By Albert Thyrniang
Watching the viral video on the 19-Year-Old Girl Kyal Sin, alias Angel who was killed in an anti-coup protest in Mandalay,Myanmar on 3 March was heart-rending to say the least. Angel, a taekwondo expert is now a martyr and symbol of resistance against the military junta’s coup and the violent suppression of protest movement. Wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with the now iconic phrase “Everything will be OK,” when she was shot on the head, the first time proud voter in the last general election, drew more than 100,000 people for her funeral. Mourners signalled the “three-finger salute” against authoritarianism in the South East Asian country. The hero, who had earlier posted on Facebook informing her blood group while requesting that her organs be donated in the event of her death, was one among the 38 people killed on the ‘bloodiest’ day taking the total to more than 60 over all in the post- coup turmoil.
Another image cited by the editorial of this newspaper the other day that has gone viral on social media is that of a nun kneeling with outstretched arms urging soldiers to kill her instead of young protesters. The bravery of the nun could move the world into action.
The sad end of the life of the promising young girl and many like her who have to sacrifice their lives for the future of their country should make us reflect on the freedom we ‘enjoy’ in our country. The nun could not remain silent and stepped out of her convent to confront security forces on duty who were clamping down on dissenters. People in Myanmar and other parts of the world have to risk their lives to fight for democracy. They have to resort to civil disobedience to gain, preserve and restore democracy. In Many countries like North Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia and elsewhere citizens can’t even raise their voices. We on the other hand take democracy for granted. It should also make us ponder whether we do stand up when democratic rights are threatened to be stifled.
Constitutionally India is one of the world’s most democratic countries granting all the rights to its citizens. But democracy does not proceed automatically from the ‘Rule Book’ into reality. Its expression is viewed differently by different rulers. The present government is viewed as a regime that dislikes critiques and dissent. Therefore, the elements of democracy need to be reiterated so that the government fulfils its constitutional obligations.
When protesting farmers at the Delhi border were denied electricity, water and internet service, the central government had to be reminded that it was muffling the constitutional guaranteed right of protest. It needed young international celebrities like singer Rihanna and climate change activist Greta Thunberg to ruffle the entire Union government set up.
Individuals who choose to speak up are not taken kindly to. The Delhi Police hunted down Disha Ravi and named her a “key conspirator” in the toolkit case. She was also a victim of detestable hate on social media by the Hindutva brigade. One cannot speak for the Bangalore based climate activist but probably it was worth it as the court while granting bail to her pronounced that her case was not sedition but a legitimate dissent questioning the police whether Ravi and others were being targeted for voicing their opposition to the farm laws. Six journalists were also charged with sedition ‘for doing their job’ (reporting) on the alleged police violence at farmers’ protests. This is seen as a jolt on free press prompting many to term the current situation an ‘undeclared emergency’. But does it mean we stop criticising the government? If we don’t want to get anywhere close to Myanmar then sacrifices are worth making.
We are not Myanmar but press freedom is on the downslide in our beloved country. The press is subjected to ‘crackdowns.’Journalists have been beaten, arrested and forced to resign for reporting on contentious issues. Based on press freedom to news organisations, journalists, and netizens in the country the World Press Freedom Index 2020 ranked India 142 out of 180 countries. India is ranked just above Pakistan (145th), and Bangladesh (151). The opening line of this paragraph is mistaken because Myanmar ranked above us(139) in the World Press Freedom Index last year. It’s quite a humiliating perspective. Press freedom is mentioned here because when there is no press freedom there is no democracy. The press is the fourth pillar of democracy. If the pillar collapses democracy follows suit. Anti-democracy believers know this very well. They target the media to weaken and rescind democracy.
The situation in Myanmar is alarming. The international community has condemned the coup but has not acted as expected. World leaders have threatened sanctions but it has not deterred the Tatmadaw (meaning ‘Armed Forces’) from unleashing violence against its own citizens. Half-hearted sanctions in the past have emboldened the junta to take over the country even though the National League for Democracy (NLD) party won the November 2020 elections with a landslide margin. The coup is justified on fabricated claims of election fraud. The military which run a sprawling business empire was able to rule for nearly 50 years probably because of international indifference, for whatever reasons.
Freedom of the press, religious freedom, human rights, rights of minorities, equality etc., are international issues. They have no boundaries. They are not internal matters of any country. Therefore, the plea that when there are violations of these fundamental rights in a country others should not interfere does not hold water. ‘George Floyd’ is not an internal matter of the US, ‘ISIS’ is not an internal matter of Iraq or Syria. Taliban is not an internal matter of Afghanistan. Terrorism is not an internal matter of Pakistan or any other country. Racism, violence and violation of democratic principles are not internal matters of a particular country. Therefore, any individual from any part of the world has the right to speak against these violations if they happen in any part of the ‘global village’. India’s defence that the farmer issue is an internal matter must be taken with a large pinch of salt.
India’s reaction so far is limited to the External Affairs Ministry’s statement that India believes in the rule of law and the democratic process. There has been no strongly worded condemnation on the violence that has led to many deaths. It is suspected that India has no authority to speak against the Myanmar ‘coupers’ because of its own non-envious records. Protesters against CAB/CAA were crushed with an iron hand. The citizens of Jammu and Kashmir have been treated unfairly by the country. Allegations of human rights violations continue to emerge from the troubled UTs.However, dissent should not be given up if we care for democracy.
In Meghalaya, the MDA government has been criticised for alleged corruption (in the ADCs), illegal mining and transport of coal, the under performance of the government and the prolonged MeECL ‘ICU hospitalisation’. Journalists do reports on these issues. Opinion makers do make their voices heard. Citizens do vent their frustrations in letters to newspapers. The opposition and a political party have tried to corner the state government. But the government is unreceptive. It has even dared to mislead the public by feeding the wrong information to parliament denying any instance of illegal mining in the state. Leaders of an NGO had to face a near fatal attack in the fight against illegality. There is a feeling that speaking up is meaningless. It leads to nowhere. But it’s up to us to take a stand.
The BJP’s state president was till recently vocal against corruption and illegal coal mining. But now he has been silenced. The BJP’s state unit might even remove this ‘corruption crusader’. It is astonishing that the Chief Minister himself, who is from another party, was the first to make public the ‘downfall’ of the ‘whistle blower’. The message to Meghalayans is loud and clear: Corruption is here to stay. Even the BJP that makes tall claims of ‘zero’ tolerance to corruption comes nowhere close to touching the fringes of this curse. It is despondent to see that corruption is normalised. Will everybody go into their shells now?
The effects may not be forthright. But giving up is not the option. Nothing worthwhile that is done is worthless. Watching Myanmar on Youtube and Television, viewing the disturbing images and scenes and reading about the suffering of the people of the South Asian country in the print and visual media we can only value our rights and freedom that much more. Citizens have gone to jail, charged with the draconian sedition law, thrown with FIRs by law agencies and groups. Unfortunately there is a price to be paid. Nothing comes for free, democracy included. The young of Myanmar are an inspiration. The soul of India has to survive. The soul of Meghalaya has to thrive. But we need to stand up and be counted.
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