Min Aung, a former Burmese soldier and police officer, has penned a lengthy meditation on civil war. It is well worth reading in full. In the final section he introduces some philosophy:
Please permit me to express this in relation to the teachings of the Buddha. The Buddha was very clear on politics, war and peace. It is well known that Buddhism advocates and preaches non-violence and peace as its universal message and does not approve of any kind of violence or destruction of life. According to Buddhist teachings, nothing can be called “a just war”; it is a false term coined and used to justify and excuse hatred, cruelty and violence. How would one decide if a war is “just” or “unjust” anyway? In the history of war, mighty victors were “just” and the weak and defeated were “unjust”. Buddhism does not accept this concept.
Lord Buddha not only taught non-violence and peace but he even went to the battlefield and intervened personally to prevent a war between the Sakyas and the Koliyas, who were prepared to fight over ownership of the waters of the Rohini. His words once prevented King Ajatasuttu from attacking the kingdom of the Vajjis.
Today, our country is entering a new era, one that promises a better life for all citizens without discrimination based on ethnicity. Development is being encouraged in all sectors and regions of the country. There is much to be optimistic about but for me, a soldier, the sad memories of our decades-old conflict linger on.
I would like to pay my solemn respects to my lost friend, Thura Saw Myat Moe, and all the other fallen soldiers – including those who were once our foes – and request that, if we are really changing to democracy and a free, fair and civilised society, we put an end to civil war once and for all.
Excellent. I hope this sentiment spreads everywhere, though I wonder how it will be received in the Rakhine State.
Quality comment or not?
0 
0
Rank and file soldiers.
They are simply tools.
Hardly ever they know who they are trying to kill, much less why. They just got given some particularly compelling version: union disintegration whatever it means- not that all soldiers had studied the benefit of such union and were determined to keep it at loss of blood, or the enemy being communists, whatever “communists” is, bandits and rapists.
In Burma, war is waged for racial superiority complex, centralization of power and money- timber, jade, gems, DRUG, mines, black market tax, now gas pipes and dams.
By the government against its own citizens. Always own citizens. Biggest enemy of the Burmese army is the Burmese public and biggest enemy of the Burmese public is the Burmese army.
The escalation of the war today though is, at least partially, because of the total lack of show of due outrage by the majority Burmese public (discount the international crowd of drooling silent spectators) who simply are dancing to the choreograph of their trusted leaders who seem, at least publicly, to be not overly excited about (give blankets to the displaced) the largest war in Burmese history by the country against its own citizens in absolutely brutal and ruthless fashion.
Yes. it may yet be that weird Nobel Peace Prize but definately not noble.
Quality comment or not?
0 
0
Being moved to tears often makes me feel uncomfortable, though not in the case of Min Aung’s piece, which filled me with hope– even in the face of cynicism from other Burmese.
Quality comment or not?
0 
0
It irony of lord Buddha teaching and the application by the so-called followers.
Buddhism was unifying nidus for the establishing of a very 1st Burmese Dynasty in 1044 under Anawretha.
The acquisition of present Theravada rights from Thaton, was by an outright invasion that has made then prosperous Thaton Kingdom into an instant backwater town
The subsequent historical tragedies of the royalty of Thaton Kingdom can still be seem in the Mon state around Maulamyain.
Buddhism similar to Christianity is clearly intended for the betterment of each and every devout “Individual”.
History of civil war within Myanmar has clearly establish one common fact.
Involvement of self serving +/- ignorant outsiders always prolong the inevitable.
Quality comment or not?
0 
0
You are so right Plan B.
The problem is not that there is or is not Buddhism. Or what the king did or did not do.
But that the average Burmese, now Bhddhists, are so proud that the imaginary legendary four “Lu Swan Gaung” (heroes) were so good at killing/ torturing the Mons and Khmers whose capital they destroyed and properties looted, just as much as in Siam /Araken/ Manipur later.
So one must ask now, are the Burmese public proud that their army is killing/ torturing/ displacing the Kachins to loot again at this critical juncture?
Or simply copying their trusted leaders where one is cowardly disclaiming any responsibility as a head of “government” and one has no view at all which amounts to collusion or silent encouragement.
@3 Hope doesn’t do much really. Choice is action or continuing happy blind faith, blissful ignorance.
If the poet U Min Aung were serious, he could at least start petitioning/ asking/ demanding for pulling back his old family – the army from the brink of a massive civilian mascare in store at Liaza right now.
It is unliklely that, if the Burmes army pull back to the lowands, the Kachins would follow to attack.
Quality comment or not?
0 
0
The frequently reprinted (and widely read) Myanmar text The Illustrated History of Buddhism put out by the Young Men’s Buddhist Association includes the tale of Sri Lanka’s King Dottagami going out to war against the Tamils in order “to make the [Buddha's] teaching shine” (originals here and here):
Quality comment or not?
0 
0
Like the seeds from the same tree would produce different tasting fruit when grown in different soil and weather conditions, the kernel of any religion would be swayed by the social attitude as well as circumstances of the society it is in.
Since the time of Asoka (300 BC), there has been many violent suppression of Buddhism in Cyelon.
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/sri_timeline.htm
That would easily make the Buddhist clergy very close to the warring kings.
In Burmese history since Pagan time, there has never been serious invasion of other religion. As posted by Plan B, the war is usually by the Burmese to get the Buddhism by force (killing) from Mon and Arakanese.
Adonirum Judson was credited for making Burma the third most populous Baptist country, but there were precious few ethnic Burmese converted for all the untiring efforts of this remarkable man and his wife.
For better or worse, it is a form of religious chauvinism and would have certainly influenced the attitude of the Burmee towards other religious groups, certainly for the military.
Currently the clergy is actively recruited and controlled by the military and are taking part in controlling the segments of Sangha who would side with the people against the government.
Crucially, there are more and more preaching of the current Sangha about foreign travels, money- donating or donated- iPAD’s and other electronics, material wealth than the value of traditional austerity and observation of Five Precepts making the covetousness of the populace for material wealth and moral degradation so natural.
Quality comment or not?
0 
0
“Conflict Resolution” favor dialogue over violence.
Have there been any careful attempt to bridge differences through CR within Myanmar, some ethnic conflict might not have been
The West consistently chooses, intimidation, threat, ignorance and deprivation, all subsets of violence in its policy towards Myanmar.
Even the institution of peace UN, is manipulated to justify this violence.
As it is now the tragic results from today conflicts are merely convenient facts to be used tomorrow against any parties involved.
The root cause of present Kachin, the ongoing Karen and any future conflicts within Myanmar will always have the SAME common denominators.
Until these common denominators, so clearly repeated in the history of Myanmar are dealt with properly these conflicts will present as civil wars with all the associated unspeakable vile attributes.
Quality comment or not?
0 
0
Whether Min Aung’s sentiments and philosophising stemmed from genuine remorse, or getting mellow in his old age with a need for atonement of his sins like his army godfather Ne Win tried by his building of Maha Wizaya Pagoda next to the Shwedagon near the end of his life, this sort of sermonising has gone on for as long as the civil war has lasted it is rather wearing thin.
Steven’s one example of Dottagamani of Lanka is less well known than Asoka of India, the all conquering Buddhist emperor, of course, but a true crusade/jihad is exceptional in Buddhism. Anawrahta’s conquest of Thaton was a straightforward daylight robbery of the Buddhist Canon when The Mon king Manuha rejected his request for a set out of hand.
Now that Thein Sein is in danger of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize according to some, Min Aung’s endorsement of a 180 degree (36o if we are too gullible) change is to be expected. But have I missed the guns being silenced and the smoke blowing away?
If there is one national weakness of the Burmese, it is their propensity to wishful thinking and yes, for astrology.
Having said all that our peoples, Bamar and ethnic alike, deserve this internal peace that cannot come soon enough. How we achieve it has been the issue that has dogged us like forever, a more hopeless search it seems than for the holy grail. Sadly so long as the political will is not there it won’t be in the foreseeable future. The biggest hurdle (at least to those not seeing through rose tinted spectacles of late) remains the military yoke that continues to crush everyone.
Quality comment or not?
0 
0
U Moe Aung,
At one point, there might have been some hope with Aung San Suu Kyi.
She is genuinely well loved and supported by millions and expecting to be a true leader. She could stand by with ALL of the citizens of Burma against the stifling military hegemony.
At the time she was freed, if she were to get in with the prayer sessions which have already started for the lives of the Kachins, the whole country would have followed, Min Aung Hlaing would think twice, the plight of hundreds of young Burmese blood would have been either spared or their fate well publicised, and Kachin would feel hopeful of negotiated settlement buoyed by national support especially if she put unequavocally that Federal States was non-negotaible as only it should be.
The “Five Monks” would not have thought it necessary to protest for “National Peace” risking their lives.
In stead, she promoted tirelessly the King of Thieves, who until then was a nincompoop, and offered to “mediate” between the warring factions sending out clear signal that the Kachins were “Others” and by extension so would be all other “Ethnics”.
The military onslaught then became more open and blatant as there was no longer any worry about outright condemnation for the hideous criminal acts even from the usual international community who took the cue that it was something tolerated by the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner and “People’s Champion”.
Now with the recommendation of dropping all the sanction BEFORE any rule of law or any possiblility of it, Burma is at the mercy of the international conglomerates to spare a thought for the disadvantaged. And national peace is further than ever as the military is more, not less, entrenched and their position and financial power more solid now than ever before. No one now mentions Federal States any more. Only ports, rails and pipes while land confiscation is everyday occurance in open and violent manner.
KNU settlement is likely to be like Khin Nyunt deal with the Kachin. Again, http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/3568, look what happens to the Kachin Land and what happens to the Kachin today.
Quality comment or not?
0 
0
As long as majority Burmese support directly or indirectly Burmese Lu-Swan-Gawng aka War Criminals, there is no sign of civil war in Burma where Buddhism is being used as a tool for war criminals. Buddhism is very peaceful religion, teaching not even to kill animals. So, why Burmese war criminals killing, rapping, burning, looting its own citizens properties as they wish. It seems to show that majority of Burmese ruling elite have never learn or chose not to learn what Buddha teachings. They just chose to be hypocrites against Buddhism.
Burma problem is constitutional and power sharing within different ethnic groups. The answer is not just democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi or NLD.
The day civil war end in Burma is the day Burmese people topple the huge three-statues of Historic War Criminals in Naypiytaw’s military parade ground.
Quality comment or not?
0 
0
Naw Seng,
One of the previous posts about the abhorrent nature of this weird place “Nay Pyi Daw” did earned a lot of thumbs down! You se people
like it.
Not just those statue guys who are celebrated for their skill at killing people whoever they were, but the very sick, sick notion of “nay Pyi Daw” the place of king, Ye Myae Shin ( Lord of Water and Land) as it is resided by Than Shwe and he is supposed to OWN all in the British per-war map of Burma ( main reason the Kachins, as the only resisting group are being annihilated whereas the others toeing the line for their own monetary benefit are spared- for now) .
The fact is all the Burmese and a lot of “ethnic” seem to be delighted about that. In fact even say- people like Aung Zaw who used to be rightly critical of driving away mostly Karen small land owners in the place that “Nay Pyi Daw” stands with some even killed in time honoured Burmese military tradition, has nothing to say when he visited this metropolis complete with 20- lane roads. Even sounded proud to be there! And that seems typical reaction.
So long as Burmese public feel there is a king and the king owns all that is in the terriority and must dispense as he sees fit, there will never be peace or definitely prosperity for the majority although admittedly there will be a lot of people a lot richer getting a cut from the loot of the country soon.
Unfortunately, we now see Aung San Suu Kyi has simply normalized the military arrogance and atrocities going along exactly the same path with them, only a lot smoother than even the military would have anticipated.
The statues of the plunderers will grace that weird dress-up Potemkin village for long time to come.
Quality comment or not?
0 
0