Myra Dahgaypaw, “Socratic Dialogue: Conflict in Burma”
Burma, a dictatorship country, is ruled by the military regime for over fifty years. It has
one hundred and thirty five different ethnic groups, and Burman is the largest. Other major
ethnic groups are Karen, Shan, Mon, Kachin, Chin, Karenni, and Arkhene. They all have strong
beliefs in their cultural identity. The social conflict between the ethnic groups and the military
regime is in a critical separation and the situation is very complicated and fragile.
All of the ethnic groups in Burma want to have their own states and freedom to govern
themselves. Although some ethnic groups like Karen have been fighting for their freedom over
fifty years, they have not got it yet. Human rights and freedom are neglected and the military
regime still oppresses and persecutes people in Burma. Human rights activists have sued the
regime, and their assertions include forced relocation, conscription, including child labor, rape,
torture, execution and the destroying of villages. As many human rights activists are not allowed
to go into Burma, I am among those who cannot enter the country although I was born there. I
was accused of openly teaching and talking to people about human rights and freedom. It was
totally against the military regime’s laws and I could have been sent to prison or executed.
My belief is that being put in jail or being killed is not as worth as freeing my people
from persecution. Although the government accuses me for openly talking to people and
teaching them about human rights, I still strongly believe that I have to carry on with this
mission. The government has said that I go against their law, but they also go against the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights laws. According to the first article, “All human beings
are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” In this case, I don not think anything is wrong
with teaching people to know their rights so that they can find out about the truth of their
freedom. I want people to open their eyes and see who their persecutors are. I will defend my
beliefs against the government and I will also address the issue of how the government persecute
the ethinc groups in Burma. You will learn about how cruel the government is through my
testimony in which I will explain in the court today.
Myra:
You are accusing me talking to people about human rights, but I don’t see
anything wrong with that. Is there any one who would like to be persecuted? Let
me tell you why I came to realize the reason why I had to leave Burma. It was
because of the critical political situation. I sometimes asked myself about why I
have to go through this complicated situation. I felt a great loss by leaving the
country where I was born, but I am not the sole one to go through this hardship.
Thousands of people from different ethnic groups are forced to leave the country
because of different persecution that they have to face. What would you do if you
were in this position? Would you just face the persecution and not defend
yourself? I don’t think you will be that humble for nonsense.
Court:
Different people have different perspectives towards their beliefs. You can
practice your belief without disturbing others.
Myra:
Great then, what is your perspective towards human rights? How would you
define “freedom”? I think the words human rights and freedom are the very
poisonous words for you and the government. If not, you will be able to agree
with me, but not accusing me as a wrongful teacher. For example, I’ve learned
from some of my relatives’ experience that not all of the Burmese are allowed to
have Burmese identity card although they were born and raised in Burma. I don’t
want to be an illegal person in my own country. How could this happen? Doesn’t
the Burmese government care about us and our freedom to present our full
identity as the Burmese? I think Burma has different rules and regulations than
other countries; this is why everyone has to follow the military dictatorship.
Court:
Of course any Burmese can have national ID card and it has nothing to do with
rights and freedom. Besides, decision is in the government’s hands. As they are
the rulers of the country, they can create and pass out the laws anytime they want.
Myra:
One of my important concerns is that why the Burmese government does not
permit local human rights groups to operate in Burma? I don’t see anything
wrong with the human rights groups to work in Burma either. Of course, I know
the answer. You are afraid of the truth will be revealed if the citizens know about
their rights and freedom. You are afraid they will stand against the government
like I do now.
Court:
These are not the questions that the laws have to answer, but the government
themselves. They create the laws and rule the country, but the court just has to
follow and carry out the laws.
Myra:
After confronting the issues of human rights and freedom in Burma, my primary
concern revolves to everyone should be treated equally. Now, I will present you
the cruelty of the government troops. The army has repeatedly attacked villages,
burning houses and taking food and killing people. The ongoing political
disagreement between the military junta and the ethnic groups forces more than
fourteen hundred thousand displaced Burmese to continue living in refugee’s
camps. There are thousands of internal displaced Karen people who do not have
food, a place to live or a shed with a little roof to protect them from the rain and
the sun. Is that fair and just to treat your own citizen as animals? For some
reason, I cannot understand why the military junta could do such a horrible thing
to their own citizens if they claim themselves as “the good leaders of the
country”. I am here to reveal the truth about them. Can you not show any
compassion for oppressing these people for decades? Can’t you display any sort
of sympathy for these people.
Court:
Objection. The trial today is not about the refugee, but it is about you who went
against the government laws. Moreover, you draw other people’s attention to
misunderstand and betray the government.
Myra:
No, absolutely not. What is wrong with telling the truth? I know very well that
you will not be able to accept anything I say today. However, now let us put
ourselves in these refugees position. How would you feel if any your parents,
siblings, or relatives were killed in the battle or persecuted by the government
troops? More than feeling sorry, I know that you will feel angry and take action
against it. You would do anything you can to prevent such torture.
Court:
Of course no one would want to be harmed nor killed.
Myra:
Why do you pretend to show your empathy toward your people when you too are
one who abuses your right of power?
Court:
Certainly not.
Myra:
So, are you trying to prove to the court that you are a just man? If so, would you
be willing to join me to stand against the government and fight for human rights
in Burma?
Court:
That is not part of the court’s duties.
Myra:
So, your job is just to listen to what the government tells you to do and follow
their orders. Well, there is no way that I will be able to persuade you because you
do not believe in human rights and freedom. Moreover you and the government
deny full citizenship rights to ethnic and religious minorities. These people have
lived under oppression with lack of freedom of practicing their religious belief.
Does the government want everyone in the country to become Buddhists? I don’t
see why we cannot practice our own religion.
Court:
You could be in danger for not obeying your leaders’ commands. Buddhism is
the mother religion of the country.
Myra:
Well instead of practicing our religious belief freely, it’s like we have to worship
the government. Then, where is our freedom?
Court:
Nothing is wrong with religion but the government just wanted everyone to be
united. This trial is not about religion.
Myra:
Yes, I know, but I’m talking about human rights and freedom that are restricted in
Burma. Also the children’s rights are abused on a daily basis by the military.
Instead of studying in the classroom, thousands of Burmese children, who are
shorter than their guns, become soldiers when they are seven years old. Children
are exposed to lasting physical and psychological harm because they work long
hours and do dangerous work. What they get in return is only fifty cents a day.
You know all about this but deny the facts you do. Imagine if your seven yearold-son has to become a soldier, how would you feel? Wouldn’t you want your
children to have a normal childhood, have access to school and learn how to read
and write? Unluckily things are not turning out like this for child labor. Besides,
these poor children are used as slaves. Although girls are not used as soldiers,
they have combat duties. They are subject to sexual abuse and many of them
have been taken as “wives” when they are very young.
I’m sure that you do not want to put your children in this position, but you
abuse your power and take advantage of people that are weaker than you. If we
keep on treating our young children like this, the whole country will fall apart
within the next decade. Since these children are not capable to fight against their
rights, it is my obligation to stand up and fight for them. You do not scare me
with your threats of trying to execute me. The whole work will find out how
cruel and inhumane you are.
Court:
Children are human beings just like everyone. They have to be able to work as
long as they can to provide food for their families. This is the point of view of
our government. They don’t need to be educated in order to do the work and no
one should be treated differently due to their age.
Myra:
So, what about your children? Are they not human beings or are they from a
different planet? No, absolutely not. To tell you the truth, you can kill me but
you can not kill the seeds that I saw. Although I die, my words will still echo
throughout the world and reveal the cruelty and torture of this country earning its
people human rights and freedom. Before you make your final decision, let me
ask you one question. If you were in my position which may be your last
opportunity to speak out the truth in front of the government, what would you
want to say to them? I will pay the price for my family, relatives and friends who
were murdered by the military regime and I now peacefully want to ask when the
government will change its ruling strategy. Before our parting, I will leave the
people of Burma with one burning question. How long will you wait until the
government does the same to you? Remember the scripture which said, “Do not
do unto others what others do not want to do unto you.”