Letters from Burma by Aung San Suu Kyi.

An Independent Performance

The a-nyeint is a uniquely Burmese form of entertainment consisting of a medley of orchestral music, song and dance -- and, perhaps most important of all, witty repartee and humorous skits provided by comedians. Traditionally an a-nyeint troupe is hired to perform both at family celebrations such as the Buddhist ordination ceremony for boys or on public occasions such as pagoda festivals or jubilees.

Jan. 4 this year was the 48th anniversary of the day when Burma became an independent nation. The National League for Democracy (NLD) made plans to include in its program to commemorate Independence Day a performance of a-nyeint by a troupe from Mandalay. During the week before Independence Day, members of the youth wing of the NLD has been rehearsing another item on the program, a short one-act play that concluded with a song about freedom. Perhaps it was the resounding refrain of this song, repeated again and again, that made the authorities view the forthcoming NLD celebrations with a jaundiced eye. It was conveyed to us that our entertainment program should not include either dobat or a play. A dobat is a double-sided Burmese drum to the rousing rhythm of which are sung songs in the folk tradition, often very witty, with a satirical content that is not always pleasing to the powers that be. We had not in fact planned any dobat song and there seemed no good reason for canceling the play, whose principal theme simply underlined the importance of unity and the need to solve political problems through dialogue. It was therefore decided that the program would be carried through as planned.

On the evening of Jan. 2 a key member of my office staff was pulled in by his local military intelligence unit for 24 hours. He was interrogated not only on such crucial matters as the policies and decision-making process of our party but also on our proposed Independence Day ceremony. The authorities did not seem particularly keen on the idea of our commemorating the occasion in a spirit of freedom. However the a-nyeint was not mentioned.

At eight o'clock in the morning on Jan. 4 there was a commemoration ceremony in the grounds of a small rope factory organized by members of the Dohbama Asi-ayone, the political organization that had been at the core of the struggle to liberate Burma from colonial rule. The hoary veterans conducted the proceeding with the elan and verve possible under the restricted circumstances, their aging voices strengthened by their convictions as they repeated their dedication to the cause of freedom and national unity.

The Independence Day ceremony of the NLD began later in the morning in the garden of my house and was expected to be completed within three hours. In the event the program went on for six hours because the audience of nearly 2,000 wanted the last item, the a-nyeint, to continue for as long as possible.

It started in the traditional way with two comedians coming forward to introduce the performance. But as soon as the senior of the two, U Pa Pa Lay, started to speak it became obvious, to the surprise and untold delight of the audience, that this was going to be an act such as had not been witnessed in Burma for several decades: The comedians were determined to exercise to the full their traditional right to apply their comic and critical powers to a commentary on matters of topical interest, many of a political nature.

U Pa Pa Lay began by saying that this was an occasion when he would be acting and speaking according to his own wishes and that he was aware such audacity would likely land him in prison. He explained that he had already served a year in prison for making a joke that referred to the overwhelming support for the NLD throughout the whole country. The thunderous applause that greeted U Pa Pa Lay's introductory remarks was a fitting prelude to a performance that scintillated with witty skits, brilliant jokes, sprightly dances and lively music. The audience reveled in the artistic skill of the whole performance and were filled with deep admiration for the courage of the company, in particular for U Pa Pa Lay and his fellow comedian U Lu Zaw who so bravely gave voice to what the people had been wishing -- but not daring -- to say for may an year. On the afternoon of Jan. 6 the troupe came to say good-bye to me before they went back to Mandalay. They knew they would very likely be arrested soon but they were extremely cheerful. They assured me nothing would detract from the great satisfaction achieved from a performance conducted entirely in accordance with their own wishes. The company arrived back in Mandalay on the morning of the 7th and later that day they were all taken away by the authorities.

We are now waiting for the next act in the drama of this most courageous troupe. Come what may, we shall stand by them.