'Reflections on 2012 by-elections in Myanmar' : A two day workshop in Guwahati
11-12 May 2012

Mithu Choudhury *

It was the end of March 2012 when the Burma Centre Delhi( BCD) had an interactive session with the media in Guwahati regarding the 1st April by election in Burma. In the historic by election , Aung San Suu Kyi and her party NLD won 43 of the 45 Parliamentary seats contested, 37 in the lower house, 6 in the Upper House and 2 in regional legislatures. The ruling USDP won 1 seat while the SNDP party got 1. A total of 17 political parties and 7 independents contested the polls. The polls is seen as a major step forward for progressive developments . The govt led by President Than Sein initiated reforms since March'2011.

Following the outcome of the polls the BCD ,this time jointly with the North East Social Research Council(NESRC) organised a two day workshop in Guwahati on 11th and 12th of May on ' Reflections on 2012 by-elections in Myanmar'. The workshop saw a very interesting congregation of experts, intellectuals , activists and mediapersons from across the North East who shared their thoughts about the present developments in Burma .

In the first day of the workshop Dr Alana Golmei of Burma Centre Delhi gave an overview of the by elections while the critical analysis of the same was done by Dr Tint Swe, former MP of NLD party and now living in exile in New Delhi. They both harped on the point that the overwhelming victory of Aung Sung Suu Kyi and her party is seen as the beginning of a new era of hope for all people of Burma despite the fact that NLD is still a political minority.

The better part of the workshop saw sharing of thought on the plight of the Nagas inside Myanmar in the present context. U Saw Sa , a senior leader from amongst the Burmese Nagas, who however is based in Dimapur now, provided the stark picture of the Nagas inside Burma. He said that Naga areas continue to be underdeveloped and have felt the brutal brunt of the military dictatorship over the years. He said that the Myanmarese authorities as well as the Army have always treated Nagas very badly and even today they are living without basic amenities like light, water supply, roads and medicines.

He said that the Army Intelligence even visited Naga areas disguised in the garb of Buddhist monks and after gaining ingress tortured and raped the Nagas. He asked all states of the North East to understand the plight of the Nagas inside Burma and in turn raise a voice for them.

Saw Sa had formed the Eastern Naga Council(ENC) together with Khaplang in 1973( he was the President and Khaplang the VP) but he moved away from Khaplang for difference in ideology as Saw Sa wanted the Burmese Nagas to be always segregated from the Nagas of Nagaland. When Khaplang formed the NSCN, Saw Sa formed his Naga National League for Democracy. His party's ideology matches with Suu Kyi's NLD and on the atmosphere becoming conducive Saw Sa wants to move back into Myanmar and create a political standing of his own and his party again.

He sees big winds of change inside Burma as there is a wave in support of Suu Kyi and he sees the junta slowly and steadily being denounced by the people. He sees the present Govt inside Myanmar as mock democracy. " Genuine democracy is still a long way off.", said Saw Sa. He thinks that India should be more pro active about the Nagas and affairs inside Burma overall as China is slowly but surely gaining more and more ground from the northern reaches now deeper into Myanmar. In the present context , he feels that alone Khaplang won't be able to stick long with his holler for 'sovereignty' when all other Naga groups including the IM has dropped the same.

Acclaimed Naga social activist ,writer, thinker and reformer Niketu Iralu said that the Burmese junta have realised that Aung Saan Suu Kyi is the only card they can play if they want themselves saved from the ' Arab Spring' to catch up in Burma. He however felt that Suu Kyi has been treated very badly by India all through her days of struggle and even now when she has registered a thumping win.

" Actually India should have roared like a tiger and supported the pro democracy movement in Burma over the years . They missed a trick because it could have kept a leash on China. But when India didn't exert itself , China spanned its bag of tricks to gain ground in Burma. " , said Iralu. He also lamented the fact that the Nagas are slowly destroying themselves. '' There is something seriously wrong with the human element. The Naga movement is slowly destroying the very people and the cause for which it was launched'', he said , cautioning all Nagas to not be guided by greed alone.

Mr Tangsoi Thongo, ex MLA Nagaland also highlighted the sad plight of the Nagas inside Burma . He said that the development work carried out by Myanmar as seen from the surface are just attention diversion tactics . He said that actually the Nagas are the one who are made to bear the burnt of carrying out development elsewhere whereas they and their region continue to languish in abysmal apathy. He appealed to the people and political leaders of the North East alike to raise a voice and pressurise Govt of India for immediate intervention.

Senior journalist and Guwahati Press Club Secretary who is very close to BCD and the likes of Tint Swe, recounted his first hand experience of visiting Myanmar in the guise of a teacher as journalists were not allowed. He also told the gathering as to how his articles and writings on Myanmar always drew surprise over the years , coming from the pen of a NE journalist. " Any writing / information about Myanmar is only expected from Delhi and Delhi based journalist with the source of information being the Govt of India.

That there can be any other source is almost deemed impossible. We cannot form any opinion about Burma nor have any correct information from our sources---such was the established perception. Our perspective regarding Burma had to the one as seen from the eyes of Delhi. How strange is this when Delhi is so far away and Burma is our immediate neighbor." , he said . He however said that it is gladdening that things are changing for better--''Journalists from outside are now granted visa and allowed inside Myanmar. Even the journalists of Myanmar have become more active and have developed teeth to a great extent.'', said Thakuria.

However , the star speaker was the Editor of the Seven Sister Post , Rajeev Bhattacharya , who shared some of his recent experiences inside Myanmar particularly the Naga areas.He said that SS Khaplang is the undisputed law and authority inside Upper Sagiang region of Myanmar.

'' Quite sometime back he forged an unwritten understanding with the Myanmarese junta of not attacking each other. That is why there has been only cosmetic operation by the Myanmarese Army post 2001 despite all attempts by Govt of India. Now Khaplang has made the agreement official with the formal signing last month , much to the angst of India.", said Bhattacharya. He said that despite poor conditions he has found the Nagas in Sagiang to be very happy and content as of today, particularly as the threat from Myanmarese Army is gone.

Bhattacharya also said that the Naga areas are totally cut off from the seats of political and economic development in Myanmar like Napydaw, Rangoon or Mandalay. '' People here do not know of the political developments or happenings that is going on . It has not touched them", he said . He also said that the Naga areas are virtual goldmines as they very rich in minerals and that in future there may be a threat of attracting investors that may jeopardise the very tranquility and pristine quality of life and nature, provided Myanmar decides to open up so in future.

Walter Fernandes of NESRC and Alana Golmei of BCD conducted/co-ordinated the workshop.