Its time for Burma to select an iconic leader

June 2, 2008

Lawi Weng:

Burma is looking for a national hero in the long run. Somebody, who could be their leader. There is an icon, who could provide leadership to the Burmese people—– Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The new leader should have the approval as well as the support of the people. The relief teams, which are helping the victims of Cyclone Nargis in the Irrawaddy Delta, could also provide a certain amount leadership to the Burmese people.

If we as citizens had to nominate a leader, who would it be? It could be monks or movie actors like U Kyaw Thuor U Zarganar or singers like Lay Phyu (Iron Cross).

Many local heroes came to the forefront after the cyclone hit Burma. This could be a good opportunity for the Burmese people to select a person, who could lead them in the event of a People’s Revolution against the repressive military junta. These leaders could also carry the country forward into a new democratic era.

A lot of news-gathering was done by local teams and private individuals, who dared to interact with the international media. Without these teams, news from Burma, would not find access into the international media. These teams have also worked towards the survival of those affected by the cyclone.

The junta tried to help the cyclone victims, however, they were unsuccessful. Recently, the military junta disapproved of the international aid pouring in, stating that the cyclone victims did not need such aid and could survive on local food. The opinion of the junta has been published in the state-controlled newspaper Kyay Mon.

However, private donors refuted such ideas on the exiled Burmese radio and said that the cyclone victims needed all the aid they could get. Many refugees have been evicted from the refugee camps to be resettled on their own local farm. At the same time most of them do not have enough provision or aid to work in their farms.

The military junta in Burma is of the opinion that to ask for aid from the international community is beneath their dignity. The junta is not too eager to allow international relief workers to enter the Irrawaddy delta, because they want to continue their absolute hold over the country. They do not have any sympathy for the cyclone victims.

Sen Gen Than Shwe visited the victims in Hlaing Thar Yar and many of the victims bowed before him just as if he was a king. However, many people are aware of the fact that he is like Mao Zedong, the Chinese communist leader, who killed many monks when China invaded Tibet.

“If you want to be a good leader, you have to combine both politics and religion in your work,” Tibetan leader in exile, the Dalai Lama said. This expression sums up the current situation in Burma for those local heroes who are helping the cyclone victims.

There are millions of people in Burma who have been badly hit by the cyclone and are in need of aid from the international community. The military government has already refused aid from countries like the United States of America, France and the United Kingdom.

There are also many political parties and the ethnic groups in Burma. Why don’t they get involved and help the victims? Why don’t any of them criticize or condemn the junta for refusing the aid from the international community.

In Burma usually the students and monks lead community groups. Due to the recent natural catastrophe in Burma almost 2.4 million people are homeless and 143,000 people have been killed. Millions are cut off from aid. This was the first time in the history of Burma, that a natural disaster of such tremendous magnitude has taken place. If the Burmese political parties or the international community allow the junta to lead in this situation, more people are likely to be killed.

Burma has been on the look out for a national hero for quite some time. As a result of the 1990 election, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s name emerged. People agreed that she could be a leader. However, the junta refused to hand over power after the results of the election in 1990. She continues to remain under house arrest for the last several years.

According to critics the September protests failed because there was the lack of good leaders. The Burmese people have for a long time been without adequate leadership. This may be just the right time to choose a national leader.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under Commentary