ミャンマーのクーデターから１年１ヶ月
３月12日、上智大学根本敬教授の講演を聞いた。
2021年２月クーデターからミャンマー国軍による弾圧が続いている。NLD（国民民主同盟）が圧勝した選挙によって作られた政府を武力で倒した。非暴力の住民たちのデモを銃や機関銃で殺傷。反対する公務員を大量解雇。地方では少数民族に空爆・攻撃。官製自警団による住民監視、抑圧。報道関係者への弾圧などさまざまな犯罪的行為などか行われている。
なぜ，今の時代にこんなことがまかり通るのか、もどかしい思いでいた。講演で少しでも先がみえるかもと思って参加した。根本教授は、父親がヤンゴンの日本大使館に勤務、そこで7歳まで暮らした。国際基督教大学大学院でビルマ史を研究。ミャンマーの民主化に声を上げ続ける研究者としても有名だ。
私にとってもミャンマーは思い入れがある国だ。今まで３回訪れている。初めて訪れたのは、1997.9、ヤンゴンとペグーだ。今よりずっと経済的には遅れてはいたが、素朴さがめだった。中古バスが「小田急」と書かれたまま使われていた。２回目は2017.11、ヤンゴンとバガン。バガンはビルマ最初の王朝のあったところ、仏教寺院・遺跡が豊富にある宗教的な都市だった。３回目は2019.4ミャンマー第二の都市マンダレー。一年で最大の祭り４月の「水かけ祭り」を見た。人々はエネルギッシュに祭りを楽しんでいた。立ち寄った食堂では「富士は日本一の山」のCDをかけてくれた。しかし、現在そこで出会った人々が、抗議デモを行い、弾圧されている。心配だ。
悪の根源はミャンマー国軍だ。政府のもとで軍は国と国民を守るが原則だ。しかしミャンマー国軍は、そのような軍ではない。軍ははじめから国内の少数民族や反対派と武力で戦って殺戮の歴史を持つ。たくさんの企業群を持ち、そこからの利益はすべて軍のものだ。経済活動をする暴力団だ。自分たちの利益が侵されそうになるとクーデターを起こす。国民の支持など目にない。
ただ、2012年、2015年の選挙で国民民主連盟（NLD）が圧勝、アウンサンスーチーの政権ができ、その後10年民政期、国の開放と経済成長が続いた。その間、成長した若者たちがデモや抵抗運動の中心になっている。SNSやネットを知るZ世代だ。少し希望が持てるけど、平和なくらしが取りもどせることを願う。
根本教授も呼びかけ人の「緊急支援：クーデター下のミャンマー市民へ医療・食料支援を。」に募金した。
ウクライナの戦争も重要だが、ミャンマーも忘れてはいけない
1 year and 1 month from Myanmar coup d'etat
On March 12, I heard a lecture by Professor Takashi Nemoto of Sophia University.
The crackdown by the Myanmar Armed Forces has continued since the February 2021 coup d'etat. NLD (National League for Democracy) defeated the government created by the overwhelming election by force. Kill nonviolent people's demonstrations with guns and machine guns. Mass dismissal of civil servants who oppose. Air strikes and attacks on ethnic minorities in rural areas. Resident monitoring and oppression by government-made vigilants. Various criminal acts such as crackdowns on the press are being carried out.
I was frustrated as to why this kind of thing happened in this era. I participated in the lecture thinking that I might be able to see the future even a little. Professor Nemoto had his father working at the Japanese Embassy in Yangon, where he lived until 7 years old. He studied Burmese history at International Christian University. He is also famous as a researcher who continues to speak out for democratization in Myanmar.
Myanmar is a country that I have a strong feeling for. I visited 3 times so far. The first time I visited was September 1997, Yangon and Bago. It was far behind financially than it is now, but it was simple. The used bus was used as it was written as "Odakyu Bus". The second time is November 2017, Yangon and Bagan. Bagan was a religious city with abundant Buddhist temples and archaeological sites during the first dynasty of Burma. The third time is Mandalay on April 2019, the second largest city in Myanmar. The biggest festival of the year I went sightseeing in the "Water Festival" in April. People were energetic and enjoying the festival. At the cafeteria, the owner played a CD of Japanese song "Fuji wa nippon ichino yama". However, the people I met there are now being cracked down by protesting. I'm worried.
The source of evil is the Myanmar Armed Forces. Under the government, the military protects the country and the people in principle. However, the Myanmar Army is not such an army. From the beginning, the army has a history of slaughter by fighting with ethnic minorities and opponents in the country. The military has a large group of companies, and all profits from them belong to the military. They are gangsters who carry out economic activities. They cause a coup when their interests are violated. They don't see the support of the people.
However, in the 2012 and 2015 elections, the NLD (National League for Democracy) won overwhelmingly, and Aung San Suu Kyi's government was established. Meanwhile, grown-up young people have become the center of demonstrations and resistance movements. Generation Z who is familiar with SNS and the Internet. I have some hope for them, and I hope they can regain their peaceful life.
I raised money. Professor Nemoto called for "emergency support: medical and food support for Myanmar citizens under the coup d'etat."
The terrible war in Ukraine is important, but Myanmar should not be forgotten.