Myanmar situation: warning to every society, says archbishop
CNS / October 05, 2007

The situation in Myanmar is a warning to every society in the world, said Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, who visited the country's capital in 1992 as part of his work as secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

The archbishop described Myanmar's ruling military regime as corrupt, cynical and devoid of any ideology except staying in power. He spoke Oct. 1 in a homily delivered to judges, lawyers and court personnel at the annual Mass marking the start of the new law term.

The archbishop referred to a quote from St. Augustine that Pope Benedict XVI used in his 2006 encyclical, "Deus Caritas Est" ("God Is Love"): "A state which is not governed according to justice would be just a bunch of thieves."

"If we want an example of this, we can look at the tragic situation unfolding in these days in Burma," said Archbishop Martin, using the former name of Myanmar. "Burma is a country I know personally and for which I have for years had a great interest and concern.

"Who could not be moved by the contrast between, on the one hand, the peaceful march of the Buddhist monks, clad in their simple robes and devoid of any of the traditional symbols and trappings of power, and on the other hand the exercise of sheer power on the part of a corrupt and cynical regime which is devoid even of an ideology except that of holding on to power?" he asked.

"The example of Burma is a clear one of the significance of virtue, of moral convictions and moral training for the health (of) a society," said the archbishop. "The peaceful marchers, the dignity of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, contrast with a regime which has degenerated into brutality because of the total absence of moral convictions.

"It is also a warning to every society, including our own, of the results of what Pope Benedict in the same encyclical called an 'ethical blindness caused by the dazzling effect of power and special interests,'" he added.

In late September, tens of thousands of Buddhist monks and others in Myanmar started demonstrating against spiraling inflation, corruption and the government's continued suppression of democracy. The military reacted with a violent crackdown on the protesters. A U.N. envoy met with Myanmar's junta leader, Gen. Than Shwe, Oct. 2 to discuss ending the crackdown.

Ireland has long opposed the ruling military regime in Myanmar. In 2000 the Dublin City Council awarded Suu Kyi the freedom of the city because of her work for justice in the country.