The power of nonviolence
By Shaazka Beyerle and Cynthia Boaz
Published: October 18, 2007
It was not a surprise that the Burmese junta violently cracked down on the "saffron revolution." The generals had lost all credibility in the eyes of their people, and were left with only one tool of control - repression.
But no matter how many guns and tanks they have, the generals still depend on ordinary soldiers to do their dirty work. History teaches that once enough people stop carrying out their orders, or switch sides, the junta's power will disintegrate.
Through this lens, the saffron revolution isn't over, it has just begun.
Disobedience is at the heart of nonviolent struggle. "Even the most powerful cannot rule without the cooperation of the ruled," Mahatma Gandhi said. Nonviolent movements succeed not necessarily when there are masses on the streets, but when enough people withdraw their cooperation, refuse to obey, and thus undermine the sustainability of the existing system.
Reports of defiance continue to leak out of Burma. Dissident sources report that opposition posters are appearing in public spaces, on prison walls, taped to helium balloons, and even on river rafts.
To read the full article from the International Herald Tribune, click on:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/18/opinion/edbeyerle.php
Published: October 18, 2007
It was not a surprise that the Burmese junta violently cracked down on the "saffron revolution." The generals had lost all credibility in the eyes of their people, and were left with only one tool of control - repression.
But no matter how many guns and tanks they have, the generals still depend on ordinary soldiers to do their dirty work. History teaches that once enough people stop carrying out their orders, or switch sides, the junta's power will disintegrate.
Through this lens, the saffron revolution isn't over, it has just begun.
Disobedience is at the heart of nonviolent struggle. "Even the most powerful cannot rule without the cooperation of the ruled," Mahatma Gandhi said. Nonviolent movements succeed not necessarily when there are masses on the streets, but when enough people withdraw their cooperation, refuse to obey, and thus undermine the sustainability of the existing system.
Reports of defiance continue to leak out of Burma. Dissident sources report that opposition posters are appearing in public spaces, on prison walls, taped to helium balloons, and even on river rafts.
To read the full article from the International Herald Tribune, click on:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/18/opinion/edbeyerle.php
posted by Pax Christi @ Friday, October 19, 2007
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