Should Burmese Exiles Go Home?

---

The Right Time Will Come 

Personally speaking, the reason I came out of Burma in the first place is to return home. But, there must be a change. For those who return, they must be the ones who will be able to contribute to the good of the society. As a journalist, I could be able to contribute to media development. So, I am ready to go home. I have been waiting for the chance to go home for more than 20 years. I am just living in Thailand, the closest country to mine, because I want to go back.The government has to create the right environment for all of us to go home. Will it release political prisoners? How much media persons like us will be able to work when we are there? I want to go back to my own country in a dignified way, not like I am going back to prison. We are concerned about the recent invitation by the President. What he said about exiles was not clear yet. But I hope the right time will come soon. That time the country should be quite stable and there must be a guarantee for those who plan to return. We are not criminals. I mean those who have been working for restoration of democracy and freedom in Burma. The government must initiate some sort of guarantee first. As human being, it is important for us to go home with dignity. There will be many things to do inside the country by applying knowledge and skills that we have learnt when we are in exile. So, I think all of us will eventually return if our country is peaceful and stable, and changes are being taken place.—Aung Zaw, Editor and Founder of The Irrawaddy Magazine




No Invitation is Necessary

First, the government needs to make already-started talks between its representative and Aung San Suu Kyi substantial, which should eventually lead to a genuine and fruitful political dialogue process. Second, it needs to stop its military offensives against ethnic nationalities and declare a nationwide ceasefire for internal peace. Third, its needs to release political prisoners, including Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, who have been imprisoned for their peaceful activities for restoration of democracy in the country. If those conditions are met, we can say that our country is marching firmly towards it path to democracy and peace. Under such circumstances, the government doesn't even need to invite exiles to come back. The recent invitation by the president wasn't clear. It was made without those conditions. It would be a different story if he made his announcement under those conditions. We didn't run away from our country. We just came out of it to work for bringing about democracy, human rights and internal peace in our country.—Aung Moe Zaw, chairman of the Democratic Party for a New Society


Change Can only Come from Within




 I am watching the situation. I will go back next month. It will be better for artists like us to exist inside the country as we have more audiences there. Changes for Burma can only come from inside the country. We can't make changes from exile.—Godzilla, comedian




Too Soon to Think of Returning

We still can't consider going back home just because President Thein Sein said his government will consider leniency for us. The starting point for resolving Burma's current problems has yet to be reached, as long as our colleagues who remain behind bars for their beliefs are not released. Why did we leave our country? We did so because we believe that our country and people will only be in a situation conducive to peace and prosperity when there is no longer a dictatorship and we are able to establish a democratic system. The recent developments in Burma haven't met with any prospect that will help to realize our desire, so I would say that going home is still something we shouldn't think about.—Nyi Nyi Aung, former political prisoner and a current US citizen who was temporarily detained while visiting Burma last year.




No Return without Reunion


I was glad to hear that the president invited exiles to come back. But things that happened in the past make it difficult for us to believe his offer. Burma's previous military leaders asked students who participated in a nationwide pro-democracy uprising in 1988 and left the country after the military coup in September of the same year to come back. What happened to those who returned? Some disappeared, while others were imprisoned. Their lives were gradually worn down. If the government wants us to go back, there must be a guarantee. Of course, we want to go home. We have been working for 23 years because we want to go back. Who wouldn't want to go home? There are two things in our hearts—to be back in the country, and to continue our fight for what we believe in a dignified way. We don't need business opportunities or political seats. However, if the government wants to invite exiles who were involved in the 8-8-88 [August 8, 1988] uprising, they should allow them to reunite with other members of the 8-8-88 family who are still languishing in different prisons for their beliefs. As long as part of our family is in prison, the rest of us cannot be completely happy. So release the political prisoners, including the '88 generation students. Stop civil war as soon as possible. Also, recognize our efforts for genuine change and bringing about human rights in our country.—Aung Myo Min, director of the Human Rights Education Institute of Burma


Not the Answer to Burma's Problems

Inviting exiled Burmese to come home is not the answer to all of Burma's political problems. To really solve the problem, the government must enter into a dialogue with opposition groups and ethnic forces. Even though the president said his administration will allow exiles to return home, government troops are still deployed in different ethnic areas and engaged in clashes with ethnic armies almost every day.—Naw Zipporah Sein, general secretary of the Karen National Union




Improve Lives of Burma's People First

If the government really wants exiles to come back, it needs to improve the lives of people living inside the country. There are now more than 2,000 political prisoners in Burma, and they must be released. The government must also cease its military offensives in ethnic areas. We will be able to trust the recent government offer only if it is accompanied by efforts to bring about internal peace.—Wai Hnin Pwint Thon, a student of economics in London and the eldest daughter of Mya Aye, a leader of the 88 Generation Students Group




Return to be Silenced?

There is no way that we can go back inside the country and just keep our mouths shut. Even if we do go in, we will have to continue to protect local people, no matter which government rules or which companies come to invest. We have to work to bring more benefit to them. So I will only think about going home if I can fight for their benefit and what they deserve in terms of natural resources, environment and survival.—Wong Aung, coordinator of the Shwe Gas Movement


No Welcome for Former Soldiers

If dissidents in a country are to be given amnesty, the constitution of that country has to be amended first and a new law should be promulgated. It may be easy for those who were involved in political activities to go back to Burma by pledging that they will keep themselves away from politics.But it will be difficult for the return of former military personnel who participated in anti-government protests. Existing military laws and tribunals at different levels have to be revoked in order for those soldiers to go back. I don't have any plan to go home unless there is a clear announcement by the government.—Myint Wai, a former member of the Burmese air force who is currently working with the Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma.Just Another Fake AmnestyThe president said members of exiled opposition groups can go back to Burma while his government doesn't come up with any concrete plan to tackle the major issues the country faces. So we don't believe his nonsense words. It seems to me that his recent invitation was similar to his announcement of amnesty to prisoners in May, which in fact was only a one-year reduction of prison terms. It doesn't make much sense.—Aung Lart, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions


Invitation to a Tight Corner

If the government wants exiles to come back, it has to create the right environment for them to go home. It is very risky though. I mean, what are we going to do if we go back? Will we enjoy reunion with our mothers? Or will we go into business? It will be no problem if we only do those things. But if we plan to get involved in politics again or work for what we believe inside the country, we must ensure in advance that we will be able to do so. Otherwise, we will just end up being thrown into a tight corner. —Sein Win, managing editor of Mizzima News