U Pyinya Zawta is in exile. He has escaped from jail three times over 11 years-but not for conventional crimes.
U Pyinya Zawta was one of 30,000 Burmese monks who protested against the Burmese government in hopes of bringing democracy to the country. He is the co-founder of the All Burma Monks Alliance and helped lead the Saffron Revolution in 2007.
"There were brutal crackdowns for Burma's own people, even its religious leaders, shocking the world," U Pyinya Zawta said. "The monks use nonviolent and peaceful response to the military government. We look to our own people as our own sons."
Burmese monks U Tejavanta, U Gawasita and U Pyinya Zawta spoke during a discussion titled "Voices Against Repression" Wednesday evening in the Bryan Center, during which they relayed their experiences as activists in the Saffron Revolution. Dr. Htwe Yee, a political activist and former Lee Kuan Yew fellow at Harvard University, translated for the audience of about 150 attendees.
The Saffron Revolution, named for the saffron color of the monks' robes, was one of several protests against Burmese oppression. In 2007, the junta-the State Peace and Development Council-revoked the country's fuel subsidies, causing fuel, food and clothing prices to skyrocket. In response, the Burmese people and religious leaders organized protests to restore justice and order.
The Duke Human Rights Coalition, International Association, Duke University Union Major Speakers, Duke International Relations Association and the Progressive Alliance co-sponsored the campus event.
"Duke aspires to be at the top of all things professionally, academically and socially. Shouldn't we also be at the top of all things ethically?" said Duke Human Rights Coalition President James Tager, a senior and a Chronicle columnist. "Every human being has a responsibility to others. As Duke students we are incredibly privileged and incredibly able to bring change. This event reflects [that] we can use these abilities to help others."
The three monks asked Duke students to "stretch out their hands" and help Burmese students escape oppression in their country. They have been exiled from Burma and now reside in a monastery in a refugee community in Utica, N.Y.
Images of hundreds of marching monks draped in saffron robes flashed across a video screen. U Pyinya Zawta stood at the front of one crowd, megaphone in hand, as a human chain marched alongside the monks to shield them from armed forces.
Protesters trudged on, arms overhead, clapping and chanting for peace and democracy, Yee said. The hazy image of teargas that would be all too familiar to the monks filled the screen.
"The Burmese people don't have human rights. They probably don't even know what human rights are," U Gawasita said. "I want to help them get them and learn what they are."
U Gawasita told the story of four female Burmese students who wrote blog posts about their efforts in the revolution. The government caught wind of the posts and imprisoned the girls for 65 to 100 years for speaking out against it, he said.
"The junta lied to the people and to the world. They do not care for the deaths of thousands of people," U Gawasita said. "They do anything for power. The junta destroyed the lives of the youth and the young people."
U Tejavanta said he decided to help lead the Saffron Revolution to look after his people because the government is "autocratic and selfish," adding that he wishes his students in Burma had the same freedom and privilege as Duke students.
Amid military blockades and gunfire, the monks still had hopes of bringing democracy to Burma, speaking of signature campaigns to rally aid from the United Nations.
"When a United Nations ambassador came to Burma for the seventh time, he just listened to the military government and looked around," U Pyinya Zawta said. "His report to the United Nations could not show the true light of Burma so the people of Burma still could not escape. That is why we ask for help with the signature campaign."
Despite violent reaction from the government, U Pyinya Zawta said monks were able to respond peacefully by following the ethical teachings of Buddha-parts of a movement Tager said Duke should support.
"During the revolution in 2007, the statue of James Duke was draped with saffron robes of monks. We wanted to continue that same level of commitment and awareness," he said. "The people of Burma need the help of everyone in all nations. I hope that as Dukies we can take on our portion-more than our portion-of responsibility toward them."
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