My Articles

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Unity among the Peoples of Burma

Aug 21st, 2009

The late Chao Tzang Yawnghwe had said “Given a correct perception and grasp of political and historical realities and politics by Burmese leaders, there seems little reason why national unity cannot be achieved without resorting to war and bloodshed”.

I agree with him. However, I feel that unity can only happen when there is complete trust and equality between the two sides and not one trying to control or influence the other.  It has to come from the heart, and it has to be sincere and genuine on both sides, and it takes time to build a good relationship. Unity cannot be forced upon another.

Speaking as an exiled Shan woman, but having Burmese friends as well as Shan friends from varied communities, to some extent I have an idea of how both sides feel about the situation of Burma.

In any race and any society, there are people who have wise, ethical and caring attitudes toward their fellow men and there are also people who are evil and selfish.

And there are also many Shan and Burmese to get along and live together very well.

However, we cannot turn a blind eye on the situation of Shan people as a whole. There are many reasons why for Shans in Shan State and other parts of Burma there is mistrust of the Burmese and it is because of how they’ve been treated in the past and in the present.  As long as they don’t make waves, and as long as they please the regime by going along with whatever they impose on them and keep a low profile, they are to some extent safe. Our history and heritage has been destroyed and lied about, and we are not allowed to celebrate Shan National Day.

I’ve been told that many Shans in Burma call themselves by Burmese names and speak only Burmese language in public. It is as though they are frightened to be Shan.

The helpless villagers in Shan State live in fear and poverty.  Survival of the most fortunate and the fittest is what it’s all about.  Young sons are forced to join the Burma army and young girls are raped systematically or forced to marry Burmans to eradicate the Shan race. Because of poverty, they have to sell their daughters to rich men.  From being people in their homelands they are now second class citizens without any rights.

Without any warning the Burma Army troops attack the villagers. They are driven out from their villages, their homes burnt down and livestock taken.

“The Shan State has suffered from civil war for nearly four decades. The oppression of the Burmese military regime has intensified since 1996, when it began a genocide relocation campaign that has forced over 300,000 Shans from their homes. These villagers have been driven at gunpoint into relocation sites where they have no means of survival. Over 100,000 have become refugees in Thailand; about 50,000 are in hiding in the jungle. Many have been tortured, raped and killed.” – SWAN Sept. 1999.

A Burmese friend once said to me, “We are all in the same boat”.  Ultimately, I can say that we are, but on the other hand, people have feelings, and what we feel as a person, is not usually the same as how the other person feels because of his/her experience of life.

Recently, much of the focus of the world communities had been on the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi and the atrocities of the Shan and Karen have been put aside.  Understandably, change will not happen until the Burma military regime give up their power; but ignoring the non Burman ethnic issues is marginalising 40% of the population of Burma.

Many Shans have said to me, “Even if Aung San Suu Kyi becomes the Prime Minister of Burma, what can she do to help us since we’ve already lost everything?”

 

Feraya

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