I continue to be appalled by what is happening in Burma. There have been two recent articles in The New York Times that describe the situation:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/26/w...sultPosition=3


https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/15/w...sultPosition=1


And here is an account from our friends who live in Bagan:

For village peoples ,we have water-supply by electricity.
Since 3 months ago,solider visited my village and cut off electricity line for water-supply station.
The reason,we did not pay electricity bill.
If we pay that they will buy weapon from China ,Russia and Iran.
Then they will use in civil war.

Police and officer visit our home and give the electric bill.
They say that go to office and pay the bill.
But all village peoples don't go there.

Now they cut off electricity for 9 hours a day in Bagan Nyaung Oo township.

Some villages could not get power.
Solider cut off electricity absolutely.

Now we go to river and collect the water for home use.
Now we go to river to swim/bath, wash the clothes.
Now we cook food by firewoods or charcoal.
We get light by candle or battery.
We recharge battery and phone by solar panels.

Thanks for the update. It is absolutely sickening. I once thought that Buddhist countries might be less warlike and oppressive than some others, but was soon disillusioned.

Really heartbreaking. I can’t even begin to fathom how awful it is. Thanks for posting the account from your friends - it’s painful to read.

Thank you, Thursdays and Progol, It is very sad.

Thursdays, I have a hard time thinking of the generals as being Buddhist, as there is nothing they do that reflects the Buddhist philosophy. I know that a few of the generals have paid to have temples "restored" (garishly) but I don't think that makes them Buddhist.

In spite of the threats by the military and the police, I'm struck by how many locals are practicing civil disobedience. These are courageous people.

Interesting update on the situation. Things are not going well for the generals, but the state of the country is dire:

https://www.washingtonpost.com//worl...p-anniversary/

How awful. My husband was just saying he would love to go to Burma with me again but with what is going on there we certainly wont. I feel so badly for everyone there.