UPDATE: THOUSANDS MASSACRED IN Burma (Myanmar) !!!

UPDATE!!! Oct. 1, 2007
THOUSANDS MASSACRED IN BURMA!!!

HUNDREDS OF MONKS KILLED!

BODIES DUMPED IN THE JUNGLE!

THOUSANDS OF MONKS HELD IN PRISONS!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...ticle_id=484903
-Skip



Protesters were led by Buddhist monks chanting prayers for peace.


I guess some of you must have seen what's happening in the news regarding Burma.

Since she won the fair elections in 1990, Aung San Suu Kyi has never been allowed to take power, and has been under house arrest for 11 of the last 17 years. I've just heard that due to the recent protests there, she has been moved from house arrest to a place local people call "Insane Prison". Some activists who were sent there still have nightmares about the place. My thoughts go out to the people of Burma, and Aung San Suu Kyi.

Poor people in Burma survive on $1 a day, yet the leader Than Shwe's daughter was recently married in a lavish wedding. She received gifts worth millions of dollars, which is a sizeable percentage of the entire national health budget. The illegal government has drained money and dignity from the country's oppressed people.

The military regime have now declared a curfew and have forbidden people to travel in groups of more than 5 people, in an attempt to stop the pro-Democracy protests. The Junta have also suggested they will disperse further protests by force. These threats are taken seriously, because previous demonstrations have also been crushed by force, and 3000 people were killed.

I found a list of Burmese embassies around the world, with some contact details. If you support the Burmese people in their quest for freedom, maybe you can e-mail or write to you nearest embassy and protest against the use of force by the Burmese authorities.

http://www.ananda-travel.com/UK/myanmar_embassy_list_uk.htm

 

Well one monk is dead already, and several injured. Here we go again.

 

I agree that the situation in Burma is very upsetting, and I am amazed by the bravery of the Burmese people in continuing to protest, even when threatened with arrest and murder by the military dictatorship of their country.

Sadly, the U.S. media appears to be ignoring the story. I somehow managed to remain ignorant about this issue until last week, when I went to a protest for Burma at the Chinese embassy. Which reminds me... those of you who are writing to embassies should consider writing to the Chinese embassy as well. China has consistently supported the military dictatorship of Burma and vetoed all UN resolutions related to Burma, preventing any progress from taking place in the country. This is exactly what they were doing with Darfur, but eventually, with enough protests, China decided to let the UN pass a resolution to send peace keepers to Darfur.

So keep praying for / thinking of / sending positive vibes to the people of Burma, so that they may be free of their oppressive government. And keep on the lookout for protests....

 

I saw a global press freedom index of global countries, and interestingly, Myanmar came in dead last. Right behind North Korea. I suppose the only thing you can say in Burmese news is that the weather is always beautiful.

Burma is the national heart of my passion, and the fact that the people are crushed under such a Junta is horrific. Thanks for posting that. I'll write.

 

The thing that gets me is that the soldiers who are repressing the protests are Burmese themselves. I just can't understand how they justify it to themselves. I'm sure they are just looking out for their best interests or their families, but I still can't comprehend how anyone can do that to one of their own. Mindblowing. Makes me appreciate my situation all the more...

 

Footage of the violence made me tear up a bit. It's sickening... using batons, tear gas and bullets on monks...

 

They don't have oil so I guess the most the US will do is impose economic sanctions, which I don't think will influence the military leadership there.

So much for our priority of spreading democracy throughout the world.

 

Wait... whatever happened to Darfur? Is that just last month's news? Did it get fixed? Or is it just not sexy enough for the liberals to be all excited about anymore?

Is Burma the new pseudo-intellectual fad now? I gotta get with the times man.

Don't get me wrong, I think that what's going on in Burma is terrible...

But it's just hilarious to see how the media completely controls all of these things. They can just as easily choose to take Burma off the air, and everyone will forget about it within a week.


You know what's the best thing to do in this situation as American?

Stay away from it, and stop policing the world. Burma will solve its own problems.

 

I think that you misunderstood my statement Skip.

I think that what's happening in Burma is terrible, and I truly support the people of Burma.

What I was commenting on is how most pseudo-liberals in America treat is as a fad, and forget about it the second the media stops broadcasting it. It truly saddens me that such a tragedy is nothing more than an excuse for some liberals to shout, and then just forget about it whenever it no longer appears on CNN. That is why I used Darfur as an example... no one is talking about it anymore, even though the situation is still extremely relevant, and it's all because the media is no longer following it.

When I mention America, all I'm saying is that I hope that the US does not send a "peace-keeping" force to Burma, which would only make matters worse.

 

I'm not talking about the independent media, I'm talking about the mainstream media and your average liberals.

I know that alot of people are extremely informed and do alot of good for the situation.

I am talking about your average liberal you find on the street.

How do I know this? I live with them, and have to face their bullshit everyday on a college campus.

All I'm saying is that it amazes me how easily people are swayed. You don't hear a single kid that was extremely passionate about Darfur even mention it anymore.

This all comes back to what you were saying about the media, it is sanctioned by the government, and sadly... people are extremely influenced by it.

I'm not disagreeing with anything you say Skip, I was just ranting about how such tragic events are turned into fads or something that's "cool" to support by the mainstream media. It turns them into a media circus and distracts people from the fact that this is indeed a tragedy and that innocent people are actually dying.

 

This can actually be a prime time to boycott Chinese imports. The American public dislikes China already for all the lead in children's toys fuss. If someone actually manages to tie China to all of these catastrophes in the mainstream media, then something could actually happen. So, yes... you are right.

Sadly enough, China supplies the US with a ridiculous amount of products, boycotting China would not benefit the US economy and the elite which is in power. I am sure that many US politicians and multi-millionaires are more than happy about what's happening, or even possibly supporting China and the Juntas on this for financial gain. It's a tricky situation, I cannot see the American government ever supporting a boycott of Chinese products, which will lead to the media never considering the idea.

What will I do? I'll talk to people, and use logic... instead of just shouting "Free Burma!" on the streets for the sake of shouting something.

 

China supplies the world. If the USA AND Europe can boycott China, that would be even better. Lots of Chinese items in France, England, ect. too even.

The US would have an impact, sure, if Europe joins in, that would truly be an impact.

 

Yes, it's impossible to be concerned with two global concerns at once Rubin. Trying to recognize and show solidarity with the Burmese people, who have been crushed by Myanmar's military dictatorship doesn't mean that everyones suggesting that an invasion should happen.

And demanding global justice only means policing the world if you believe that the world should live in darkness. The people of Myanmar are very glad for the support, whether or not you believe it's a fad.

 

I would say China's interests in Myanmar are completely economic. It has strong economic tries with Myanmar as do Thailand and India. Sino Burmese relations have been very tense ever since the cultural revolution. I don't think the oppression of the Burmese people in relation to Myanmar ever crossed the minds of the Chinese leadership.

The US's own trade relations with Myanmar are already very slim. To force Myanmars hand, we would need to force India, Thailand and China's hands. This recent violence would be the kind of clout the US needs to persuade such sanctions.

Anyway, I wore red today.