From: "david guy" <nldburma@hotmail.com>
National League for Democracy
No: (97/B), West Shwegondine
Bahan Township, Rangoon
STATEMENT ON THE OCCASION OF THE 78TH ANNIVERSARY OF BURMA'S NATIONAL
DAY CELEBRATED ON THE 10TH WANING DAY OF
TAZAUNGMONE, (1360 B.E.) 13 November 1998
Statement 107 (11/98)
1. The 10th waning day of tazaungmone (1360 B. E), the 13 November 1998,
is the 78th anniversary of the National day of Burma. This landmark in
the history of Burma's independence came about not only because of the
1920 Students Strike by the university students who objected to the
University Education Act. It was an act of disobedience in the struggle
to uproot the existing oppressive colonial system. It is also a landmark
that signalled the beginning of a resistance movement by students and
the youth that was opposed to imperialist and fascist systems for the
purpose of finally achieving freedom and independence.
2. The National League for Democracy values and appreciates the
students, monks, and citizens who played a park in the national movement
and struggle for independence. We also are convinced that the principle
purpose of the 1920 national movement was to achieve democracy and human
rights.
3. However, although independence was obtained it is most distressing to
see that not only are freedom, justice and equality further away from
the people of Burma, but we on the verge of loosing democracy and basic
human rights. More than, there is no guarantee or hope for the
attainment of basic human rights and a genuine high standard of
education and health. That is why the National League for Democracy is
constantly and continuously striving and demanding democracy and human
rights. Only when a genuine democratic system is established, basic
human rights can be guaranteed and we can be successful in reaching our
goals.
4. It is normal for youth to want change and clamour for new, open and
accountable conditions in politics, commerce, and social welfare and to
actively demonstrate their needs. These activities should be responded
to by the authorities by consolation to achieve resolutions that will
bring about advancement, peace and stability in the country.
5. It was the students who nobly played a leading role in the 1920
colonial era students strike, the 1963 students strike, and the 1938
students and oil workers strike. Because of their strong and far
reaching activities in the 1920 students strike the colonial education
was successfully overturned and many national schools and even a
national college (temporary) were established. It was these national
schools that produced our national leaders and martyrs, architects of
our independence, Bogyoke Aung San and other gallant warriors.
6. Today, the role of the youth and students is diminishing because the
spirit of leadership in them is broken and crushed. Education is
relegated to the thrash heap. The attitude of the authorities to " turn
a blind eye and push into the jungle " has resulted in deterioration and
devastation. With no education, and a circumscribed role for the youth
and students, the nation will be faced with a bleak and dim future. " Of
all the strengths, education is the greatest". It should be remembered
that" genuine education creates people with character while spurious
education is for the benefit of one individual or one group of one class
of people and to produce people that can be manipulated to serve them."
A country cannot prosper and advance in any way when it is depleted of
academics and skilled professionals. Also, there can be no advancement
politically or socially. Closure of schools has brought about this
situation.
7. Not appreciating the importance of the youth ; being void of feeling
of human compassion and empathy; the high cost of education; the
minimising of students position and role; closure of schools for years;
failure to settle amicably the demands of students but arresting ,
beating and persecuting them whenever demonstrations occur;
discrimination against the students population and only cultivating and
showing favour to a few are some of the factors and practices that
should not happen. this destroys the fabric of society and is in no way
good for the future of the country.
8. No one can deny that the closure of the universities for such a long
period of time is a great loss to the students and the country. The
National League for Democracy is fully aware of this and for this reason
the Committee representing the Pyithu Hluttaw in its Notification
Number 2 resolved that is would recommend to the Pyithu Hluttaw that the
University Act be reviewed and revised.
9. On 24 August 1998, the Rangoon University students and on 2 August,
1998, the Rongoon Institute of Technology students conducted peaceful
demonstrations relating to their dissatisfaction with the education
system. The National League for Democracy in its statement 44 (9/98)
dated 4/9/98 emphatically declared and advised the authorities not to
use force and that instead of arresting the students they should listen
to the demands of the students and with a spirit of understanding
resolve the conflict amicably.
10. The crisis that Burma faces to day in the different sectors of
commerce, education, and social welfare cannot be settled
compartmentally because they are all related. We believe that all these
problems have come about because of the political system and for the
sake of unification a political settlement in which all the
nationalities can participate openly and genuinely is the only way for
finding a solution.
11. It is totally wrong to believe that the difficulties, problems,
differences, dissatisfactions that have arisen the political, commercial
and social welfare sectors of the country can be eradicated by arrests,
confinement, imprisoning, intimidating, and placing restrictions.
These are methods that will never achieve resolutions, and will never
achieve advancement.
12. If there is a desire for individual advancement and for the
country's advancement, the perceptions that one has and the perceptions
that one's group has adopted must be discarded. the thinking and the
thinking process must be changed. One must be able to reason and accept
beneficial outcomes. Actions that are not performed honestly can be
compared to eating rice that is not properly cooked. They will not only
produce unacceptable outcomes but will confuse the situation and cause
suspicion. Only those resolution that satisfy both sides will be
beneficial for both.
13. It must be accepted that the building of a society that will prosper
and a country that will advance must be by " cooperation ".
Construction should be by " cooperation and not confrontation".
14. Differences in opinion should not be seen as opposition or a means
of working against a person. A differing viewpoint should not be seen as
insubordination. One must learn to respect another person's opinion and
work through the differences so that a beneficial outcome can be
reached.
15. The desire to arrest, imprison, and restrict people because of the
country's problems must be extricated and replaced with a reasoning,
pure and mature mind that will honestly cooperate and impartially
consult and resolve disputes. We can start with a valuable clean page in
the history books and nobly and courageously resolve to work towards a
resolution. Only then will the country advance forward.
16. Today, all of us have an obligation to the 1920 student and the
heroes of the national movement who won our independence. Accepting this
responsibility we should join hands and unite with the National League
for Democracy in the struggle against the illegal and unjustifiable
subjugation of the people and to free ourselves from this political
system and establish a stable and prosperous country that practices
genuine democracy. We call upon all citizens to unite with us and
shoulder this responsibility equally and march towards the goal of
genuine democracy.
Central Executive Committee
National League for Democracy
Rangoon
13 November 1998.
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