BURMA: AN OPEN LETTER TO GENERALS TO STOP SICKMAN THAN SHWE NOW
Regarding the last standoff between the regime and Bangladesh, we have tried to follow some details of the crisis that had played out as followed. Bangladesh send a delegation to Burma this week to discuss a territorial dispute, after ships from the neighboring country allegedly intruded into its waters to explore for oil and gas. According to Bangladesh Myanmar ships had intruded into Bangladeshi waters, apparently for prospecting. In contrast, the regime claimed the deep sea area off Bangladesh's southeast coast, which was believed to contain hydrocarbon reserves. The Foreign Ministry summoned Myanmar's envoy in Dhaka twice this week to protest the Myanmar intrusion. Dhaka also urged Yangon to immediately withdraw its ships and stop any exploration until the sea boundary dispute is resolved. A Bangladesh Navy patrol is watching the disputed area. Chowdhury said Bangladesh had refrained from exploration in the disputed area.
On Sunday, the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh called the Burmese Ambassador to lodge a protest concerning the presence of Burmese vessels in Bangladesh waters. He requested, at the behest of the government of Bangladesh, that Burma immediately suspend all activities within the declared maritime zones of Bangladesh in accordance with the Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act of 1974. The protest emphasized that the Bangladesh government reserves the right to protect its interests and urged the Burmese authorities to ensure the withdrawal of their vessels and stop any exploration work until the delimitation of the maritime boundary between the two countries is resolved.
The Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Towhid Hossain handed over the protest note to the Ambassador asking him to convey to his government Bangladesh's request to immediately suspend all activities within the declared maritime zones of Bangladesh in keeping with the Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act 1974 of Bangladesh. The regime meanwhile said it would continue the exploration at that area regardless and claimed that it was inside Burma’s waters. Finally, standoff was end up when the regime withdrew its navy deployment. According to some sources, it was because China that pressured the regime to do so. It also is possible because Than Shwe has been known as China’s lackey for quite some time. Anyhow, the regime had shamelessly back down from the scene finally.
We the people of Burma are remained in a puzzle by the regime’s action. In considering how we understand and label Than Shwe regime in this regard, firstly, what if it really was in the Bangladesh’s waters, Than Shwe must be considered as a crook, who sneaked into other’s waters to make his own fortune. Or, if it is ours, he definitely must be labeled as a coward, who had chickened out running away from the reality by giving up our prosperous territory.
Ironically, he is not afraid to commit the recent arrests of the defense lawyers for the oppositions. He is not afraid to harass, arrest, torture and murder the people who are appealing him for the freedom and justice. He is not afraid to wage the wars against the ethnic minorities for no reason. Even worse, he is not afraid to detain torture and kill his own spiritual leaders Buddhist monks in the broad day lights and under the international scrutiny. The most amazing of all, he is not afraid to beat up a five feet tall woman, who was on her way to speak to the people what they want to hear, by ganging up with his thugs and goons.
In this regard, we want to ask Than Shwe that where the hell is this kind courage when he faces a challenge by the foreign nation. Remember, this is the military's job to protect the boundary of our country not to sneak into other country to make his own fortune.
However, under your illegal and illegitimate rule, our country has become the worst trouble spot in Asia and the poorest nation on earth. The people live in the country with no hope whatsoever. Our people became the modern slaves to the neighboring countries. We the people of Burma have become a laugh stock for the other nations. We have no pride and dignity at all under your repressive rule.
Therefore, we here by call Than Shwe to resign immediately. Ultimately, we urge the rest of the generals to rise up and stop this sick-man, and to do the right thing for the people, who are desperately in need of your help.
Campaign Planning Committee
Anti-Dictatorship, People's Freedom Movement in Burma
Washington DC, USA
Date: November 10, 2008
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