Dr Maung Maung: Gentleman, Scholar, Patriot

Address to the Pyithu Hluttaw, 11 September 1988

Section VII, E. 560 ADDRESS TO THE PYITHU HLUTTAW, 11 SEPTEMBER 1988 Reproduced from Dr Maung Maung presidential speech, “Address to the Pyithu Hluttaw, 11 September 1988”, published in The Working People’s Daily (12 September 1988), by permission of Daw Khin Myint, wife of the late Dr Maung Maung. Respected chairman and Pyithu Hluttaw members, The Pyithu Hluttaw has today decided to override the single-party system and to hold general elections as soon as possible on the democratic multi-party system. The decision is a milestone in history. History itself will provide the answer in twenty or twenty-five years times as to whether this decision is a correct one. Some of the things which sadden us are the desecration of the State Flag in the name of democracy; the state of anxiety in which the people exist behind bamboo barricades day and night, the difficulties which they are facing in food and existence; the disruption in the flow of food to consumers due to cuts in transportation and communications; that students are demonstrating on the roads instead of being able to pursue their studies; that ordinary people are having difficulties due 07E฀DrMaung.indd฀฀฀560 1/25/08฀฀฀11:32:48฀AM Address to the Pyithu Hluttaw, 11 September 1988 561 to demonstrations by service personnel; that offensive things are being said about the lugyis (elders) and their families and that the flames of lobha and dosa are burning so intensely. Responsible political leaders are not likely to instigate such intense anger (dosa). They are likely to instil discipline and explain that democracy constitutes not what one wants to do but constitutes respect for others’ wishes and that it is the civilised concept. However, it is all too easy to instigate and provoke a militant mass of people but it is very difficult to pacify and persuade them otherwise. Instead of trading accusations and counter-accusations as to who is responsible for the happenings of the past one or two months we should realise that we have before us many tasks to be carried out with the people. Law and order, and peace and tranquillity, are needed for holding free and just general elections. This is lacking in some cities. There have been incidents in which administrative offices have been forcefully occupied; the people and members of the Party and Council threatened; and in which people’s homes have been commandeered or destroyed — all in the name of ‘democracy’. If the Councils in such regions have really become unacceptable to the people, there are still departmental personnel. The People’s Police too needs to be regrouped and the right conditions created in which they can carry out their responsibilities without fear; and administrative work too must be resumed. There are also many townships in which Councils continue to get along with the people and are working together with them. Such service personnel and People’s Police Force personnel ought to bring work to reactivate the stalled administrative machinery. The nearest Tatmadaw units too have been directed to provide necessary assistance. There can be no law and order without proper administrative machinery. It is essential that law and order be reinstated speedily throughout the nation. How this is to be done effectively must be directed clearly and precisely after thorough study of prevailing conditions. It is not sufficient merely to demand that those who are not concerned should immediately vacate administrative officers and government premises; such offices should be reoccupied (by responsible personnel) and the administrative bases rejuvenated. It is time for this to be done. 07E฀DrMaung.indd฀฀฀561 1/25/08฀฀฀11:32:49฀AM 562 DR MAUNG MAUNG: Gentleman, Scholar, Patriot There exists immense danger for the people and the State as well as for those who are claiming that the government no longer exists and that they only constitute the ‘government’, are assuming power in village-tracts, townships, division, states and anywhere else to set up ‘parallels’. There is also great danger also for those who are setting up such ‘parallels’. There is urgent need for all this to be quickly removed. The people’s hearts are breaking at the outright acts of criminality which have been perpetrated in the name of ‘democracy’. The people are wishing for an end to such criminal acts and effective action to be taken against such acts. Those party organisations...