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A
Triumph of the Spirit
by Chip Duncan
A
Triumph of the Spirit During years of making documentary films
abroad, I've only gone to visit a United States embassy once.
The reason was simple enough, Burma (a.k.a. Myanmar), is a
dictatorship and we wanted a briefing. It may seem counterintuitive,
but visiting a dictatorship can be relatively safe for the
visitor. It was the locals we were concerned about. In a nation
where gatherings of more than five people can lead to a lengthy
prison stay, journalists and filmmakers often pose a genuine
hazard to even the most innocent of civilians.
Our visit took place in November, 1995, just seven years after
one of the worst massacres of unarmed civilians ever perpetrated
on its people by a ruling government. On August 8, 1988 more
than 3,000 protestors were killed in Rangoon during a peaceful
demonstration for freedom and democracy. Although barely reported
to the outside world due to intense restrictions on media,
the massacre rivaled the Tiananmen Square massacre that took
place in Burma's fondest ally, China.
Shortly after, following pressure from human rights organizations,
the United Nations, and leaders of many free world trading
partners, the Burmese government authorized democratic elections
in 1990. But the funny thing about brutal dictatorships is
that they rarely have the support of common folks - and in
this case, they lost the election in dramatic fashion to the
British-educated daughter of the national hero - Aung San
Suu Kyi.
While her father had been a post World War II modernist who
fought for independence from British rule, Aung San Suu Kyi
led a people's movement for democracy. Already under house
arrest at her home in central Rangoon, Suu Kyi was never allowed
to assume elected office. The election was ignored.
Suu Kyi, who rivals Gandhi, Mandela and King for her passionate
commitment to her people and the ideals of freedom and equality,
was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. Today, seventeen
years later, she's still under house arrest. She was unable
to attend the funeral of her British husband in 1999 and she's
missed the childhood of her two children.
Now, after nearly a half-century of tyranny, the people of
Burma are rising again. As many as 100,000 people took to
the streets of Rangoon during late September. In protests
led by scores of Buddhist monks known for non-violence, the
government has, once again, responded with force and brutality.
From behind the walls of her compound, Suu Kyi continues to
be a symbol of the struggle and, more important, a symbol
for what a person will give up to obtain freedom. Like civil
rights protests in the United States during the 1950s and
60s, Burma's democracy movement has a spiritual component
to it. Buddhist monks, known for their simple lifestyle and
commitment to service, are leading the masses.
Their role offers more than just symbolism. Monks are revered
in Burmese society. They give up their lives for service.
In a highly spiritual nation comprised primarily of Buddhists,
torturing and killing monks is akin to killing one's spirit.
Whatever moral ground the government may have laid claim to
is gone.
At the time of this writing, the Burmese government has admitted
to arresting roughly 3000 protestors with as many as 500 still
incarcerated. It's a safe bet, given Burma's history of oppression,
that the numbers are significantly higher. Human rights groups
working in Burma suggest that scores of monks and protestors
were not only detained, but tortured or killed. What we see
in Burma today is a lesson for the world.
As Gandhi said so eloquently, freedom and democracy cannot
be imposed by outside forces. They can only be achieved when
the will of the people supports the cause. Freedom comes from
within. We're also witnessing the power of a free media in
the battle to both obtain and maintain freedom. Despite criticism
against media in the United States, few among us would trade
away the power of the press to monitor government and inform
the people about the excesses and abuses of power.
But in Burma, there is no free media. Just as it did in 1988,
the government has cut of the press. They shot and killed
a Japanese photographer, cut off the Internet and cellular
phone service. So what can we do? It's a big question with
answers that range from simple to complex. First, check investments
to make sure you're not inadvertently feeding the Burmese
leaders and their control of Burma's natural resources. Whenever
there's tyranny and human rights abuses involved, someone's
usually making money and it's rarely the good guys.
Second, pressure Congress and President Bush to do something
that's more than rhetorical. Embargos can be effective as
long as they don't deprive citizens of daily needs such as
food and medicine. Though the Bush administration has shown
only a marginal interest in the United Nations, the U.N. and
special envoy Ibrahim Gambari are making progress, especially
as it relates to Chinese cooperation in pressuring Burmese
leaders. This should be encouraged.
Third, support humanitarian groups that work in south Asia
and, specifically, in Burma. It's a given that while the Burmese
people fight for their own freedom, the need for humanitarian
relief will be heightened.
Fourth, increase dialogue about Burma and with Burma. Most
of the world's most challenged nations benefit by being part
of the global consciousness. Welcoming them into the dialogue
helps these nations overcome the global discrepancies that
exist around wealth, consumption and education.
Fifth, engage teachers and clergy in the dialogue. Little
motivates people like having your rabbi, imam, minister, priest
or guru up the ante by asking a congregation to become more
active around an issue. Teachers can educate students about
Burma and engage in cross-cultural communication through the
internet. What difference will it make? Maybe none, but that's
unlikely. Hope is hope. And information and understanding
of the issues will lead to political and financial pressure
on the Burmese leadership.
Like so many Americans, I find it hard to believe that in
the 21st century, we've come so far in technology, science,
agriculture and all the comforts of privilege, but we've learned
so little along the way. That genocide continues, that tyrants
still impose their will on their citizens, that our planet's
environment is at risk, that millions die of hunger in a world
of bounty, these things are a mystery to me. Americans often
find it difficult to know how to help because most of us have
never had to fight for our own freedom.
Unless they're stopped, the leaders of Burma will do what
they've done for years. They will try to protect their own
power. But there are monks and students, farmers, vendors,
teachers and taxi drivers meeting in secret places, discussing
the most sacred of notions, freedom. And this time, they have
the spirit of the people on their side.
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Chip
Duncan is an EMMY award-winning documentary filmmaker. His
work from that production can be seen in the television series
Mystic Lands.To
contact Chip Duncan, please click here: Chip@DuncanEntertainment.com.
Your comments are welcomed.
The following materials are copyrighted
by The Duncan Group. Any unauthorized use or printing of these
documents is a violation of applicable laws. This material
may not be downloaded, printed or used in any way without
the written authorization and approval of The Duncan Group,
Inc. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. For more information please
contact Bob@DuncanEntertainment.com.
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