Looking Back at Depayin Incident

In a program broadcast on April 29, Aung San Suu Kyi discusses the 2003 Depayin incident, says that union-building and the establishment of democracy can be accomplished together, and reveals her personal wishes for the rest of her “life’s journey.”

2011.05.05

Q:  During the Depayin incident in 2003, when a group of people attacked your entourage, you were able to escape. Could you tell us how you managed to do this?

A:  We would need a separate program to give a detailed account of the Depayin affair. But if I may put it briefly, we were able to escape the efforts of an unidentified group of people trying to block our route only because of the excellent skills of the young person driving our car.

Q:  We heard that after the Depayin incident, the National League for Democracy (NLD) negotiated with the government and planned to attend the [government-sponsored] Nyaung Hnapin Conference. Is that true and, if so, why were the plans to attend the conference aborted?

A:  The agreements made with the authorities after the Depayin incident were as follows: First, that the Depayin incident would be investigated. Second, that appropriate compensation would be paid to those people who suffered during the incident. Third, that both sides would cooperate so that incidents like this would not happen again the future. Fourth, that all persons who were arrested in connection with the Depayin incident would be released. On the part of the NLD, we said that representatives chosen by us would attend the National Convention. But just a few days before the start of the Convention, all those agreements and discussions were voided when they said they would not release me.

Q:  I was arrested and sent to jail for one year in Malaysia after I staged a demonstration for your release. You only get sent to jail for one year when you stage a demonstration abroad. But can you tell me why the monks and my brothers and sisters in Burma are sent to prison for many years for demonstrating for democracy in our mother country? This is a matter that will not end with wishes and prayers. Can you tell us what we should do for their release? It would be good if you could give a talk for about half an hour every two weeks on RFA on developing a sense of patriotism and responsibility among the young, as well as the older, people in our country.

A:  I am happy to hear that you have now been released. I also thank you for your sympathy and consideration for your colleagues who are now serving long sentences in prison in Burma. It is true that the political prisoners will not be free just by wishes and prayers. I believe that I myself gained freedom because of the courage and risks that people like you have taken and because you have worked as hard as you have. I would like you to continue with your efforts, using different methods to help and support the political prisoners as much as you can.

I do not know much about the conditions of the prisons in Malaysia, but in Burma the prison food provided can in no way maintain the health of those in prisons. It is a big burden for the families of prisoners just to send food into the prisons. I want you to understand that I am unable, at the moment, to plan to give talks on the radio, as I have to be working full time.

Q:  What are some of your real aspirations, from the depth of your heart, with regard to your life’s journey from this moment on and into the future?

A:  First of all, I would like to see the emergence in Burma of a political and administrative system that will serve the interests of the people and the country, and for which I and all of the people are yearning. Second, I would like to be assured that this system will be permanent and stable. Third, I would like to be involved as much as possible in work that will help not only the people of Burma but also people from all over the world who are suffering from poverty and other problems in life.

Lastly, from a personal point of view, I would like to be able to have time to give for my sons and my friends, to read books of personal interest and not just the ones related to my work, and to practice meditation in depth. These wishes are nothing exceptional—I would just like to live peacefully like any other human being.

Q:  I am a member of the Burmese Workers’ Union in Japan. There are two different schools of thought in our union with regard to Burma. The first, which reflects my belief as well, is that achieving democracy in Burma should be our first and foremost goal. Then, the workers’ union can be established, and the rights of workers can be sought. The other school of thought holds that the workers’ union should be established first, and that democracy should be sought afterward. What are your thoughts with regard to this issue?

A:  I think that the striving for democracy and the right to form unions—which in itself is a democratic right—must both be sought, as much as possible, at the same time. Whether it is a students’ union or a workers’ union or a farmers’ union—unions will be able to operate fully only within a democratic system of administration. But striving to establish unions is the same as striving for democracy. That is why I would want you to work as much as you can both to establish democracy and to establish unions at the same time.

Q:  The emotions of many of the Burmese people are just like flames in a haystack—they rise and fall very quickly. Therefore, I would like to know how we can nurture a foundation for the spirit of the people so that they will work resolutely for their beliefs.

A: I think that the causes of a lack of resilience and determination can be illustrated by the upbringing of a child. It will not be easy for a child to have resilience and determination if he or she is brought up in a careless manner, instead of the parents having had the patience and having put in the hard work to teach and guide him or her. It is difficult to shape the character of a person once he or she is older, so one must really have the will to change. Before one can work resolutely for one’s beliefs, it is necessary that those beliefs be strong and firm. To have such beliefs, one must consider and decide how one will live a worthwhile life, while taking into account one’s life experiences.

Q:  I have worked in the social welfare sector in Burma as well as in southern Thailand. At the moment, I am working in the educational development of women in Burma and in the primary school level in various schools inside Burma. At the same time, I am working toward a doctoral degree in educational research in the United States. As a person who strongly believes in you and supports you, I would like to know how and in what capacity I can be of help to you.

A:  People like you who are studying specifically in the field of education, and those who have studied in this field, can benefit our country a lot. I hope that you will not only be able to give advice on the quickest ways to raise the educational level of our country—which at present is at a very low level—but that you will one day be able to personally get involved in this effort. For the present, it will be very useful if you could advise us on ways in which people can work together and help with the small school projects that have been developed by our democracy network.

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