The Rakhaing Nation Demands for Decolonization of Burma
Dr. Shwe Lu Maung
7/7/2001
I would like to welcome the new generation into our Rakkhita Liberation War or Patriotic Liberation War against the Myanmar Colonialism. I will present you the real ities that are always bitter. In final part I will present you our ADF-demand for "De-colonization of Burma and Governance of our Rakhaingpray as a UN Trust Territory during the process of the de-colonization of Burma". Therefore, please listen with an open mind.
The first person who waged the Rakkhita Liberation War was our beloved King Mun Saw Mon. The Barna occupation forced him into exile in 1404CE at Gaur. which was the Capital of Independent Bengal at that time. After 25 years of distinguished service as a General and Minister to the Sultan of Gaur, he was given a Muslim Army to restore his throne. He drove out the Barna colonialists and founded the Golden Mrauk-U dynasty that placed our Rakhaing National Kingdom in the world for 354 glorious years. Please note it was the Barna who occupied our kingdom and committed genocide. King Saw Mon had no choice but to wage a Rakkhita Liberation War. It was a just, fair and legitimate war against the Myanmar Colonialism. Anybody who abuses King Saw Mon is an enemy of our Rakhaing Nation.
Again, sadly, due to disunity, our Rakhaing Nation lost her freedom and sovereignty on the 31 S` day of December 1784. The Barna again occupied us. At that time, the 1Vlyanmar people (a) committed a crime against humanity with a genocide killing about 250,000 Rakhaingpray citizens including women and children, (b) put a mass of 100,000 skilled labourers, artisans, intellectuals and monks into slavery and servitude, (known as Phya Kyuan or slave of Buddha) at Mandalay and Pagan, (c) looted and carried away Maha Mrat Muni Buddha Image which probably is the first Buddha Image made in this world as early as in the 2"`` century AD and (d) drove out more than 200,000 Rakkaingpray citizens into the neighbouring British Bengal territory- making them homeless and stateless. At present about 1 million Rakhaingpray citizens are displaced presently outside Burma and about two and half million Rakhaingpray citizens inside Burma Proper has been intimidated and they do not dare to identify themselves with their origin.
Now, we have been living a life of slaves for 217 years. Beginning with King Bering alias Bo Chun Pyun our ancestors had struggled for freedom. King Bering waged the Rakkhita Liberation War against the Barna or Myanmar colonialists. His war was just, fair and legitimate. Any body who abuses King Bering alias Bo Chun Pyun is the enemy of our Rakhaing Nation.
I emphasize here the Rakkhita Liberation Wars of King Saw Mon and King Bering because the Burma colonialist agents in various cover names are now abusing and attacking King Saw Mon and King Bering. Please watch out for such imposters who do not have any courage to reveal themselves of true identity. They are cunning and dangerous. King Saw Mon and King Bering are the Pillars of our Rakhaing Nation. Anybody who abuses and attacks them is our national enemy.
In my generation I have participated in the way 1 understand, in the capacity that I am capable and to the extent I am qualified. We have achieved keeping the Rakkhita Liberation War of Rakhaing Nation''s Freedom Struggle alive. Armed or unarmed our Rakkhita Liberation War is just, fair, and legitimate. Armed or unarmed, our struggle is legitimate.
Our generation and myself now enter into the twilight zone. Very soon we will disappear into the darkness of mortality where every living thing must go. By the end of this year 1 will be retiring from the active participation in the movement as I mentioned earlier to my Coordinators of ADF, Brother San Tun Mai.!ng (Rakhaing), Brother (Commander) Khaing Re Myint alias Hj. Sheik Ahmed (Rohingya), Md. Dawood alias Shwe Thaing (Kaman), Khaing Lin Kar (Khamee), Brother Aung Lwin (Rakhaing), and Maung Thein alias Fariuddin, etc., so that I can concentrate my time to write a few books as planned. Unfortunately, Dr. San Tun Maung, Brother Aung I,win and about 32 ADF Members are under the detention by the Malaysian authorities at present. They were arrested after they staged a rally in front of the UN Office in Kuala Lumpur and presented our ADF Demand for Decolinization of Burma, in early January this year. You can find their letter at ADF web site http://ww.shwelumaung.org/central. This means the Rakhaing Nation''s politics will be mostly in the hands of the younger generation who are under forty. 1 understand that this Rakhaing Conference will play a determinant role in this new era. It is my duty to let you know where our Rakhaing Nation struggle stands at present in order to enable to you make a dialectical assessment and decision . 1 would like to welcome you, the new generation, into our Rakkhitrc Liberation War against the Myanmar Colonialist.
We have three political paths that being followed by the Rakhaing Nation since the beginning of the 20"'' century CE. These are:
- The doctrine of Independent Sovereign State, e.g. Peoples'' Republic of Rakhaingpray (Rakhaingpraythu Thamada Naingan).
- The doctrine of Bama (Myanmar) Subordinate State, e.g. Rakhine State or Rakhine pyinay, or Autonomy).
- The doctrine of a Federating Nation inside a Federation of Burma, e.g. Rakhaingpray or The State of Rakhaingpray.
Please note the usage of the word ''the State'' is very important. You have to understand its political definition very clearly.
Let me also clearly mention the dangers that threaten our freedom.
In 1996, here in this cosmopolitan New York City, at the `Burma at Cross Road Conference'', I, at that time as the Diplomatic Representative of ALD, presented a paper. Those of you who were at that Conference will remember well. Our Respected Sara Professor U Aye Kyaw, Ph.D., Ako Kyaw Tha Hla, Ako San Myint, etc., I recall well. In that presentation, I firmly stated that "Myanmar Colonialism and Islamic Expansionism paralyze democracy movement in Rakhaingpray". If we want democracy that will lead to freedom in our Rakhaingpray we have to overcome two dark forces.
The danger of Islamic Expansionism shadowed our land when the Muslims of the Muslims League Burma that was formed in 1936 rose under the banner of Mujahiden. With the surrender of the Mujahidens in 1958 the Islamic Expansionist policy carne to an end in our land. When the Awami League defeated the Muslim League in East Pakistan and Bangladesh emerged as a, sovereign independent nation free from Pakistan in 1971. through the bloody liberation war with the sacrifice of 3 million peoples the backbone of the Islamic Expansionism was broken.
Now, I would like to declare that with delicate. but determined diplomatic move ADF has neutralized the danger of Islamic Expansionism. ADF transformed the Arakan cultural diversity into a force, following the example of the multicultural nations like India and the United States, following, say, the example of the New York Cit
In the same way, many Rakhaing Muslims or Rohingya Muslims do not accept me as Muslim saying that Brother Shahnawaz becomes a Muslim with `a policy''. I have answered many times, "Brothers, if there is no policy I do not have a reason to be a Muslim. I can be the bridge between the Buddhists and the Muslims of Arakan". Besides, I am the only Rakhaingthar Muslim who can call for a Rakkhita Jihad against the Bama Infidels!
Now many Rakhaingthar are afraid that I might make the Rakhaingpray a Muslimpray. If the Buddhists do not pay due respect to Lord Gautama Buddha, Buddhism will decay. 1 have nothing to do. The Bama says, "Bama-Yakhine the same; we are all Buddhists", and they treat me like a dog at Akyab airport, whenever I go and visit my parents there. Is it Buddhism? Again, with these words they beat and kill our Rakhaing men and rape our Rakhaing women. Is it Buddhism? In protest, I abandon Myanmar racist Buddhism. I myself and the Muslims all over the world have great respect and reverence to Lord Gautama Buddha. Koran says, "I have my religion and you have yours". Islamic Expansionism is practised by the Muslim Fundamentalists and Islamic Theocrats in the same way the Buddhist Expansionism is practised by the Bama racist Buddhist Fundamentalists and the Buddhist Theocrats. If You accept the philosophy of secularism and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights you have nothing to worry. Treat everyone according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and make sure that everyone treats you according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Then, you have nothing to be afraid of.
Now, let me come to the question of the Rohingya. I (and my organization ADF) and NUPA recognize them after 22 years (from 1978 to 2000) of personal contact and working together against the Bama racist colonialism. Together, we have suffered a lot in the hands of the Barna and also in the hands of the neighbouring countries. Having been in the same boat and having stood on the same platform for more than 20 years we recognize each other for our mutual benefit. After a long trial period, we now stand united against the Myanmar racist colonialism.
I know many of the Rakhainghtar disagree with me, mainly with the argument that the Rohingya are `the Kula''. The word `Kula'' that is pronounced as `Kala'' is Pali for `foreign'' or `international, for example we call the United Nations `Kula-thamaga''. I will discuss this issue very candidly here.
ALD wants to recognize `the Kula'' as the Rakhaing Muslims, but not as the Rohingya. It sounds logical, but politically wrong. Logically speaking, we should have recognized them as the Rakhaing Muslims in 1937 when Burma was separated from India under the Government Act of Burma 1935. We should have done this in 1948 when the Union of Burma formally declared her Independence. We should have done this in 1958 when the Mujahidens surrendered and proclaimed as the Rohingya. We should have done this in 1988 when the Muslims approached Dr. Saw Mra Aung for mutual respect and alliance. The Rakhaingthar failed in the last four occasions- spanning a period of 64 years (i.e. from 1937 to 2001), and now it is too late. In four occasions the Rakhaingthar have rejected them as ''the Kula''. It is my view that the term the Kula'' carries the same racial meaning as ''the nigger ''of the American language. It is very discrimination, very racial and downright violates the Universal Declaration of Human rights.
From the political point of view it is wrong to highlight the religious faith. If you recognize their ethnicity as the Muslims you are inviting Islamic Expansionism. The word Rakhaing is politically right since it derives from Rakkhapura which is a 5000-year old entity of our land. In 1958-59 national census, the Muslims of Our Rakhaingpray identified themselves as the Rakhaing. The ruling authorities rejected it saying, "The Rakhaings are the Buddhists, but you are a Muslim; so you are a Kula". They all became the Rohingya in the National Registration Cards.
The complaints in the names of the Rakhaingthars that are reaching my office say the followings.
1. The Rohingyas are the Bengali Kula and illegal immigrants.
2. King Mull Saw Mon, the founder of our Golden Mrauk-U Dynasty was stupid and wrong since he founded it with the help of the Muslim Kula Army.
( will Ignore the rude and uncivilized attacks at my person and my family. These are simply infantile disorders of our people. Such infantile attacks fill 20% of my email box. But I would like to Urge all Of YOU to be civilized and to gain social and political enlightenment. You are living in the United States of America, a multicultural nation, a super nation, a great nation.
Now, in the light of the above two political and racial concepts the Rakhaingthar have the following three options to undertake.
1. Kill all the Rohingyas who are simply `the Kulas'', in the way Adolf Hitler killed the Jews. OR,
2. Drive them out of the country as General Ne Win and Senior General Saw Mating did in 1978 and 1990 respectively. OR,
3. Find a way to live in a formula of peaceful co-existence with due respect to each other as the compatriots. following the example set by King Saw Mon.
It is the duty of all civilized persons and civilized societies to establish. maintain and work for peace and friendship. accordingly. ADF and I, as well as NUPA and ARNO have adopted the third option and now we live in peace and work together with due respect to each other as the compatriots. ADF supports NUPA-ARNO Alliance and NUPA-ARNO Alliance supports ADF. Most importantly, our nature of peaceful co-existence as the compatriots is well supported by the international community. 1 will also defend King Saw Mon. He did right. After 25 years of exile in Gaur that was the capital of Independent Bengal at that time, what he did was politically right. It was the Bama who colonized us and committed genocide at our Rakhaing Nation. The Bama had killed all able Rakhaingthar at that time in the same way they again did in 1784. King Saw Mon had no other choice. Today, the Bama say, "Yakhine-Bama the same; we are all Buddhists". With these words they beat and kill the Rakhaing men, rape the Rakhaing women, and enslave the Rakhaing Nation. They also form Karen Buddhist Army to fight against KNU who are the Christians. This I call Bama Buddhist Fundamentalism, which is a pillar of Myanmar Colonialism.
A nation is a flowing river; it is not a lake. Many tributaries join the river enriching the water with more nutrients and making the current stronger on its journey into the ocean. Similarly, a nation is always enriched by addition of new culture and new peoples. You are now in the United States of America. You will understand well. If you treat a nation as a lake it will dry up and die sooner or later.
It is up to you to decide. I know it is a hard decision to make, but you have to make.
Now, let me come to the question our ADF program =''Decolonization of Burma and Governance of our Rakhaingpray as a UN Trust Territory during the process of the decolonization of Burma". Our demand is already in the United Nations. Let me recite again. "We, the Members of Arakan Democratic Forces, demand:
1. To Decolonize Burma (Myanmar) and to abolish Myanmar racial colonialism and apartheid as per provisions of (1) the Charter of the United Nations, Chapter XI, (2) the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (3) the United Nations Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and People (UN GA Resolution 1514 (XV), 14 December 1960). (4) the Universal Realization of the Right of Peoples to Self-determination (GA Resolution 52/113 of 12 December 1997), (5) the Third Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (GA Resolution 52/111 of 12 December 1997), and (6) all other relevant instruments.
2. To Govern our Rakhaingpray (Arakan) as an UN Trust Territory under the International Trusteeship System (1) as per provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, Chapter XII, during the period of decolonization of Myanmar, inter alias abolition of Myanmar racial colonialism and apartheid, and until JUSTICE is done to the 1947 Union Constitution and its democratic institutions."
Why do we demand for -"Decolonization of Burma and Governance of our Rakhaingpray as a UN Trust Territory during the process of the decolonization of Burma"? It is because we need a peaceful period to make up our mind in exercise of our `right of self-determination''. We need time to reach a national consensus for our future to decide whether we want to live (1) as an `Independent Sovereign State'' like in feudal days, or (2) we want only an autonomy of minority as a Bama (Myanrnar) Subordinate State inside the modern Myanmar Empire or (3) we want to live as a Federating Nation inside a Federation of Burma. As a UN Trust Territory, we can make economic development and establish political stability and go for a national referendum on the above issues. Once we have the decision given by the National Referendum we must agree to accept the result as legitimate and democratic, and abide by it. We shall all honour it as our National Consensus, even if the National Referendum Result is against our belief. We have the right to differ. At the same we have the obligation to abide by the National Referendum. This is a just and fair. It will also have binding to the international community since the National Referendum shalI be conducted under the UN supervision. I solicit your support. I propose that our Rakhaing Nation shall be a federating nation in the name of `People''s Republic of Rakhaingpray'' in the Federation of Thuwunna Republics.
I have said. 1 have laid a clear path. I shall go along the path diligently and loyally. It is up to you to decide.
In 10 years, a new generation will come to challenge your wisdom and your action in the same way you now challenge me and my generation. It is a natural law of the generations. I stand by my philosophy and my actions with clear conscience.
"Nation building is a long hard journey; strive with honesty and justice".
Source: The Federal Union Journal No-5 December, 2001 published by UNDC.
Title: The Rakhaing Nation Demands for Decolonization of Burma
Author: Dr. Shwe Lu Maung
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Date: 7/7/2001
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