Burmese | El-Branden Brazil

A Burmese Refugee Wanders Through Mae Sot Dump, Thailand

Photography by El-Branden Brazil

Burma’s opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is facing mounting criticism about her silence, regarding the Muslim Rohingya, who remain one of the most persecuted communities in the world. In light of the communal strife that started in 2012 and now with world attention focused upon the stranded boat people, some of whom are Rohingya, fleeing from persecution in Burma, she is feeling great pressure, as a symbol of human rights, to speak out about the Rohingya. Unfortunately, this also clashes with her other persona as a politician.

She finds herself in a deeply unenviable position, where she is trapped between how the Burmese see her and how the rest of the world sees her. For non-Burmese, she is (was) a bastion of human rights, so her silence is disappointing. For the Burmese, she is a politician, who they hope will be able to lead them out of decades of military rule towards real democracy. If she shows any sympathies for the plight of the Rohingya, she will instantly lose her base of supporters, because a vast number of Burmese are unwilling to show any compromise regarding the issue of Rohingya citizenship.

If DASSK becomes no longer a viable opposition leader, as a result of speaking out about the Rohingya, there will form a vacuum that no one can at this time fill, resulting in a further strengthening of the regime’s grip. What can she do? Either lose the respect of the international community or lose the respect of the Burmese? It would seem that her priorities remain at home, even if it means tarnishing her global image.

It is deeply regrettable that she finds herself in this position. It appears as if she has been out-maneuvered by the regime and blocked in.

Ideally, in keeping with her global image, it would have been preferable for her to have taken the human rights path, because there are too few such leaders of her status leading in this field, and the world desperately needs such lights. But, alas, idealism has very little currency in a country like Burma, where brutality and repression have dominated for decades.

Recently, a Burmese man informed me that the reason Aung San Suu Kyi has not spoken out about the plight of the Rohingya is because she shares the same opinion as the majority of Burmese. He was as certain of this, as are the human rights activists, who like to believe the opposite is true. In actual fact, none of us are privy to what her real opinion is on the matter. Either way, a lot of people are going to be disappointed, no more so than Aung San Suu Kyi herself.

Where Is The Buddha?

When I was last in Yangon, I was fortunate enough to be introduced to a true hero of Burma, whose name will remain secret, and who happened to be a Muslim. He was a genuine pioneer for human rights, fairness and secularism in politics. It was a great honour to spend time with him and to listen and learn. In life, we get few chances to meet such strident spirits of conscience.

During our meeting, which lasted two and a half hours, we discussed about so many interesting things, and I was impressed by his directness and honesty. At one point, he asked me, because I am a Buddhist, “Where is the Buddha now?”

He asked me this question not out of disrespect to my Buddhist practice, but because he wanted to test my understanding. Although he was a Muslim, as a Burmese gentleman, he had enormous respect and knowledge about the teachings of Buddhism.

I paused in thought…

“Well, where is the Buddha?” he asked sternly.

“The Buddha is here, now, everywhere,” I replied. “Gautama Siddhartha is not important. In the realisation of ultimate Truth, we learn that there is no separation of this and that. We are the Buddha, the One, but we don’t recognise it, because we are distracted by the clutter and illusions of separation that the ego entraps us in. And even though it is easy to speak of ‘the Buddha’, the label and what it represents, also has no inherent existence beyond concept.”

He smiled.

“I do not think that by labeling myself a Buddhist, or in your case, a Muslim, is enough to allow us to achieve realisation of the Truth. They are only labels, and without right practice, they are equally worthless. However, if we truly come to realise the Truth, we will find no differences, separation and divisions at all. Every mystic and wise master from every tradition around the world has spoken of the fundamental unity of all. Nirvana, God, Allah… are all labels for expressing the inexpressible beyond concept. But, as a Buddhist, I am comfortable to say that this is where the Buddha is.”

He replied, “I am very happy to meet you.”

A Bagan Buddha, Burma
Photography by El-Branden Brazil