Junta commander for Command Democracy

Junta commander for Command Democracy

Human Rights

Maj Gen Khin Zaw, Commander of Triangle Region, whose Kengtung-based operational area is wedged between China's Yunnan, Laos and Thailand, is typical of Burma's military leaders who profess a democracy where the brass plays the leading role, according to sources coming to the border.

Soon after the monsoon paddy was harvested late last year, he reportedly called a meeting of headmen from villages whose fields outline the Khn, a tributary of the Namlwe, suburbs such as Yanglaw, Yangpu, Yanglong, Loilong, Faiwiang, Banna, Banmao, Banha, Kianghpawng and Kardtao. 

They were informed that the government required them to engage in dry season paddy cultivation, as their fields being near the river would face no water shortage. "Some of our elders ventured to reason with him," said a source from Yanglaw, 1 mile north of Kengtung, "We already had experience with the Nalaw (off-season paddy) since Thein Sein (former Triangle Region commander who is now the State Peace and Development Council's Secretary-2) was here. They said there would be a lot of extra work and investment, but the end result would not be much different from that of the traditional single crop per year system, where the soil had time and the alternative crops to enrich itself before the monsoons begin. Doing double paddy crop, on the other hand, would deprive the soil the chance to enrich itself". 

Gen Khin Zaw, however, refused to budge. "I don't want to hear your arguments," he was quoted as saying. "It is the expressed wish of the government and I only want to know whether or not you are going to comply with it. If you are not, our soldiers are ready to take over." 

In the end, the villagers' reasoning lost out to the general's superior logic. "Had we allowed the soldiers to take over, our fields would be lost forever," said the same source. 

Another source from Kardtao, 7 miles north of downtown Kengtung, commented, "This is the classic example of the generals' announced Disciplined Democracy in action. It is nothing more than a command democracy." 

Rangoon proclaimed last August a seven-point transition to democracy in Burma. The National Convention, held 1993-1996 to draft a constitution, is expected to resume sometime this year.