Burma is trying to acquire nuclear weapon. This has been confirmed last week in a documentary following a five-year investigation by Democratic Voice of Burma, an independant radio based in Oslo. What can we do? What should we do as buddhists or as witnesses of this large-scaled tragedy which is now taking place in Burma and in the world?
Buddhism teaches non-violence. But in the country of a thousand pagodas, even non-violence is assaulted, muffled and tormented. In such a situation, is it better not to act in the name of non-violence than to revolt?
Non-violence is often understood as a pacifist, idealistic ideology, lacking in any involvement at all. But it seems that, on the contrary, involvement can be matched with non-violence. Some people use non-violence as a weapon, as an attitude which can sometimes be remarkably useful to fight injustice. In Myanmar, this is what buddhist monks did during the saffron revolution in 2007, and we know how it tragically ended.
Non-violence assumes it can bring out the good part of every man, believing that every man has a good part in himself. However, it seems that other important factors must be considered. Within the framework of a non-violent action of the burmese scope, the protesters’ action must be widely known in order to put pressure on the opponent. The Media has a fundamental role to play in Burma. Public opinion is still a very powerful weapon for change.
Moreover, number has also a lot to do with non-violence. A non-violent attitude can only work if non-violents are stronger than violents. If the opponent knows that non-violents can react, then a clash can be avoided.
But in Burma, the junta is powerful, extremely rich, and violence rules the country more and more everyday. Non-violence’s efficiency has achieved its breaking point inside the country where the situation seems totally blocked. Outside, an international support is now vital.
The international community has a central role. It must put a non-violent, permanent and unified pressure on the burmese regime. Burma is now only linked with the outside world through trade. It is then advisable that the international community withdraws its economical interests from Burma until the political situation is back to normal. If the burmese government were alone, alone with the absurdity of its outrageous and totalitarian methods, then maybe it would be ready to make concessions.
The international community must use every means they have to prevent Burma from acquiring massive-destruction weapons. Because if the junta does so, it will as powerful as other world powers and the solution to the burmese problem would be much more tricky than it already is.
Today, non-violence is still meaningful in Burma but it is missing its two fundamental supports to be efficient. That is to say a strong, practical and unified pressure put on the junta by both public opinion and the international community.
We must not forget the burmese people, we must nor forget Burma.
Brice Andlauer and Sophie Alvarez for Buddhachannel
Traduction : Brice Andlauer
Democratic Voice of Burma
Info-Birmanie
