Khu Oo Reh, spokesperson for the United Nationalities Federal Council’s (UNFC) Delegation for Political Negotiation (DPN), press conference on 18 July, at Chatrium Hotel in Rangoon, pin-pointed the much publicized Aung San Suu Kyi’s, time and again, urging of all political stakeholders to think more about “give” than “take”.

The phrase actually comes from John F Kennedy’s famous “Inaugural Address” in Washington, D.C., on 20 January 1961. In his speech President Kennedy urges American citizens to participate in public service and “ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country.”

Suu Kyi was said to have told the UNFC delegation during the meeting on 17 July that it would be hard to implement the demand of the ethnic nationalities one hundred percent; and that they should also think what they could give from their side.

In response to Suu Kyi’s urging, Khu Oo Reh said: “Go and look at the non-Bamar ethnic states. Mountains have turned flattened, flat lands (plains) become desert, river, stream and ponds dried. Our villages were being destroyed and our population have fled to jungles and mountains. Our mineral resources have been depleted and no trees and bamboos (forest) exist any more. Now, what do you want more from us? What should we give more?”

He added: “We understood that we achieved this country’s independence together hand-in-hand. That is why we are co-owner of this country. This is the kind of equality we are talking about. Because of this we don’t need to ask (anyone) and also don’t need to give.”

The most important thing he stressed was that on how peaceful, harmonious co-existence with development could be achieved. “Everyone has the duty (to do this),” he said.

Khu Oo Reh’s frustration regarding Suu Kyi’s urging is understandable, for the militarization and oppression, coupled with economic exploitation, of the Burmese military have left a permanent scar physically and physiologically on the non-Bamar ethnic population. But this plea of Suu Kyi to consider more on “giving” to the ethnic nationalities is being interpreted as “to kowtow or give in to the Bamar domination without question”, which the ethnic nationalities fervently have been resisting all these years. In other words, the ethnic nationalities should be happy with some handout in form of minimum power devolution, anchored in Bamar-dominated unitary form of governance.

Suu Kyi should now think hard, if she wants to be in the same ideological boat with the military, which openly cater to ethnocentrism or Bamar racial supremacy thinking over all non-Bamar ethnic nationalities.