The many New Mandala readers who are following the ongoing discussion of foreign fighters in eastern Burma will want to check out the new website of Dave Everett. The site includes some interesting details on his life for those of us who have yet to see a copy of his book, Shadow Warrior. It is in the book that Everett most fully chronicles his colourful and dramatic life. As a taste, he writes:
At the height of my notoriety in the early 1990s, the tabloid media had built me up to be the biggest threat to Australian society since Ned Kelly. I guess the idea of an ex-special forces soldier-cum-criminal stirred people up, but those who are close to me still can’t imagine that I could be considered dangerous. I reckon I’m just a regular bloke who made a couple of bad decisions. But perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself…
For those who haven’t yet heard my story, I went from a young, fit and action-hungry SAS operator to fighting in the jungles of Burma to Australia’s most-wanted man. You know, the usual story.
Everett sometimes comments here on New Mandala and I’m sure if readers have any questions for him, he will be more than happy to step in and answer them. But perhaps before you do, and just to see what some elements of his life have been like, these pictures are particularly worth a look. There is also a chapter titled “The Lost Tunnels” that didn’t make the final version of Shadow Warrior. It is freely available here.
13 responses so far ↓
1 Neal // Jul 21, 2008 at 11:10 am
The book written by this man should be taken with a big grain of salt. While it is a well written and engrossing story, it is exactly that. He recounts his leaving the SASR as him being sick and tired of the attitude of senior officers and “management” as he puts it. This culminated when he was told to cut his hair. He fails to make any mention of his psych reports which, to say the least, were interesting reading.
2 Charles F. // Jul 21, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Psych reports are notoriously ambiguous. They fit right in with voodoo witchcraft – you have to believe in it for it to have any effect. It’s like when a shrink diagnoses someone as passive/aggressive.
I suppose that now that Bleming has been flailed alive on New Mandala, some will next try to hang Dave Everett’s hide on the wall for being politically incorrect in the “New Improved Australia”. He did as he pleased, and you can’t have that.
While I have been unable to obtain a copy of his book, I have exchanged many emails with him, and I have read his posts on NM.
In a world of fakes, Dave Everett is the real deal. Not because he has said so, but because it’s been well documented by others.
3 Ashley // Nov 19, 2008 at 3:28 pm
It’s very easy to quote things out of context or in an abbreviated form in order to misrepresent. I have read Shadow Warrior and though Dave Everett mentions the haircut scenario, he definitely gives further reasons.
4 Dan // Dec 30, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Neal, it is ‘your comments’ that should be taken with a grain of salt.
You obviously have no experience or knowledge pertaining to Regiment (sasr), it’s health policies and so forth, let alone the man you defame. Further the government provides no help for operators during the transition from years of Military life to that of a civilian.
Your comments are not warranted, because if you had taken the time and had done the research – and the information is out there, if you really cared about the cause, you would have done perhaps a little more research about David, the regiment and the KNLA – You would not have made these remarks.
Davids contribution to the KNLA and the Karen people have been outstanding and indeed documented. Many Karen, Australians and operators have a lot of respect for David and his work for the KNLA and the Karen people.
It’s great your interested enough in this topic to comment just do you a little research before you run your mouth Neal.
Charles F. I have been following these notes and your exchanges with with David for some time I am happy to send you my copy of Shadow Warrior. Burma aside it’s a good read!
Dan.
P.S. Just remember this, the dark side of life is that a small few simply have to carry out the act of war, this has been the case since the dawn of time. Fact is David put his life on the line for the Karen people on more than one occasion (Would you, could you, Neal? – The answer is no) and provided training and services that KNLA that were and still are in great need of, people with this skill set are on a global level, very hard to come by. Certain governments should be providing the KNLA with the same training and services that David a single human being, provided for not one dime.
5 Charles F. // Jan 4, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Dan,
Here is my email address for you to contact me offline.
6 Charles F. // Jan 4, 2009 at 4:22 pm
One more time:
Triumph_Chopper_72@yahoo.com
7 Moe Aung // Jan 4, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I haven’t read the book but from what NM’s brought us David writes really well in a down-to-earth style, extremely readable and illuminating. The KNLA however can’t go it alone, or any other group including the majority Burman ones for that matter though their participation is crucial, in toppling the military regime in Burma, as we’ve seen from the six decade long civil war for lack of unity. Political resolution of legitimate grievances is anathema to the junta. A unified and coordinated armed struggle of all the nationalities of Burma, at least the major groups, must materialise in an inclusive and meaningful way, or history will judge us all as unfit to determine our own future.
8 Charles F. // Jan 5, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Had Dave Everett not written his book, his life would still be well known. Perhaps not outside of Australia, or Karen circles, but well documented nevertheless.
I regards to the various factions uniting, to form a solid front against the SPDC, that’s going to be an uphill slog.
There is a lot of suspicion and animosity between the various groups in Burma. Just the way the SPDC likes it.
Just two examples:
The Karen National Union has stated in no uncertain terms that it is opposed to drugs and drug smuggling. That puts them at direct odds with the UWSA (United Wa State Army), which is busily engaged in that activity.
The second example is the rift between the Christian Karens and the Buddhist Karens. That one won’t be easily repaired, especially when you factor in that the DKBA has made a separate peace with the SPDC, and acts as slave troops, guarding drug shipments and attacking KNLA camps.
Alot of hurdles need to be cleared before all the various factions can begin to work together. But if they do, then the days of the SPDC will be numbered.
Another thing, that I mentioned in a previous post, is the fear of “Balkanization” of Burma after the defeat of the SPDC.
Most Western governments, especially the U.S., feel that that remains a real possibility. There is no single individual with the strength of personality to hold the country together.
If Burma fragments after the demise of the SPDC, what then? Will there be several ethnic enclaves, constantly battling it out with each other? Superpowers (China, U.S., India) meddling and manipulating to gain favor with one ethnic group or another for whatever reasons?
Slippery slope indeed.
9 Moe Aung // Jan 7, 2009 at 6:06 am
First things first, Charles F. Talk about ‘Balkanisation’ is not only premature but counterproductive. It plays into the hands of the generals ; it’s their raison d’etre after all – holding the union together. It is also, unsurprisingly, the junta apologists’ favourite line of argument. We’ve had more than our fair share of Ne Wins and Than Shwes, thank you very much.
Granted it is a possible scenario, but is it probable once the military dictatorship that has denied genuine political resolution of all the important issues all along is out of the picture? Burma is not Yugoslavia. Burmans make up at least two thirds of the population. More importantly, the majority of the nationalities has reflected long and hard on their long history of armed struggle, and shifted their political goal from independence to autonomy in a democratic federation.
So, shall we cross that bridge when we actually get there? Call it wishful thinking, but give us a break. Let’s give genuine, not sham, dialogue a chance once the gunfire dies down and the smoke settles after the junta is gone for good.
10 Charles F. // Jan 7, 2009 at 7:47 am
Like yourself, I would like to see Burma remain as one country, with a certain amount of autonomy. The various groups have to have some sort of protection in a country dominated by Burmans.
Additionally, religious freedoms have to be protected. The Christian Karens must have protection against persecution.
The relationship between Burma and China needs to be reassessed as well, with a hard line taken on territorial integrity. Burma would be best served by becoming nonaligned, I believe. A political football for neither East or West.
11 Moe Aung // Jan 21, 2009 at 5:14 am
Charles, Burma was a founding member of the Bandung Conference of Non-Aligned States. She never joined the Brirtish Commonwealth and shunned SEATO. China however will remain the most important neighbour as they share a very long border, but don’t for a moment think the generals are beholden to them or will concede territory. You ignore Burmese nationalism at your peril.
Religious persecution sadly is a modern phenomenon though chauvinism is like elsewhere as old as history. Even an absolute monarch like King Mindon was known for his charitable disposition to other creeds. Mandalay is full of mosques and churches from his reign.
Alignment issues are not confined to the state, crucial as you rightly said. Some of the minorities have been known to aspire to become virtually the 51st state of the US, understandably through their long association with foreign missionaries vis-a-vis state repression. It is counterproductive none the less. Having said that, it can never justify religious persecution which is no less harmful to peace and unity.
12 David Everett // Feb 27, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Hi Neal,
Have only just notioced your comments on this site. You have never read any of my psych reports from the military. I actually have copies of them from my Freedom of Information Applications to the Australian Defence Force. They all read fine. You don’t get into the SAS if you are considered to be mentally unstable. In fact if you had ever taken the time to read the book you will see the reasons for getting out of the military were as follows:
1. The ADF were not at war and in the foreseeable future they were not going to be at war with anyone.
2. Once you have been on the two way rifle range, going back to a peace time army is boring to say the least.
3. The “haircut” was merely a catlyst for a bored soldier making his mind up to get out.
4. I wanted to go back and help the Karen (that was my main motivation).
I did not refer to being sick and tired of “senior management” and officer as you put it. I don’t know where you came up with that from, probably the same place you came up with my “psych” reports from.
Unfortunatally for you, everything in my book is verifiable. I should suggest you go and take a bex and have a good lie down. Your nodding acquintance with the truth leave a lot to be desired.
Dave Everett
13 mary // Aug 12, 2009 at 10:05 pm
neal sounds like a former employee of the western australian ministry of justice. They write amusing psych reports that other staff get to peek at from time to time but are not supposed to discuss
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