Totalitarian Governments

    

By Henry

Myanmar Military Government

 

Myanmar, known as “The Golden Land”, once the richest nation in South East Asia but now one of the poorest countries, used to be under the brutal ruling junta from 1962- until 2010. The country has been transforming into a democratic state after the 2010 election in spite of the ruling party is still controlled by the former military officers, who are now calling themselves a civilian government party. [1]

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of independent’s father General Aung San, National League for Democracy leader, won more than 80% of the seats in Parliament in 1990 elections. However, themilitary government did not accept the election’s results and kept her under house arrest for almost 20 years. The totalitarian government

violated human rights on minority groups and others political cases in different ways that led Myanmar people’s ways of lives into misery, unsafe and scary situation. Millions of ethnic people groups fled into the neighbors’ countries as refugees to avoid the ruling junta’s political and judicial punishment and force labor.  

The United States of America, the European

Commission and the United Nations have all imposed sanctions against Myanmar though different mechanisms with the purpose of isolating the military regime in international community. The sanctions include an arms embargo, a ban on the travel of military officers, as well as their families and associates, restrictions on foreign investment, and the freezing of assets. [2]

The impact of the economic sanctions is controversial as restrictions in trade result in severe hardship which must be burdened by ordinary people rather than the targeted military regime and their associates. The most affected people were the basic female workers in the garment industry when foreign investment withdrew from the country. After sanctions were imposed by foreign powers, they became jobless and one opportunity was welcome to them, the sex industry.

Another impact of the sanctions has been the decline of the tourism industry. Many countries forbid their citizens to travel to Myanmar or to invest in the tourist sector as they believe most businesses are directly linked to the military government and their relatives. As a consequence, transportation workers, tourist guides, Myanmar traditional craft businesses, and the hotel industry have all been disenfranchised. Similarly, young entrepreneurs and educated people have had to give up their connections with the foreign investment and

international trade system. As a result, many have left their homes and communities to live and work abroad. [3] Millions of Myanmar people are spreading throughout all over the world to get the better jobs and support their families. Some are treated as a slave and other do not get the proper salaries in spite of they work hard from morning to until night. Who are responsible to protect the misery lives of these people and offer the better jobs in their own comfort zone and mother land with peace and comfortable lives?

                            The Biblical Point of View on the Government

Submission to the Authorities

Let’s see what the Bible says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do who will bring judgment on themselves (Romans 13:1-2)”.

            God, the supreme Sovereign, has ordained that there should be governing authorities. Every believer is to be subject to these various authorities, even if these authorities are evil as Nero (A.D.54-68), the emperor of Rome who cruelly persecuted Christians. When Paul wrote this letter, Hero was in power. Yet Paul exhorted the Roman believers to submit to Nero’s authority, because that authority was ordained by God Himself. [4]

To be considered:

1.      How would you respond Paul’s statement to submit yourselves to the governing authorities whether your government is good or bad?

2.      How would you figure out and correct in the biblical ways the government that violated human rights in these days?

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[1] Phyu Kyi Khaing, “Peace and conflict monitor, Special Report II”, [Myanmar: Cause for cautious optimism] http://www.monitor.upeace.org/innerpg.cfm?id_article=879, [Accessed June 30, 2013]

[2] Phyu Kyi Khaing, “Peace and conflict monitor, Special Report II”, [Myanmar: Cause for cautious optimism]

[3] Ibid.

[4] Earl D. Radmacher, Th.D., Ronald B. Allen, Th.D., H, Wayne House, Th.D., J.D., Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible: New King James Version (A Division of Thomas Nelsons Publishers, 1997).