The true meaning of National Reconciliation

Reconciliation can be at all levels. At the personal level it is the repairing of your relationship with a friend, a loved one of a family member.

Humans are beings with emotions. Sometimes we are ruled by our higher intellect, sometimes by our emotions. Gautama Buddha, regarded by Buddhists and many non-Buddhists as one of the greatest leaders of all times once said that we are ruled by six basic emotions, namely: -

1. Greed (Lohba)
2. Anger (Dawtha)
3. Ignorance (Mawha)

Some writers who are used to writing in Sanskrit may write these same three things like this: -

Loba, Dosa and Moha.

There are another three basic emotions which are the exact opposite of the above three, namely:

4. Absence of greed (alohba)
5. Absence of anger or loving kindness (adawtha)
6. Wisdom (amawha).

The persons who wish to achieve "reconciliation" be at the personal level or at the national level will need to work at the heart level first if they really wish to get to the stage of "true reconciliation".

Both parties need to start treating the other side as fellow "human beings" and start with a genuine feeling of humanity, saying quietly in the mind "he is a human being like me and he has the same emotions and the same human needs as me. He needs food, clothing and shelter, just like me. He needs love, friendship and kindness, just like me. He wants to be appreciated, encouraged, understood just like me. He responds to kind words and good food just like me. He likes good clothes and good music, just like me."

This is the basic training for achieving "genuine reconciliation" at the personal level.

When the leaders of two warring parties wish to get true reconciliation, they need first of all to create an environment that is conducive to true reconciliation. That begins with setting up a truce. It begins with one side showing the white flag and the other side recognizing the symbol of the white flag.

At this stage, both sides accept the fact that a face to face meeting is in order and a genuine understanding that only through a "face to face" meeting between the two leaders could produce
meaningful negotiations for the future existence of both parties under an agreement to live in peace. This is called an agreement for peaceful existence.

Some times it is not possible for the two sides to meet. This may be because a lot of misunderstanding exists. In the case of Myanmar these misunderstandings need to be sorted out. The reason that misunderstanding exist can be because or the existence of certain individuals or groups who wish to create misunderstandings for their own political agendas.

The person who is able to bring about National Reconciliation is some one who has the integrity, experience, knowledge of Myanmar traditions and culture, knowledge of Myanmar history (current history as well as the history of Myanmar from the founding of the first Myanmar kingdoms in Tagaung), knowledge of international affairs and a willingness to truly serve the national interests. This person should have humility and compassion and knowledge of human psychology and diplomacy.

Some times it may not be possible to find all these qualities within one person. It that case, it might be a good idea to form a group of people who could collectively perform this reconciliation function at the national level. In ancient times, this had been the way that disputes had been resolved. In the villages, disputes are resolved not through the use of courts and lawyers but by the council of village elders. These village elders know the villagers and all the families in the village. They are wise and compassionate and respected by all members of the village. In this respect, the function of the council of village elders is to listen to both sides and understand the root of the problem.

In the case of Myanmar, the function of the person or group of people charged with the task will be to listen to both sides, separately at first and then to sit down with both sides in a closed door session so that both sides will not "lose face". In Asia and in the East, the issue of "not losing face" is very important. Another requirement for this sort of reconciliation effort to succeed is to have "confidentiality". There must be a totl press black out. Nothing about the details of the proceedings should be divulged to the press at any time. The only instance where news could be sent to the press is when both sides have reached some sort of agreement. Then a joint press release would be in order. That is why patience, prudence and "secrecy" is very important in such reconciliation efforts.