Dear friends of Asean and friends from different countries in this
forum. I really appreciate giving this opportunity to speak about peace and
Democracy.Thank you so much all organizers of this Asean people forum.
In the words of my brothers and
sisters, my fellow monks and nuns of the Saffron Revolution in 2007, “May all
beings not fight each other. May all beings be happy and peaceful.”
These two sentences were repeated
throughout the peace walks of the Saffron Revolution, two years ago. Monks led
the people in 65 cities, calling for the basic needs of the people, peace and
reconciliation. Monks wish peace not only for Burma but for the whole world.
But unfortunately the regime
cracked down brutally on these peace wishers,the monks and nuns; what does it
mean that these destroyers of peace are members of ASEAN? is this acceptable?
But in Burma there is no peace
and justice so we must speak out very openly. No democracy means no freedom, no
justice and no peace. ASEAN is judged by the people of ASEAN and our
international friends by how it deals with Burma. Burma is the measure of
ASEAN’s success or failure.
Today I speak to you not just
with my voice, but I speak for the voice of the people, especially those
friends of mine who are in jail. Monks like myself who have spoken for peace
for democracy are now in prison. For many people in Burma life is like a
prison. All are living in fear. Even those working for the military live in
fear.
Instead of being able to live
peacefully with families and neighbors they are forced to build pipelines so
that the junta can put oil money in their own pockets. Children, instead of
being able to go to school are forced to be soldiers.
And instead of living in their
own country they are forced to work in neighboring countries without human
dignity, just so their families can survive. These workers – even after 20
years of waiting – cannot yet go back home because in Burma there is no peace
yet. Imagine how homesick they feel.
I cannot stay silent about ASEAN
when it is not doing good enough. The whole region suffers from human
trafficking, drug production and out-migration from Burma. These are caused by
the economic mismanagement of the regime. Business is controlled by the regime;
people produce drugs – or move elsewhere – simply to survive, to eat, to have
food. And these drugs travel across the whole world – as a Buddhist monk, it
concerns me deeply that my country produces drugs that makes families – and
indeed, the whole world – suffer.
Democracy is the only way to make
change. ASEAN talks about human trafficking, drug production and migration, but
it doesn’t talk about political change, the root of all our problems. We need
political solutions, with ASEAN support, to address this regional insecurity.
ASEAN must take responsibility.
A main goal of genuine democracy
is to deliver hope to people that they can have choices; people can have hope,
and people can have voice in their communities. We want real democracy, not a
sham democracy. Democracy is the way that we can live peacefully together. Only
democratic leaders speak with the same voice as the people. The regime’s voice
is not our voice. I want democracy for my people. And all the people of ASEAN.
Indeed, we want it for ASEAN itself; so that the voice of ASEAN is the voice of
the people.
We haven’t had a government in
Burma – they do not take care of the people – we did not elect them – people do
not want them and have been suffering enough. The people of Burma are like
children who have no parents, people who have no government to take care of
them. They neglect the people’s needs. Monks and people rely on each other – we
are connected – we monks see the suffering of the people. That is why we stand
on the side of oppressed people or justice side.
For 47 years Burma has been ruled
by a dictatorship. It has caused many problems affecting not only Burma’s
people but the entire region and indeed around the world. ASEAN leaders,
because you did not speak out for political change, the regime has hung onto
power so long. Now the military regime is seeking nuclear enrichment to stay in
power. Even if the ASEAN leaders do not speak out against nuclear technology
development in Burma, we the people of the world and ASEAN – we here – must
speak out against nuclear weapon programs in Burma. We must speak out for
peace.
It is time that governments
listen to the people. In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, necessary
factors for democracy are: 1) Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion
Ä 2) freedom of opinion and expression, and
3) freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
Why are these freedoms still not
guaranteed in ASEAN? How can democracy in ASEAN flourish without them?
One reason Burma is not free is
because ASEAN is not yet free. The people of ASEAN want a free Burma. If ASEAN
leaders listened to the people then Burma would be a more free state. We are in
this together. I give praise to those countries moving ahead – like Indonesia,
the Philippines and Thailand – who act for people of Burma.
ASEAN needs to support the long
life of people, instead of the long life of the junta. The regime is so happy
to be member of ASEAN, but the people of Burma are very sad because Asean
leaders support the dictatorship.
As human beings we have
responsibility to take care of each other. That includes leaders.Human Rights
violation widely spread out in Burma and half million Internal Displaced
People(IDP) are living in the forest of Burma because of the civil war.In this
case ASEAN’s non – interference policy is wrong…. .
If parents next door are killing
their own children – and you see and hear it, but you don’t say “stop”, you are
neglecting your responsibility as a neighbor. The Burma regime is killing its
people; it’s ASEAN’s responsibility to say “stop”. This is not an internal
affair. It is a human affair. All human beings must speak out to say “stop
killing”; it is the responsibility of all of us. Look at European countries; no
one argues there for non-interference, because all those countries are free.
I feel very sad seeing the check
points between Mae Sot and Bangkok. In the 21st century, the checkpoints and
borders are still closed. We must open up the borders, instead of closing the
gates. We need to break down borders, to come together, to live peacefully
together.
What can ASEAN do? It cannot
continue its policy of economic engagement without being responsible for a
parallel political engagement. An engagement for peace and reconciliation.
And member states of ASEAN can
create greater freedom for citizens of ASEAN to speak out for peace, including
in Burma; everywhere in ASEAN where citizens are freer, they are speaking out
for peace in Burma. In the words of Helen Keller, “Alone we can do little;
together we can do more.”
All people who have sympathy and
compassion for Burma can work together,If all Asean people have same spirit
then we can live happily and peacefully together. We can walk same direction
together. Dear friends of Asean and friends around the world let us live
happily together. Let us walk on peacefully together.
Thank you very much Thailand
hosting this forum and strengthening peace and democracy for Burma.
“May all beings not fight each
other. May all beings be happy and peaceful!”
