“Originally, we only thought about getting the students back to school. But then, when we realized our action had the support of the general public, we started thinking about ending the one-party system.”
Although the 8888 Popular Uprising failed, it took many months to plan by the student activists
Since Taiwan and China share a common language, Ohmar hopes that Taiwanese can help the people of Myanmar in their struggle for freedom by sending a message to China urging them to stop supporting the military regime in Myanmar both financially and militarily.
She said that the military regime’s iron-fist rule has led to the formation of armed resistance groups, especially among ethnic minorities in Myanmar’s border areas.
Chaotic situations in these areas have already facilitated the movement of drugs, illegal immigrant workers and refugees across the border into China’s Yunnan Province.
If the authoritarian rule continues, the situation will only deteriorate and if an all-out civil war breaks out in Myanmar, China’s border security would be seriously threatened.
Despite living in exile for more than two decades, Ohmar never regretted her participation in the anti-government rallies; rather, she regrets that she wasn’t politically aware enough before.
“I wish I had been more politically active earlier in my life,” she told the Taipei Times. “If we had been more cautious about what was to come, we could have taken preventive measures.”
Based on her personal experiences, Ohmar is urging Taiwanese to be more cautious about their hard-earned democracy.
Even though Taiwan enjoys freedom and democracy, its people should tread carefully, especially since China still claims it as part of its territory and is trying to tempt it with its economic power, she said.
“Gaining freedom for Taiwan is not free. It’s very important you don’t take it for granted. If you take it for granted there’s a chance you’ll lose it. And when you lose it, it’s difficult to get it back, especially when you’re facing an enemy with power and money,” she said.
Ohmar said that while most ordinary people seem to care more about economics than politics, everything would actually come down to politics in the end.
“Without political freedoms, we would lose economic freedom and prosperity,” she said. “It’s like a bird in a golden cage. You’re fed with good food everyday, but you’re a bird, you want to fly.”
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