2008 Woodie Awards
Fighting fear: End repression in Burma
By: Peter Truax
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Opinion
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I first learned about the existence of Burma as more than a colored block on a map as a sophomore in high school. I was simply reading the news one day, and there it was, obscured from the minds of most Americans I'd wager, but nonetheless something unforgettable after learning of it.
Burma has been ruled since 1962 by a series of military juntas that have ruthlessly suppressed all opposition and dissent through violence, fear, and imprisonment. This military government is a known violator of human rights, afraid of its own people and woefully out of place in a world that is becoming more and more progressive and free.
For me, the name of Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Laureate and the imprisoned leader of the Burmese opposition party whose rise to power was forcibly halted by the military, is a name that belongs alongside those of Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. She has remained imprisoned, either within her house or at the notorious Insein Prison since I and many of you were babies in 1989. Despite this, she has remained the symbol of hope and freedom for Burma, and indeed for many people across the world, including myself. Burma itself has a different connotation for me.
A BBC reporter who recently wrote a series of articles on Burma called it an 'Orwellian society,' where the military government employs and encourages its citizens to spy on one another, where schools teach government propaganda, and where fear of imprisonment, loss of livelihood and even death are rampant. These descriptions echo such past regimes as East Germany at the height of totalitarianism, South Africa during apartheid, and many others.
In the last week, however, I was surprised to see that change was beginning to occur. What began as a fuel price hike and the beating of a few protesting monks turned into a nationwide movement calling for the overthrow of the ruthless military dictatorship. For the last week, I've been on edge as to what will come next, and hoping strongly that all will turn out for the best, in spite of the dangers of the worst. In 1988, thousands of people were massacred by government troops for daring to challenge them. The same is happening today, and already hundreds of people have suffered beatings, tear-gas, jail and yes, some have died.
Burma has been ruled since 1962 by a series of military juntas that have ruthlessly suppressed all opposition and dissent through violence, fear, and imprisonment. This military government is a known violator of human rights, afraid of its own people and woefully out of place in a world that is becoming more and more progressive and free.
For me, the name of Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Laureate and the imprisoned leader of the Burmese opposition party whose rise to power was forcibly halted by the military, is a name that belongs alongside those of Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. She has remained imprisoned, either within her house or at the notorious Insein Prison since I and many of you were babies in 1989. Despite this, she has remained the symbol of hope and freedom for Burma, and indeed for many people across the world, including myself. Burma itself has a different connotation for me.
A BBC reporter who recently wrote a series of articles on Burma called it an 'Orwellian society,' where the military government employs and encourages its citizens to spy on one another, where schools teach government propaganda, and where fear of imprisonment, loss of livelihood and even death are rampant. These descriptions echo such past regimes as East Germany at the height of totalitarianism, South Africa during apartheid, and many others.
In the last week, however, I was surprised to see that change was beginning to occur. What began as a fuel price hike and the beating of a few protesting monks turned into a nationwide movement calling for the overthrow of the ruthless military dictatorship. For the last week, I've been on edge as to what will come next, and hoping strongly that all will turn out for the best, in spite of the dangers of the worst. In 1988, thousands of people were massacred by government troops for daring to challenge them. The same is happening today, and already hundreds of people have suffered beatings, tear-gas, jail and yes, some have died.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
John Hogan
posted 9/28/07 @ 12:30 AM CST
Now believe it or not since Sunday Suu Kyi is back in prison, this is so not right. We all need to pray for or help her in some way.
John Hogan
posted 9/28/07 @ 12:48 AM CST
President Bush should do somthing right this time, then welcome the burminese people into democracy!!! End up liked again
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