Burma: Peace virgil for Aung San Suu Kyi

Hi Friends,

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

Edmund Burke Irish orator, philosopher, & politician (1729 - 1797)

I have used Burke’s quotation more than a few times in my posts about Burma’s actions against its own people and against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. I still feel that its use is appropriate as the regime remains intransigient and despotic.

I have written so many posts about Burma that one may be forgiven if one thinks I have a personal “ axe to grind” with its rulers. I have neither family nor commercial ties with Burma. In fact the nearest I have been to Burma was probably Chiang Mai or Bangkok.

The only Burmese I know are humble hardworking folks, including competent operating theatre nurses, helpful IT engineers who solve my computer problems and the amiable doctors whom I meet at regional medical conferences. I know many who actually become solid Singapore citizens who add positively to our so-called hardworking “Asian” work-ethics.

Gerald Giam had eloquently written recently to the ST Forum and I shall also link his blog-post about the recent events regarding Daw Aung and the Burmese regime. Read here

I have posted extensively about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese regime over the past few years and I shall just link it for those who want to read them.

Link:
1. Does Myanmar deserve ASEAN? July 13 2006
http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/2006/07/does-myanmar-deserve-asean.html

2. Aung San Suu Kyi: Yet another year in detention! May 26, 2007
http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/2007/05/aung-san-suu-kyi-yet-another-year-in.html

3. Myanmar's brave Buddhist clergy and personal thoughts on peaceful protest September 24, 2007
http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/2007/09/myanmars-brave-buddhist-clergy-and.html

4. Burma’s despotic regime has crossed the line September 27, 2007
http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/2007/09/burmas-despotic-regime-has-crossed-line.html

5. Myanmar needs our support… but the silence is deafening. September 25, 2007
http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/2007/09/myanmar-needs-our-support-but-silence.html

6. ASEAN's rebuke of Burma welcomed but more action needed September 29, 2007
http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/2007/09/aseans-rebuke-of-burma-welcomed-but.html

7. Havel, Walesa and Tutu:Living proof that evil does not always triumph September 30, 2007
http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/2007/09/havel-walesa-and-tutuliving-proof-that.html

8. Why No Singaporean question and no Singaporean marches. October 10, 2007
http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/2007/10/wny-no-singaporean-question-and-no.html

9. Burma: Time for healing November 10, 2007
http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/2007/11/burma-time-for-healing.html

10. Burma fools the world (again) February 20, 2008
http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/2008/02/burma-fools-world-again.html

11.Burma's cyclone disaster: Time for unconditional giving May 06, 2008
http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/2008/05/burmas-cyclone-disaster-time-for.html

12. Burma’s xenophobic actions leave me almost speechless! May 09, 2008
http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/2008/05/burmas-xenophobic-actions-leave-me.html

13. ASEAN, please expel Burma May 19, 2008
http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/2008/05/asean-please-expel-burma.html

14. Burma continues crackdown while the world looks the other way November 20, 2008
http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/2008/11/burma-continues-crackdown-while-world.html

15. Action from UN needed for Burma and Zimbabwe! December 04, 2008
http://nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/2008/12/action-from-un-needed-for-burma-and.html


I fervently support Singapore and ASEAN doing more for Daw Aung.

Hence I was very disappointed that we had gone out of the way to welcome a Burmese leader here recently and even naming an orchid after him. I think it would have been understandable if we had extended per functionary diplomatic courtesies but there was no need to bend backwards ( or in this case “bend forward”) for them. Why so "pal-ly" with a pariah of the world?

I strongly support the Peace Virgil for Aung San Suu Kyi organised by Maruah (Singapore Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism. ) to be held at 5.30pm on May 31 at Speakers’ Corner.

I hope all Singaporeans, even those who classify themselves as “non-political” will see that this is a non-partisan cause that all who love peace can support.

I will be there and I will be in Yellow!

Peace to Burma. Justice for all.

Dr.Huang Shoou Chyuan