Politics of Burma 2008

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nz
FIRST QUARTER 2008
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SECOND QUARTER 2008
Were in 2008, not 1908. If
we let [the junta] get away
with murder, we may set a
very dangerous precedent.
2 PARTNERS MAGAZINE SECOND QUARTER 2008
Partners Magazine Second Quarter 2008
Publisher: Partners Relief & Development
Partners Mission: To demonstrate Gods love to victims
of conict and oppression.
Founder: Steve Gumaer
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Contributors: Ben Rogers, Win Min, Dave Eubank, Craig
Garrison, Steve & Oddny Gumaer.
Frontpage quote: Jan Egeland, former UN emergency-
relief coordinator
Photos: Kara Garrison: p2, FBR: p.4, 6, Delta Tears: 9-15,
Stu Corlett: p.15 (bottom), 24, KChay: p.16, Brent Madi-
son: p.19. Lena Knutli: p.23. All other photos: private
Layout and design: Oddny Gumaer
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Partners Relief & Development 2008.
PARTNERS MATTERS
by Craig Garrison
Partners Relief & Development
A few months back, the editorial team at Partners had a bright
idea for the next issue of Partners Magazine: "Let's do an issue
on the politics of Burma!" The consensus of the group was, yes,
the time has come for us to address this issue in a Christian context.
Others on our sta moaned when we told them the idea. I think the
majority of the hesitation was that they thought no-one would be
interested in reading about the politics of Burma or that this was a
bit too risky of an idea for us to delve into (what's that saying about
religion and politics?).
Well, as you can now see, the editorial team won out. However, little
did we know that a natural disaster of biblical proportions was going
to hit Burma in the middle of our magazine production. Initially we
thought that we should change the whole focus of the magazine and
concentrate solely on the devastation that Cyclone Nargis wrought.
However, as the days unfolded after the event, it became very clear
to us that the politics of Burma had everything to do with what was
happening after the cyclone hit. This regime has not only acted with
indierence to millions of their own people, they have acted with
criminal negligence. So, what you are reading in this issue is the
combining of both our experience thus far in responding to the crisis
and an in-depth look at the politics of Burma and how these politics
have shaped, not only the regime's response (or, better put, non-
response) to this disaster, but their entire world-view.
Included in this issue are two excellent articles from our good friend,
Ben Rogers, of CSW (Christian Solidarity Worldwide). Ben brings a
wealth of experience and understanding when it comes to the junta
that rules Burma. Do yourself a favour and read both articles. Finally,
I want to highlight that Partners Relief & Development USA has re-
cently taken the big step of hiring a full-time National Director, to be
based in the States. His name is Spencer Kerrigan and you can read a
bit about him in this issue as well.
As you read this issue of Partners Magazine, I hope that your heart
breaks for what has happened to the people of Burma from the
destruction brought by Cyclone Nargis. But, I also hope that your
heart burns with righteous indignation for what has been happen-
ing to the people of Burma for nearly 60 years at the hands of their
own government. And I pray that each of us would be challenged
and encouraged "to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly
with our God" (Micah 6:8).
www.partnersworld.org.au | www.partnersworld.org.uk | www.partnersworld.org.nz
At the end of the eighties I was a political activist.
I thought that politics was about wearing the right
buttons with loud slogans on my jacket, about
unremitting protests, and disagreeing with every
politician who was older than 45. The kind of clothes
one wore most certainly mattered. I wore what wasat
that timeconsidered retro, and that meant that I did
not like it when rivers were turned into dams.
Things changed when I realised that life is about more
than political slogans. Besides, politics is a word that
most people shy away from. It tends to be associated
with the act of shoveling horse manure, eternal
boredom, unscrupulousness and fraud. It is easy to
understand why. World history and the headline news
are littered with people who have abused their power by
passing laws that have resulted in death, suering and
loss of freedom. With such mendacious incompetents in
power, its hard to have a positive outlook. My somewhat
nave ideas from the eighties now seem as unreal as the
popularity of Billy Idol and Michael Jackson. Like a sulky
toddler who doesnt want to join the game because
she may get boo-boos, and because the other team has
all the big kids on it, I am tempted to retreat. I want to
cover myself with hopelessness and go nowhere, when I
should remember who I am and what my calling is.
In my home, my children will mount the biggest
campaign against dishwashing, claiming that spending
20 minutes using suds and water to clean plates
with traces of Alfredo sauce is child abuse, especially
considering how incredible their homework load is.
Then, somehow, they nd the time to chat with friends
on MSN. In the world, Christians, such as myself, say that
to x what is brokenspoiled with the greasy sauce of
sinful behavior is going to take time, resources and
expertise that we dont have. Then we spend countless
hours on humdrum activities, wishing for some more
zest in our lives.
There are days when I forget who I am and why I
am here. My daily worries occupy me so much that I
become like a soldier without armour, not sure who
the enemy is. The enemy is not the lack of dinner ideas,
nor is it the unpaid bills on the kitchen counter. In Leif
Engers beautifully written book, Peace Like a River,
Jeremiah, the father, says this to his children: We and
the world, my children, will always be at war. Retreat is
impossible. Arm yourselves. And then they walk into the
darkest night. We are at war and we better get used to it.
There is no such thing as withdrawal.
Its basic. World politics is basic. Its not just about
reading those thick, graphically-challenged documents
with impossible language. Its not just about
campaigning for oce or about the power to pass laws.
Its about making loving your neighbour as yourself policy.
That is where it starts. The way each one of us chooses
to do so is up to each one of us. God doesnt make
clones and doesnt expect each one of us to follow the
same pattern. What I believe he does expect, however, is
that we all ask him what our role is in the war.
It sounds silly, I know, but I kind of like to imagine
myself as the courageous soldier who is ghting on the
castle wall, using my sword to slash the enemys head
o. Then I come to my senses and remember that I get
nauseated when I see blood, cant even kill a cockroach
and am so uncoordinated that I would probably chop
my own head o if given a sword. But I like to think of
courage as something more symbolic than participation
in a physical battle. It takes courage to stand up for what
is right. It takes courage to ght for what is true, noble,
right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy
(Phil. 4:8). And that is our calling in this world.
Its unlikely that I will ever address heads of state
with my earth shattering ideology of Oddnyism. It may
not be such a good ideology after all. But I wont stop
speaking what is true and doing what is right. That is my
calling, and if nobody other than the One who has called
me to do so hears me, that is okay too. I can still say I
have been obedient to Him who matters most.
Oddny Gumaer is the co-founder of Partners. She is a runner
with an injured foot, a designer with too much to do, the wife of
Partners boss and the mother of three precocious children. She
wants to write another book. She keeps it all together somehow.
For comments on this article or advice on how to x her arch,
email her at: oddny@partnersworld.org.
Earth Shattering Politics in a World of Fraud
by Oddny Gumaer
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PARTNERS MAGAZINE SECOND QUARTER 2008 4
Few countries in the world today have
sufferedasmuchforsolongwithsolittle
international attention as Burma. For a
few weeks last September, our television
screens were (illed with images of brave
Buddhist monks and Burmese civilians
marching peacefully for democracy.
But the Saffron Revolution was short
lived. These scenes were soon followed
by pictures of the Burma Army turning
their guns on the protesters. The streets
werecoveredinbloodstained,discarded
slippers as the people (led. And then the
mediamovedon.
Themonkswoketheconscienceoftheworld,
but the challenge now is to ensure that the
worlddoesnotgobacktosleep.For46years
Burma has been ruled by the military, who
have raped the land as well as the people.
Inthattime,Burmahaschangedfrombeing
oneofthewealthiestcountriesintheregion,
richinnaturalresourcesthericebowlof
Asiatooneoftheworldspoorestnations.
The current illegal regime, known as the
State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC), is guilty of every possible human
rights violation: the widespread and
systematic use of rape as a weapon of war,
forced labour, land con.iscation, the use of
humanminesweepers,religiouspersecution,
the displacement of over a million people
and the destruction of over 3,200 villages
ineasternBurmasince1996.Manyofthese
crimes have been carried out over decades.
But in addition, the regime has held Nobel
Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, the democracy
leader,underhousearrestforover12years,
locked up over 1,800 political prisoners
and subjected them to horri.ic torture,
and forcibly conscripted over 70,000 child
soldiers, taken from the streets at gunpoint
the highest proportion of child soldiers in
theworld.
Burma, a former British colony, gained
independence in 1947 and just over a
decade of fragile democracy followed. But
in 1962, General Ne Win staged a bloody
coup, overthrowing U Nu, Burmas leader
at that time, and ushering in the beginning
of a brutal reign of terror. For the next four
decades, Ne Win closed Burmas doors
to the world, expelling missionaries and
foreigncompanies,andforbiddingortightly
restricting foreign visitors. Businesses,
schools and hospitals were nationalised.
Ne Win was .iercely opposed to federalism,
andsothetensionsbetweentheregimeand
Burmas ethnic nationalities who make
up 40% of the population and inhabit 60%
of the land erupted. Con.lict between
the Burmanmajority government and
the ethnic groups had been brewing even
during the democratic period, because the
governmentfailedtogranttheethnicgroups
the autonomy they desired. But the military
regimestreatmentoftheethnicgroupstook
thecon.licttoanentirelynewlevel.
Ne Wins regime was intolerant of any
form of dissent. Several times between
1962 and 1988, people demonstrated and
were brutally crushed. In 1988 it was no
different, though the numbers were more
signi.icant. Tens of thousands took to the
streetsthroughoutthesummermonths.The
protestswereinitiallysparkedbyabrawlina
teashopwhichresultedinthepoliceshooting
two students. But anger had been building
up at Ne Wins decision the previous year,
on the advice of astrologers, to demonetise
muchofthecurrency.Hehadbeentoldthat
the number nine was his lucky number,
and so he replaced several banknotes with
denominations divisible by nine. Thousands
of people lost their life savings overnight.
The military responded to the protests in
truecharacter,shootingthousands.Theexact
numberofdeadin1988isunknown,buton
onedayalone,8August1988,atleast3,000
werekilledandmanymoreduringtherest
oftheyear.
Two years after the brutal crackdown
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byBenRogers
5
in 1988, the regime decided
to hold elections. One can only
speculate as to its reasons, but it is
likely that the military believed it
could win the elections through
intimidation and rigging and
thus legitimise its rule. It was
wrong. Despite severe harassment
and intimidation, the National
League for Democracy (NLD) led
by Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of
independenceleaderAungSan,won
82%oftheparliamentaryseats.The
regimes response? It ignored the
results, imprisoned the victors and
intensi.ied its grip on power. Most
Members of Parliament elected in
1990werejailedor.ledintoexile.
Andsoin2008,wecomefullcircle.
Followingtheviolentsuppressionof
the Saffron Revolution, the regime
pushedthroughwithareferendum,
in May this year. But this time, they
didnotmakethesamemistakethey
made in 1990. This time, they got
the result they wanted, regardless
oftheworstnaturaldisasterintheir
countrysmodernhistory.
It is dif.icult to imagine a more
blatant sham. The National
Convention, which drafted the
guidelines for the constitution,
involved no debate among the
handpicked delegates, and none of
theproposalsmadebythefewethnic
representatives who participated
wereadopted.AungSanSuuKyi,the
NLD, and the major ethnic groups
were excluded. Law 5/96 imposed
prison terms of up to 20 years for
discussingtheconstitutionprocess.
Millions of Burmese were
disenfranchised. Buddhist monks
and nuns, who number 500,000,
were denied the vote. Religious
leaders from other faiths were also
excluded. Over 500,000 internally
displaced people on the run in the
jungles of eastern Burma, as well
as the 700,000 Muslim Rohingyas,
treated as noncitizens and
therefore stateless, were banned
from participating. Millions living
incon.lictzonesintheethnicstates,
aswellasrefugeeswhohave.ledto
neighbouring countries and exiles
further a.ield, were also excluded.
And this doesnt even include the
millions of citizens affected by
Cyclone Nargis who were unable to
vote.
Few have seen the full
constitution, which was only
published one month before the
referendum. It is only available in
Burmese, making it dif.icult for
those ethnic nationalities who
are allowed to vote to understand
what they are voting on. But those
who are able to get a copy and
can read it will .ind a constitution
which offers no improvement in
human rights or democracy at all.
They will .ind a constitution which
simply enshrines military rule.
The CommanderinChief of the
Burma Army will appoint 25% of
thenationallegislators.Hewillalso
appoint the Minister of Defense,
who will report to him. The army
chiefcanseizepoweratanypoint,if
he happens to believe that national
securityisthreatened.Therewillbe
no independent judiciary, and the
constitutioncannotbeamendedfor
10years.
Politicalprisonerswillbebarred
from contesting elections, and the
President must be a person with
military experience who has not
married a foreigner. Aung San Suu
Kyi,therefore,is,byde.inition,ruled
out.
Burmastragedycontinuestoday.
From100,000ormorepeoplekilled
and the two million displaced by
Cyclone Nargis, to the internally
displaced persons trapped in a
jungle hideout, hunted by the
Burma Army, cold, sick, hungry
and without access to medicine,
shelterorfood,talkofreferendums
and constitutions are meaningless.
Until the regime stops killing its
people, and instead involves them
in a genuine, inclusive dialogue, no
process has any worth. The world
should reject the results from
this referendum, the constitution
itself, unambiguously, and increase
pressureontheregimetochange.
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BURMAS JUNTA is led by two
generals wielding almost absolute
power. But in-ghting and a lack
of transparency have gener-
ated regular rumours of power
struggles at the top.
SENIOR GENERAL THAN SHWE,
73, is the head of the ruling junta
and controls the army. He is the
most hard-line leader.
MAUNG AYE is also a career
soldier and the second most pow-
erful man in the country. He has
a reputation for ruthlessness and
xenophobia, and is also staunchly
opposed to allowing Aung San
Suu Kyi any future role.
5
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By Ben Rogers
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Irecentlyreturnedfromanother
visit to the ThaiBurma border,
which when added to my visits
to the IndiaBurma border,
the ChinaBurma border and
Rangoon and Mandalay, mean
I have so far made a total of 22
visits to the Burma region since
2000.Oneachvisit,Ihavetalked
with people who have seen their
villagesburned,lovedoneskilled,
women raped and tortured, and
havebeenusedforforcedlabour.
Ononevisit,Imetawomanwhose
15yearold son had been killed
bytheBurmaArmy.Hehadbeen
tied to a tree and his head cut
off. I met another woman whose
husbandhadbeenmutilatedand
killed. Burma Army soldiers had
gouged out his eyes, torn off his
lipsandcutoffhisears.AndImet
a third woman whose husband
hadbeenhungupsidedownfrom
a tree, tortured, his eyes gouged
out, and then drowned. This is
the terrible truth about Burma
today.
Thesufferingiscompoundedbythe
extraordinary inhumanity of the
regimeinresponsetothedevastation
ofCycloneNargis,notonlydelaying
or restricting aid, but deliberately
denyingandobstructingit.
And so it begs the question: is this
aregimethatweshoulddobusiness
with?Thequestionofsanctionsisa
thorny one. There are people who
arguethatifweinvestinBurma,we
open up the country to new ideas
and develop an engagement with
the junta which may one day cause
them to change. There are others,
however, who argue for economic
sanctions.
The case for targeted economic
sanctions is strong morally,
politically and economically.
Firstly, Burmas democracy
movement has asked for sanctions.
NobelLaureateAungSanSuuKyi,in
her12thyearofhousearrest,called
for an investment ban. Her party,
the National League for Democracy
(NLD), overwhelmingly won
electionsin1990,butthoseelected
areeitherinexileorinprison,denied
their rightful place in government.
Morethan1,800politicalprisoners
remaininjail,subjectedtothemost
barbaricformsoftorture.AungSan
Suu Kyis position is echoed by the
leaders of the major ethnic groups.
Surely we ought to listen to their
request.
Foreigninvestmenthelpstheregime
buymoreweaponsandbuilditsarmy.
Burmahasnoexternalenemies,soit
usesitsmilitaryforonepurpose:to
suppressandattackitsownpeople.
Overamillionpeopleareinternally
displaced in eastern Burma as a
result of military offensives against
civilians. The regime is carrying
out ethnic cleansing bordering on
a slow, attempted genocide against
the Karen, Karenni, Shan peoples
andotherethnicgroups.Morethan
3,200 villages in eastern Burma
have been destroyed since 1996.
When the military attacks, they
loot and destroy everything rice
barns, crops, livestock, cooking
instruments and homes, and lay
landminesattheentrancetovillages
to stop those who have escaped
from returning. Civilians are used
as human minesweepers, forced to
walk across .ields of landmines to
clear them for the military losing
their limbs and often their lives in
theprocess.Ontopofallthis,Burma
has the worlds highest number of
forcibly conscripted child soldiers,
some as young as nine, taken from
bus stops and street corners, and
forcedtojointhemilitary.Therefore,
morally, we need to ask ourselves
whetherthisregimeisreallyonewe
wishtofund.Wemaynotbeselling
themarmsbutbyinvesting,weare
givingthemthecashtobuyarms.
There are several myths about
sanctions which need to be
corrected.
Myth #1 is that sanctions have
failed. But the truth is, sanctions
have not really been tried. Only the
UnitedStateshasreallymeaningful
tradeandinvestmentsanctions.The
European Union (EU) introduced a
ban on investment in, and imports
of, gems, metals and timber only in
October 2007 the .irst targeted
sanctions it has imposed with
any bite. Previously, EU measures
included some symbolic but
ineffective sanctions such as a visa
ban, an asset freeze and an arms
embargo.TheEUhasstillnotbanned
investmentintheoilorgassectors,
themajorsourcesofrevenueforthe
regime.
Myth #2 is that sanctions hurt
thepeople.Nooneistalkingabout
Iraqistyleblanketsanctions.Those
who campaign on this issue want
targeted sanctions, aimed at the
regime and its assets. Economic
investment in Burma bene.its very
few people other than the regime.
Threequarters of the population
live in the subsistence agriculture
sector,outsidetherealmsofforeign
investment. They do not see the
bene.itsofinvestment,andtheyare
not hurt by sanctions. A minority
of people working in the affected
sectors may lose their jobs, but
we face a stark choice: to allow
the regime the .inance it needs for
its survival, thereby condemning
Burma to continued oppression
and violence, or cut the regimes
.inanciallifelines,forcingittocome
to the table. Foreign companies
cannot do business in Burma
without putting large amounts
of money into the pockets of the
regime, which spends almost 50%
of its budget on the military and
less than $1 per person per year on
health and education combined.
Signi.icant foreign investment
goes through the regimes two
major conglomerates: the Union of
Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd
Foreign investment
helps the regime buy
more weapons and
build its army. Burma
has no external
enemies, so it uses
its military for one
purpose: to suppress
and attack its own
people.
(UMEH)andtheMyanmarEconomic
Corporation (MEC). The UMEH,
whose shareholders are limited to
themilitaryestablishment,hasasits
statedobjectivetosupportmilitary
personnelandtheirfamiliesandto
try and become the main logistics
and support organisation for the
military. By 1999, the UMEH had
establishednearly50jointventures
withforeign.irms.
Myth#3istocompareBurmawith
countries like Cuba. While Cuba
hasitsgravehumanrightsproblems,
Burma is far worse. Burma ranks
alongside North Korea and Sudan
asoneoftheworldsworst.Indeed,
it could even be in a category of
its own. What other regime has
imprisoned and attempted to kill a
Nobel Laureate, ignored the results
of an election, forcibly recruited
morethan70,000childsoldiers,and
carriedoutsystematicrape,torture,
forcedlabour,religiouspersecution
andethniccleansing?
Myth#4statesthatifyouarepro
sanctions, you are proisolation
and against engagement. This
is one of the most polarising,
destructive and inaccurate myths
ofall.Iamnotagainsttalkingtothe
regime. Indeed, I, along with the
rest of the Burma prodemocracy
movement, call for tripartite
dialogue between the regime, the
NLD and the ethnic groups. The
ethnic groups and the NLD have
consistentlyshowntheyarewilling
totalk.Onlytheregimehasrefused.
The question is not whether to
engage, but how and on whose
terms? The idea that investment
produces engagement is nonsense.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the UK
regularlyheldtradefairsinRangoon
while the regime was bombing
Karen villages. The regime did not
change as a result of us pumping
moneyintoitscoffers.
Whatisneededis.inancialsupport
for the prodemocracy movement,
not the regime. If the international
community provided assistance
to Burmese human rights groups
within the country and in exile to
develop their capacity, it would
make a difference. Some of these
groups risk their lives gathering
muchneeded information inside
Burma, and disseminating it to
the world. Others are engaged in
human rights education and civil
society development. There are
broadcasters and publications
devotedtothespreadofinformation
within Burma. We should be
supporting them, not the Generals.
Doesnt the prophet Isaiah sum
it up, when he says that the type
of fasting we should choose is to
loose the chains of injustice and
untie the cords of the yoke, to set
theoppressedfreeandbreakevery
yoke?(Isaiah58:6)
The (ifth and (inal myth is that
sanctions drive the regime
into the hands of China, India
and other countries in the
region. But the regime has always
been more friendly with these
countries. Burma is a member
of the Association of SouthEast
Asian Nations (ASEAN). Western
foreign investment is never going
to counter the regimes attitudes
and it will simply enable them to
buymorearms.Instead,theUSand
theEUmustembarkonaconcerted
effort to put pressure on China,
India and ASEAN member states
to use the in.luence they have with
the regime to bring about change.
If it was properly coordinated, the
international community could
develop an effective good cop, bad
copstrategywiththeUSandthe
EU providing the stick, and China,
India and ASEAN, the carrot. If
China, India and ASEAN could be
persuaded that the regime itself is
thecauseofinstabilityintheregion,
theymaybepersuadedtohavesome
tough words with their friends, the
Generals.IfChina,IndiaandASEAN
can be persuaded that it is in their
interests to use their in.luence for
change, they may just do so. It will
behardwork,butitisworthtrying.
At the end of the day, sanctions are
only one tool in the toolbox. No
one believes sanctions alone will
change the situation. They must be
usedalongsideothermeasures.But
people should not underestimate
the effect of US and EU sanctions.
Withdrawing Western investment
cuts off some of the regimes
revenuesmeaningitcanbuyfewer
arms than it would otherwise have
done. If we had tougher measures
from the EU, combined with
pressureonChina,IndiaandASEAN
to do more, it would have even
more effect. Greater engagement
by the UN Security Council and the
UN SecretaryGeneral would also
help.Andthereisonethingwecan
be sure of: lifting sanctions, before
there is any meaningful progress
towards democracy, would send
entirely the wrong message to the
regime.Andinanycase,isaregime
whichgougesouttheeyesandcuts
off the ears of its people really one
wewouldwanttoinvestin?
Benedict Rogers is the advocacy
ocer for South Asia at Christian
Solidarity Worldwide, and has
made over 20 visits to Burma and
its borderlands since 2000. He
is the author of "A Land Without
Evil: Stopping the Genocide of
Burmas Karen People" (Monarch
Books, 2004) and co-author of
"On the Side of the Angels: Jus-
tice, Human Rights and Kingdom
Mission" (Authentic Books, 2007).
Ben has been a friend of Partners
for several years and has helped
us understand the nuances of
what is happening inside Burma.
He is a passionate advocate for
those under oppression in Burma
and elsewhere in the world, and
we consider it a privilege to co-
labour with him. In this issue, he
has shared his insights about the
politics of Burma in two separate
articles.
9
May 2, 2008
On the 2nd of May, Cyclone Nargis slammed into the Irrawaddy Delta
region in Burma's south, bringing with it winds of 190km/hr, tor-
rential rain, and a devastating 12-foot storm surge, which swept
through the low-lying delta region. In the aftermath of the storm,
Burma has been left with devastation not seen in its modern
history.
Media and independent observers report that between 100,000 and
200,000 people died on May 2nd and more than 2.5 million people
are now homeless, starving, and without shelter.
Report by Steve Gumaer
Our attem
pts to go into the disaster area have been frus-
trated by a regim
e that has no regard for its ow
n population.
They have rejected our visa applications and have denied
m
ost of the w
orld's aid organisations access to the people
w
ho suer from
dehydration, starvation and no shelter. In
fact, they are deliberately keeping aid eorts from
the vic-
tim
s in order to further w
eaken the largely Karen and M
on
populations the cyclone ravaged. Does this m
ake you m
ad?
Know
ing the cyclone w
as approaching, they didn't even
w
arn the population of the danger. It's unjust, and it m
akes
m
e angry.
Steve Gum
aer, Founder, Partners Relief & Developm
ent
why aid doesnt get to the survivors
The victims of cyclone Nargis, including signicant numbers of Karen, Rohinga and Mon popula-
tions, are the same people who the Burma Army have been waging a genocidal war against for
more than 50 years. They do not view this event as a disaster, but as a welcome event that removed
a large segment of the undesirable population from their land.
Knowing the cyclone was approaching, they didnt warn the population of the danger. Now that many of
the occupants of the delta are dead, the regime can further control and exploit the natural resources and
strategic coastal positions the victims of the cyclone once inhabited.
The aid agencies that landed in Rangoon with planeloads of supplies had their resources conscated on
the tarmac by the regime. Some of them managed to get their materials back, like Save the Children, who
negotiated hard to get half of their cargo returned to them. The other half of their plane-full of supplies,
and the overwhelming majority of aid that was delivered into Rangoon in the wake of this disaster, have
now been appropriated for the militarys use.
The military regime continues to deliberately keep aid eorts from the victims in order to further weaken
the largely Karen and Mon populations the cyclone ravaged. Their blockades around Rangoon, designed
to keep the world from helping the victims, send a clear message that it is their intention to let nature n-
ish its course against the vulnerable survivors.
Dont let evil get the best of you,
but conquer evil
by doing good.
(Romans 12:21 NLT)
11
Since the day after Cyclone Nargis hit the southwestern coast of Burma and moved inland, Partners Relief
& Development has been working literally day and night to do what we can to bring help and hope to the
hundreds of thousands aected by this disaster. It is important to note that we have determined through
our contacts on the ground in Burma that the most cost ecient way to get supplies to the people who
need them most is for the supplies to be purchased in Burma. By not shipping items into Burma from
Thailand we are able to realise signicant cost savings. Therefore, we have primarily sent cash in with
and to trusted contacts who regularly provide us with status reports. As of the printing of this edition of
Partners Magazine, here is a synopsis of what we have been able to do:
making a change
-Sent in 15,000 Ibs of VitameaI for food needs
-Sent in 100 roIIs of pIastic sheeting for sheIter
-Sent in 250,000 packs of PuR water purication
solution, which will provide drinking water for
more than 23,000 peopIe
-Sent in 34 UV water Iters, each with the
capacity to provide clean drinking water for
1,000-2,000 peopIe per day
-Sent in nine katadyn ceramic water Iters, each
with a 26,000 gaIIon Itering capacity
-Sent in severaI hundred pounds of cIothes
-Provided more than $185,000 USD worth of
food, shelter, medicine, transportation costs
and communications equipment
-HeIped initiate and fund the DeIta Network,
comprised of more than 120
brave ethnic men and women who risk their
lives to enter the delta region
and bring relief and hope
-Created a network with an NC0 on the ground
in Rangoon to coordinate funds transfers, relief
distribution and communications
-Sent in Partners sta and voIunteers to assist in
coordinating the response on the ground inside
the country
one brave soul
Partners is working with the Free Burma Rangers,
The Haven Foundation and many other organisa-
tions to organise, deliver, and distribute aid to the
victims of Cyclone Nargis. The most important link in
the chain of aid being delivered are the many brave
men and women who, risking capture and incarcera-
tion nd their way through the regimes blockades
to help the overwhelming number of vulnerable
people in the Delta region. To protect their identity
we call them the Delta Network.
My team and I bought locally available potatoes,
cooking oil, rice and vegetables, and hired a small
boat to transport us down the Pathein river to the
town of Thetkethaung, on the tip of the delta.
From Myungmya, we hired six-wheeled trucks to take
the displaced people to Pathein, in loads of 200 peo-
ple at a time. We had already agreed with a church to
set up a temporary camp for cyclone victims in their
church compound, which is where the survivors are
sheltered today. With money Partners provided, we
rescued these people, brought them to safety, and
left enough food to last them another month.
Many of the survivors were unaccompanied children
and orphans whose parents died in the cyclone or tidal
waves that followed. These children were all placed in
child care homes that are administrated by one of our
close partners. (Note: we do not know if this photo is
of a child whose parents died.)
A Delta Network volunteer went to the delta with our support in early
May. With $US10,000 and a heart fuII of faith, this is what he did.
I hired large boats and lled them to capacity with
survivors. In just one day I moved more than 2,700
people up the river to a small village in Myuangmya
township.
When we arrived in Thetkethuang, we met more than
2,700 villagers who were crouching in make-shift
shelters made of rubble while rain poured on them.
We fed them, organised them, paused to pray to God
for help, and began preparing them for the up-river
journey to safe ground.
1
2
3
4
5
You may not be able to
save 1.5 million people,
The overwhelming numbers,
the logistical challenges and
the regimes blockades keep
us from this possibility. The
fact that more than 1.5 million
innocent people are intention-
ally blocked from any lifeline of
help must break Gods heart.
YOU can save a life today.
With your support, ve
people can experience that
God is alive and loves them.
A gift of shelter, food and
medical aid can be brought
to a person in need. A gift
from God. Given by you.
Through your gift, people
will see God working
through the lives of the
many national workers who
risk their lives to help the
victims of Cyclone Nargis.
b
u
t

y
o
u

c
a
n

s
a
v
e

F
I
V
E
15
Helping now means that thousands of in-
nocent victims of disaster and oppression
will see and hear the good news of Jesus
Christ. This act of generosity will save lives
and souls. Skip your Starbucks and send the
savings to Partners, and save ve people!
Skip your Starbucks!
$30
It costs just $US30 to deliver enough rice,
water and shelter to bring ve people
through one month of this crisis. Our goal is
to provide help for 13,000 people. To do this
we need 2,600 people to skip some small
luxury, like a grande latte, and contribute
towards this eort.
Skip your
Starbucks,
save a family
This is the most ambitious relief eort we have
ever embarked on. As members of our com-
munity we appeal to you to stand with us to
demonstrate Gods love to the victims of this
cataclysmic event and the oppression of their
own government.
Join the eort by sending your gift in the en-
closed envelope today or by donating online.
16 PARTNERS MAGAZINE SECOND QUARTER 2008
While all the people of Burma
suer under the oppression
of the dictators, the ethnic
people of Burma have received
especially harsh treatment.
For over 50 years, the dictators of Burma have waged war
against their own civilian Burman and ethnic minority
population, displacing over one million people. It is a
war backed by a military that has 400,000 soldiers and is
supported by 50% of the nations budget. In ethnic minority
areas, where the Burma Army does not yet have complete
domination, their methodology is to conduct large-scale
oensives, followed by consolidation of territory gained
and expansion of control, and then the launching of new
attacks. During these oensives, the Burma Army attacks
and burns villages, rapes, tortures and kills people, destroys
their sources of livelihood, and lays landmines to prevent
their return. The people support pro-democracy groups
that attempt to resist the attacks and control of the Burma
Army.
Even under this great oppression, the people have not
given up. While in hiding, they help each other set up
schools, hold worship services and organise how to best
make use of the resources they have. After the Burma
Army leaves their village, they return to salvage what
they can. This refusal to give up constitutes one of the
greatest examples of civil disobedience of our time. While
all the people of Burma suer under the oppression of
the dictators, the ethnic people of Burma have received
especially harsh treatment. Following are some of the
reasons why:
1. The ethnic minorities are comprised of diverse people
groups, making up 30%- 40% of the population of Burma.
They live in lands rich in resources, which a succession of
Burman Kings and now the dictators covet and attempt
to take by force.
2. Many of the ethnic peoples were in Burma before the
Burmans and had their own forms of governance. This was
and is perceived as an obstacle to complete domination
by the early Burman Kings and the current dictators.
3. Because of dierences in ethnicity, race, language,
religion, worldview and culture, there are ancient
prejudices between the Burman majority and the ethnic
minorities. This works both ways and there is mutual
prejudice between ethnics and Burmans. The successive
dictators of Burma have reinforced these prejudices and
treat ethnic minorities as sub-human or as inferiors not
worthy of basic human or political rights.
4. Many of the ethnic peoples are Christian and put
their allegiance to God above the dictators. This is not
acceptable to the dictatorship. Muslim minorities are also
persecuted by the regime. Buddhism is the religion of the
dictators and is the predominant religion in Burma.
5. Ethnic Christians had good access to education and
were given signicant positions in the British colonial
administration. This was perceived as unfair and as a
threat to the Burman majority.
6. Many ethnic groups joined the Allies against the
Japanese and their Burman allies in WWII. Even though
the Burmans eventually joined the Allies themselves,
they resented the ethnics for their loyalty to the Allies.
7. In response to oppression and attacks by the dictators,
many ethnic minority groups have formed eective and
wide reaching political organisations. These organisations
attempt to represent the ethnic peoples and protect
them from injustice and abuse. The dictators see these
organisations as undesirable and attempt to neutralise or
destroy them.
8. In addition to political organisations, many ethnic
groups have formed militias to defend their people from
the attacks, murders and rapes of the Burma Army. These
groups are directly targeted by the dictatorship, who
attempt to defeat them in battle or force them into some
type of ceasere, by which to neutralise them.
1n 1996, Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the democracy
movement in Burma, told me, We Burmans have
oppressed the minority people and this oppression
continues. This is wrong and we must stop it. We need
help as we are working for unity and understanding
between the Burman and ethnic peoples and among the
ethnics themselves. Please pray for us.
We all need Gods help to live together in love and
dignity. The people of Burma, ethnic and Burman, live
under oppression. Please pray and stand with them for
reconciliation, justice and freedom.
Ma^>magb\Lmkn`è^
by Dave Eubank
17
Dave is the director of the Free Burma Rangers and Chris-
tians Concerned for Burma. He is passionate about every-
thing he does, including riding horses with his kids, praising
his wife, climbing mountains and working for justice.
BURMA TIME LINE
The English name of the country, Burma, was
changed to Myanmar in 1989 by the Burmese military
government, which came into power by violently
suppressing the 1988 pro-democracy uprising and
killing thousands of people. Although Bamar and
Myanmar are used interchangeably in Burmese, the
Burmese junta claimed that Burma was the name
given by the British colonialists and Myanmar is closer
to the Burmese pronunciation of the countrys name.
By changing the name, they were trying to appeal to
Burmese nationalist sentiments. The pro-democracy
movement, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Aung San
Suu Kyi, does not recognise the English name change
since the junta has no legitimacy and did not consult
with the people before changing the name. Many
ethnic minorities in Burma have also rejected the new
name as they believe Myanmar solely represents the
majority Burmans.
By changing the countrys name, the Burmese junta
also appeared to be trying to disassociate itself from
the violent crackdown in 1988. Although the junta has
demanded that all foreign governments use Myanmar
instead of Burma, many western countries, including
the US and several EU members, continue to use
Burma. The reason is that they do not want to give
legitimacy to the junta seeing as it came into power by
a coup and refused to transfer power to the winning
party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, in the 1990 elections.
Many western governments have also supported the
Burmese democracy movement and denounced the
junta for its continued suppression of the democracy
movement since 1988. However, most Asian countries,
including neighbouring China, India and Thailand, have
followed the regime in regards to the change of the
name because of their strategic and business interests in
Burma.
Win Min, is a professor at Chiang Mai University, Thailand. He is
the co-author of Assessing Burma's Ceasere Accords, and he
is the author of Burmese Military Government: Crony Capital-
ists. Win Min received his Masters Degree in Public Administra-
tion from Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
He was a student activist in Burma in 1988 and a member of the
All Burma Student Democratic Front from 1988-2000. In 2007
Win Min was the guest speaker at Partners Human Rights Con-
ference in Norway. He is married to Christina and they have two
sons. Partners is proud to call him a friend and partner.
N_XkjèXeXd\6
9lidXfiDpXedXi
By Win Min
1948 1988
Burma becomes
independent with
U Nu as prime
minister.
U Nus faction ousted in mili-
tary coup led by Gen Ne Win,
who abolishes the federal
system and inaugurates the
Burmese Way to Socialism-
nationalising the economy,
forming a single party state
with the Socialist Program
Party as the sole political
party.
1962
8.8.88. Thousands
are killed in anti-
government riots. The
State Law and Order
Restoration Council
(SLORC) is formed.
Currency devalua-
tion wipes out many
peoples savings and
triggers anti-govern-
ment riots.
1987
Japan invades
and occupies
Burma.
1942 1945 1947
Britain liberates
Burma from
Japanese occu-
pation with help
from the AFPFL,
led by Aung San.
General Aung San and
six members of his
interim government
assassinated by politi-
cal opponents led by U
Saw.
19
www.partnersworld.org
19
1996
2008 1989
SLORC declares
martial law, arrests
thousands of people,
renames Burma,
Myanmar. National
Leauge for Democ-
racy (NLD) leader,
Aung San Suu Kyi,
is put under house
arrest.
1990
NLD wins land-
slide victory in
general election,
but result ignored
by the military.
Aung San Suu
Kyi is awarded
Nobel Peace
Prize.
1991 1995
Aung San Suu
Kyi is released
from house
arrest after six
years.
1997
SLORC renamed State
Peace and Development
Council (SPDC).
2000
Aung San
Suu Kyi is put
under house
arrest again.
2005
SPDC decides
to move
capital from
Rangoon to
Naypyidaw.
2007
Wave of public dissent
sparked by fuel price
hikes. Dozens arrested.
Buddhist monks
hold a series of anti-
government protests.
Authorities crack down
on protests; thousands
rounded up and disap-
pear.
Cyclone Nargis hits the
Irrawaddy Delta killing
more than 100,000 and
leaving over 2.5 million
homeless and starving.
The SPDC holds na-
tional referendum just
days after the cyclone
hits.
19
Ethnic Nationalities Coun-
cil (ENC) is formed, where
all the major ethnic
groups of Burma agree in
principle for a federal and
democratic Burma.
International
Day of Prayer for
Burma starts.
jesus
and politics
We all know the perceived danger of mixing religion and
politics. But what if we took out the religion part and
replaced it with God? Or, better yet, with Jesus. Does that
change the tone of the debate at all?
By Craig Garrison
21
Most of us are able to recite at least a portion of
Jesus last words during his time on earth, right?
If you cant quite remember all of it, here it is from
Matthew 28:18-20: Then Jesus came to them and said,
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the
very end of the age.
Okay, that was pretty easy. But how many of us
remember Jesus rst words of his public ministry (at
least, according to Luke)? Give up? Here they are from
Luke 4:18-19: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he
has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has
sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery
of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim
the year of the Lords favour.
Its interesting to me that most Christians have some
idea of Jesus last words to us, but dont have a clue as
to what his rst words to us were. Both sets of words
are important. So why have most Christians based
their entire life-mission on his last words without really
considering the implications of his rst? Is it because we
view his rst words to us as more socially or politically
driven and his last words as more spiritual, dealing with
things that really count in the end?
We all know the perceived danger of mixing religion and
politics. But what if we took out the religion part and
replaced it with God? Or, better yet, with Jesus. Does
that change the tone of the debate at all? I think it does.
Youll nd a lot of people on both sides of the fence on
this debate. It can get ugly. In this brief article I want
to oer a few thoughts on Jesus and politics. My goal
certainly is not to solve anything or win a debate, but
simply to oer a few thoughts that we, as Christians,
should consider when it comes to Jesus and politics, and
consequently, Christians and politics.
First, politics is a part of every society. Because we are
human beings, and therefore social beings, the realm of
politics is inescapable for every one of us on the planet.
If we are a part of any society, we are aected by the
politics of that society, regardless of where we live. If
this is the case, then, why should we, as Christians, be
involved in politics? Jesus made it clear in John 17 that
we, as disciples of Jesus Christ, are sent into the world
as Jesus was sent (v. 18). At the same time, we are not to
be of the world just as Jesus wasnt (v. 16). Jesus prayer
is not that the Father would take them out of the world,
but that He would protect them from the evil one (v. 15).
It is apparent to me that the world of politics is part of
the world in general.
Second, we tend to spiritualise, and therefore soften,
many of Jesus words. Gods love for the world produced
social action. To create a false split between the
spiritual and social leads to a warped understanding of
Scripture. Donald Kraybill in The Upside-Down Kingdom
(Herald Press, 2003) says, God didnt just sit in a great
theological rocking chair and muse about loving the
world. God acted. God entered social aairsin human
form. He goes on to remind us, To ferret out the
social (or political) implications of the gospel isnt to
depreciate or neglect spiritual insights. It simply means
that spiritual insights always have social implications
(parentheses mine).
Finally, as a Christian, is there a danger in getting
involved in politics? My answer would be a qualied
yes. Because, by denition, politics involves coercion
of some sort, we need to tread carefully as we walk into
this world. Author Stephen Carter has this to say: What
is so dangerous about politics? From the Christian point
of view, the rst and greatest danger is theological: the
loss of prophetic power when one chooses the path
of coercion. It is more than a little ironic...that many of
the same preachers who insist that God is on their side
nevertheless seem to think that their side cannot prevail
except through coercion (from Gods Name in Vain, Basic
Books, 2001).
When we say, Christ is Lord, what sort of dierence do
we hope that will make in the world of politics? If he is
Lord, isnt he Lord of the world of politics? If so, what
does that mean for me? The Bible is replete (in both
the OT and NT) with stories and incidents where God or
Jesus reproached the structural sin that had pervaded
culture, the politics of the day, etc. In fact, many times
his judgment on structural sin was aimed directly at
his chosen people. So, do we engage or stay in retreat
mode? I believe we have to engage while being
careful to not slip into partisan alignment with any one
political party or movement. This, I believe, is part of
the redemptive purpose of the gospel of Christ. If we
refuse to engage the forces of darkness, with or without
political means, we have essentially given up the battle
that we have been commissioned to ght. Contrary to
what many believers have been taught, when Jesus said
that the gates of hell will not prevail (Mt. 16:18) against
the church, he was speaking oensively not defensively.
In other words, the church is to storm the gates of hell
and the evil systems it has createdwith the use of the
political process if necessaryand take back what is
rightfully the Lords.
We cannot leave only to others what has also
been given to us. And that includes a vibrant and
consistent voice in the world of public policy and
politics.
Craig Garrison is the oce manager at Partners Chiang Mai,
Thailand. He likes Will Smith, but has more in common with Tony
Soprano. Craig graduated from the Partners school of crisis
management with honours. His personal assistant is his wife,
Kara. Partners oce sta have heard God say that he will stay in
Thailand and with Partners forever. For comments on this article,
write to:
craig@partnersworld.org.
By Craig Garrison
partners family news
On March 1, Spencer Kerrigan assumed his role as the
National Director for Partners USA. Spencer lives with his
wife Lyssa, son Pierce, and daughter Madison in Redlands,
California. Spencer and Lyssa bring a vitality and passion
to Partners that has already inspired and blessed the rest
of the Partners family. Along with his administrative duties,
Spencer will be responsible for interacting with media, the
church and civic groups, who are involved in our work with
the people of Burma. Spencer is an articulate speaker and
represents the people of Burma passionately. If you would
like to welcome him into our community, please send him
an email at: spencer@partnersworld.org.
In April, Partners Canada's Greg & Elissa Toews returned to
Calgary for 12 months or so, in order to develop the work of
Partners in Canada. This is the rst extended furlough that
the Toews have had since they entered the eld several years
ago. Greg oversees Partners work with the Karenni and is
a valuable member of our Chiang Mai eld oce. While
in Canada over the next year, Greg anticipates developing
Partners' relationships with donors as well as solidifying and
expanding Partners' ability to mobilise Canadian citizens to
get involved with what is happening in Burma. Elissa hopes
to pursue several educational opportunities as well. We're
already missing Greg & Elissa here in Thailand, but we're
keeping their seats warm for them in anticipation of their
return in 2009. If you'd like to encourage Greg and Elissa
during this year in Canada, send them an email at: greg@
partnersworld.org or elissa@partnersworld.org.
In May, Kathryn Halley arrived from Australia as a full-time
Partners sta member in Thailand. While she works out of
our Chiang Mai eld oce, Kathryn will be focused on Part-
ners medical work, as she is a registered nurse with training
in tropical medicine. Partners' medical work continues to
expand and we are so grateful that Kath has thrown her lot
in with us! She brings energy, passion and a deep commit-
ment to God with her. If you'd like to welcome Kath to the
Partners team, send her an email to: kath@partnersworld.
org.
NEW NATIONAL DIRECTOR FOR USA
HELLO CANADA
HELLO THAILAND
WEDDING BELLS
Partners Karen Projects Director, Sonya Claase, got her Karen
superstar, Tah Doh Moo, at last. Tah Doh Moo is working for
FBR and has been serving his people for a LONG time. Now
they are looking forward to serving the Karen together. The
two were married in Mae Sot, Thailand, in April. Partners
wishes them all the best and have no doubt that together
they will accomplish great things for the peoples of Burma.
In the photo, Sonya is with her mother and maids of honour.
For security reasons a photo of TDM cannot be printed.
Take a moment and consider life in a country where the
leaders are deliberately killing their own people by enforc-
ing policies that allow the most horrendous human rights
abuses. Imagine living through a cyclone, while watching your
world fall apart. Then imagine realising that not only is your
life shattered, but now nobody is allowed to help you put it
back together. Imagine how you would feel when it dawns on
you that the government intends to kill you and your people
simply by doing nothing and ignoring your plea for help.
Today we pray for the victims of Cyclone Nargis. We pray for
open doors for aid workers to enter the Delta to provide help
to the millions who are desperate. We pray for the ethnic men
and women who are risking their lives and their health to
bring aid to the needy.
We pray for the victims of the militarys violent actions in the
ethnic areas, such as Karen, Shan, Karenni, Kachin and Chin
states. The militarys intentions are clear. They want death or
total submission of all the ethnics. They want natural resources
and power. We pray for the opposite. We pray for freedom to
live in peace. We pray for freedom to worship. We pray for the
right to speak their own language and to live on their land
without fear.
We pray for the millions who are ruled by fear all over the na-
tion. We pray for courage to ght and for good to conquer evil.
We pray for the millions who have lost hope that they will ever
see change. Let them see that evil cannot rule forever, because
you have conquered evil.
We pray for the rulers of Burma. If depravity has a name, it
would be SPDC, the ruling military junta in Burma. We pray
for the souls of these men, so xenophobic and malicious. Let
them see their sin the way you see it, God. And bring them to
repentance.
We also pray for all of Partners sta who are working with
great commitment. Give them strength to continue the ght,
give them wisdom and courage. We also pray that they will
never lose sight of who they are in your eyes, and the fact that
they are serving you above anything else.
23
PRAY
LIFELINE UPDATE
Many of you are aware of the unique oppor-
tunity aorded to Partners USA & Partners
NZ by a generous donor a few months back.
This donor oered to match any gift given to
Partners and designated as LifeLine, up to a
total value of $US200,000, during 2008. We
are excited to report that, as of May 2008,
we have now passed the $US100,000 mark
and are well on our way towards reaching
our goal of raising $US200,000 through the
LifeLine initiative. In fact, because we have
already passed the halfway mark, this donor
has sent the rst $US100,000 match to Part-
ners USA!
One exciting new development of the Life-
Line campaign has been this donor's will-
ingness to allow matchable gifts to LifeLine
from the other Partners countries (Canada,
UK, Norway and Australia). This means that
now thousands more people will now have
the opportunity to have their gift donated to
Partners immediately doubled to bring hope
for a better future for the people of Burma.
beALIFELINE
200,000
190,000
180,000
170,000
160,000
150,000
140,000
130,000
120,000
110,000
100,000
90,000
80,000
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
It is part of the discipline of humility that we must not
spare our hand where it can perform a service and that we do
not assume that our schedule is our own to manage, but allow
it to be arranged by God. Dietrich Bonhoffer
Partners Relief and Development Australia
PO Box 13
ALSTONVILLE NSW 2477
Australia
info@partnersworld.org.au
www.partnersworld.org.au
Partners Relief and Development UK
15 Kingsthorpe Close, Forest Town,
Manseld, Notts NG19 0PD
UK
info@partnersworld.org.uk
www.partnersworld.org.uk
Partners Relief and Development NZ
PO Box 40 284
Upper Hutt
New Zealand
info@partnersworld.org.nz
www.partnersworld.org.nz

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