On her way back to Sittwe, on the right side of the road, the pagoda at Aung Syke attracted Su’s attention. She felt, she could get the overall picture of the situation in the area if she could talk to the priest of the temple. As the auto appeared before the temple after changing its direction, Su saw three monks coming out of the temple. To Su, they appeared between twenty to twenty-five. Having sticks and collection pots in their hands, at gingerly pace they stepped out of the monastery for collecting alms. None of them approached Su, though her presence had aroused curiosity. Very softly one of them told her to enter the temple when she had expressed her intention to talk to the priest.
Su found the priest prostrated before the ten feet tall brass statue of Buddha. She noticed another figure almost in the same manner right behind the priest. They were busy expressing their deep reverence with clasped hands. Su cleared her throat. The purpose was to make the priests aware of her presence. Then, like the two monks, she prostrated next to the second one. The second monk turned his head when he was done with his supplication, and very courteously Su expressed to him what she wanted. She was told to be patient. In the meantime, Su disclosed to the second monk her identity. She stared at her wrist watch with her head held low. Five minutes passed like this. Su became a bit restless. The auto-rickshaw had been waiting for her outside. Hence, it wasn’t possible for her to wait much longer. Just then having completed his daily meditation, the priest turned around and faced Su and his disciple. As the disciple whispered to his mentor Su’s identity and intention, the priest whispered something back to his disciple. Upon following his instruction, the disciple conveyed to Su his mentor’s name, title and his own identity. And then he beckoned to her to convey to the priest what she wanted, before leaving the spot.
After the formal exchange of greetings, Su asked him the reason behind the dispute with the Mollah brothers. The priest said, the entire episode was the outcome of a misunderstanding. Actually, the fault lay with those who went there to fell the trees. They had no clear idea how many trees were supposed to be felled. He conveyed to Su that the Mollah brothers had been given assurance of an appropriate compensation for the unauthorized logging of their trees. Then the priest requested her not to waste time on this. When asked about the relationship between the Rohingyas and the predominantly Buddhist population, the priest said, as far as he knew, the Rohingyas had been coexisting with their Buddhist neighbours peacefully. Therefore, the old monk saw no need for concern.
While Su was busy having conversation with the priest, the three monks who had left the temple earlier, rushed back in, and whispered something to Than Kin. In turn Than Kin quietly conveyed the message to his mentor’s ears. It became clear from the expression of his mentor that somewhere, a disaster had struck. Albeit Su was curious, she felt, the time was not appropriate to ask Hin Kao about it. Politely the old priest put an end to their conversation and asked his disciple to see her off at the gate of the temple.
As she was about to leave the premises of the temple it seemed to her that Than Kin wanted to say something. After getting her approval with a nod, Than Kin said, “Our mentor has a generous heart. This is why he forgives even those who don’t deserve forgiveness.”
“I don’t understand, who are those people who don’t deserve to be forgiven?”
“The Rohingya Muslims are almost always very aggressive. They start feuds over trivial issues.”
“By referring to the Mollah brothers, are you implicating all Rohingyas in Rakhain?”
“No, I’m not saying that. However, it is now a fact that for a few trees the Mollah family had behaved like terrorists.”
“They have donated trees for the temple from their own grove, I don’t understand how they could be portrayed as terrorists after such generosity? The fault lies with you. Why do you force to donate?”
“Actually we did not force anyone. Without realizing it, they started the brawl.”
“The brawl would not have started if you had let them meet the priest to begin with.”
“Sometimes the mentor is not ready to meet people, you should understand that.”
“During our conversation what message did you convey to him that made him terminate the interview so abruptly?”
“I don’t think you’ll be pleased by the news.”
“Bad news is bad news, nobody is supposed to like it.”
“That is true. Anyway, last night unknown bandits killed all inhabitants of a fishing village in Maung Dao.”
“Where did you get the news?”
“As we speak, the international media is airing the news of this heinous crime. The complete picture of this incident has not yet surfaced.”
A brief moment of silence prevailed when Than Kin finished his speech. Su felt like Than Kin was trying to gauge her thoughts just the way someone measures the depth of a pool with a stick. In order to distract him, she asked, “Who do you think are behind this crime?”
“How can I say who are behind it without relevant information?”
“Whom do you suspect?”
At this point he gave a brief smile and said, “ARSA.”
“What is that?”
“A terror outfit of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.”
After this Su turned away from Than Kin. She started moving towards her auto. As she did so, signs of an impending storm engulfed her thoughts.
In the morning, while escorting Lee to his office, Captain Ne Un briefed him about the imminent drive against the Rohingya Muslims. Preparation was complete, and the troops were awaiting orders to begin the assault. Upon arrival at his office, Lee ordered his adjutant to get the latest up dates from Gaotum at Maung Dao.
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As planned, Gaotam reported back the tragic incident at the fishing village in Maung Dao. He also added that by two o’clock in the noon, a confidential report would be sent to Lee’s office in Sittwe. When he received the note, Lee told his adjutant to send the main copy to the army headquarters in Yangon and preserve a photocopy of it in his personal file. A day later, having received the final clearance from the army headquarters at Mingaladan, both Lee and Ban La began their drive against the Rohingyas. Lee was not a man to live in illusion. He knew very well that even a successful conclusion of this mission may not bring good news for his military career. There was no shortage of men in uniform who would not hesitate to hijack the fruits of his success. If something went wrong, he would certainly be held responsible for the failure. The last field exercise was a good example of it. For this he decided to preserve all documents in his personal files. In future they would serve as evidence.
When Su reached her father’s official residence in Sittwe, it was already way past noon lunch time. Naturally, she expected Lee would be there at home. However, he was still not home as he was busy inspecting the status of the armored brigade serving the thirty third light infantry division. She focused on using this opportunity to prepare dinner for her dad with the help of his government appointed chef. She knew what her dad loved to eat. She chose those items in the menu, and then put all her effort in cooking those items as best as she could. In any manner possible, she had to get from him the true picture of what had happened at the Maung Dao fishing village. She would also try to get him to say what Tatmadaw might do next. If given prior warning, Rafiq’s family might flee to a safe place. However, exactly where they might find a safe refuge, that was a difficult question. She was mentally prepared to accompany Rafiq’s family in their quest for a safe refuge in exile.
The barbaric incident at Maung Dao inflamed almost all the regions of Myanmar, and Aung Syke was no exception. Predominantly Buddhist citizens of Myanmar were convinced, it was an act of the Rohingya terrorists. The name of ARSA could be heard in the mass media non-stop. In the afternoon, Rohingya homes in Aung Syke were besieged by angry mobs. They were throwing stones and kept issuing threats to burn down Rohingya homes. Relatives and neighbors of the Mollah family took shelter at Rahim Mollah’s residence. They had passing the moments in utter terror. Rahim Mollah and his brother Anis grabbed the shirt of their sons as they tried to make way through the crowd with sticks and bamboos. In an angry tone Anis forbade them to go out with sticks in this kind of situation. If the mob saw them with sticks they would attack them like a pack of hyenas. Inside Rahim Mollah’s home, the wailing of women and children made the scene even more unbearable. Rahim thought, perhaps the rowdy mob would calm down if they were handled gently. When Rahim conveyed this to his elder brother, he disagreed. Anis argued that the angry mob had prior hostile intent. They would not listen to logic or reason. Just like wild animals, they were men driven by their hatred and fear. In the meantime, part of the mob had set fire to Rahim Mollah’s kitchen. The blaze engulfed the whole kitchen within a few moments. As the kitchen was a few feet from the living quarter, it saved everyone in the living quarter from being burnt alive. Anis had been anxiously waiting for the arrival of the security force, but they could be seen nowhere. With no other option before them, Karim decided to communicate with Su using his mobile phone.
Rafiq had been staying with a businessman from Chittagong in his Paltan residence for two months. The gentleman was an old acquaintance of Rahim Mollah. Numerous times, Ajiz Mohammad purchased teak trees from Mollah’s grove for his furniture store in Dhaka. Burma teak is the best in the world. Hence, his relationship with Rahim Mollah spanned through years of acquaintance. This gentleman also owned a hotel and a jewelry store in Medina, Saudi Arabia. With the help of an agent, he managed to acquire a Bangladeshi passport for Rafiq. In Medina, he would get work permit for Rafiq and hire him for his jewelry store or hotel, once he reached Medina. For the time being, he was going to bear the expenses incurred by such activities. Later, when it would be convenient, either Rafiq or his father would repay the debt.
The day Rafiq was supposed to visit the Saudi embassy, Ajiz informed him of the incident that took place in Maung Dao. Ajiz turned on the television in his living room as they sat down to watch the news. The effect of this incident upon the people of Myanmar was also being broadcast. Upon observing the anxiety in Rafiq, Ajiz advised him to stay calm. He urged him to have resolve about his future in Saudi Arbaia and leave behind such unfortunate incidents. But these words of Ajiz had little effect on Rafiq. He was totally consumed by whatever had been happening in his homeland. He stared at the television, depressed and speechless. Ajiz’s slight touch upon his shoulder woke him up from this horrible nightmare. He hung the leather pouch from his shoulder which contained his Bangladeshi passport and other relevant papers for the Saudi visa, and with unsteady footsteps, followed Ajiz out of the living room.
Stopping whatever she had been doing, Su ran out to the porch in order to give a warm welcome to her father as the noise of his vehicle reached her ears. Soon after getting off, Lee was warmly embraced and kissed on his cheek by his daughter. Albiet he appreciated it, he was quite surprised by such display of love by her daughter. When Lee asked her for the reason behind such fondness, she replied, she had brought with her a hot news from Aung Syke. She also added, she was not yet ready to disclose the news for she had prepared a delicious cuisine for him. With a smile in his face Lee accepted her term. The next moment, as he walked towards the washroom, Su got busy serving the meal on the dinner table.
After returning from Aung Syke Su had already taken a bath before putting on a yellow Burmese dress. While serving dinner she heard her mobile ringing in her bedroom. She ran to the bedroom to receive the call. From the other end, the voice of Rafiq’s elder brother greeted her. She could clearly sense the great consternation and terror in his voice. He conveyed to her that the rowdy mob had besieged their home, pleading with her to send the security forces as soon as possible. She assured him of her assistance, and then returned to the dinner table to finish the task in hand.
Having groomed himself after bath, he found her daughter eagerly waiting at the dinner table for him. The tender scene drove out the darkness inside him. With a cheerful face, he gave her a beautiful smile and sat down just like monarchs do, in his chair made of teak wood with designs engraved on it. He then looked at Su with clear signs of expectation. Like an obedient and loving child, she knew what he wanted. Subsequently, she served the Yangon’s Mohinga in a white china bowl with golden designs on it. Su had prepared the dish herself. After being served, he looked at the food, and once again, gave her a beautiful smile. Lee was very fond of this traditional Burmese cuisine. Naturally, Su chose it to be Lee’s first course for dinner. There were other items served on the table as well. One by one, Su wanted to serve them all, but before she could do that, Lee asked her to start eating. Very slowly, she obliged her father with a plate of Shaan rice.
Behind Lee, a large portrait of the Burmese head of the State was hanging. Su gazed at the portrait for a while, and then said to her father, “I find the tradition of displaying the portrait of the Head of the state very weird.” After a short moment she asked Lee, “What’s the logic behind such tradition?”
“Numerous important matters rely in the will of the head of the state. Hence, people’s allegiance towards him or her is crucial.”
“Is this allegiance ensured just by displaying a portrait?”
“No. actually, it’s not like what you think it is. In the business of running a state, at least in paper, his or her role is supreme. This tradition is a reminder of this fact. You’ll see this practice in almost every country.”
“Could the contribution of one individual be greater than the continuous efforts of all citizens?”
“The role of the leader is definitely more important than the collective effort of the people. Nevertheless, the contribution of the people is also very important. When the leadership is on the right track, even if the people are in the wrong track, it can be rectified. However, the entire nation may collapse if the leadership follows the wrong path, for the people usually follow the leader. The leader decides which way people will tread.”
It was not Su’s nature to boast. Nonetheless, she would not miss the opportunity to impress her father. With a smiling face, she conveyed it to her father what she had done. With his eyes wide open, he proudly exclaimed, “My daughter is such a professional cook, yet I was totally unaware of it. Which items on the table did you prepare, sweetheart?”
With a spoon, she picked up some Nangi Thoke from another China bowl. After she had finished serving it to her dad, she returned to her chair, and smiled at Lee. With each spoonful of Thoke swallowed, he shut his eyes to enjoy the full taste of it. Watching the signs of immense pleasure in her dad’s face, unwillingly she whispered to herself, “Let’s see if my mission succeeds now.” Then suddenly she blurted out, “Dad, is our country like North Korea?”
“To some extent it is. But why do you ask such a question?”
“I learned from the net that in order to observe the death anniversary of their leader’s father, the citizens of that country are ordered to stand in line and wail for the dead leader. If somebody refuses, capital punishment lands over that poor soul. It’s funny. At the same time, it’s tragic.”
“Well, in Burma we don’t have silly traditions like that.”
“That’s true but it’s also a fact that in this country, people with power and influence can easily usurp the rights of the ordinary people if they want to.”
“This is not really the case. The rights of the people are enshrined in our constitution.”
“At least in paper, even the people of North Korea enjoy freedom. However, if anyone fails to show love and allegiance to the leader, like a bolt from the sky, the guillotine comes down.”
Lee smiled at his daughter and said,” My dear, whatever is troubling you, out with it.”
“Dad tell me about the military exercise that took place a few days ago. You organized the exercise, didn’t you?”
“The exercise was successful. Through this filed exercise, the preparedness of our armed forces has been enhanced.”
“Are we looking for an excuse to start a war? A war against whom?”
“No, we don’t have any plan to wage a war against anyone. Nevertheless, we cannot predict when it will be imposed upon us. Therefore, in this volatile world, preparation for war is essential for peace.”
“What went wrong in the exercise? I heard that you were blamed for it.”
“Who told you this?”
“I’ll tell you the source if you promise that you won’t rebuke my source. Actually it’s not important from where I’ve heard this.”
“I promise, I won’t say anything to your source.”
“I’ve heard this from mom.”