One Small Step

'I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.' - Martin Luther King's 'I have a Dream' Speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedoms on the 28th August 1963.

The above line had been reverberating in my mind since early morning today. I have been following closely both the Monks March in Myanmar and also the Lawyers March at Putrajaya and been waiting for the update on both the marches and by late evening news began to appear.

The Buddhist Monk's March against the Myanmar Junta had now turned violent according to reports at BBC Online. The military junta had finally turned against the peaceful monk protesters. Reports indicate death, injury and arrest had occurred during the crackdown earlier today. Its really disheartening to see innocent people dying and getting hurt in their struggle to uphold freedom and peace. But the perseverance and determination of the Myanmar people to acquire that freedom and peace was evident when civilians formed the human shield chain around the monks to protect them from the military. Lets pray and hope the march will end without any further bloodshed and justice will prevail there for the sake of the Myanmar people.

On local front, the Lawyers March at Putrajaya in relation to the judiciary crisis was held today and it went on well as planned according to various news websites and prominent blogs. This march might not have been as huge as the Myanmar one, nevertheless its a start for what I think more things to come. Even if someone is not well informed about the recent crisis, seeing lawyers march to protest against something might have caught their attention. Thankfully this march ended in a calm and peaceful manner without any incidents as reported.

All this comes back to us, asking what is this all about? Where do we stand in view of it? The Myanmar march might be totally unrelated to our life, but isn't the motive behind it is seriously related to our current state of affairs in the country? The lawyers march for judiciary reforms might not be closely associated to the man on the street. But it affect the future and the governing of the country in whole which indirectly DO affect each and every one of us in this country.

This is about justice! And when justice itself is in question, where else do we turn to? When the justice itself is accused of being injustice we the people have no else to go to fight for our rights! In any just society or country, Judiciary Powers and Executive Powers are separated to ensure fair and uncorrupted implementation of laws. But if the current crisis are to be followed about, then we are looking at a future where a totalitarian government is what our children will inherit.
I cant help but fear for the 'already hanging on the edge' freedom we currently have. We've been facing one crisis after another and by the way it looks this will not be the end of it.

What tomorrow will bring??????

I am going to look for the excerpt of that Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' on the net and post it in my next post.