A Flower Nipped in the Bud

A Flower Nipped in the Bud
By Myint Thein Kyu

It was 23rdAugust, 2007. The sky was gloomy with a slight rain. I went down from the office after lunch and headed to around the City Hall to check situation. A rumor had spread that one of democracy-activists would make a speech at mass rally in front of the City Hall in that afternoon. I walked with quick steeps under dazzling rain holding an open umbrella over my head. I thought the number of people were more than other days along the Mahabandoola St. from City Hall to Telegraphic Office.

Some were standing under road-side portico, some under trees on the platform to hide the rain, and some were sitting on the benches circled around the trees, chatting and whispering to each other. All seemed to be alert and observing the situation, and many people showed inquisitive eyes in their faces. I proceeded to the northern side of the park. Also there were few people sitting and standing under the sheds of bus stop. Many were roaming on the road. I interpreted some people democracy activists and sympathizers, who were wearing white shirts and holding side bags.

Some were, I sensed, disguised intelligences. I wondered why 4-5 trucks from the Ministry of Industry were on the roadside in the front of the City Hall. Its minister is notorious for standing against the oppositions and he has very close relationship with the two top most Generals. He was one of plotters of cruel repression over Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters during the organizing tour in May, 2003 near Depeyin Village, Monywa District, Upper Burma. It was a symbol of possible crack down in case there was a public strike. However, rumor was spread that the UN would not allow the Junta to shoot a single bullet to the people.

There appeared few military polices and persons from Firefighting Department in the City Hall compound as well. The situation was really tense. It was like an omen of bad and strange thing lying ahead. The people were expecting something which might spark off non-violence movement. Like the ones who held bitter taste in the mouth, they wanted to spit out. Like the ones who kept indigestible food in the stomach, they wanted to regurgitate. So they were waiting for the right time and place to discard the load of authoritarian rule.

Their peaceful demonstration had been defeated several times by the military crack down. Instead, their revolutionary spirit did not become less. I was completely filled with unknown feeling – may be expectation of people strike – and walked pass through the area in front of the City Hall, hiding my presence in the view by my umbrella from cameras on the portico of it, heading to my office. I missed telephone call by my eldest son who informed me of his safe arrival from his first day of computer class.

18thSeptember, 2007

About 350-400 monks were silently walking in lines along the Sule Pagoda Road at 2 PM as a gesture of opposing against the military suppression over monks demonstration, which took place in Pakokku, Upper Burma, against increase in fuel price and malmanagement of the Junta which led the people to general sufferings of food, shelter and clothing. Supporters engulfed the monks protecting them. They all proceeded in calm and peaceful manner circling the famous Sule Pagoda through the City Square to the eastward of the city.

I followed to support and caught them up in front of the East Gate of the Pagoda. The surrounding was full of people, cheering, applauding, smiling and rejoicing. My heart was full of hope to see the Morning Star.

Number of monks taking part in demonstration swelled day by day. I counted monks from our office building. Participants ware over thousand on 21stSeptember passing through in the rain between the Traders Hotel and the Sakura Tower along the Sule Pagoda Road. All were completely drenched and cold. People were worried very much about their health because of the alternate weather of the hot sun and rain. Many floors of the Traders Hotel were then occupied by UN offices. Many foreign companies set up their business office at the Sakura Tower.

Tenants of the two tall buildings were looking through the windows. They witnessed all circumstances very well. I was sure they would have understanding over the situation, feel sympathy for the monks who took parts in and empathy for all Burmese people who lose democracy and democratic ways – rights of speech, press and vote – for over 4 decades. They had been living silently over injustice of successive military rulers. The press publications had been nonsense: just propaganda of the Junta. The people dared not unveil their true feelings. Our way of living is completely contrary to that of democratic countries and developed world. How pitiful we are! Though human cannot understand, even animal can express their feeling in voice. Are we from nether world?

That was the 7thday of monk demonstration on 24thSeptember. People started joining in the strike. From the Sule Pagoda to the Anawrahta Rd. for one block was full of the crowd; from there to the Traders Hotel on the Bogyoke Aung San Rd. was half full, amounting, according to internet message, total 50,000. Rain dazzled at about 2 PM. All of them were marching in the rain. That was only one example of mass rally. There were many other incidents in different area, different township throughout the city, Rangoon. At the same time – 1:30 PM – as the previous days, monk demonstrators, lining in 6-in-one row, came to the down town. Not only monks but also nuns were included in the demonstration.

It transformed gradually to general strike with growing number. Sule Pagoda Rd was full of people for more than two blocks from the Pagoda to the opposite side of Bogyoke Aung San Rd. The monks in demonstration were protected by people joining hand in hand each other and vice versa, the people were secured by monks, who were walking beside people demonstrators. All were well disciplined and peaceful, reciting Buddha sermon every day, emitting their metta – loving kindness, affection and warm and tender feeling – to all beings dwelling in the Universe. They sent their metta by repeatedly reciting “may all beings in all directions be in good health and wealth”. That day, September 25th was hot and dry without rain.

Majority of our people, more than 80% of population, are Buddhists, true believers of kamma, a Pali word, collectively called for one’s deed, speech and will. One’s happening in every day life is a result of his previous kamma, done before from now back into even preceding lives. He exists today on his past wishes and work done. He, therefore, believes that reflection of his kamma, good or bad, does not concern with the others. The culprit is himself. No one is blameworthy. So, our people would bear malice toward none; they would not show jealousy of the wealth of Generals that they took unfairly: by corruption, misuse of country’s treasure and abuse of authority.

They were just trying for the development of democratic and dignified situations in the country, which might bring prosperity to them by means of fair competition, international co-operation and hard work. They know very well that they themselves must try to attain what they want. This is also according to the Buddha’s Damma, teaching. Hence, people matter most for development of both democracy and prosperity.

September26th, 2007

However, their metta was countered back by beating demonstrators with swagger sticks and waist belts, by shooting tear gas and firing guns, and by seizing participants in such suburban areas as Shwegontaing and near the east entrance gate of the Shwetagon Pagoda, which is the most revered holy place of the Buddhists. All of the people were shocked by such wild and cruel behavior. The rumor of no shooting became nonsense. “Oh! Please Lord Buddha do forgive, save and sermon them, the evil doers. They are killing their Father, Sanga (monks), Buddha’s Disciples.” They always boast off being a country of Teravara Buddhism. The practice was poles apart from speech in stead.

Gun firing happened in down town on the Sule Pagoda Rd. as well. There it was over the crowd. The people retreated and scattered on to the platform by lowering the body. Some people were hiding behind the trees and brick wall around them observing situation. Minutes later, the people gathered again on the road, proceeded ahead and approached to near bulb-wire barricade in front of patrolling soldiers. I thought that I should not stay in the office working in an easy manner, without any regard to the demonstration. Therefore, I took to the street between the Traders Hotel and the Sakura Tower at 2:30 PM and joined the strike. There people exchanged their views. One of elder persons remarked that the event came out in line with tabaung (foretelling widespread among people) “Pyi daw pyan ma htwe lay nan tin soe lay”, meaning: let’s put the youngest daughter, who has already come back to her homeland, to the throne. It means to elect Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Prime Minister. It was people’s real desire.

September27th, 2007

Every day in the afternoon, the demonstrators marched holding placards to the down town and soon brought together mostly along the Sule Pagoda Rd. There occurred again firing guns and beating people which sent everyone scurrying into shelter. In that circumstance, Japanese journalist was shot dead. I bent down my body and run back to the south-western corner of the rail way station compound on the Bogyoke Aung San Rd. The soldiers advanced with frequent firing and beating and arresting persons who were hurt and who lingered on the road. I entered the 33rd street and kept away from their sight. I saw some injured young men, carried and helped run by their associates to hide from the scene. A couple of the injured came down from a taxi and secretly entered a private clinic for treatment. All the public helped each other standing against the Junta.

After about half an hour, I was on the way back home and came up the Pansodan overhead bridge which links the railway station and down town area. While I was checking the situation, a group of people appeared again marching from Anawrahta Rd. and headed on to the bridge. They were chanting like that “military skill, acquired from being trained by Bogyoke (General Aung San, founder of the army), is not for killing the people” The slogan reminded them to be grateful to the Bogyoke and persuaded them to be sided with the people as well. All people in the houses seemed taking to the street. And all onlookers joined the strike. I took part in the marching, too.

At the front part of the group were two monks, two foreigners with cameras, and student activists, wearing scuff with feature of fighting peacock, around the head, proceeding toward north. The group swelled in number to approximately 200,000. I, approaching in the middle part of the bridge, looked back and found that entire place – both on the road and platform – was full of demonstrators up to the Strand Rd. to the south, like sea of human beings. The situation impressed and satisfied me very much. At that moment, I heard unexpectedly a loud “bang” and continuous sound of firing guns from the northern end of the bridge. We could not see the incident place of those firing. All people were surprised. Suddenly, the crowd turned back and ran to their heels on the bridge only in one direction to the south like a herd of cattle galloping at their scare. The people scrambled each other and some tumbled down. A couple of female students collided with each other and fell down on to the bridge. I stopped running and covered them to protect from being run over. Their male friends pulled them and helped walk away.

I reached the southern end of the bridge and checked around with trembling heart. Although people lingered on the road, the crowd dispersed gradually. Was it finished? One foreigner came running from the north. I did not see the other. News spread quickly. One monk was shot dead on the spot. Some of student activists injured. It was inhuman conduct or behavior.

A flower that might bring fragrant of democracy was treaded on the road under the boot of a gun man.

I stood gazing perfectly motionless.

Myint Thein Kyu
03, April, 2008