I will tell the real truth (9)
Published on Monday, 10 December 2012 11:29
Written by Than Htut Aung
(1)
My dad passed away peacefully on December 2, 2012. Despite the fact that the last stage of cancer is very difficult to cure, it is human nature to keep one's father alive even for one single morning or a day. Normally a cancer patient can stretch out to live for three to four months, but the cancer drugs weakened the heart, and I consoled myself that my dad had felt the agony and pain for lesser duration of time.
In fact, my dad taught us "How to live" when we are alive, and showed us practically "How to die" at the last moment before one takes his final breath, which is valuable for us.
Moreover, he imparted us with the knowledge how to differentiate between the justice and the injustice, and how to separate the Dharma (right teachings of the Buddha) and the Ah-Dharma (antagonistic and wrongful perception). He showed the way, as an inheritance, to insight meditation in facing and enduring the way of the mundane world not only to us but also to the grandchildren.
In the critical moment of the last hours, dad showed us how to endure the agony and pain, and "How to pass away peacefully".
(2)
Throughout his life time, dad was a healthy person. Last year, he lost his appetite and suffered from anaemia, a condition in which blood is deficient in quantity. He took treatment at a specialist hospital in Yangon as well as at a renowned hospital in Thailand.
The hospital in Thailand dubbed a wrong diagnosis as "Acute Haemolytic Anaemia", and administered "steroid drugs". As the ailment worsened, a second opinion was sought at a hospital in Singapore, and learnt that the malignant cells were spread to the whole body. In about one and a half month, he passed away. The cancer growth went wild and rapid because the "steroid drug" was administered in double dose.
My dad endured the illness until his last breath by forgetting the malady of cancer. We took lessons in the context of religious aspect as we witnessed how my dad faced the agony of cancer as he lived his life in practicing the teaching of Buddha since the age of over 40 years. We were worried that whether he could still maintain the consciousness of Dharma, the preaching of Buddha, until the last portion of the journey. Even one has the religious mindset, knowing the reality of death; it astonishes that human being cling and embrace to his life.
I had arrived Singapore at 4 pm on the very day that my dad passed away. When he saw me, his face shone with radiant. Pretending to be as normal, he said, "You becomes more handsome", the last words that he uttered in clear audible voice.
I sat down near him and talked nostalgic moments for half and hour. When I asked whether he liked my article written about him (my dad), he smiled and showed thumbs up sign.
When I came back to the hospital after putting my luggage at the hotel, my dad was breathing rapidly. My brother and sister including my mom were there near him. During that time my dad tried to talk to me many times. The talk was indistinct and garble, and we thought it was due to his sore tongue. In fact, it was something he wanted to say. (I think dad wanted to remind me something as he always worried about me. He used to tell me to be always careful in my works). When we did not understand his words, dad looked each of us in the face and his eyes were filled with tears. Next, he closed his eyes and gestured us to move out from the room. My brother and the nurse remained in the room to clean and such away the mucous from the mouth.
Only a few minutes were lapsed, the nursed called us into the room, where we found him dying with his head dropped to the other side. A faint pulse was still there. As we did not wanted to see him struggling in agony, we avoided administering life saving drugs and treatment, and we let him go in peace. I and my brother were talking in soft voices on the nostalgic events such as the way of meditation taught by our dad, the meritorious deeds that we carried out, and the insight meditation that we practiced at "Tant-kyi-taung Pagoda" in Bagan, suddenly my dad completely lost his pulse and passed away peacefully.
What I have noticed is that when someone was dying, he / she could not speak anymore. Hands and limbs could not move and the eyes could not see. And finally, the sensible nerves could feel nothing, and the Nama and the Rupa (soul and body) went into oblivion.
The good deeds and the bad deeds rebound as mirage to the dying person. The pattern of death differs between the person with fine merits and the person with bad deeds.
No matter he / she had made enormous charity and observed precepts during the life time, if there was no "mindfulness" or insight meditation one may have no proper inspiration and thought at the time of dying. Even one is completed with donation, observation of precepts and mindfulness, one may never know "How to die properly", if one had committed murder or hurt on five type of holy and sacred persons.
In 2007, a memo of religious preaching and advice being sent from venerable monk "Kyar-khat-waing" Sayadaw of Bago District was read out through the television to the citizens of the country. I remembered what my dad explained on the episode of controversial rules of monks. Some lay persons involved in the matter intended to blame the monks at that juncture. He said they were sure to fall into wrong path. I was of the view that some Buddhist monks might be wrong in terms of "Vinaya" (rules and regulations to be abided by all monks); however, the Sanghas (monks) are in fact the Sanghas. If the lay persons have no desire at all to pay respect to the monks, one may stay away and stop relationship with certain monks. My dad told me that one must not go too far and that such wrong persons would have no inspiration "How to die properly".
The most difficult time for a human being is his / her dying moment. I have no guts to tell my dying dad about the violent crackdown on the Buddhist monks staging sit-in protest at the Letpadaungtaung copper mine project.
(3)
Whether the Letpadaungtaung copper mine project is to continue or to suspend must be decided by the commission. However, the Taunggup commission and the Rakhine commission in the Rakhine State are yet to disclose their findings, and therefore, the copper mine probe commission is required to do more additional works.
I am of the view that the copper mine issue may not move into the similar trend of Myitsone Hydropower Dam Project in Kachin State. It is to ensure transparency. It must be beneficial to the nation and the local areas. In no way the local residents should be hurt.
This copper mine project was earlier the scheme of the Ministry of Mines and the Ivanhoe Company, which was sold to Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (UMEHL) and Chinese Wanbao Company. The UMEHL purchased the scheme from the Ministry of Mines at the price of US$100 million, and the amount was allegedly said to be settled by Chinese Wanbao Company. Compounding the situation into the mess was the involvement of Htoo Trading Company in the buying and selling, while the Chinese Ambassador in Yangon denied that there was neither brokerage fee nor commission payment by the Chinese company. The matter becomes the responsibility of the probe commission headed by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Ironically, the investment stands at US$997 million and the physically invested amount comes at US$10 million, supported with the loan of US$987 million triggering serious contemplation. The commission is needed to find out whether this copper mine project would bring profit or revenue only after 30 years of period similar to the Myitsone Hydropower Dam Project.
What I understand was that the country would enjoy only four per cent as revenue over the metal extracted, and that the remaining dividend would be shared when the actual profit is realized.
However, looking into the "Basic Mine Design", the cost and value of the machinery stands out at US$36 billion, projecting a bad scenario that the country and the UMEHL would be in chaos and jeopardy.
The omen is indicating that the locals may suffer, that the nation will be deprived of the benefit, that finally the pensioners of the armed forces fall into troubles.
Who are the beneficiaries?
The government and the UMEHL should go into depth over the project.
The situation needs statements and information.
Until now, that there is no advantage, that the locals are in trouble, that the members of Sanghas (Buddhist monks) were being violently attacked, that the good name of the president was tarnished, that the confidence of international community has been hurt, that the stability of the nation was shaken due to the calls of general strike and the dissatisfaction.
Who did this?
Are they proxies?
Are they alternatives to cronies?
Are they the fifth columnists or the spies to act what they wanted?
There are many questions to ask.
Despite provocations to suspend the copper mine project, there are opportunities to settle and address peacefully. The problems are the factors that peaceful means of solution is not applied, that the people concerned are not aware and has no experience how to apply such ways and means as a democratic government. Moreover, the other problem is that they inherited the legacy and mindset of the previous autocratic system.
(4)
After the visit of US President Obama, a spate of problems cropped up in series in the country. Tribulations are seen in a variety of type such as that the expansion and continuation of cronyism characteristics, that the characteristics of sliding back in the media development, that the violent crackdown on the protests, that the expression of the government to curb and turn back on the democratic rights.
Furthermore, it seems that the hardliners are now arrived much closer to the government. The most disturbing situation against the aspiration of the national races to craft a federal union system has been marred by the demand for the creation of independent "wa" state in border areas.
In the areas controlled by "UWSA", there are only 600,000 "wa" ethnic national races, and it maintains 30,000 to 50,000 regular soldiers and reserved army.
The majority of the leaders were born in the mainland China. The verbal communication used in "wa" region is Chinese and the Chinese language is the official use in the areas. They used the Chinese currency RMB Yuan and established separate relations with the People's Republic of China.
Moreover, they founded a television channel there transmitting with Chinese language. The Chinese businessmen are doing business in "wa" region the production of tin without informing or intimating the Myanmar central government.
The "wa" region could be termed as the "State within the State".
The "wa" region could not be considered to designate as a "State" in the backdrop of its population, its history and its language.
If we compare these current incidents of "wa" region of Myanmar and China against that situation of "Ossetia" in Georgian-Russian relations, the demand of "wa" region as an "Independent State" would be extremely dangerous several times than the case of "Rohingya" to be totally accepted as the national races of Myanmar. In this regard, we must be very careful.
(5)
Regretfully, a member of the government on the negotiation trip to the controversial copper mine did mentioned that China is the benefactor of Myanmar. Even more, I came across in some news that he said Myanmar is to be feared of China (it is not the exact wording what he had mentioned).
The incumbent Myanmar government has inherited all the good and bad legacies of the previous military regime, a de facto government. If the present government is not deserved to be called a democratic government, then at least we could termed as a government shaping for democracy.
We may raise a question whether the present government is copying the same foreign policy of the military junta?
At the time when the previous government of Myanmar was practicing the harsh autocratic rule, it owed all the gratitude towards China as China supported the military with the use of vetoes in the international affairs. That was the previous military government.
Whether the present government is still using the same foreign policy?
I am of the view that China is not the benefactor and sponsor of Myanmar and its people. China is not even a good friendly country. It is only a neighboring country.
At a time when the countries of the world including ASEAN nations are supporting to the government and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on the democratization and reforms and its national reconciliations, the Chinese government is concentrating its own interest and ignored the desire of the Myanmar people, giving various pressure to the Myanmar government. China never recognized the democratic reforms of Myanmar and acknowledged the people of Myanmar.
Now, Myanmar is in a tight spot to be fallen into isolation in Asia with strained relationships with ASEAN nations, Japan and Korea. At such a critical time, the Chinese government is forging close relationship with those who wanted to backslide and make a sharp turn.
If the Chinese government wanted to avoid another opposing neighbor similar to Vietnam, it should change its foreign policy. If China creates more problems by solely concentrating protectionism, then it might be rather wrong.
The Chinese government has arrives at a point to explicitly show its support such as that of peace in Kachin State, that of Myanmar government rule over "wa" region, that of reviewing for the justified and stately investment in Myanmar, and that of assisting the stability of the democratic development in Myanmar.
We never feel sorry and regret when the Chinese Ambassador expressed that Chinese investment would be withdrawn. We are desirous to have the transparent and decent investment in our country.
The laying of natural gas pipeline from Kyaukphyu to Kunming, the railway connections, the construction of motor roads and their completions are all interrelated with the affairs of Kachin State, the affairs of "wa" region and the democratization.
When China attuned and adjusted itself as a good neighborly country, then Myanmar will surely become a friendly nation. Regarding the link and understanding among the regional countries including the ASEAN nations, the formation of good relationship between Myanmar and China entirely depends on the latter.
It is time for China to review its foreign policy. On the other hand, our people must be observant and watchful on the instability in the country, the violence, and the extreme attitudes.
To be a next door neighbor of a superpower, we must always be attentive and alert. The government must never forget that it is now building and implementing a democratic nation, while the president should bravely stepped on the path that he is heading. One must remember the promises that one has given to the nation.
The difficulties encountered during the transition period should be addressed by finding solution through conciliation and compromise with wisdom by both sides and to step ahead.
The working modality must be clear cut as necessary. Compromise if required. There must be progress.
(6)
My dad imparted me with the knowledge how to differentiate between the justice and the injustice, and how to separate the Dharma (right teaching of the Buddha) and the Ah-Dharma (antagonistic and wrongful perception), and "How to live". Staying alive with observant is the best approach "How to die".
Being a nation sandwiched between two big countries, being a place of strategic point in the Asian region, being a State lived for many years under the dictatorial rule, and if we intend to move the nation ahead, we must have "justice", we must have "guts", and we must be "vigilant".
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