Ma Thanegis Views of ASSK - Essay Example

Drawing on the evidence studied on this on Burma, this essay will discuss the views of Ma Thanegi as regarding her college Aung San Suu Kyi, which we will refer to as ASSK through out this work. Ma Thanegi’s views of ASSK which is referred to as the bread and butter theory, will be scrutinized in-depth and evaluated against the views of her counterpart Francis Serjersted on ASSK, which is commonly known as the principled theory. This two patriots and lovers of the Burma nation both view the roles and actions of ASSK from completely two different and disagreeable stand points. By the end of this discuss, we should clearly be able to ascertain which of the perspective based on empirical evidence is just and preferable. Ma Thanegi is a politician who worked with the National league for Democracy and served as an aid to ASSK. Ma Thanegi in 1988 was one of the most trusted aids to ASSK and was a major political pillar behind the success of ASSK. Burma had just broken free from decades of oppression wrought upon the people by the stiff necked Socialist regime and the time to end the fairy tale and embrace the realities of a newly emerging Burma had arrived. According to Ma thanegi (1998) 26 years of Socialism had halted the emergence of a modern economy, lots of time had been wasted and it was time for the people and the Government of Burma to face the facts. Having worked with ASSK for well over a year until July 20, 1989 when ASSK was put in prison and Ma thanegi herself was imprisoned in Rangoon as a political prisoner for three years, it is quite glaring that Ma thanegi knows much about the political strengths and dispositions of ASSK so far as the struggle for Democracy was and is concerned. Ma thanegi was among the large number of patriots who celebrated Ma Suu ( as she called ASSK) release from prison in 1995, with the hope that the Economic, social and political structures of Burma would move forward once again, knowing that so much needed to be done i.e the need for food, proper housing and good health care; which were what the entire struggle revolved around. Unfortunately this was never to be as according to Ma thanegi, Assk other than using her political influence and prestigious advantages to rest positively on Burmese Economy, herself became the major brakes and obstacle to the development and freedom of the people as she wasted this opportunity due to selfish reasons. For example: She told Foreign Governments to shy away from investing in the Burmese economy, she discouraged all forms of Foreign aid, and she aptly campaigned against the very foundation that formed the movement: Helping people! Baugh et al (2006, p29). She ignored advice from core supporters like Ma Thanegi regarding her counter productive approach. Worst of all, she made it difficult for the average Burmese to put food on the table. Thus Ma Thanegi stresses that she squandered the early work of the movement, and caused its momentum to be wasted. Francis Serjersted in his speech for Aung san suu kyi (ASSK) in the 1991 Nobel Price committee, made a speech contrary different to the views of Ma Thanegi, as regarding ASSK and the role she played in Burmese liberation. Francis sees ASSK as both a role model and a symbol of hope for Burma. In his minds eye, he sees the future of Burma sailing on the wings of ASSK towards a positive destination: one of hope, justice, equity, love, peace and prosperity for every Burmese. The personality and struggles of ASSK are in no way geared towards an individual selfish reason, but are motivated by selfless service and a genuine intention to help the people of Burma. These reasons shape the structure of the struggle according to Francis argument on behalf of ASSK. Francis recognized in his extracted speech on that fateful day, that for a good fight for peace and national reconciliation, the number one factor is fearlessness. He asserts to the fact that ASSK is a staunch believer of this theory because she boldly stated in one of her numerous essays on freedom, that it is not power that corrupts, but fear! She insinuated in her book that the leadership of Burma are fearful of the people they are supposed to lead and thus they have permitted themselves to be corrupted in other to please certain people in society. This she recognize as one of the greatest un-doing of the Nation. Kyi (1995). This statement is re iterated in one of her writings and interviews where she stated boldly that the only real prison is fear and the only real freedom is freedom from fear! Kyi (1995) and Clement (1997) Francis see the fight of ASSK as one of Democracy, non violence, respect for human rights, reconciliation between warring and factional groups within the Nation, freedom and personal and collective discipline geared towards creating a peaceful haven called Burma. He makes it clear that the strongest motivation to this course is ASSK’s commitment to the democratic emancipation of Burma. Francis Serjersted the chairperson of the Nobel price committee concludes his noble speech by drawing to our attention, the fact that the courage of ASSK in the face of all these opposition from the Government remains the only platform of faith and symbol of hope for the ordinary Burmese citizens. She remains the singular hope for the future of Burma and a symbol of the triumph of good over evil, despite her being under house arrest. I have adequately reviewed the view points of the duo personalities of Ma Thanegi and Francis Serjersted and with my knowledge of the history of Burma, i confidently want to assure the people that Francis Serjersted is politically correct in all ramifications. While i identify with the pains and somewhat sincerity of Ma thanegi in addressing the situation, i also know that she is sincerely wrong. She in no doubt loves ASSK as an individual but she is looking at the situation from a myopic viewpoint which makes her politically incorrect. A family woman who forsook the pleasures of sex, family, and personal freedom to fight for the collective freedom of a people, is worthy of commendation. A woman who lost all she had in terms of material wealth for a course she believed in. A woman who was imprisoned due to her struggle for a democracy in Burma as the only viable way of overthrowing an evil totalitarian regime.(BBC, 2006) A woman who kept fighting for the freedom of the people of Burma even at the risk of her own life, Kyi(1995). A woman who was separated from her husband Micheal Aris for three years up until his death and could not even attend his burial for fear of banishment from the notorious military and undemocratic regime of Burma, all for the sake of the struggle. In 1992, she used the $1.3 million dollars given to her for the Nobel peace price award to establish health education trust for the Burmese people, in 1989 she was put under house arrest and sent to prison in Rangoon, in 1988 she sent in letters to government and arranged mass rallies asking for urgent actions concerning multi party elections etc,(Nobelprice.org) We could continue with an endless list of Her numerous sacrifices for the Burmese people. In concluding this work, I will address the issue raised by Ma thanegi concerning ASSK political methodology of putting pressure on the Government by discouraging Foreign Investment and Foreign aid which is affecting the ordinary Burmese economically. This strategy hurts ASSK but remains the only way to get the rigid and evil Government of Burma to bow and give way to a democracy and freedom that will benefit Burma in the long run. REFERENCES 1991 "Aung San Suu Kyi - Biography". Nobelprize.org. (online) Available at: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1991/kyi-bio.html (Accessed 26 December 2010) Clement. A. ed (1997) “Voice of Hope: Conversations”. London: Penguin Kyi, A.S. (1995) “Freedom from Fear and Other Writings” 2nd ed, London, Penguin 2002, “Sacrifices of Aung San Suu Kyi” BBC News (online), 6 may, Available at: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1970457.stm (Accessed 26 December 2010) Serjersted, F. 1991, “ Speech for Aung San Suu Kyi” Nobel Price Committee Thanegi, M. (1998) “The Burmese Fairy Tale” Brelief@xxxxxxx,13 Feb, Available at: www.burmalibrary.org/reg.burma/archives/.../msg00314.html (Accessed 26 December 2010) Read More