Why A Song Called ‘Walk On’?

Most of us may have heard of the popular rock band U2 and their international freedom work which they express both in their songs as well as in their political activism; like in their song ‘’Sunday Bloody Sunday’’ or their Zoo TV tour. But how many of us have heard about the female Nobel Peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi or her struggle for peace in her native land of Burma? Thanks to U2 and their song ‘Walk On’ which they dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyu on one of their albums more people have been, (and will be) made aware of the current issues that are troubling this trouble stricken country as of today. While there is much going on to raise international awareness around the world we are faced with the bitter fact that not everyone may have heard this song (or even listen to U2”). We also have to acknowledge the fact that mass media of today is not always as informative or unbiased as we may want to believe. The purpose of this small text will therefore serve as a small informative account of the Burma issue and what the International Workgroup is trying to do. The key problem in Burma has always been the violation of human rights by its Non democratic military government. This government was introduced by Ne Win a General who in 1962 rose to power after staging a coup d’eta with help from the countries own military. ‘The Burma Socialist Program’ (which the new leader instigated the same year) has followed the policy of wiping out local armed ethnic opposition groups in Burma who struggle to assert their own identities and cultures. To achieve even greater ‘success’ in this war the General introduced in 1970 the ‘4 cuts program’ which would cut off food, information, recruits and financial support to any possible armed opposition in the country. This war has had disastrous consequences for the people of Burma. Burmese people living in the ethnic border areas have become victims of a brutal military regime which commits human rights abuses, forced relocations, village destruction’s, killings, rapes, forced labor and countless other atrocities on a day to day basis. Where does Aung San Kye fit in all of this, you may ask. While the government is ruled by a military regime (partie) it is not doing so without an opposing one.