Exclusive Interview with
By Fr. Malachy Smyth, MSSC
Editor of Columban Mission (Korea)

Photo Courtesy: http://kbia.org/post/state-free-press-myanmar

Some years ago Daw Aung Su Kyi was elected president of Burma. The military marched in, ignored the election, put Daw Aung Su Kyi under house arrest and declared Martial Law. Since then all the worlds has been watching. The editor of MISYON’s sister paper in Korea, Fr. Malachy Smyth, went through a similar trauma under Marcos, should be sensitive now to the travails of the Burmese people.

Place. Rangoon – her residence – place of her confinement for six years.

Q. This journey you are on now, when did it begin?

A. It began in 1988, when the others of the Democracy Movement began their journey as well. We crossed paths together.

Q. What has it cost you in personal terms? Your husband, the children?

A. No more than it has cost other people who are involved in this movement. There are many people who have left Burma in order to pursue the movement for Democracy. They have left their families behind and for these people especially it is very difficult for then to keep contact or communication with their homes. Some of then have been out of touch for years. I am not in that position so I am far better off.

Q. What gives you the courage and the strength to keep going? Is it faith in yourself, in the people?

A. It’s a lot of things. I think it is ultimately the faith in the power of good. The power of justice, the power of love, the power of positive feelings. I think that is what it comes down to in the end. I could say it is because of the way in which my father and other leaders have inspired me. Because of the courage and dedication of my Colleagues. But it all comes back to the same thing, because they also believed in the power of good, the power of justice. So I think ultimately it is that.

A. I don’t think so, I have never felt that it is more difficult for me because I am a woman or less difficult for men and for women when they are involved in a struggle against an authority, a regime which is very, very harsh.

Q. Your time of confinement, the must have been very difficult for you? How has that changed you?

A. I don’t think that was difficult at all. People go on a lot about how difficult it was for me, of course, it was not easy because it was not what one would call a normal situation. But I was living in my own house. As you can see it’s not the most comfortable hose in the world. Yet it’s a lot more comfortable than prison. I sis not find it particularly difficult to be isolated from others. I had books, I had a radio which kept me in touch with the outside world. And naturally I worried about my children but no more than anybody in prison would.

Q. Do you believe in the power of people to shape their own tomorrow?

A. Yes, of course. I do believe in the power of people. But first the people have to be aware of the power themselves. Only when they are aware of their own power can they put in to active use.

Q. how would you critique the Culture here? Is it long suffering, complacency?

A. The people are certainly not complacent. They are very dissatisfied with the way things are. They are not all happy. But I think they are lacking a little in confidence in themselves. They need to be taught of the power of the “parlours” so to speak.

Q. Is there any element in Religion inspiring the people during these difficult times?

A. Well, I can only speak as a Buddhist. The majority of people in Burma are Buddhist and Buddhism does teach us to find serenity in the midst of trouble. So in that sense I think it strengthens us in order to face trouble. There are some who misinterpret Buddhism. They think it is a very passive religion. And there are Buddhist who think that Buddhism enjoins them to be passive. But this is not so because the basic tenet of Buddhism is belief in Karma, and Karma is not fate as such. Karma simply means ‘doing’. All it means is that you will reap what you sow. You will be what you make of yourself. So in fact Buddhism is a very dynamite positive religion. If only the people would understand it in the right way.

Q. In your message to the Beijing Conference you said, “It’s not the prerogative of men only to bring light in this world.” Would you comment on that?

A. Well, men and women are equally capable of bringing light where darkness is. And love where there is hatred and so on. so I think women have a very important role to play. In fact, I have found thee role of women to be very outstanding in our movement for democracy. Some of our most effective leaders have said how much they owe to their wives, their women folk who have stood by them very firmly.

Q. The drumbeat of pressure is growing all the time, where do you think it will lead?

A. I think it will lead to democracy.

Q. Any message you would like to send our leaders? Any appeal?

A. I think the time is past when we can ignore what is going on in other people’s countries. You cannot say it is not our business because it is someday else’s country. We fully appreciate the importance of international opinion and international efforts to help us. Of course, we rely chiefly on the strength of our people here in Burma. One has to be self-radiant, but at the same time we recognize that the support and help of the international community can promote our cause effectively. We would like to call on all peoples of the world to help us achieve justice and democracy in Burma.