Attempting change from within Burma

Saturday, 11 September 2010 01:16 Mizzima News

New Delhi (Mizzima) – Development adviser Dr. Khin Zaw Win was arrested in 1993 at Rangoon International Airport as he was about to depart for Singapore to submit his master’s degree thesis in public policy. Since his release in 2005, he has conducted social work and published several research papers on the subject of democracy. Because of his activities and writings he has been criticised by many exile and local Burmese opposition figures. The criticism has only escalated with Dr. Khin Zaw Win’s support for the upcoming general election.

He and colleagues are to speak this month at a conference on Burma’s forthcoming election in Germany, organised by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. As a result, activists in Germany are planning to protest against them, accusing them of propagating junta policy.

Mizzima Editor-in-Chief Soe Myint spoke with Khin Zaw Win to better understand his position on the November polls and Burmese politics in general.

Q: Dissidents and opposition figures are painting those that support the current electoral process as agents of the military regime sent to lobby the international community. What do you say in response to this accusation?

These people are the opposition in exile. I can understand their situation. Some day, when the situation inside the country is better, in my opinion, we shall try to let these people join in the work of reconstructing our country. I hope and wish they will join in this work. But one should not blindly make such slanderous attacks if he/she does not know about the person accused.
Military intelligence arrested me, interrogated me and put me on trial, sentencing me to 15 years imprisonment. I spent 11 years in prison. So why should I do what they want? I want only change. Many people have tried for change in many ways for 60 years. I am continuing this work. So, please study what I am doing. Please don’t blindly disparage other people. I’ve never spoken like that against anyone. Not doing anything and only looking for enemies will only have bad consequences for our country.

Q: What is your opinion regarding the elections?

A: The election is something we have longed for many years. Unfortunately, we have had a 20-year gap since the last one. The people are also longing for the election. The 1990 general election, in which we placed very high hopes, didn’t realise our expectations. This time, we must try to get what we want. The situation, though, is not as transparent as before. We must, nonetheless, do our best.

Q: You said this election is an opportunity. Can you expand on that thought?

A: We have not had multiparty democracy in Burma for almost 50 years. The last Parliament was in 1962. After the coup in 1962, Parliament was dissolved. Many expected such a Parliament after the 1990 general election. But it didn’t materialise. So, we want to re-establish this system again. The people are facing daily hardships in their livelihoods and this is just the beginning. How can they express their desires? There’s no way. Parliament can fill this role to a certain extent; it can be a forum. On the other hand, political parties are so weak. So, ordinary people cannot have a good impression of them and politicians. But, the image of parties can also be re-established through the election. As for ethnic people, they need a Parliament more than us. They have lived for many years without such a forum. They have only this option, which is why I say [the next] Parliament is an opportunity.

Q: The 2008 constitution reserves 25 per cent of seats for the armed forces. What is your opinion on this?

A: Yes, we must say this is a tragic thing. In early September 1988, when Dr. Maung Maung was president, he offered a proposal to the people. Besides the ruling Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP), he permitted other parties to stand for general election in a multiparty democracy. But, many people, especially the leaders of pro-democracy forces at that time, turned down this offer. Now, we have to start again from the beginning, from early September 1988. This is not the situation that we want. But what are our alternatives?

Q: The USDP is expected to emerge victorious, and speculation is that the remaining MPs can be yes-men only. What is your comment?

A: Yes, if the USDP wins a controlling number of seats in Parliament, the USDP can pass and enact laws as they wish. Even so, even if the opposition cannot win a majority vote, they should try to get some of their own forces in Parliament. Only in this way will the power balance in Parliament be altered. The opposition could block legislation they do not like.
Another stumbling block for the opposition is forming a government under the 2008 constitution. Parliament can select the President, and this President will appoint the cabinet ministers. So, the most opposition MPs can do in Parliament is to block unwanted bills and prevent them from being passed. The opposition must try to achieve this objective. If the majority party pushes hard to pass unwanted bills, the opposition must be assertive with sound reasoning in blocking such legislation. This is a process we have been denied for 50 years, and we must restart it now.

Q: There was Nay Win’s era. Then the military has ruled Burma since 1988 and the officers-turned civilian officials will likely continue the supremacy of the military in Burmese politics. There will be no difference. Moreover, the next government will enjoy a certain amount of legitimacy after the election. What sort of genuine changes do you expect?

A: Many people have raised this question. Many people talk about it. My response to this question is that we should not be so negative. This is a loser’s mentality when entering a battle. Shall we stay in the dark as before? Without efforts from our side and without dealing with them, we cannot expect change. It depends on our effort. So, no matter what number of seats we get in this election, we must stand boldly by our beliefs and fulfill our responsibilities. We need our representatives in this Parliament. Shall we continue the current situation; making only noise of our discontent for the rest of our lives without making any effort by thinking there will never be any change? What shall we do? As for me, I will not see our country suffer such a fate. I cannot turn my back on my country.

Q: What do think the government’s reasons are for holding this election? Dissident groups claim the reason is to get sanctions lifted and gain legitimacy. Do you see it like this?

A: First, following 1988, the BSPP government and armed forces accepted the need for democracy. They offered a proposal to restore democracy in our country. We cannot deny this fact. This is the promise that they gave to us. The next point that I’d like to state is that our country had democracy when we regained our independence. If any government comes into power by undemocratic means, it negates the situation that we had in our country upon independence. From another perspective, our country has now been ruled by a military dictatorship for 40 to 50 years. They know well they cannot continue their rule in this way. Thus, the country must be changed. The people from inside the country want only democracy. As for the sanctions, they will not be lifted overnight. So, we must gradually make our country freer and more democratic. The force to implement this task will not come from the ruling government. It must come from the democrats who will push this process ahead. It’s very simple.

Q: May I ask if there is any difference between what you believed before 1988 and now?

A: Yes, you may ask this question of me. I thank you for it. There are no differences and no gaps in my beliefs. Why should one want to change his beliefs after having many experiences and much suffering in his life? I don’t even have a hand [mobile] phone. I shall continue my work in my current situation and position. I worked in Malaysia before 1988. I wanted to see my country developed after I saw other countries developed. In 1988, I had many expectations. But, they did not come true. However, we must be patient. There’s no other way. I myself am old enough. So, I must nurture the younger generation by teaching them and advising them. As before, I want my country to be free, to progress and to be politically democratised. I want to see the people fully alert and aware about all these things. I want to see reconciliation with the ethnic peoples. I want to see this civil war ended and long-lasting peace prevail. We must work for these things. Attacking me will not gain any productive result. Instead of attacking me, prove yourself by doing constructive work. That’s all.

Q: So, what are you now doing to achieve these goals, and through which organisations?

A: I come from the development field. First, I served in the health departments in Burma and Malaysia. Then, I worked for [United Nations children’s rights organisation] Unicef in Burma, after which I was put behind bars. When I was released from prison I rejoined the development field, as our country is quite backward. This is my life’s work. But, development only cannot satisfy all equations. I know well that politics must also be changed. When newspapers report that there will be demonstrations against us and make slanderous attacks against me, I am really annoyed and disappointed. But, my work will not be halted. I’m now working in the NGO sector, fulfilling the people’s needs. At the same time, I’m uplifting the younger generation through capacity building. I’m educating them. I’m paving the way for them. I have a lot of work to do. And more importantly, I cannot afford retirement. I must work all my life.

Q. Why have you decided against contesting in the election as a party candidate?

A. Just as in 1990, I feel I am more useful and effective outside rather than inside a party. I see part of my post-1988 task as helping to build political parties instead of one political party. It gives you a certain openness to all sides – not to be caught in the us-versus-them pattern. Also, to be frank, political parties have not been able to emerge from the old hierarchical structures. If I were an NLD [National League for Democracy] member I would have been extremely unhappy at the way major decisions about the party and country were taken.

Q. Will you vote in this election?

A. Yes, I will certainly vote. And I will persuade others to vote too.

Q. What do you think of the NLD’s decision to boycott the election?

A. I think it was very regrettable. I had hoped that the NLD would somehow stand. It could have won a substantial number of seats. Even if a decision on that matter were taken, I had hoped there would have been consultation and debate. But what happened was a very emotional reaction. There are certainly immense problems with the military regime, but was this an apocalyptic battle between two huge organisations and ideologies? There was hardly any ideology and what’s more there was a great deal of “middle ground” ignored. So we are left with only personal antipathy. If one wishes to build institutions and systems – including those of democracy – one has to put that work before one’s feelings and one’s self. If one fails in that supreme task, it will pass to other hands.

Q: Do you have anything more to say?

A: Yes, it’s good to freely exchange our views. I don’t see anyone as my enemy. So, I’d like to say to my friends in Europe, if they disagree with my views and want to stage demonstrations against me, they can freely protest. But, instead of protesting against me, I’d like to ask them to come to the workshop. I invite them. Then, we can exchange our views freely and solemnly. I extend my welcoming arms to them.