every corner of the country, even in towns and cities.

By looking at the above list the military has committed a vast amount of heinous crimes against humanity. These years under the military regime will definitely be recorded as the longest, darkest and most terrifying period in the history of Burma.

One minute they murder people and perform evil deeds, and the next they pray and offer food and robes to monks. I wonder what advice our Lord Buddha will give.

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Who is The Greatest Bully of All?
By S. N. Oo

“UN Mission to promote Democracy in Burma Headed for failure”, is the heading in many Papers.

This has not come as a surprise to most who know what the Military regime in Burma is really like.

"I would like you to know that Myanmar [Burma] is a small nation and if a big power bullies her ... we will have no other way but to face this and endure," Kyaw San said.

The people of Burma are unarmed and if the SPDC uses arms and ammunition to shoot and kill them is it not a form of bullying? By bullying the citizens this way does the SPDC want them to “have no other way but to face their bullying and just endure?” Is this how they make the citizens of Burma endure their bullying for more than four Decades? How very one sided, unfair and unreasonable? They can bully helpless citizens but nobody else must bully them

In order to understand the mindset of the Burmese Generals the UN should employ the best psychologist to build their profiles. The generals are so greedy and addicted to power, and like those addicted to drugs they must have everything at any cost to gratify their own desires. They have totally lost sense of what is right and what is wrong.

It is their ego, greed, envy, fear and mindless imitation of other people that makes them become what they are, the greatest bully of all, terrorists and criminals.

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The People of Burma Deserves Human and Democratic Rights By Research and Experience
By Sao Noan Oo
…
After living for four decades under the Military Dictatorial Regime, in an environment of darkness, fear and terror the People of Burma deserves Human and Democratic Rights.

To move forward there has to be National Reconciliation of all nationalities coming together at a round table. The talk has to be built on truth, trust and transparency. In a country like Burma there has to be an understanding of the principle of territorial integrity and fundamental respect for diversity, and different peoples’ wishes for freedom, equality and justice. As is seen in the Shan State between1886-1948, various diverse groups had lived peacefully side by side and in harmony without force being used; diversity therefore does not necessarily lead to chaos and disorder, if citizens including government members live and abide by the country’s moral code and a law that is fair and just.

During the recent ASEAN summit one of the Leaders said, “We must try to find out why the Generals are so afraid of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi”, Let’s hope he really meant it and make an effort to dig deep and find the real reason.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi poses the greatest threat to the Generals. They are afraid of her because she believes in democracy, equality and freedom for all citizens. She has compassion and works by the principles of transparency, sincerity and truth. The fear of losing the power they have wielded has driven the Generals to react irrationally and to the point of madness. They stand for dictatorship; complete control of power at any cost without consideration or compassion for the citizens. They live by the concept of secrecy, insincerity and hidden truth.

The high regards in which Bogyoke Aung San has been held by the Burmese public since independence had proved a problem for the Military Regime under Ne Win. Ne Win attempted to diminish Bogyoke Aungsan’s stature at first but later he decided that that it would be more beneficial to put Aungsan as a spiritual Leader of the army so as to make the coup justifiable and also by using Aung San’s image the army could claim its legitimacy. They thought, “Was Aung San not the founding Father of the Tamadaw? At the beginning of the military regime a lot of Burmans believed Bogyoke Aungsan held the same ideology as the rest of the Military Generals and so did the ethnic nationalities who in addition thought that Bogyoke Aung San and the whole Burman Nationalities had betrayed them.

When Bo Gyoke Aung San’s daughter, Daw Aungsan Suu Kyi arrived in Burma she was shocked to discover the military’s actions of injustice, subjugation of the people, the shooting of thousands of students and the heinous human rights violations practised against the ethnic nationalities. She joined the NLD, a political party opposition to the Military Regime. She exposed that the method used by the military in ruling the country was not what her father had wanted. The Generals had in fact manipulated the people of Burma into believing that her father had the same ideology as them. By this exposure she damaged the Military regime’s legitimacy. Like father like daughter, they both wanted freedom, equal rights and democracy for all. This is one if not the main reason why the military Generals especially Than Shwe hate and are afraid of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi so much. Blaming her for their failures, since 1989 the regime is bent on destroying Aung San Suu Kyi’s image.

In drafting the Constitution Than Shwe and his Generals have excluded Daw Aung San and other Opposition Leaders, showing that they have no intention of following the principles of democracy. On 23 May 1947, less than three months before his death, Bogyoke Aung San gave a speech which made his thoughts on democracy very clear. He distinguished ‘true’ from ‘sham’ democracy. He said, “Only true democracy can work for the real good of the people, real equality of status and opportunity for every one irrespective of class or race or religion or sex. Not every democracy is true democracy. Some are imperfect democracies concealing in democratic guise the dictatorship of the capitalist class. True democracy alone must be our basis if we want to draw up our constitution with the people as the real sovereign and the people’s interest as the primary consideration. Democracy alone is the basis upon which the real progress of a nation can be built”.

Also to have a genuine Democracy in Burma dictatorship has to be abolished for good as it has no place in the modern and civilized world. Although Democracy is not perfect it is the best form of government. It is the government of the people. Political Leaders are not from a single social class, a single ethnic group, a single religious group nor a group of narrow ruling families. Leaders are chosen by the people and responsible to the people. All citizens have the right to vote.

Than Shwe and like minded Generals have made the peoples of Burma their enemies and are so afraid of reprisal that they use lethal weapons to crush and silence them. Fear has made them corrupt and irrational. No matter how hard they try to crush the population into complete submission there will always be some who will dare to voice their feelings for the sake of the country and welfare of the citizens as seen in the recent peaceful demonstration led by the monks and students. While bad things do happen to good people, but as long as the peoples of Burma do not let the fear implanted by the junta to take root, and damage their spirit there is hopes for Burma and its citizens to get what they are fighting for, human and democratic rights. In the face of injustice, conflict, human rights violations, mass murder and struggle for survival courage, tenacity, dignity and magnanimity of such people deserves applauding.

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“Burma’s Sixty Years of Independence”
“Sixty Years of Darkness”
“Sixty Years of Fear and Terror”
“Sixty Wasted Years”

By S. N. Oo

I am a Shan, born and brought up in the Shan State. Having made a choice to live and become a citizen of my adopted country I have been asked by many how I feel about the situation in the Shan State and Burma. “Burma celebrates 60 years of Independence” say the papers, but as a Shan I feel that there is nothing to neither celebrate nor cheer about; in fact I wished that Independence had never taken place. The people had a better life and prospect under the British. They were freer, also free from fear and hunger. I feel very sad for my country and generation after generation of people having to live under the evil military regimes.

I have seen Shan State when it was peaceful and the country side green and beautiful. It was rich in natural resources but still underdeveloped but this did not affect the people’s sense of value because the majority were small traders or farmers and they were happy and contented with what they have; they were able to enjoy basic human rights. They were treated fairly and justly.

The Independence that many had hoped and looked forward to in 1948 has been destroyed by the two Burmese Military Regimes, the SLORC and the SPDC. The period under these two military regimes is one of the worst periods in the history of the Shan State. They forcibly took over power and misruled the country for fifty years, turning Burma into one of the poorest countries of the world in spite of its rich natural resources; and the people bound together in a state of fear and desperation.

The Military Generals venerated the state as the agent that would use supreme power and brutality to make society succumb to their demand. With an ideology of extreme Nationalism, multi-nationalism was unimaginable; in Myanmar there must only be one single nation, one language, one culture and one religion. They thought violence and iron fists were the only way to control and unite the diverse nationalities, and so continue to use them until today. The military set out to remove all other ethnic groups by whatever means proved most efficient. They rape women and young girls using rapes as an instrument of terror robbing the last vestiges of human dignity.

Violence and plunder are not only their way of exercising power, indoctrination and propaganda bound the members of the military together. They indoctrinate, bribe and order military personals and soldiers and even criminals and unethical citizens to do their dirty jobs .Politics became the continuation of warfare, the loss of life is so great because the Generals order the soldiers, some of them no more than children to decide who could live and who should die.

Burma under the Military Regime from 1958 until today is a nation gripped with fear. The Generals sought to overturn the meaning of human rights and sustain brutalities of the civil population, forced labour, forced location, killing and mass murder, an enormous cost on the ethnic nationalities in particular. The ongoing misery in conflict zones continues unabated. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced. The huge amount of deaths, continual fear, exhaustion, and back breaking forced labour and the break up of society and the death of loved ones will forever haunt the survivors with desperation, the separation of parents and children caused anguish, as did seeing members, die in terrible circumstances and without being able to save or even openly grieve their deaths. The numbers of the victims are debatable; the reality of the event is not. This is proved by the recent atrocities they committed against the monks and students as shown by countless video cameras, and thus exhibiting to the world for the first time what they are really capable of and that much worse crimes had been committed in the rural, hidden parts of the country.

Control of Power for the top Generals has become such an obsession that they have lost their conscience, code of conduct and religious values. They have made the people and monks their enemies and these enemies are everywhere at home and abroad and a constant drive to search them out seem to give them a special buzz; and the satisfaction to revel in the power they exert over their victims.

Than Shwe and his like minded Generals should ask themselves that if citizens steal, rape, assault, torture, kill and murder would they say it was a crime? I am surethey would condemn such people and classify them as criminals. Yet they order their officers, soldiers and civilian supporters to do just that. They should abstain from acting which they condemn in others. To be fair and just they should submit themselves to the law which they believe applies or should apply to all, as “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. By not being critical of their own actions they have lost their self control, thereby losing their own respect and for others.

No human beings are perfect but all are blessed with a unique brain that can think and reason to determine what is good and what is bad. “Men’s natures are alike; it is their habits that carry them far apart”. (Confucius)