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========================================== 1............ Subject: ASEAN 2............ Subject: Burmese Culture: Part I ========================================== From: Nadi@hotvoice.com Date: Fri, 31 Dec 1999 07:55:08 -0500 (EST) To: nettime-l@bbs.thing.net Subject: ASEAN Editorial & Opinion Southeast Asia searching for solutions BY DON PATHAN The Nation - 28 December 99 ___________________________ Southeast Asia's economy may have ended the year on a positive note but there are still long-term security and political challenges to overcome, writes Don Pathan of The Nation . In Thailand, the two-year old crisis was a blessing in disguise. Sins of the past have been met with calls for transparency, accountability and good governance from the military, as well as the public and private sectors. The country's fiscal crisis has taken its toll on just about every military procurement project, thus ending years of frivolous spending and shopping sprees for military hardware that critics said might or might not enhance country's overall defence capability. A frigate without a minesweeper is a useless frigate, indeed. Moreover, the move towards reforming the armed forces is well on the way and a new batch of officers is being trained to command units that are leaner, meaner and quicker. A new defence mandate aimed at uniting all forces under one tactical command is also in the pipeline. Army Chief Gen Surayudh Chulanont has kept his promise to take the military out of politics and educate the men to make them ''professional soldiers''. But the making of a respected institution means giving up scores of radio stations, as well as a number of army-owned enterprises. The idea of putting their future in the hands of civilians might not sit well with many of the top brass. Nevertheless, all are agreed that there is no turning back. This year also saw the Thai military's ego get a big boost with the departure of about 1,850 troops to East Timor on a peacekeeping mission. Thailand was made second in command after Australia in a multinational peacekeeping operation in the war-torn island nation. In Indonesia, the world was brutally jolted when its fourth most populous nation was brought to the brink of collapse. A near-blind Muslim cleric with great vision for diplomacy and good governance stepped into the political arena and restored a sense of hope. Abdularahman Wahid is an Indonesian president extraordinaire. Besides East Timor, which had drifted violently towards independence, Indonesia is currently witnessing calls for separation and autonomy in other parts of its territory. The country's military is keeping a low profile as it licks its wounds from the violence in East Timor. But though it may be down, no one is counting it out. *Trouble-plagued Burma* got a wake-up call when five armed dissidents stormed the country's embassy in Bangkok, taking diplomats and foreigners hostage at gunpoint and stating their grievances to a world that doesn't seem to be listening. In spite of the fact that the 25-hour crisis ended peacefully with no bloodshed, the aftermath resulted in a drastic downturn in Thai-Burmese relations. It was also a big blow for the so-called Asean solidarity. Meanwhile, the Rangoon government's offensive against the ethnic rebel armies is reportedly moving into full swing and more refugees are expected to flood over the border into Thailand in the coming days. Talk of Tokyo aiding Rangoon financially in return for economic reform may not go down too well with Burmese dissident groups but many are taking silence from Washington as a tacit sign of approval. After all, say Bangkok-based diplomats, neither Washington nor Tokyo would like to see Rangoon drift further into the hands of Beijing. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if the new American administration will carry the ''free Burma'' torch of Secretary of State Madeline Albright, sometime referred to as the ''Burma Desk Officer''. Burmese dissidents say Washington's rhetoric against Rangoon is likely to fade away with Albright's departure as the next administration takes over after the American presidential election next year. Land-locked Laos was brutally jolted after a group of students, disgusted at the way things are going -- or perhaps at the way things aren't going -- were reportedly planning to stage a public protest. Vientiane was dumbstruck by the unprecedented incident because never before had anybody dared to question the Communist rule. The move was stopped before it got off the ground but those in the know said the issue is far from over. Along the Thai-Malay border, the threats of the old days have faded with more cross-border links between ethnic Malays. Thai Muslims in the South are delighted at the outcome of the recent general election in Malaysia that resulted in the expansion of the Islamic party, PAS, in Malaysia's northern states. On the Thai side of the border, community and religious leaders say Bangkok has to get over the old fear of armed separatists and look to PAS in terms of what it has to offer. Outspoken Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohammad called on the region to form its own security forum but did not elaborate on the nature of the proposed body or how it would be any different from the half-hearted Asean Regional Forum, often referred to as a ''talk shop''. Meanwhile, future joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines aimed at turning the bilateral tie into equal partnership will replace the outdated security arrangement. The Philippines is supposed to feel that it's on an equal footing with the American military but it is well understood that the bilateral defence agreements between the US and a number of countries in the region will continue to be the main security arrangement for some time to come. In Cambodia, the collapse of Khmer Rouge has enabled the government to cut back on military spending. But a planned tribunal to try former KR leaders could very well turn out to be a mockery of justice. If a compromise between the western countries and Cambodia cannot be reached, Phnom Penh ties with the international community could go into a tailspin again. Talk of upgrading the Asean Regional Forum from a talk-shop on ''confidence building measure'' to an organisation with teeth capable of managing conflicts received a boost at the 1999 ministerial meeting in Singapore. However, Asean's call for a ''code of conduct'' in the South China Sea for countries engaged in territorial disputes doesn't seem to have a chance of survival unless common ground can be found between Beijing and other claimants. Meanwhile, Beijing continues to play hardball with its neighbouring countries, particularly those with overlapping claims, refusing to negotiate with them in a multinational forum. Instead, the Chinese are calling on these countries to engage them in a bilateral setting. To deal with hot issues that may pop up unexpectedly, Asean has proposed setting up a ''troika'' similar to the three member ad-hoc committee that helped end the dispute between the two warring Cambodian factions two years ago. It is believed that its small size would help it respond more quickly than Asean could acting as a whole. The idea is still floating in the air, however, and more debates will come up in the near future. All in all, Southeast Asia in 1999 was shaped by events that called for political changes and questioned the old social and political models that have sustained decades of economic growth. If the trend continues, such concepts as ''Asian values'' or ''Asean ways'' may no longer be a thing of the past. Until then, nations in the region will continue to do more soul-searching in order to find ways to meet the challenges of the future in a sustainable manner. ___________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Free Global voice.fax.e-mail mailbox at http://www.hotvoice.com From: Nadi@hotvoice.com Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2000 08:18:38 -0500 (EST) To: nettime-l@bbs.thing.net Subject: Burmese Culture: Part I Burmese Culture: Part I Excerpts from COLORFUL MYANMAR by Khin Myo Chi #Pagodas and What They Mean to Buddhists *Pagodas: romance and legend It all began, long before I was old enough to understand that stupas and pagodas symbolize the great wisdom and compassion of the Buddha to whom we owe our way of life, our philosophy, our culture and above all, our fortitude that helps us to survive all trials that life has to offer. My earliest memories are of the green wooded hills rising out of the wide flowing river Ayeyawady. On every hill top I saw one lone pagoda or a group of threes and fours, some gilded, others whitewashed and gleaming. Since I had many opportunities to make trips up and down the river, pagodas on hill tops remain one of my happiest recollections of childhood. Of the first things I learned about pagodas nothing had to do with the intellectual side of Buddhism but all was full of colour and romance. Once, while we were crossing the river from Mandalay to Sagaing in a small flat-bottomed boat (it was long before the beautiful Inwa bridge was built) we headed towards the long dark range of thickly wooded hills, crested with shining pagodas, and the tinkling bells from their htis as the fretted wrought iron spires on top of the pagodas are called, chimed welcome to us. Colonnaded stair-ways zig-zagged through the flowering foliages. They looked so inviting that I could hardly wait to run up the steps and reach the pagodas up there. *Why the pagoda was guarded: the story It was then that my grandfather drew my attention to the twin pagodas on the high rocky cliff, on the Mandalay side, "Raise your hands in prayer," grandfather said, "and make a wish, for any wish made at these pagodas will be granted." I did as I was told, and made a wish that guavas and mangoes in my grandfathers orchard might be ripe and sweet, ready for eating. Grandfather smiled and said: "Well done my child. You know, in the days of the ancient Myanmar kings these pagodas were heavily guarded." Naturally, I asked why, and as usual this led to my grandfather telling a story which runs like this: Once a prince, feeling ill-used by his elder brother the reigning king, planned a revolt. He came to the twin pagodas and made an offering of robes to the Buddha image there. When he did so, the image suddenly moved and stretched out his hands to receive the gift. Later the prince won the coup and became king. One of the first things he did on ascending the throne was to put guards round the pagoda because he did not want anyone else to go there and make a wish to dethrone him. *Pagodas in war If, at one time, these same pagodas were involved in war, they were at another time instrumental in bringing peace. It was on the precincts of the same pagoda that Rajadirit, the Mon king who had marched up there with his invading forces, decided to go home in peace. Rajadirit was within a few minutes march to Inwa, the Myanmar capital, and he was just waiting for zero hour to strike. From the pagoda platform, the king took a view of the beautiful land he was going to conquer; the range of hills skirted with sand bands rested on the river; high on the hills were spired pagodas gleaming in the pale moon-light: there was no sound but the tinkling of bells from pagoda spires. It was a pity that the same sweet, solemn air would be stained with blood and strewn with the slain, the noblest and the bravest of the country's people. Thus when the emissaries from the Myanmar king came, Rajadirit accepted the peace; terms and went home. Before he departed, he built a rest house on the hill, where the twin pagodas now stand as a gift to pilgrims and devotees, a Buddhist way of showing loving kindness. *Good deeds at the pagoda The earliest lessons I ever hat on Buddhisrn were from the visits to pagodas. Here, in front of the Buddha image, I first learned to recite: "I take refuge in Buddha, I take refuge in His Teachings, I take refuge in the Buddha, His order of the Yellow Robe." And as I wandered on the precincts of pagodas, I could not help but notice the sculptures and paintings. Of course, I asked questions. All the works of art depict scenes from the Buddha's life and birth-stories, called the Jatakas. With no comic strips to read in those days, visits to pagodas with my grandfather telling stories were treats. I did not realize the principles of the Buddhas's teachings were instilled into my young mind then and there. They were given in almost imperceptible doses in the stories and parables depicted in paintings and sculptures round the pagodas. *Religious lessons As I helped my grandparents sweep the pagoda grounds, I knew I was doing meritorious deed that would help me to go up the ladder of life, in the unending round of rebirth. The round of rebirth meant to me that what I did in this present life would determine what I would become and I felt hopeful. Never mind, if I were a plain girl with nondescript looks; no use moaning over it; I might be reborn a statuesque beauty, if I did deeds of merit like helping older people sweep the pagoda grounds, and offering flowers and candles to the memory of the Buddha there . I was taught to be responsible for what I would be in the future. This sense of responsibility for using the present moment or life the right way lasted all through my life, and the same has sustained me in times of stress, after all, I, no one but I, myself, who would have to answer for my own actions, good or bad. The past is past, it is my privilege and responsibility to make the best of the present and the future will be taken care of. This after all, is the basis of Buddhism. *Recreation, education and refuge So much for childhood impressions. We do not outgrow the pagodas, even as the years creep upon us; pagodas remain very much an integral part of our life. As teenagers we wallow in songs and poems where lovers sing of the troth plighted at "the golden pagoda up the hill": and we shed tears over the stories of broken-hearted ladies who built pagodas in memory of their loved ones. Then the pagodas opened out to us a vast wonderland of romance, colour and Iyrical beauties; there seemed to be no limit to fancy and imagination. In real life too it is at the pagodas that lovers plight their troth and it is there that a newly-married couple will make offerings of flowers and candles. In their hearts is the belief that they meet and love in this life, because of the goods deeds they had done together in their past lives. By doing good deeds together again in this life, they strengthen their bond of love, and they feel blessed and secure in the refuge of the Buddha and His teachings. Sitting on the pagoda platform side by side, each with offerings of flowers and candles in hand, a married-couple or plighted lovers often feel that their love for each other has risen from the common and the earthy to spiritual heights. *Pagoda in an adult life As children, pagodas offer us recreation as well as education; as youths, the sylvan fields of romance and poetry; in our years of maturity, they give us relaxation and a sense of security and refuge; in our old age solace and comfort. One of our greatest pleasures at this time is to lead our grandchildren once again down the familiar paths in the wonderland of stories and parables, coping with their eager questions, as they point their little greasy fingers at the sculptured figures and paintings. Yes, as Buddhists, we go to pagodas, at all times of our lives, in all moods, in joy or in sorrow, or to seek peace and quiet from the stress and strain of life. *Centres of social and cultural activities Pagodas are also centres of social, cultural and commercial activities. They are often the rendezvous for communal almsgiving to the monks, wherein people contribute their share. There are annual festivals, which are, especially in country areas, trade fairs; people kill two birds with one stone, so to say, by marketing their wares and at the same time, gaining merit by paying respects to the memory of the Buddha at shrines, and making contributions towards the repair and upkeep of the pagodas. *Why no monuments for kings and great men? Although we have thousands of pagodas, built during more than ten centuries of history, we do not have statues of kings and great men, with the exception of the statue of King Kyansittha in Anandatemple, Bagan; and even he, it must be noted, is represented not in all his power and glory, but kneeling with his hands raised, a true disciple of the Buddha. We also do not have grand tombs and monuments in memory of our great men in history; the only ones we have are of King Alaungpaya in Shwebo and King Mindon and his queen, in Mandalay. Why no tombs of Anawrahta or Kyansittha? *No storied urns or animated busts Why indeed! Perhaps I may be allowed to make a guess, which might be no worse than the next person's. Lack of objects like statues and tombs of kings and great men might be attributed to the doctrine of impermanence. It is not in our national character to glorify the dead, neither is it neglect or callousness, but that idea which may be summed up in Thomas Gray's famous lines; Can storied um or animated bust . Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath. Can honour's voice provoke the silent dust Or flattery soothe the dull cold ear of death? Since kings in their glory, soldiers in their triumphs, artists in their renown, all must die and turn to dust, Buddhists see no point in raising monuments in their memory, or casting their likeness in sculpture. All that glory, all that wealth, all that fame, being the result of what a man had done in his past lives, it is more sensible to do deeds of merit like building pagodas in his memory so that he can have a share of the deed of merit and go up the ladder of life: There is also the underlying humility, with which Buddhists accept the fact that however glorious one's own present life may be, it is nothing compared to the greatness of the Buddha, and that if one at all were to achieve greatness, it is only through following His teachings. *Unifying element Pagodas are also a unifying element in Myanmar Buddhist life. People may have differences over many things, but these differences disappear when there is a pagoda to be built or repaired, or a festival to be organised. Everybody rallies round, rich and poor, high and low, giving whatever they can either in cash or in kind or in labour towards the deed of merit. Historically no less than in the present, pagoda provide a quite centre in the whirlwind of life's turbulence. END EXCERTPS. __________________________________________________________________________ Free Global voice.fax.e-mail mailbox at http://www.hotvoice.com # distributed via <nettime>: no commercial use without permission # <nettime> is a moderated mailing list for net criticism, # collaborative text filtering and cultural politics of the nets # more info: majordomo@bbs.thing.net and "info nettime-l" in the msg body # archive: http://www.nettime.org contact: nettime@bbs.thing.net