Monks Protesting in Myanmar
 

Interesting goings-on in Yangon:

http://tinyurl.com/2l6cg5

The monks are very much putting their lives at stake to forward this cause, and we can only hope some positive change will come of it. I wish them the best - change is long overdue.

I have been watching this with interest. It is certainly true, as baaj notes, that the monks are really putting their lives on the line.

Thanks Craig for the link. We can all pray for positive change to start to grow.

Aloha!

I nearly posted about this a couple of days ago, but thought better of it. Press coverage of Burma is still very prominent here in the UK. As I have said before, allmost every day. Interesting to note that the US is the only country taking meaningful action. Here is a link to one aspect of UK coverage
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/...cle2976660.ece

To further add to the argument that people are starting to pay attention, this editorial appeared in our local Connecticut paper (The Hartford Courant):

http://tinyurl.com/2348zr

You certainly get more in-depth coverage of the issue in the UK than we do here in the US. (though that's true for more global news in general)

When I visited Myanmar in 1996, I witnessed acts of police brutality and round-ups of civilians to be used for conscripted labor forces to build the country's roads, pipelines, etc. The irony was that this all occurred on a busy street in Yangon during 'visit Myanmar year' At that time, the government was so much in its own reality, and all of these atrocities were so commonplace, that they were carried out in plain sight with no fear of retribution.

I really hope these demonstrations are the beginning of the end for that terrible regime.

This latest development is even more interesting.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/bur...881722285.html

Thanks, dogster - great link.

Thanks for the link. I'm really hoping that this time the protests will have some effect.

Today was the 6th day of protests with 20,000 in attendance. Probably not a good time to be a Westerner visiting Myanmar.

http://tinyurl.com/34t4k2

Well Craig, I'll be able to give you a first hand report in three weeks. I'll be there October 17th. The question is: will the monks?

The crowds seem to be growing each day. One hopes they succeed -- it's exciting to think change might be one the way. It's tempered by dread. News reports stress the difficulties the junta faces in containing the monks. Would the Burmese tolerate violence against them?

These low-life tyrants need to go. Hope the monks make it happen.

Latest report: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7011655.stm

I'm still hoping this results in peaceful change, but with the government moving troops into Yangon (I note the BBC still calls it Rangoon) it's starting to look bad.

I wish I were there -- as an old school 60s civil rights and anti war demonstrator,I wish I could be there to help them try to get the thugs out of power. Seems like a very scary but enormously exciting time to be in Burma.

Reuters just reported that the American president is going to make Burma a central focus of his speech to the UN this week. Articles indicate that China may even be trying to put pressure on the junta behind the scenes. Let's hope that all of this can lead to positive change for the Burmese people.

I can't think that a lecture from Bush on democracy is going to have the slightest effect on the junta. Nor refusing them visas for the US. China, however, could have an impact.

Another key trading partner that can have a great influence with Myanmar is Thailand but we have a non interference policy with our neighbour, in another word - no cojones!

It's amazing to me what is going on right next to where I am, I just heard that firefighters were told by the military to put insecticide into their watertanks, and that they would spray protestors with insecticide. It's too late for the military, if they wanted to stop this protest, they should have stop it on day 1. They didn't and the protest is too big. I hope that democracy is the end result, but of course, that will take many years. http://hobosinlovemedia.com

thursdaysd,

Why would china want a democratic nation on its border, when it has a relatively obedient one in its current state?

Anyway, these protests have reached a level of visibility where the junta would face some real consequences if they were to put down these protests in a brutal way. Although it is never out of the question. I hope for Suu Kyi's leadership, but I pray for the safety of all the protesters.

Bush's speech at the UN is meaningless. More sanctions which only hurts the poor people and fewer visas. Nothing.

"Bush's speech at the UN is meaningless'

I disagree. Better it be said than silence from the world. I also hoped for stronger action, perhaps by china and Thailand.

The important thing is to keep world attention focussed on the events. They marched again today -- reports of 100,000 -- and the military did not interfere.

I wonder if India has any influence with the junta.

baaj - I didn't say that China WOULD take action, but that IF it did, it might have some effect, unlike speeches at the UN.

And: "Anyway, these protests have reached a level of visibility where the junta would face some real consequences if they were to put down these protests in a brutal way." That didn't deter them last time. And in any case, it's hard to see what further consequences can be imposed by western nations over and above those already in force.

"That didn't deter them last time"
....but the world is a very different place today, with cell phone cameras, the internet and YouTube. The Junta does know that any harsh acts would get a lot more coverage/negative press both domestically and internationall than occured last time.

I hope the junta will keep that in mind, but with their history of brutality, I'm not sure it will.

I am impressed with the courage of the monks, and hope their efforts will be fruitful.

Gloria: I thought President Bush specified that restrictions would be placed on the military and their families, not the general population.

The latest news:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070925/...enJeBqPgb9xg8F


diplomatic pressure from the US and sanctions from the UN will have little impact if countries like China and Singapore continue to invest, thereby propping up the government.

Arthur Frommer has come out against visiting Burma under the present regime:

"Sep 24, 2007
Now is the time to support a touristic boycott of Myanmar (the former Burma)
Shockingly enough, several major U.S. tour operators continue to operate trips to Myanmar, despite pleas not to do so by the country's democratically-elected leader, the Nobel-prize-winning Aung San Suu Kyi. On occasion after occasion, Mrs. Kyi has emphatically stated that such visits simply support the brutal, thuggish military junta that now rules Myanmar. "

More at the link.

http://www.frommers.com/blog/2007/09...touristic.html

Personally, I think if a person with Mrs Kyi's authority has asked travelers to refrain from visiting the country we might do well to listen

I'm not sure that Arthur Frommer is much of an expert on the subject other than being influenced by an aggressive British press. Does anyone know when the last time Aung San Suu Kyi actually asked tourists to boycott the country? She's been isolated for so long that I doubt she is very much in touch with the situation.

I'm sorry - there are two separate posts on this subject and I thought I was responding to the other. The "situation" I was referring to that Arthur Frommer and Aung San Suu Kyi seem not to be in touch with is the support that China and other nations are giving the regime. As I said in the other post:

"I strongly believe that visiting Myanmar is NOT a show of support for the government regardless of what is or has been going on. The money the government makes from tourism is minuscule compared to what it receives from China from the sale of its natural resources, particularly natural gas. That is why the United Nations and China in particular, have done nothing to pressure the government to change its evil ways."

I agree with you Craig. Isolating these people, in my opinion, is not helpful to them. And they do need any money we can provide them through tourism. Granted, the junta will also get some money from tourism but if tourists are careful on where they spend their money, they can minimize the amount that goes to the junta.

When I saw footage of the monks and supporters the other day, estimated at 100,000 strong, I thought what a beautiful sight! I just heard that the junta is sending in the military to Yangon and possibly other areas and things may turn very ugly. I hope the protesters stand their ground and there is minimal violence but change will never come if the people aren't willing to fight for it. "It's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees"

NBC Nightly News just reported that Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved from house arrest to prison. Not looking good. Also, assembly of more than 5 people has been banned and curfews have been imposed.

Very sad.

Hi laurieco, long time no see!

I agree in that tourist dollars may be one of the only sources of money that gets directly to the people of Burma. They need all they can get. And laurieco is right, freedom in never free.

You have to willing to die for it, if not you are never really free. ASSK is proof of it.

Aloha!

I agree with Craig. All our economic sanctions have not hurt the generals or government big wigs one bit. But it has hurt the people. Even this demonstration didn't start because of democracy -- it started because of the price of fuel; the financial crisis. Believe me the generals are not suffering but the people are and they will suffer even more if tourism ends. I know I can't change their goverment -- although I personally support many advocacy and democracy movements and have volunteered in terms of letter writing campaigns and demonstrating (recently in front of the Chinese Consulate). But I can do what I can to help a few people and what they need is MONEY, contact with the outside world, the ability to get letters and photos to family and friends who have left Burma and some emotional support. From my perspective this would be a wonderful time to be in Burma. My guess is, however, that the government may clamp down on visas from the west because they are the ones who don't want us there at this time. My guess is the people would beg us to come.

Meanwhile there are petitions you can sign that are going to the Chinese. If it's "legal" I'll send the link. Also starting tomorrow is a week of action and there will be rallies and petitions around the country -- one in front of the Chinese Consulate in Chicago is scheduled for this friday at noon. I plan on being there.

Interesting perspectives:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/...507694,00.html

gloria, please do provide the link if at all possible. China is the country that really needs to act, not only in Burma but Darfur as well. They hold the key to change in both places. The problem is, if we wait for the Chinese to act, we'll all be long dead. Maybe the country to boycott is China.

Here's the link. This site will give other information as well.
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia...t=HomePage.dwt