Babe's Eye View article

The whole world can only watch with growing concern the cruelty displayed by Myanmar's military junta against the Burmese, with military police terrorizing citizens, hauling out people in the middle of the night and going around the streets announcing they have photos of protesters and will make more arrests. Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962 when General Ne Win seized power from the civilian government of U Nu. The discontent of the Burmese—majority of whom live in acute poverty and under extreme fear—has been simmering against the military's 45-year rule.

The recent unrest was triggered when government imposed a 500 percent hike on fuel prices last August to cover a budget deficit caused by an increase in the salaries of government employees. Marches escalated into pro-democracy mass demonstrations joined by Buddhist monks—to which government responded with guns and violence. Protesters were brought to detention cells, with many still missing and unaccounted for.

Over the years, the military has tightened its hold on the people, using intimidation and terror by burning villages, abusing children and raping women to impose fear and discourage demands for democracy. Of course, everyone knows Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy activist who has been under house arrest for more than a decade. She should have been prime minister in 1990 when her party overwhelmingly won the first "free" elections in Myanmar, but the military nullified the results obviously not wanting to relinquish power.

Text messages are going around reportedly from a Buddhist monk asking people to pray for Myanmar, claiming that more than 10,000 monks have been killed, with many cremated alive to give an object lesson to the people in "the west." Observers say the military regime in Myanmar is one of the most repressive and abusive, with some describing it as a "textbook example of a police state."

The British government is naturally very concerned about the situation since Myanmar—or Burma as some insist on calling it—was a former British colony. I had a conversation with British Ambassador Peter Beckingham who expressed the concern of the British government. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called on the regime to stand down the troops and begin genuine negotiation for the return of democracy, saying "the age of impunity is over."

Ambassador Beckingham is encouraged by the strong statement of ASEAN foreign ministers about the deteriorating situation in Burma, which underscores the fact that the international community is beginning to realize the extent of brutality and hardship the people of Myanmar have endured through the years, and continue to suffer to this day.

The other day, I saw on CNN the brutality against those poor freedom fighters—something which could very well happen to any country under military rule, especially after a long period of time. The military becomes comfortable with power, the regime becoming more brutal to quash protests, perpetuating its hold on power usually for a very long time.

For those who continue to instigate a coup in this country, luring young soldiers and encouraging them to be more adventurous—think again. Those who have the wrong notion of taking advantage of the slide in GMA's popularity, especially with the NBN scandal are making a big mistake—because believe me—I have it on good authority that these young soldiers have no plans whatsoever in putting a civilian government at the helm. Given their idealism, they feel that they should now take over—and in any language, that is tantamount to having military rule.

This is what we have to avoid completely. Certainly, this will be another Myanmar in the making. It may sound farfetched, but it can in fact happen. Some people believe military rule is the only solution to our country's problems specially corruption. But those who have seen a war and have lived through its difficulties know that violence and oppression can never be an acceptable part of everyday life.

I've kept in touch with some of these young officers, encouraging them to continue their idealism, but at the same time, I strongly urge them to initiate reforms through legal means. GMA may be unpopular, but she still represents civilian authority and no matter what people say, they cannot dispute the fact that the economy has improved tremendously over the past year. That much we should give her credit for.

And regardless of the imperfections that accompanied her ascension to power, we have to recognize that the only way to change any kind of leadership is through a legal process. Nonetheless, I'm sure those who have their eye on the presidency in 2010 would rather see GMA finish her term for their own interest.

This country has gone through so many difficulties in the past. It has had its taste of authoritarian rule, where people could not freely express their views and lived in uncertainty. Any which way one looks at it, a ruler's hold on power—no matter how absolute—will ultimately end.

And with deep respect—I truly admire the likes of Max Soliven, Tito Guingona, Doy Laurel, Eggie Apostol and countless others who helped restore the democratic system we have today. This system may be imperfect, and it will probably take years before it matures into something more appropriate for the unique Filipino culture and temperament. But at present, it's the only system people must accept. Going the way of Myanmar will ultimately spell our doom, bringing our country to perdition.