The military junta in Myanmar has trampled over the democratic rights and fundamental freedoms of its people for years. The winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize and the heroic inspirational leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been intermittently under house arrest for over a decade. When there is persistent and systematic suppression of human rights in a country, it becomes a matter for international concern. The repressive state cannot take shelter behind the dented doctrine of domestic jurisdiction and non-interference in its internal affairs.The reaction of the military junta to the current movement for restoration of democracy has been predictably violent. Demonstrators, including monks and students, were fired upon and killed. Monasteries were raided and several arrests made. How long will the international community be mute spectator to this shocking violation of human rights? How long will our country maintain its tactful diplomatic silence instead of applying strong diplomatic pressure expressing our country’s deep concern and strong disapproval of the violent methods adopted by the Myanmar authorities? Economic and strategic interests are important. But so are the basic human rights of the people in a neighbouring country. At this moment, adapting the poet Wordsmith’s line, my lament is: “Nehru! Thou shouldst be living at this hour: India hath need of thee”. Bountiful cricketers We were all thrilled and rightly overjoyed at the victory of our boys in the World Twenty20 cricket tournament. They fully deserve the accolades and the rousing reception they have received. But let us not go over the top. News channels are monopolised by them. They have been awarded hefty sums in varying amounts by different states from which they hail. I am not grudging the monetary awards, but let us not lose our sense of proportion. I shudder to think what would have happened if our team were defeated by Pakistan. Frustration and anger would possibly have erupted in hostile demonstrations at the airport and at their homes. Cricket must be viewed in the right perspective as a game, not as a war between rival teams. Victory in the field should not be equated with a military victory.It would be a fitting gesture if our cricketers donate a part of their bounty to a trust to be created for the welfare of former cricketers and their families in case of genuine need. The finest gesture could be from our finance minister, who could make these donations tax free, notwithstanding the risk of public interest litigation and a maverick judge eager for publicity entertaining it. Armstrong’s blow for equality Louis Armstrong, Satchmo, is unquestionably a legendry and transcendental jazz musician. After his great early recordings, Armstrong donned the role of an establishment entertainer to the chagrin of many black musicians and some sections of black society. In fairness to Satchmo, one incident must be mentioned. Armstrong was scheduled to play at Grand Forks’ own Central High School at Little Rock in Arkansas. As he prepared to play, members of the Arkansas National Guard ringed the school in order to keep the black students out. Armstrong rarely got involved in politics. “I just blow my horn,” he once said.On this occasion, Armstrong was furious. In an interview, he bitterly complained and said that President Eisenhower was “two faced”, had “no guts” and uttered an unprintable expletive for the racist Governor Faubus. Armstrong had second thoughts about his good-will tour to the Soviet Union for the State Department because “the way they are treating my people in the South, the government can go to hell”.This act of redemption by Satchmo endeared him to the black community. But he had a heavy price to pay for exercising his guaranteed freedom of expression. There were calls for boycotts of his concerts and he was also blacklisted. But the ending was happy. President Eisenhower sent 1,200 paratroopers into Little Rock and the next day troopers escorted the black students into the Central High School. Armstrong was overjoyed. He wired the president: “God bless you”.
