今日は朝から祭日かという雰囲気だった。
結婚式の朝食会
単に寺の前で結婚式をやっていたからというだけでなく、次の街に著いたらマーケットはガラガラでほとんど閉まっていた。
みかん売り
何かと思ったら独立記念日らしい。
1948年1月4日にブリ帝國（ブリティッシュ・エンパイアー）から独立したという。
1943年の8月1日に日本が独立させたことを忘れている。
ミャンマーの本当の独立記念日は8月1日であろう。
日本によるビルマのブリ帝國からの解放がなかったら独立などありえなかっただろう。
日本によるアジア解放とインパール、ヒンド進軍がなかったら、1947年のヒンド独立はなかったであろう。
寺院前の道端物乞い
独立記念日だからといって何かの行事をやっているのはシャン州の北部僻地街道沿いでは見かけなかった。
ヤンゴン、マンダレーなどの大都市では何かやっているのかもしれない。
いや、
昨夜からの結婚式の続きで今朝は朝食を食べに大勢来ていた。
そこに紛れ込もうかと様子を伺ったが、来る人は皆記帳して金をいくらか払って水ボトルと交換していた。
記帳など面倒なことは外人にはできないので出ていこうとしたら、入り口の主催者系の男が多分結婚する人の父親か親族なのだろうが、ぜひ中に入ってご飯食べてくれと導かれたので丸テーブルの席に著くことができた。
ご飯のお椀はあるが、おかずを取り分ける皿がなかったのでおかずやスープは直接口に運ぶか、ご飯に載せかけて食べる。
食後、お茶を飲み終わる頃に新郎新婦らしきが到着していた。
すれ違いに帰る。
朝は寒い。9℃。
朝7時、霧もやかかる
市場前のグラウンドでは子供たちが集まっていた。運動会か。
この運動会が独立記念日の恒例の行事らしいことは後でわかった。
検問2回
今日の特筆事項として、軍の検問が2回あった。 Mongkung の前後南北で2箇所。 車内の荷物検査を乱雑にやられる。
こんなことは今回初めて。
おっかなくなって、外務省の危険情報を見てみると、この北の支那隣接地域は、コーカン自治区という危険地域になっていた。
Mong Kung https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZFF1q
どこへ行くのか、何しに行くのか、どこから来たのか、タイの免許証とパスポート見せると納得する。
マンダレーに行く、行けるのかと聞くと、問題なさそうだった。
今日の走行距離。120km.
ミャンマー独立に関する資料
-
- 真の独立記念日は1948年1月4日ではない。1943年8月3日だ。独立の真の理解者は東條大将と大日本帝國だった
-
- 我々を白人支配から救い出してくれたのは日本だった。我々は大戦終盤に日本を見限ったが、その恩は決して忘れない
-
- 日本ほどアジアを白人支配から離脱させることに貢献した國はない。しかしまた、日本ほど誤解を受けている國はない
-
- 日本の軍事訓練は厳し過ぎた。何度か自殺を考えるほどだった。しかしラングーンが落ちた時、我々は間違っていないことを確信した。
ミャンマー独立宣言の原文 1943年8月1日
バ・モウ （ビルマ元首相 独立宣言）
約五十年前ビルマは三回にわたる対英戦争の結果その独立を失えり、英國側はアジアに対する掠奪的野望を以て此等の戦争を遂行せり。英國はさらにその伝統的陰謀賄賂及び想像し得るあらゆる詐欺及び術策の武器をしようせり。
・・・ビルマ人は徐々に搾取され時の進むに従い総ての國民的実質、莫大なる物資的資源、機会、文化、言語、さらに遂にはその生活様式までも失い・・・愛國者は挺身的精神をもって鎮圧、入獄、流謫、拷問及びしばしば死そのものを甘受して突進して来れり、これらの英雄はビルマの生存のため苦難を受け遂には斃れたり。
・・ビルマ人はアジアを結合せしめアジアを救う指導者を待望しつつありしが遂にこれを大日本帝國に発見せり。
・・・ビルマ人はこのビルマに対する最大の貢献に対する日本への感謝を永久に記録せんことを希望するものなり・・・」（一問に百答 日下公人 PHP研究所）
日本語の全文は見つからなかった。
Declaration of the Independence of Burma
Today, after more than fifty years of British occupation, Burma resumes her rightful place among the free and sovereign nations of the world. She proudly occupied that place throughout a very long stretch of unbroken history during which her glory shone like the sun and the moon in the heavens. Her empire once extended far beyond the hills to the North, South, East and West; many among her people were famous and mighty; the strength of her arms also was acknowledged to be great; and she contributed in her time worthily to the progress of mankind. Pagan and its architecture still mark a peak in that progress.
Throughout all their long history before British aggression the Burmese people maintained their independence unbrokenly after subduing every enemy sooner or later in incessant wars.
Fifty years or so ago Burma lost her independence for the first time as a result of three Anglo-Burmese wars. Britain waged these wars in pursuance of her predatory designs upon Asia at a time when Asia was divided and unprepared and the whole weight of sea-power, superior war equipment, and the vast newly-discovered resources of the industrial revolution was on the British side. To these she further added her traditional weapons of intrigue, bribery, and every conceivable fraud and device. The result of this unequal contest was that most of the small Asiatic nations were destroyed by British cunning and material superiority. It was Burma’s tragedy to be among those small nations which were overpowered by this material superiority.
The years of British occupation were indeed sorrowful for Burma. She entered into a long bondage, and dishonour and disruption ate deeply into her flesh. The Burmese people were slowly expropriated, losing, as time went on, most of their national substance, their vast material resources and opportunities, their culture, their language and even their own way of living, while Britain, according to whose plans these [things] were happening, derived the evil gains.
However, the Burmese national spirit remained uncorrupted by the darkness of these years. The struggle against the aggressor continued in one form or another as opportunity allowed or weapons were available while British greed and tyranny kept the fire in every Burmese heart raging. Periodically the people broke loose in their desperation, there were mass risings, slaughter, destruction, and then the most violent
British reprisals followed; whole Burmese villages went up in flames, the men were taken away forever and their homes left desolate. But still the struggle went on, gaps were slowly filled, new patriots came forward to suffer, in a spirit of utter dedication, the same repressions, imprisonment, exile, torture and often death itself. These heroes suffered and even died so that Burma might live. Their names and deeds shall be remembered always.
While the fortunes of this desperate unequal struggle rose and fell the Asiatic consciousness appeared for the first time in Burma. The Burmese people began to look around and abroad and the at themselves, and found that they were Asiatics and that Asiatics must stand together if Asia is to rise again. Looking for the leadership which would unite and save Asia the Burmese found it in the great Nippon Empire.
Thereafter Burma began to turn her face towards the East.
With the outbreak of the present war for the liberation of East Asia the Burmese struggle came at last to a turning-point. The irresistible forces of Nippon, after utterly breaking the enemy everywhere, swept through all East Asia and finally reached Burma where the entire people, who had long waited for this hour, rose unitedly to march side by side with Nippon’s great army of liberation against the Anglo-American enemies. East Asia had at last come together, her enemies were swiftly expelled from Burma and elsewhere, and the joy of the Burmese people was unbounded. From that day onwards they have given themselves completely to the cause of East Asia. Their gratitude to Nippon as the leader of East Asia is profound. They bow too in gratitude and homage to the war heroes, both Burmese and Nipponese, who have died in this war so that East Asia may conquer and live, so that Burma also may be free.
Today the Burmese people will at least reap the harvest which was sown for many years with ceaseless struggle and sacrifice. They will come once more into their own rights. They will solemnly proclaim their independence and sovereignty and enter into all the rights and obligations of a free people. Nippon’s strength and heroism,
Nippon’s nobility of purpose, have made this possible. With an entire nobility which is in keeping with the spirit of her national foundation, Nippon, who conquered Burma
from the British, has promised to recognize Burma’s Independence. Burma desires to place on perpetual record her gratitude to Nippon for this act of supreme service to her.
The Burmese people therefore, by this solemn declaration now made in their name and in accordance with their national will by a Constituent Assembly representing them, publicly proclaim that this day forever Burma is a full independent and sovereign State and that she has severed herself completely from Britain and the British Empire. Burma, as an independent State, is further declared to be established upon the ethical principles which will always represent the spirit of her national foundation. The Burmese people are convinced that such principles alone will preserve them and make them great and prosperous.
Burma also declares herself to be a member of the Great East Co-prosperity Sphere. She enters into this free and equal partnership so that, by the united resources, will and work of East Asia as a whole, a new Asiatic order and economy may be established as a part of the new world order which will ensure justice, peace and prosperity to all peoples. Burma pledges herself with her entire will to the fulfillment of this great task.
The New State of Burma is also established upon the principle of Burmese unity in one blood, one voice, one leader. It was national disintegration which destroyed the Burmese people in the past and they are determined that this shall never happen again.
Burma is now not only Burmese but East Asiatic as well and she must bear her part of the burden in accordance with this new conception and order while at the same time the rest of East Asia bear their part of the burden towards Burma in the same spirit. Burma must construct the new order in her territories in accordance with a plan which will ensure strong administration, stability, justice, self-sufficiency and strength in all directions. A strong, stable, and self-sufficient Burma is the greatest contribution that Burma can make to the East Asiatic order and economy, and Burma, owing to her geographical position, must be strong if East Asia is to be strong. The New State of Burma will pursue this policy resolutely.
Burma, in her foreign policy, will also promote peace, justice and the establishment of a new world order. She will endeavor constantly to maintain the closest relations with all friendly powers on the basis of justice and reciprocity.
Regarding the present Great East Asiatic War which being waged against the
Anglo-American enemies and their allies the Burmese people solemnly declare that it
is also their war, a war which will decide the issues of their own independence, their prosperity, their very survival as a people. It concerns them as Burmese and also as East Asiatics, for it is further a war which will definitely settle the fate and fortunes of the East Asiatic peoples for a very long time. The Burmese people further declare their strongest resolution to support this war together with the other East Asiatic powers under Nippon leadership till the enemy is reduced to utter submission. They will support this war with all their resources, both material and moral, whatever may happen and however long the war may last. The great heroes whose sacrifices have redeemed Burma and made Burmese Independence possible have passed away but their work still remain unfinished; the work of Burmese Independence also still remains unfinished; the work of making East Asia safe for East Asiatics also remains unfinished. All these tasks, which are so vital to the Burmese people, can only be finished by winning the present war. The Burmese people therefore dedicate themselves completely to the cause of winning the present war.
Finally, it is declared that the New State of Burma will be governed in strict accordance with the laws and constitution which are in force for this purpose. All people in Burma are in this manner assured of good government, justice and of all their just and lawful rights.
The Burmese people, acting through a Constituent Assembly representing them for this purpose, have here made a solemn declaration of Burmese Independence and of the principles upon which the New State of Burma is founded and will be governed. This declaration represents the whole national will of the Burmese people and it shall be faithfully maintained. The Burmese people pledge themselves to the utmost to this end before all devas [gods] and men who are witnesses to this solemn act and declaration.
(Signed) U Ba Maw President,
Burma Constituent Assembly. Rangoon, the 1st August 1943.
＊ https://boseofjapan.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/declaration-of-the-independence-of-burma.pdf
ミャンマー語の原文
