A documentary road movie following the journalists of Burmese independent…
On the Inside of a Military Dictatorship
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- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
The entire world praised the military and Aung San Suu Kyi, when power was passed on to the democracy icon after 50 years of military dictatorship. One year later, she defended an ethnic cleansing and had isolated herself from the public. This film tells you why.
On the Inside of a Military Dictatorship takes its audience back to when the military made their master plan for a so-called disciplined democracy in Myanmar and wrote a very scripted role for their enemy no. 1; Aung San Suu Kyi. In a dramatic way, the film builds the character- and story set-up to take us anew into the crisis we know from the news – however, with a radically different perspective. The story is based on unique acces to the key players in this complicated reality, including Aung San Suu Kyi and previous President Thein Sein.
It's the story of how power struggles unfold and how political enemies can end up being closer than the ones they claim to fight for: the people.
The audience gets deeper and deeper into this complex world of power driven by peculiar characters and even astrology.
Citation
Main credits
								Poulsen, Karen Stokkendal (film director)
Poulsen, Karen Stokkendal (screenwriter)
Poulsen, Karen Stokkendal (narrator)
Vogel, Vibeke (film producer)
Montmartin, Valérie (film producer)
							
Other credits
Cinematography, Sturla Brandth Grøvlen, Troels Rasmus Jensen, Talib Rasmussen, DFF; editor, Giles Gardner; composer, Uno Helmersson.
Distributor subjects
No distributor subjects provided.Keywords
WEBVTT
 
 00:00:09.600 --> 00:00:13.560
 The brutal Burmese military operation
 against Rohingya Muslims
 
 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:17.680
 is at risk of spiralling into
 an ethnic cleansing campaign.
 
 00:00:17.840 --> 00:00:21.280
 The UN says almost 150,000 Rohingyas
 
 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:24.600
 have fled the country
 since the military operation began.
 
 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:31.520
 The entire area has been burned out.
 The residents are evidently all gone.
 
 00:00:31.680 --> 00:00:34.040
 (crackling fire)
 
 00:00:34.200 --> 00:00:39.240
 These satellite images from Human Rights
 Watch show the extent of the destruction.
 
 00:00:39.400 --> 00:00:44.040
 It shows that the government of Burma
 does not have the situation under control.
 
 00:00:44.200 --> 00:00:47.320
 Nobel Peace Prize laureate,
 Aung San Suu Kyi, is facing
 
 00:00:47.480 --> 00:00:51.040
 mounting criticism
 for her handling of the violence.
 
 00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:55.320
 The situation remains
 a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.
 
 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:14.240
 We\'re in Burma, where
 a historic tragedy has just unfolded.
 
 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:19.360
 An ethnic cleansing
 committed by a military regime
 
 00:01:19.520 --> 00:01:25.200
 and ignored by the world\'s
 most praised democracy icon.
 
 00:01:25.360 --> 00:01:29.560
 Let me take you back
 to where it all began.
 
 00:01:30.840 --> 00:01:36.840
 For 50 years, Burma was held
 in a tight grip by a military dictatorship.
 
 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:41.520
 The world and the people put
 all their hopes in one woman.
 
 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:47.520
 Aung San Suu Kyi. She was kept
 in house arrest for nearly 20 years
 
 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:51.840
 but never gave up
 her quest for democracy.
 
 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:56.440
 The military was heavily sanctioned
 and isolated from the world.
 
 00:01:56.600 --> 00:01:58.480
 They wanted to befriend the West
 
 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:02.760
 but knew that the West
 only accepted one currency.
 
 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:05.800
 Democracy.
 
 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:11.360
 So they announced a road map
 that would lead to democratic elections
 
 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:16.040
 and to prove their intent
 they released their enemy number one.
 
 00:02:16.200 --> 00:02:20.640
 (people talking in the background)
 
 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:22.800
 (sirens)
 
 00:02:22.960 --> 00:02:30.160
 (bell ringing)
 
 00:02:33.800 --> 00:02:38.720
 The most prominent of the military
 generals took off their green uniforms
 
 00:02:38.880 --> 00:02:43.640
 and put on
 the white, civilian outfits.
 
 00:02:45.320 --> 00:02:47.600
 Many generals stayed in uniform,
 
 00:02:47.760 --> 00:02:53.440
 but the country was now to be governed
 by the leaders in white.
 
 00:02:53.680 --> 00:03:00.280
 I never expected to become president
 or ever dreamed of becoming one.
 
 00:03:00.440 --> 00:03:09.000
 After I became president, as head of
 the government, I selected the cabinet.
 
 00:03:09.160 --> 00:03:14.360
 Most of the ministers I chose were
 from the previous military government.
 
 00:03:14.520 --> 00:03:20.240
 Most are well educated
 and experienced in what they do.
 
 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:27.040
 But neither they nor I had any idea
 of how to transition into democracy.
 
 00:03:27.200 --> 00:03:32.120
 We had been living without democracy
 for more than 50 years.
 
 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:58.440
 Institutions in those days were
 aligned to the military regime.
 
 00:03:58.600 --> 00:04:05.160
 We had no idea about how to rebuild
 the institutions. It was very difficult.
 
 00:04:05.320 --> 00:04:07.880
 We were thinking,
 \"This will be so difficult
 
 00:04:08.040 --> 00:04:12.240
 with the military regime
 and democratic government.\"
 
 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:15.960
 It\'s so different,
 a 180 degree turn.
 
 00:04:16.120 --> 00:04:21.400
 From the top to the bottom,
 you obeyed orders.
 
 00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:24.760
 That is a different style.
 
 00:04:44.400 --> 00:04:46.000
 (sounds of clapping)
 
 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:49.720
 When President Thein Sein
 came to power,
 
 00:04:49.880 --> 00:04:53.680
 I was asked to take responsibility
 for the political reform.
 
 00:04:53.840 --> 00:05:01.080
 And from that time onwards,
 I became deeply involved.
 
 00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:07.640
 Democracy is ruled by the people,
 it\'s for the people.
 
 00:05:07.800 --> 00:05:11.400
 And the government has to act
 
 00:05:11.560 --> 00:05:15.600
 in accordance with
 the desire of the people.
 
 00:05:15.760 --> 00:05:17.760
 Whether it is right or wrong.
 
 00:05:27.520 --> 00:05:29.760
 (sound of gate opening)
 
 00:05:36.920 --> 00:05:39.360
 (sound of printing machine)
 
 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:48.080
 Before 2010, the country was ruled
 by military dictators.
 
 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:52.680
 The result, as they know themselves,
 was widespread poverty.
 
 00:05:52.840 --> 00:05:58.600
 A failed state, restrictions and
 sanctions imposed by Western countries.
 
 00:05:58.760 --> 00:06:01.000
 And a lot of other issues.
 
 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:10.640
 But their intention wasn\'t to pursue
 democratic principles.
 
 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:17.640
 Rather, the constitution helps them
 prolong the military rule with reforms.
 
 00:06:17.800 --> 00:06:27.080
 Reforms that help strengthen
 good relations with Western countries.
 
 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:30.440
 (people talking in the background)
 
 00:06:30.600 --> 00:06:36.280
 If we think back to the situation, even
 in the early 90\'s, this was a country
 
 00:06:36.440 --> 00:06:41.200
 which had sanctioned itself. A military
 regime that had isolated itself
 
 00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:45.080
 and was in some ways quite happy
 in isolation for a quarter of a century.
 
 00:06:54.880 --> 00:07:00.240
 If they really wanted to reform
 the bureaucracy, to change the mentality,
 
 00:07:00.400 --> 00:07:03.680
 they needed help and exposure to the
 West and the international community.
 
 00:07:03.840 --> 00:07:06.200
 And help from
 the international financial institutions,
 
 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:10.080
 like the World Bank,
 the IMF and ADB.
 
 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:12.960
 And so, because the government
 had a very different agenda
 
 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:17.440
 than the military regime before, lifting
 sanctions suddenly became a priority.
 
 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:20.560
 (sound of chair being dragged)
 
 00:07:24.040 --> 00:07:28.080
 Top generals in the military
 were fully aware
 
 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:34.520
 that no military rule in any country is
 accepted by the international community.
 
 00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:40.400
 So the military knew that it would have
 to hand power to a civilian government.
 
 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:42.800
 (sound of chair being dragged)
 
 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:46.920
 From the Western countries\'
 point of view,
 
 00:07:47.080 --> 00:07:53.560
 military coups and a military playing
 a vital role in politics are unacceptable.
 
 00:08:12.080 --> 00:08:16.440
 In the last 20 years,
 we\'ve lived under very strict sanctions.
 
 00:08:16.600 --> 00:08:19.600
 Politically,
 diplomatically, economically.
 
 00:08:19.760 --> 00:08:22.120
 (sounds of photos being taken)
 
 00:08:22.280 --> 00:08:24.280
 The president understands,
 
 00:08:24.440 --> 00:08:29.200
 that without the participation of
 Aung San Suu Kyi in the political process
 
 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:34.200
 we cannot integrate
 with the international community.
 
 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:37.320
 Between Aung San Suu Kyi
 and the military government,
 
 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:39.480
 there is quite a difference of ideas.
 
 00:08:39.640 --> 00:08:43.320
 So some made a remark
 behind the president\'s back,
 
 00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:48.000
 saying that he\'s trying to give
 life back to the already dead tiger.
 
 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:09.680
 As a few empty seats in Parliament
 have to be filled
 
 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:14.720
 the leaders in white let Aung San Suu
 Kyi participate in bi-elections.
 
 00:09:14.880 --> 00:09:18.480
 The elections were symbolic
 and the stakes were small.
 
 00:09:18.640 --> 00:09:24.680
 With only 8% of seats contested,
 it brought with it little power.
 
 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:28.240
 But this was a way of getting inside.
 
 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:37.160
 Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has
 taken her place in Myanmar\'s Parliament,
 
 00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:42.280
 ushering in a new political era
 after years of military dictatorship.
 
 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:46.280
 The Nobel Peace laureate and
 other newly elected members of her party
 
 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:48.920
 pledged to safeguard the constitution.
 
 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:51.080
 It\'s quite a change for a woman
 
 00:09:51.240 --> 00:09:55.760
 who has been incarcerated
 most of the last 20 years.
 
 00:09:55.920 --> 00:09:57.960
 (sounds of photos being taken)
 
 00:09:58.120 --> 00:10:03.800
 So when we arrived at the Parliament,
 there was a lot of media.
 
 00:10:05.560 --> 00:10:10.480
 I told them: \"Hey, rebels are coming,
 rebels are coming.\"
 
 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:25.280
 Well, actually we are rebels, because we
 have struggled for nearly three decades.
 
 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:29.200
 (speaking in Burmese)
 
 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:36.200
 And they regarded us as above
 ground insurgents. Not underground.
 
 00:10:38.560 --> 00:10:42.480
 Aung San Suu Kyi and her party
 only hold 8% of seats in Parliament,
 
 00:10:42.640 --> 00:10:46.800
 so at first glance,
 they don\'t seem to have much leverage.
 
 00:10:48.880 --> 00:10:50.160
 (speaking in Burmese)
 
 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:54.160
 I swear to respect the constitution.
 
 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:58.520
 (speaking in Burmese)
 
 00:10:58.680 --> 00:11:02.760
 Our objective was
 to continue our struggle
 
 00:11:02.920 --> 00:11:05.720
 based on our political principles.
 
 00:11:05.880 --> 00:11:09.160
 And to get a truly democratic state.
 
 00:11:11.760 --> 00:11:14.520
 I have tremendous good will
 towards the military.
 
 00:11:14.680 --> 00:11:19.400
 It doesn\'t bother me to sit with them.
 I\'m pleased to sit together with them.
 
 00:11:19.560 --> 00:11:23.200
 But you would like either to reduce
 their presence or not have them here?
 
 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:27.640
 We would like our Parliament to be
 in line with genuine democratic values.
 
 00:11:27.800 --> 00:11:30.360
 It\'s not because we want
 to remove anybody as such.
 
 00:11:38.160 --> 00:11:44.400
 Lack of confidence... If you have
 to pinpoint the greatest weakness
 
 00:11:44.560 --> 00:11:50.640
 that\'s it, lack of trust and confidence.
 Nobody trusts anybody.
 
 00:11:50.800 --> 00:11:55.480
 This is a result of years and years
 of dictatorship.
 
 00:11:55.640 --> 00:12:00.200
 You always have to be careful, you don\'t
 know who is informing on whom.
 
 00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:05.520
 This lack of trust has seeped into
 our very bones, in a sense.
 
 00:12:05.680 --> 00:12:08.800
 So this does not help
 to bring about reconciliation.
 
 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:19.720
 While the leaders in white
 continued their efforts,
 
 00:12:19.880 --> 00:12:22.600
 the devil was in the detail.
 
 00:12:22.760 --> 00:12:25.080
 The military had written a constitution,
 
 00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:29.680
 in which they had set out
 their rules for democracy.
 
 00:12:30.640 --> 00:12:33.560
 It had become their most sacred book.
 
 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:38.200
 It stated that none of the generals could
 ever be prosecuted for sins of the past.
 
 00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:42.880
 (yelling of orders)
 
 00:12:43.040 --> 00:12:46.880
 Nor could any civilian government
 ever rule over the military.
 
 00:12:49.280 --> 00:12:55.720
 And they would keep security,
 border and defence within their power.
 
 00:12:57.080 --> 00:13:01.960
 (yelling of orders)
 
 00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:06.040
 A quarter of the seats in Parliament
 were reserved for the military
 
 00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:12.800
 to ensure that the book itself could
 never be changed without their will.
 
 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:18.240
 It is our main responsibility
 to protect the constitution.
 
 00:13:19.560 --> 00:13:23.800
 According to
 the Constitution of Myanmar,
 
 00:13:23.960 --> 00:13:30.440
 the military\'s primary duty
 is to protect and uphold
 
 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:34.000
 the Constitutional Law of Myanmar.
 
 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:41.840
 Oh, and one last detail
 put in the book:
 
 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:47.160
 Aung San Suu Kyi could never become
 the country\'s president.
 
 00:13:50.160 --> 00:13:56.320
 The military sees
 Aung San Sui Kyi as their enemy.
 
 00:13:56.480 --> 00:14:00.320
 They don\'t trust her at all.
 
 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:07.000
 So to prevent her
 from ever becoming president,
 
 00:14:07.160 --> 00:14:13.160
 they put the clause 59(f)
 into the constitution,
 
 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:17.320
 specifically to prevent Aung San Suu Kyi
 from becoming president.
 
 00:14:17.480 --> 00:14:21.200
 I think one has to accept that there
 are some elements at the military,
 
 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:26.360
 who think that they are the only ones
 capable of keeping the country together.
 
 00:14:26.520 --> 00:14:31.280
 This is not surprising, because
 they were in power for more than 50...
 
 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:36.800
 They still are, in a sense, in power,
 because of the constitution.
 
 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:42.520
 The first military coup that established
 the long-term military rule in Burma
 
 00:14:42.680 --> 00:14:48.000
 took place in 1962. So if you
 count it from then, it\'s over 50 years.
 
 00:14:48.160 --> 00:14:52.840
 After 50 years at the helm, it\'s not
 surprising, they got used to thinking
 
 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:56.400
 they were the only ones capable
 of keeping the country together.
 
 00:14:56.560 --> 00:14:59.520
 (sounds of photos being taken)
 
 00:14:59.680 --> 00:15:09.720
 (people talking in the background)
 
 00:15:09.880 --> 00:15:12.560
 Now there is a new generation
 
 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:16.920
 that is yelling and demanding:
 \"You are our mother.\"
 
 00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:20.880
 \"We have no hope for our future.\"
 
 00:15:21.040 --> 00:15:23.720
 \"So please be our saviour.\"
 
 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:33.200
 She has the ability
 
 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:38.720
 to become an esteemed leader.
 
 00:15:40.280 --> 00:15:45.320
 She has clearly declared: \"I want to
 be president. I will be the president.\"
 
 00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:48.520
 She was very clear about that.
 
 00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:54.880
 But, when you talk about clause 59(f),
 the most important part is the (f).
 
 00:15:55.040 --> 00:16:00.280
 It simply bars Aung San Suu Kyi
 of ever becoming president.
 
 00:16:01.160 --> 00:16:04.920
 As the book couldn\'t be touched
 by anyone but the military,
 
 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:10.640
 Aung San Suu Kyi saw only one way
 of becoming the country\'s president:
 
 00:16:10.800 --> 00:16:15.200
 To talk directly to them and
 convince them to remove the clause.
 
 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:20.520
 But nobody seemed interested
 in such talks.
 
 00:16:21.760 --> 00:16:26.200
 Only one man
 was willing to listen to her.
 
 00:16:27.920 --> 00:16:32.240
 (talking in Burmese)
 
 00:16:32.400 --> 00:16:34.040
 (hammering)
 
 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:44.040
 Once the third-highest ranking general
 in the entire military dictatorship,
 
 00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:51.040
 Shwe Mann had expected to become
 the president in the new democratic era.
 
 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:56.120
 But when appointments were made
 by the outgoing dictator in 2010,
 
 00:16:56.280 --> 00:17:01.800
 he was bypassed when
 the grand posts were handed out.
 
 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:06.040
 Shwe Mann was only given the position
 as Speaker of Parliament,
 
 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:10.960
 and not even included
 in the president\'s cabinet.
 
 00:17:16.320 --> 00:17:18.560
 (speaking in Burmese)
 
 00:17:20.520 --> 00:17:24.120
 The attempt to side-line
 an ambitious man should turn out
 
 00:17:24.280 --> 00:17:28.520
 to cause unexpected troubles
 for the leaders in white.
 
 00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:33.000
 The enemy of your enemy
 is your friend.
 
 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:37.840
 I think that\'s what happened.
 
 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:44.160
 He is a very smooth operator.
 
 00:17:44.320 --> 00:17:47.040
 He is a politician.
 
 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:56.760
 His colluding with her and the NLD
 did severe damage to our party.
 
 00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:59.600
 (sounds of photos being taken)
 
 00:17:59.760 --> 00:18:03.200
 He is thinking of
 his personal agenda.
 
 00:18:03.360 --> 00:18:09.280
 He is thinking of those days when
 he thought he would become president.
 
 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:14.040
 (sounds of photos being taken
 and talking in Burmese)
 
 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:20.080
 But up until now, Aung San Suu Kyi
 has had very little knowledge
 
 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:23.200
 of how the government system works.
 
 00:18:23.360 --> 00:18:27.000
 And what happened in the last 20 years
 on the military and government side.
 
 00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:30.960
 So I think,
 whether she liked it or not,
 
 00:18:31.120 --> 00:18:36.520
 she needed someone who could share
 their knowledge and give advice.
 
 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:41.320
 She\'s planning how to play
 
 00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:45.800
 with these strong people
 in the military.
 
 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:50.480
 (sounds of photos being taken
 and talking in Burmese)
 
 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:56.320
 I think that she thinks that
 it will be workable with Shwe Mann.
 
 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:59.280
 But in politics, there are no friends
 and no enemies.
 
 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:03.720
 Sometimes you are friends,
 sometimes you are enemies.
 
 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:07.560
 Sometimes hostility,
 and sometimes friendship.
 
 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:14.880
 Aung San Suu Kyi thinks
 
 00:19:15.040 --> 00:19:20.480
 that Shwe Mann will be able to amend
 the constitution and the 59(f).
 
 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:26.600
 Because to amend it you need
 at least one vote from the military.
 
 00:19:26.760 --> 00:19:32.080
 So she thinks that Shwe Mann
 can deliver the result.
 
 00:19:34.360 --> 00:19:37.120
 Shwe Mann agreed
 
 00:19:37.280 --> 00:19:41.920
 to discuss a motion in the Parliament
 for the amendment of the constitution.
 
 00:19:42.080 --> 00:19:46.840
 We have already set up a committee
 to amend the constitution.
 
 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:51.080
 They are now observing
 and analysing the constitution.
 
 00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:55.640
 To amend 59(f) in the constitution...
 
 00:19:57.720 --> 00:20:01.720
 You\'ll need the vote
 of 75% plus one.
 
 00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:07.320
 And the army holds
 25% of the seats in the Parliament.
 
 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:13.200
 It is impossible!
 75% plus the military\'s 25%.
 
 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:18.040
 We know that it is impossible.
 
 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:21.880
 He pretends to do that.
 I support you, I support you...
 
 00:20:22.040 --> 00:20:24.360
 (sounds of photos being taken)
 
 00:20:24.520 --> 00:20:33.320
 The rumour was that Aung San Suu Kyi
 would eventually make him president.
 
 00:20:36.800 --> 00:20:40.520
 He knew that amending
 the constitution was impossible,
 
 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:43.880
 but it would buy her loyalty.
 
 00:20:44.040 --> 00:20:47.640
 In the event of
 a future election victory,
 
 00:20:47.800 --> 00:20:50.240
 Aung San Suu Kyi
 would nominate the president.
 
 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:52.920
 Even if she couldn\'t become one herself.
 
 00:20:53.080 --> 00:20:58.080
 The Union Parliament continued
 its session in Naypyidaw on Thursday.
 
 00:20:58.240 --> 00:21:02.360
 Members of the Parliament continued
 to discuss a section of the bill,
 
 00:21:02.520 --> 00:21:07.720
 amending the constitution of
 the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
 
 00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:13.320
 He spent 40 years in the military
 together with us.
 
 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:17.320
 (people talking in the background)
 
 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:25.720
 He betrayed the military. So no one
 in the military would accept that.
 
 00:21:34.600 --> 00:21:36.760
 The amendment bill was not enacted.
 
 00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:40.000
 Parliament Speaker Shwe Mann
 told the legislator,
 
 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:44.520
 after the 388 votes
 in favour of change
 
 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:51.800
 fell below the threshold of
 75% of lawmakers needed for it to pass.
 
 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:56.600
 (sound of a motorbike)
 
 00:21:59.160 --> 00:22:02.240
 But things didn\'t turn out his way.
 
 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:08.840
 Having betrayed the military, he never
 got the chance to run for the presidency.
 
 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:13.400
 When we arrived at the party office
 around midnight last night
 
 00:22:13.560 --> 00:22:19.800
 we saw many police cars circling
 the neighbourhood.
 
 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:24.240
 There was tight security at
 the military party\'s headquarters.
 
 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:29.520
 Activities continued all night, and many
 were entering and exiting at midnight.
 
 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:33.680
 The head of Myanmar\'s powerful
 ruling party has been ousted.
 
 00:22:33.840 --> 00:22:36.880
 Shwe Mann,
 who is also the Speaker of Parliament,
 
 00:22:37.040 --> 00:22:40.320
 is said to be effectively
 under some form of house arrest.
 
 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:43.040
 Conservative forces
 strongly linked to the military
 
 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:46.600
 appear to have made their move,
 by replacing him.
 
 00:22:46.760 --> 00:22:49.920
 I wasn\'t the one in charge of that.
 
 00:22:50.080 --> 00:22:55.760
 Some of the leaders from the party
 did that
 
 00:22:55.920 --> 00:23:02.520
 and made some changes
 in the party.
 
 00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:07.040
 Beforehand, some of the leaders
 from the party sent me a letter,
 
 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:10.880
 saying that they needed
 to do something like that.
 
 00:23:11.040 --> 00:23:14.040
 I think it was done on 12 August.
 
 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:20.400
 Overnight, they had stripped him
 of his party duties.
 
 00:23:20.560 --> 00:23:24.560
 (sound of a motorbike)
 
 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:31.520
 You know who did that? Although I don\'t
 know who ordered that transfer of power
 
 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:34.920
 my assumption is that
 the Old Man...
 
 00:23:35.080 --> 00:23:39.920
 Senior General Than Shwe,
 is still influential.
 
 00:23:40.080 --> 00:23:44.720
 Nobody else would think about
 this leadership change.
 
 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:47.240
 Only he can give that kind of order.
 
 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:57.680
 (sounds of traffic)
 
 00:23:57.840 --> 00:24:02.160
 (sound of a car)
 
 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:08.320
 Behind the scenes, the Old Man
 was still pulling the strings.
 
 00:24:10.760 --> 00:24:15.680
 He had ruled the country with
 an iron fist for two decades.
 
 00:24:15.840 --> 00:24:20.000
 (sounds of photos being taken)
 
 00:24:21.320 --> 00:24:27.360
 It was him that had put the sacred book
 in place and ordered democracy
 
 00:24:27.520 --> 00:24:30.120
 and was now watching that
 every move was conducted
 
 00:24:30.280 --> 00:24:34.200
 in accordance with the script.
 
 00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:38.080
 The day he stepped down,
 he divided his power in two,
 
 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:44.160
 appointing a civilian president
 and a commander of the army.
 
 00:24:44.320 --> 00:24:47.440
 (yelling of orders)
 
 00:24:47.600 --> 00:24:50.360
 Aung Hlaing was chosen to lead the army,
 
 00:24:50.520 --> 00:24:54.800
 because the Old Man checked
 his astrology.
 
 00:24:55.800 --> 00:24:59.280
 That\'s why he became
 commander of the army.
 
 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:02.880
 Not his military professionalism.
 
 00:25:03.040 --> 00:25:07.160
 His stars were at the top.
 
 00:25:08.320 --> 00:25:11.240
 As the spiritual guardians
 of the country,
 
 00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:15.960
 the monks and the astrologers had
 always had a powerful role in society
 
 00:25:16.120 --> 00:25:21.200
 and a vital say
 in all aspects of Burmese life.
 
 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:35.480
 The Old Man\'s biggest fear was the
 woman that had always been in his way.
 
 00:25:36.800 --> 00:25:41.280
 Even with her in house arrest
 had he engaged four astrologers
 
 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:45.720
 to foresee any threat
 that could come from her side.
 
 00:25:48.520 --> 00:25:50.800
 While the country was holding
 its breath
 
 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:54.440
 anxiously awaiting
 the promised elections
 
 00:25:54.600 --> 00:25:57.400
 it all depended on one man\'s will.
 
 00:25:58.720 --> 00:26:03.080
 With the traitor ousted,
 and 59(f) securely in place,
 
 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:06.800
 he finally allowed
 free and fair elections to go ahead.
 
 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:10.840
 They chose the election date:
 November 8th, 2015.
 
 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:14.520
 One of the top astrologers advised them:
 
 00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:20.480
 \"If it takes place on 8 November 2015,
 you will win a landslide victory.\"
 
 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:27.040
 (traffic noise
 and people talking in the background)
 
 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:30.920
 (people talking in the background)
 
 00:26:31.080 --> 00:26:35.920
 (speaking in Burmese)
 
 00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:48.120
 (sounds of demonstration)
 
 00:26:48.280 --> 00:26:51.400
 (speaking in Burmese)
 
 00:26:51.560 --> 00:26:54.680
 (people cheering
 and sounds of clapping)
 
 00:26:54.840 --> 00:27:01.080
 (people cheering
 and sounds of clapping)
 
 00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:04.720
 At that time, the surveys
 of the whole country said
 
 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:07.880
 that they would win, handsomely.
 
 00:27:10.280 --> 00:27:13.480
 We are 100% confident of winning.
 
 00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:20.160
 But of course,
 we will only know after polling.
 
 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:40.040
 But as you know,
 the result was quite the opposite.
 
 00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:45.160
 By dusk, results were coming in
 thick and fast.
 
 00:27:45.320 --> 00:27:49.600
 In one big city,
 they captured 100% of votes.
 
 00:27:49.760 --> 00:27:51.120
 (sounds of cheering)
 
 00:27:51.280 --> 00:27:54.040
 The Party of the Fighting Peacock.
 
 00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:56.000
 (sounds of cheering)
 
 00:27:56.160 --> 00:28:01.240
 Aung San Suu Kyi and the people
 of Myanmar have waited 25 years
 
 00:28:01.400 --> 00:28:05.440
 and the NLD, The National League
 for Democracy, her party,
 
 00:28:05.600 --> 00:28:10.520
 has won a crucial majority
 to get to this point today.
 
 00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:13.960
 One of their top astrologers
 advised them,
 
 00:28:14.120 --> 00:28:16.760
 but sometimes they are totally wrong.
 
 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:19.160
 After losing the election,
 
 00:28:19.320 --> 00:28:24.160
 he went to a village and shaved
 his head and became a monk.
 
 00:28:24.320 --> 00:28:29.680
 (sounds of cheering)
 
 00:28:29.840 --> 00:28:31.920
 (sounds of photos being taken)
 
 00:28:32.080 --> 00:28:38.280
 The leaders in white stepped down and
 let Aung San Suu Kyi take their place.
 
 00:28:40.080 --> 00:28:45.800
 From now on, she\'d have to co-operate
 directly with the commander of the army.
 
 00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:49.720
 The military in its true colours.
 
 00:28:55.960 --> 00:29:01.480
 With the election victory
 new colours filled the Parliament.
 
 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:06.000
 Aung San Suu Kyi could lead her party
 that now held a ruling majority,
 
 00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:09.200
 but could never become president.
 
 00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:13.160
 They would be sitting
 next to the military
 
 00:29:13.320 --> 00:29:20.240
 who stayed to guard the book and
 kept key ministries within their power.
 
 00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:23.440
 It seemed that despite
 decades of struggle
 
 00:29:23.600 --> 00:29:27.920
 she would be tied to them
 in ruling the kingdom.
 
 00:29:29.320 --> 00:29:33.960
 But then, they had always
 been bound together.
 
 00:29:52.320 --> 00:29:57.520
 In the 1940s, General Aung San led
 the fight for Burma\'s independence
 
 00:29:57.680 --> 00:30:01.160
 against the British colonial powers.
 
 00:30:04.520 --> 00:30:07.320
 The country needed unity and strength
 
 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:13.080
 to gather on the inside and
 to protect itself on the outside.
 
 00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:16.920
 But it was no easy task.
 
 00:30:17.080 --> 00:30:20.600
 Because the country was rich and varied.
 
 00:30:20.760 --> 00:30:26.560
 It had rivers and
 mountainous areas, hills and jungles.
 
 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:30.960
 And a number of ethnic
 and religious people:
 
 00:30:31.120 --> 00:30:37.400
 Karen, Karenni, Chin, Kachin,
 Shan, Mon, Rakhine.
 
 00:30:38.320 --> 00:30:41.440
 Aung San proposed to unite
 all the country\'s people,
 
 00:30:41.600 --> 00:30:45.040
 and founded
 Burma\'s Independence Army.
 
 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:50.800
 By standing together, they could get
 the British out. And he succeeded.
 
 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:54.600
 It was at an early hour, specially
 chosen by Burmese astrologers,
 
 00:30:54.760 --> 00:30:58.880
 that Rangoon marked Burma\'s
 full assumption of independence.
 
 00:30:59.040 --> 00:31:02.800
 In place of the Union Jack,
 the Burmese national flag was hoisted.
 
 00:31:07.120 --> 00:31:13.000
 Shortly after, Aung San was brutally
 assassinated by political rivals.
 
 00:31:15.600 --> 00:31:22.000
 Wars broke out with the ethnic people.
 The people lost their founding father,
 
 00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:24.960
 but he had left them a military
 
 00:31:25.120 --> 00:31:27.760
 and a daughter.
 
 00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:34.160
 She always mentioned
 that she was brought up
 
 00:31:34.320 --> 00:31:39.160
 in the hands of
 the officers around her father.
 
 00:31:39.320 --> 00:31:43.320
 She had an affection
 for whomever was in the army.
 
 00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:48.240
 But they still do not accept
 the role of Aung San Suu Kyi.
 
 00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:51.360
 It\'s a personal grudge.
 
 00:31:51.520 --> 00:31:58.160
 Since the independence,
 when her father was assassinated
 
 00:31:58.320 --> 00:32:05.000
 it was a known fact that
 he\'s the architect of our independence.
 
 00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:08.840
 He is the founder of the Burma Army.
 
 00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:16.680
 So they were the sons or grandsons
 of General Aung San.
 
 00:32:16.840 --> 00:32:20.280
 And then when
 the military government took over,
 
 00:32:20.440 --> 00:32:23.480
 army is the father,
 army is the mother.
 
 00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:31.040
 (sounds of traffic)
 
 00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:37.480
 For now they would share the kingdom and
 were tied together as brother and sister.
 
 00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:43.040
 But she wasn\'t going to give up her plan
 to unseat the military from the palace.
 
 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:48.240
 After all, she was the true heir
 to the throne.
 
 00:32:51.800 --> 00:32:54.840
 The constitution bars her
 from becoming the president,
 
 00:32:55.000 --> 00:33:00.520
 but today she threw down the gauntlet
 to the Myanmar military.
 
 00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:02.280
 (speaking in Burmese)
 
 00:33:02.440 --> 00:33:07.560
 The constitution says nothing about
 somebody being above the president.
 
 00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:10.080
 I am going to be above the president.
 
 00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:13.800
 - How?
 - I have already made plans.
 
 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:15.960
 Thank you very much.
 
 00:33:16.120 --> 00:33:17.160
 (sounds of clapping)
 
 00:33:17.320 --> 00:33:19.960
 Quite what she intends isn\'t clear,
 
 00:33:20.120 --> 00:33:26.160
 but the constitution, she said, would
 not present an impossible obstacle.
 
 00:33:26.320 --> 00:33:30.560
 Despite the military\'s resistance,
 
 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:36.800
 the State Counsellor Law
 was passed by a majority vote today.
 
 00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:42.200
 The military stood in protest,
 but the law was passed.
 
 00:33:47.080 --> 00:33:53.000
 Being State Counsellor means that
 the president and all the departments
 
 00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:57.920
 will be under her control.
 It\'s a very wise step, you see.
 
 00:33:58.080 --> 00:34:02.520
 And they accused us of,
 what was it...
 
 00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:06.120
 Democratic dictatorship.
 
 00:34:06.280 --> 00:34:10.400
 Bravo!
 I like that terminology.
 
 00:34:10.560 --> 00:34:16.000
 Being State Counsellor means
 that she controls every ministry.
 
 00:34:16.160 --> 00:34:22.320
 She\'s like a tiger or a bull. If she
 has an idea, she will never let it go.
 
 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:23.880
 (laughing)
 
 00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:27.480
 It started with the lawyer, Ko Ni.
 
 00:34:27.640 --> 00:34:32.960
 Because he is an expert
 in constitutional literature.
 
 00:34:33.120 --> 00:34:39.320
 So he leafed through all the articles
 and he found one loophole.
 
 00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:45.120
 That the president can create a position
 for anybody and give any status.
 
 00:34:46.240 --> 00:34:52.960
 The most important and the first thing we
 need to do is to change the constitution.
 
 00:35:05.720 --> 00:35:10.560
 I\'ll make all the decisions.
 If I\'m required to field a president
 
 00:35:10.720 --> 00:35:16.960
 who meets the requirements
 of section 59(f), we\'ll find one.
 
 00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:35.400
 This president will carry out
 whatever wish Aung San Suu Kyi has.
 
 00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:43.360
 And even the president...
 He is her school mate.
 
 00:35:43.520 --> 00:35:47.880
 A very simple,
 a soft man, soft-spoken...
 
 00:35:52.720 --> 00:35:59.720
 The president will carry out everything
 that comply with her desire.
 
 00:35:59.880 --> 00:36:04.680
 So she can do everything now,
 more than the president.
 
 00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:08.520
 Now she can handle everything.
 
 00:36:08.680 --> 00:36:11.800
 So that is why
 we made a clever move,
 
 00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:18.880
 so that Aung San Suu Kyi
 is able to carry out all of the powers.
 
 00:36:19.040 --> 00:36:25.400
 And we have a majority of the vote
 in the Parliament. So we won.
 
 00:36:32.960 --> 00:36:36.640
 Actually,
 she didn\'t have all the power.
 
 00:36:36.800 --> 00:36:41.400
 While she had learned the game well
 and played by the rules,
 
 00:36:41.560 --> 00:36:47.640
 the military hadn\'t left the stage.
 And they responded with their language:
 
 00:36:47.800 --> 00:36:48.760
 (gunshot)
 
 00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:51.400
 Violence.
 
 00:36:51.560 --> 00:36:59.680
 (screaming and sirens)
 
 00:36:59.840 --> 00:37:04.040
 On Sunday afternoon,
 Myanmar state-run news, MRTV, reported
 
 00:37:04.200 --> 00:37:07.920
 that one of the government
 legal advisors to Aung San Suu Kyi
 
 00:37:08.080 --> 00:37:10.600
 was shot and killed by a sole gunman.
 
 00:37:10.760 --> 00:37:13.240
 Police have a suspect in custody.
 
 00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:16.920
 Ko Ni was shot dead
 at Yangon International Airport
 
 00:37:17.080 --> 00:37:19.680
 while holding his young grandchild.
 
 00:37:21.160 --> 00:37:24.760
 Despite many unanswered questions
 regarding the murder of Ko Ni,
 
 00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:27.320
 many here in Myanmar
 see it as a sign
 
 00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:32.080
 the government of Aung San Suu Kyi has
 yet to firmly establish the rule of law.
 
 00:37:32.240 --> 00:37:35.200
 The murder is also seen
 as a warning to those
 
 00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:38.440
 who want to reduce
 the power of the military.
 
 00:37:38.600 --> 00:37:41.520
 Police say his killers motives
 weren\'t political,
 
 00:37:41.680 --> 00:37:46.240
 but one of his friends believes he was
 murdered because of his legal work.
 
 00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:52.640
 We sensed that
 he was hated by some people.
 
 00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:57.920
 But I didn\'t expect it
 to be that vicious.
 
 00:37:59.160 --> 00:38:02.720
 Actually, it\'s a mafia.
 
 00:38:02.880 --> 00:38:07.360
 Ko Ni was shot directly in the head in
 front of The Yangon International Airport.
 
 00:38:07.520 --> 00:38:12.760
 He was immediately taken to Yangon
 Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
 
 00:38:16.840 --> 00:38:20.680
 Aung San Suu Kyi
 didn\'t attend the funeral.
 
 00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:25.440
 She stayed silent and withdrew
 from the public eye.
 
 00:38:26.680 --> 00:38:30.800
 She\'s shocked.
 
 00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:34.200
 She can guess the main reason.
 
 00:38:34.360 --> 00:38:36.840
 If she says something,
 it will get worse.
 
 00:38:57.360 --> 00:39:00.520
 Was it some kind of warning for her?
 That if you go too far...
 
 00:39:00.680 --> 00:39:02.240
 Maybe.
 
 00:39:11.800 --> 00:39:15.560
 But there was another problem
 with this lawyer.
 
 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:22.640
 He was a Muslim.
 
 00:39:23.960 --> 00:39:28.200
 In the country\'s Rakhine region
 lived a Muslim minority group
 
 00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:32.240
 which the Buddhist Rakhine people
 wanted out.
 
 00:39:32.400 --> 00:39:35.480
 The reason was to be found
 in the past.
 
 00:39:40.080 --> 00:39:46.080
 Back in 1947, when Aung San
 had united the country\'s ethnic people,
 
 00:39:46.240 --> 00:39:50.520
 one group was believed to have stayed
 on the British side.
 
 00:39:50.680 --> 00:39:54.000
 The ruling Buddhist majority agreed
 that they were traitors
 
 00:39:54.160 --> 00:39:57.440
 and that they did not belong
 in the country:
 
 00:39:57.600 --> 00:40:00.480
 The Muslim Rohingyas.
 
 00:40:00.640 --> 00:40:02.760
 The Buddhists called them Bengalis,
 
 00:40:02.920 --> 00:40:05.720
 considered people
 that had come from abroad.
 
 00:40:05.880 --> 00:40:13.760
 If my words are true, all the people
 from Rakhine will be free from Bengali.
 
 00:40:13.920 --> 00:40:16.400
 (cheering)
 
 00:40:16.560 --> 00:40:22.200
 Our duty is not only
 to enforce law and order,
 
 00:40:22.360 --> 00:40:26.600
 but also to preserve
 the identity of the nation.
 
 00:40:26.760 --> 00:40:28.760
 On the question of race,
 
 00:40:28.920 --> 00:40:33.120
 we\'ve let the world know that the
 Rohingyas don\'t belong in our country.
 
 00:40:33.280 --> 00:40:36.120
 The Muslims of Rakhine state
 are Bengalis.
 
 00:40:36.280 --> 00:40:39.160
 They just came here
 from other places and settled.
 
 00:40:39.320 --> 00:40:42.000
 Rakhine was a timebomb
 that was ticking.
 
 00:40:42.160 --> 00:40:47.840
 You had
 this rising Rakhine nationalist feeling.
 
 00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:53.440
 And the two communities, Muslim and
 Buddhist, also began to see each other...
 
 00:40:53.600 --> 00:41:00.280
 Or rather, increasingly saw each other
 as their main enemies as well.
 
 00:41:00.440 --> 00:41:03.360
 And then you had, not surprisingly,
 
 00:41:03.520 --> 00:41:07.440
 the emergence in 2016
 on the Muslim side,
 
 00:41:07.600 --> 00:41:10.720
 a new insurgency,
 and a very militant insurgency.
 
 00:41:10.880 --> 00:41:16.320
 The group is poorly equipped.
 It has guns, small home-made bombs
 
 00:41:16.480 --> 00:41:21.040
 and what it describes as a narrow
 mission: To protect Rohingya Muslims.
 
 00:41:21.200 --> 00:41:24.080
 (sound of explosion)
 
 00:41:24.240 --> 00:41:27.440
 (crackling fire)
 
 00:41:32.720 --> 00:41:36.560
 (crying and sobbing)
 
 00:41:36.720 --> 00:41:41.200
 An attack on rural police stations by
 Rohingya fighters in the Rakhine region
 
 00:41:41.360 --> 00:41:45.360
 would turn out to have
 unforeseen consequences
 
 00:41:45.520 --> 00:41:48.960
 and lead to a turning point
 in the country\'s history.
 
 00:41:49.120 --> 00:41:53.440
 Muslim terrorists are destroying and
 setting things on fire in Rakhine state.
 
 00:41:53.600 --> 00:41:56.680
 Locals are running to
 the nearest police stations for help.
 
 00:41:56.840 --> 00:42:01.000
 Authorities say some 150 insurgents
 launched a series of raids
 
 00:42:01.160 --> 00:42:04.920
 on police posts in the early hours.
 
 00:42:06.200 --> 00:42:11.680
 The Rohingya insurgents carry out these
 attacks to get the world\'s attention.
 
 00:42:11.840 --> 00:42:16.600
 So what they want most is to attract
 concern from the outside world.
 
 00:42:19.240 --> 00:42:24.200
 For the military, the situation provided
 an opportunity to respond
 
 00:42:24.360 --> 00:42:28.680
 and to get rid of a problem altogether.
 
 00:42:28.840 --> 00:42:34.680
 The army has begun its \"clearance
 operations\" to root out Rohingya fighters.
 
 00:42:34.840 --> 00:42:38.840
 The brutal Burmese military operation
 against Rohingya Muslims
 
 00:42:39.000 --> 00:42:42.360
 is at risk of spiralling into
 an ethnic cleansing campaign
 
 00:42:42.520 --> 00:42:46.800
 as the violence against the long
 persecuted minority group continues.
 
 00:42:46.960 --> 00:42:49.160
 The Burmese response was
 to close the area.
 
 00:42:49.320 --> 00:42:53.120
 And the army began what it called
 \"clearance operations\".
 
 00:42:53.280 --> 00:42:56.400
 Civilians as well as militants
 have been targeted.
 
 00:42:56.560 --> 00:42:59.400
 The army has its own agenda.
 
 00:42:59.560 --> 00:43:04.320
 Without consulting us, they have
 the right to do whatever they like.
 
 00:43:04.480 --> 00:43:09.160
 (people talking and gunshots)
 
 00:43:09.320 --> 00:43:15.800
 They can do what they like. We cannot
 interfere or order them what to do.
 
 00:43:17.160 --> 00:43:20.640
 The UN says almost 150,000 Rohingyas
 
 00:43:20.800 --> 00:43:23.400
 have fled
 the predominately Buddhist country
 
 00:43:23.560 --> 00:43:28.400
 into neighbouring Bangladesh in the
 last 12 days since the operation began.
 
 00:43:28.560 --> 00:43:31.480
 The current situation
 cannot yet be fully assessed,
 
 00:43:31.640 --> 00:43:38.080
 but the situation remains, or seems,
 a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.
 
 00:43:42.600 --> 00:43:47.920
 The international community expected her
 to respond and to condemn the military.
 
 00:43:48.080 --> 00:43:51.760
 The one thing she couldn\'t do.
 
 00:43:54.120 --> 00:44:00.080
 The constitution gave her
 no power over military affairs.
 
 00:44:00.240 --> 00:44:05.280
 The consequences of that
 were now being realized.
 
 00:44:08.200 --> 00:44:14.040
 But as the crisis worsened by the
 minute, her immediate response was...
 
 00:44:14.200 --> 00:44:15.600
 Denial.
 
 00:44:15.760 --> 00:44:19.320
 I am deeply disappointed and saddened
 
 00:44:19.480 --> 00:44:24.400
 by the disinformation campaign
 being waged around the world
 
 00:44:24.560 --> 00:44:27.760
 with regard to the situation in Rakhine.
 
 00:44:27.920 --> 00:44:30.880
 These fabricated news items
 
 00:44:31.040 --> 00:44:35.320
 are written and published
 with the intent to mislead the public.
 
 00:44:35.480 --> 00:44:39.400
 Aung San Suu Kyi, the country\'s leader,
 said the situation in Rakhine state
 
 00:44:39.560 --> 00:44:44.600
 was being distorted by what she called
 \"a huge iceberg of misinformation\".
 
 00:44:44.760 --> 00:44:48.280
 The Rakhine thing blew up in our face.
 
 00:44:48.440 --> 00:44:52.200
 The government has rejected accusations
 that the armed forces are conducting
 
 00:44:52.360 --> 00:44:57.640
 a campaign of indiscriminate violence
 targeting Rohingya Muslims.
 
 00:45:01.000 --> 00:45:06.640
 The Ministries of Home Affairs,
 Defence and Border Areas
 
 00:45:06.800 --> 00:45:09.880
 are controlled by the army.
 
 00:45:10.040 --> 00:45:12.080
 So when the Rakhine thing happened,
 
 00:45:12.240 --> 00:45:17.400
 the international community blamed
 Aung San Suu Kyi for protecting the army.
 
 00:45:18.800 --> 00:45:27.440
 But she didn\'t want to make any hostile
 remarks to the army for the long run.
 
 00:45:27.600 --> 00:45:33.000
 She was blamed for that.
 That\'s why we call it a military trap.
 
 00:45:33.160 --> 00:45:38.320
 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Aung San Suu
 Kyi, who is Burma\'s de facto president,
 
 00:45:38.480 --> 00:45:42.840
 is facing mounting criticism
 for her handling of the violence...
 
 00:45:43.000 --> 00:45:45.840
 The Nobel Peace Prize laureate,
 Aung San Suu Kyi,
 
 00:45:46.000 --> 00:45:51.360
 has blamed terrorists for what she termed
 \"a huge iceberg of misinformation\".
 
 00:45:51.520 --> 00:45:55.840
 ... amounts to ethnic cleansing.
 
 00:45:56.000 --> 00:46:00.440
 Nobel Peace Prize winners have criticized
 Myanmar\'s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi,
 
 00:46:00.600 --> 00:46:03.280
 for not doing enough to protect...
 
 00:46:03.440 --> 00:46:05.840
 She\'s seeking to deflect
 the Rohingya crisis
 
 00:46:06.000 --> 00:46:09.920
 that has so far sent
 150,000 Rohingyas Muslims...
 
 00:46:10.080 --> 00:46:13.920
 She should use her voice, and she
 hasn\'t, and that\'s deeply disappointing.
 
 00:46:14.080 --> 00:46:18.680
 ... silent and,
 in many cases, a complicit...
 
 00:46:18.840 --> 00:46:24.320
 When you get power you go into a cocoon.
 You go into an us-against-them attitude.
 
 00:46:24.480 --> 00:46:30.680
 I think that Senior General
 Min Aung Hlaing knows the problem
 
 00:46:30.840 --> 00:46:34.800
 and that he is enjoying the situation.
 
 00:46:38.680 --> 00:46:43.160
 (sounds of demonstration)
 
 00:46:43.320 --> 00:46:47.760
 Today there was a popular march
 to Yangon City Hall
 
 00:46:47.920 --> 00:46:50.640
 to support
 the military\'s fair and just war.
 
 00:46:50.800 --> 00:46:53.600
 More than a thousand attended
 
 00:46:53.760 --> 00:46:58.760
 to support Myanmar military
 and their fair war.
 
 00:46:58.920 --> 00:47:04.760
 Many Burmese hate the Bengali,
 or the Rohingya, they hate them.
 
 00:47:06.040 --> 00:47:13.160
 So if you are involved in this case,
 it shows you are supporting the Rohingya.
 
 00:47:13.320 --> 00:47:16.000
 So she may keep silent on this thing.
 
 00:47:16.160 --> 00:47:22.040
 Maybe she worries that she won\'t have
 their vote in the future.
 
 00:47:22.200 --> 00:47:27.320
 (whistling)
 
 00:47:43.400 --> 00:47:47.880
 While the military kept
 the conflict rolling,
 
 00:47:48.040 --> 00:47:53.800
 the outside world demanded
 clear answers from the state leader.
 
 00:47:53.960 --> 00:47:57.320
 From their front row seats
 in the audience
 
 00:47:57.480 --> 00:48:01.480
 the military watched her
 enter the scaffold.
 
 00:48:02.720 --> 00:48:07.520
 After intense pressure, Aung San Suu Kyi
 addressed the Rohingya refugee crisis.
 
 00:48:07.680 --> 00:48:11.800
 This televised address to diplomats
 was miss Suu Kyi\'s chance
 
 00:48:11.960 --> 00:48:15.000
 to state her case to the world.
 
 00:48:30.160 --> 00:48:33.440
 It is not the intention
 of the Myanmar government
 
 00:48:33.600 --> 00:48:37.760
 to apportion blame or
 to abnegate responsibility.
 
 00:48:37.920 --> 00:48:42.120
 We condemn all human rights violations
 and unlawful violence.
 
 00:48:42.280 --> 00:48:45.280
 We are committed
 to the restoration of peace,
 
 00:48:45.440 --> 00:48:49.000
 stability and rule of law
 throughout the state.
 
 00:48:49.160 --> 00:48:54.520
 The government has been making every
 effort to restore peace and stability,
 
 00:48:54.680 --> 00:48:59.360
 and to promote harmony between
 the Muslim and Rakhine communities.
 
 00:48:59.520 --> 00:49:02.080
 I am aware of the fact,
 
 00:49:02.240 --> 00:49:06.440
 that the world\'s attention is focused
 on the situation in Rakhine state.
 
 00:49:06.600 --> 00:49:11.400
 But we would like you to think
 of our country as a whole.
 
 00:49:11.560 --> 00:49:16.280
 Not just as little afflicted areas.
 
 00:49:16.440 --> 00:49:20.920
 The international community wanted her
 to say: \"I support the Rohingya people.\"
 
 00:49:21.080 --> 00:49:23.960
 But I don\'t think
 she can say things like that.
 
 00:49:24.120 --> 00:49:29.280
 Because in the long run,
 she will have to work with the military.
 
 00:49:30.840 --> 00:49:33.000
 Aung San Suu Kyi has made her choice.
 
 00:49:33.160 --> 00:49:37.720
 Her relationship with the military
 and the stability of her government
 
 00:49:37.880 --> 00:49:43.520
 comes before the Rohingya and what
 is left of her international reputation.
 
 00:49:50.600 --> 00:49:57.720
 She went behind closed doors, far away
 from the people and the world.
 
 00:49:57.880 --> 00:50:03.360
 All the while, the country
 was falling apart at the seams.
 
 00:50:07.880 --> 00:50:13.720
 The entire area has been burned out.
 The residents are evidently all gone.
 
 00:50:13.880 --> 00:50:20.000
 It shows a clear swath of destruction,
 presumably caused by arson.
 
 00:50:20.160 --> 00:50:25.680
 These satellite images from Human Rights
 Watch show the extent of the destruction.
 
 00:50:25.840 --> 00:50:32.560
 Once again, the government of Burma does
 not have the situation under control.
 
 00:50:33.680 --> 00:50:39.880
 The 8,333rd meeting of
 the Security Council is called to order.
 
 00:50:41.680 --> 00:50:47.520
 The provisional agenda for this meeting
 is the situation in Myanmar.
 
 00:50:48.400 --> 00:50:54.240
 The massive refugee emergency that
 began one year ago in Rakhine state
 
 00:50:54.400 --> 00:50:58.800
 has become one of the world\'s worst
 humanitarian and human rights crises.
 
 00:50:58.960 --> 00:51:03.400
 The world can no longer avoid the
 difficult truth of what happened in Burma.
 
 00:51:03.560 --> 00:51:07.440
 The Rohingya population of Rakhine state
 was subjected to a campaign of...
 
 00:51:07.600 --> 00:51:09.680
 ... the worst catastrophes
 in modern history...
 
 00:51:09.840 --> 00:51:13.960
 ... resulting in grave violations
 of their human rights...
 
 00:51:14.120 --> 00:51:17.440
 ... have led to the displacement
 of some 900,000 people...
 
 00:51:17.600 --> 00:51:23.000
 The military and police went
 from house to house looking for girls...
 
 00:51:23.160 --> 00:51:28.400
 ... violations and abuses against
 the Rohingya community in Rakhine state...
 
 00:51:28.560 --> 00:51:33.760
 I now give up the floor to
 the representative of Myanmar.
 
 00:51:33.920 --> 00:51:39.720
 Mr President. Our gathering here today
 could have been a different one
 
 00:51:39.880 --> 00:51:42.720
 had there been no terrorist attacks.
 
 00:51:42.880 --> 00:51:46.520
 It would have been
 a happier occasion to stock-taking
 
 00:51:46.680 --> 00:51:49.200
 implementation of
 the Rakhine Advisory Commission
 
 00:51:49.360 --> 00:51:53.320
 or an international
 pledging conference
 
 00:51:53.480 --> 00:51:57.200
 to help with poverty alleviation...
 
 00:52:01.880 --> 00:52:04.120
 (... and socio...)
 
 00:52:05.320 --> 00:52:07.280
 Sorry.
 
 00:52:20.760 --> 00:52:25.000
 ... and socio-economic development
 of all communities of Rakhine.
 
 00:52:25.160 --> 00:52:34.000
 The provocative terrorist attacks
 of October 2016 and August 2017
 
 00:52:34.160 --> 00:52:38.000
 have affected the cause
 of our earnest endeavour
 
 00:52:38.160 --> 00:52:44.560
 to build a peaceful, fair and prosperous
 future for the people of Rakhine.
 
 00:52:44.720 --> 00:52:48.480
 But nothing shall stop
 our determination to continue our effort
 
 00:52:48.640 --> 00:52:52.520
 to achieve our objectives.
 
 00:52:57.000 --> 00:53:00.400
 So this is what it came to.
 
 00:53:00.560 --> 00:53:05.280
 Despite so much hope,
 they couldn\'t make it.
 
 00:53:11.040 --> 00:53:14.960
 History is never over,
 
 00:53:15.120 --> 00:53:18.440
 but for the story I have told you,
 
 00:53:18.600 --> 00:53:23.640
 this is, unfortunately, the end.
Distributor: First Hand Films
Length: 54 minutes
Date: 2019
Genre: Expository
Language: English; Burmese / English subtitles
Grade: 10-12, College, Adults
		Color/BW: 
		 
	
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