Andrew Loh
In a nondescript little corner on the fifth floor of Peninsula Plaza, pictures of the 2007 violent clampdown on Burmese protesters are laid out. A small group of visitors, which include Singaporean activists, examines the exhibits and engages in discussion.
The simple, yet poignant, observation is to mark the United Nation’s 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on 10 December – and to remember the military suppression of pro-democracy protesters in Burma last September.
The famous pictures of the uprising led by Burmese monks bring the relevance of the UDHR to sharper focus for those present, especially the Burmese in Singapore.
“Even three years ago, I didn’t know there was such a thing as the UDHR,” said Marc Myo, a Burmese who’s studying at the Singapore Management University. “Today marks the 60th anniversary of the recognition that all humans are equal,” he explains. “It has given me enlightenment and motivates me to make human rights real for me.”
Marc was one of those involved in the protests which were held in Singapore during the uprising last year. Today’s event is a marked contrast to the public protests which the Burmese community in Singapore held at the Burma embassy and Orchard Road, where hundreds of Burmese took part in demonstrations over a number of days.
Speaking to The Online Citizen, Marc says he is both sad and happy about the UDHR’s anniversary. “I’m happy that we’ve achieved such a declaration,” he says, “but sad that we’ve not achieved such freedom [for Burma].”
Through such events like the one today, he hopes to remind the Burmese people of their inalienable human rights which are being violated by the military regime in Burma. He will be distributing pamphlets of the 30 Articles of the UDHR to his compatriots to “educate, remind and motivate” them.
Turning to the recent long sentences meted out to student protesters and others in Burma by the military junta, he calls “injustice” and criticizes ASEAN for not doing anything to help. “ASEAN has been conniving with the Burmese generals,” he explains.
When asked about the Singapore government’s recent threat to not renew the visas of several Burmese who had organized and taken part in last year’s protests in Singapore, which includes him, Marc says he is “not scared of the implicit punishment” by the authorities here. While they were not surprised that the Singapore government would take action against them, he is however a “little surprised by the Singapore government’s tactics.”
“Their motives were not publicized,” he says, “until we held our press conference. They want to keep good relations with the military government in Burma.” (See here and here for the story.) The government has since relented and approved the visas but three of Marc’s compatriots were nonetheless told to leave. One of them is now in Cambodia, he tells TOC.
Looking to the future, he feels that though the ‘agitation’ of the Burmese people has somewhat quietened down, this is “a period to consider what to do.” He does not rule out further protests in Singapore if and when the need arises, he says. When asked if he will limit such protests to Speakers’ Corner where the rules now allow foreigners to conduct demonstrations, Marc says it depends on the nature of the protest. “What’re you protesting?” he says. “You must protest within the vicinity of what you are protesting against.”
He explains that they demonstrated in Orchard last year because the ASEAN summit was being held in a location nearby. “Thus it was necessary to protest there.”
For now, his hope is for change in Burma. “[I hope to see] the restoration of sovereignty of the Burmese people from the hands of the generals,” he says, “and the restoration of justice and democracy.”
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The exhibition will be held again this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, from 3pm to 9pm.
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some people say singapore should not have any business dealing with burma.
the money earn might go to the military rulers.
the people might suffer even worst.
do not know what to say.
first tell the burmese outside of myanmar themselves, stop dealing in black market.
It’s sad that the Burmese are probably more concerned with human rights than Singaporeans.
Once we are financially sound, we are contented with a limited form of human rights here.
I read about George Yeo’s speech to his Asean counterparts yesterday that they should copied our limited form of democracy here and was shocked.
However, our neighbours have not been very good examples here on the true form of democracy. Many are still backward and thrid world in status though they demonstrated the full form ofdemocracy.
Do we associate democracy with economic growth? This perhaps is the true answer all of us have to provide honestly.
Many will be happy to part away with some human rights if they have their 5 Cs here.
Decomracy advocates will have a hard time fighting their cause.
Why is our government helping the Burmese military regime? I thought ASEAN has adopted a non-interference policy. Even non-Singaporean dissidents they want to meddle in.
Working alongside me are some Burmese nationals and it is very clear that they long for some form of freedom and stability in their country the same way we Singaporeans long for our own freedom. We do have quite a lot in common.
Suppressed people. Fear of the regime. Feeling helpless and hopeless. longing for a better tomorrow with true democracy.
Authoritarian regimes and their hard handed rule is the new form of slavery. It is a poignant reminder that slavery still exists in today’s world.
Does Singapore sell guns, mortars, bombs and other kinds of war weapons to the military junta in Myanma? I first heard of this as far back as 30 years ago.
What do these killer weapons do? Kill men, woman and children?
As a Singaporean I am deeply ashamed.
Rotten to the core. Disgusting.
I ask all those – at the top to stop this.
My MP, he is the number one kiasu. He goes along with the top guys. All he cares for is his pay packets at the end of the month and the poiwer he wields.
I see no point in telling him.
Ronnie