Hope for Myanmar?

[scrupulous_stoic]

Yah! First real post!

I feel that many people around the world are ignorant to the situation in Myanmar, formerly Burma. Struggling after the Japanese raids in World War II, Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962. This junta has ruled the nation with an iron fist. The opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been in house-arrest for over a decade, and the government deals mercilessly with any rebel groups. Now, however, the seeds of dissent seem to be sprouting:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070921/ap_on_re_as/myanmar;_ylt=Ar45a2.MMTK3N95.2crG4cys0NUE

An interesting note on Myanmar's outlook on sexual orientation: the military regime has made same-sex relations an offense that could lead to a ten year to life jail sentence, if not execution. The pro-democracy government in exile seeks to abolish this law and decriminalize same-sex relationships. Despite this, Myanmar has transgender women who serve as individuals of luck and fortune, and are protected by law.

[u-dog]

Yah! First real post!

I feel that many people around the world are ignorant to the situation in Myanmar, formerly Burma. Struggling after the Japanese raids in World War II, Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962. This junta has ruled the nation with an iron fist. The opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been in house-arrest for over a decade, and the government deals mercilessly with any rebel groups. Now, however, the seeds of dissent seem to be sprouting:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070921/ap_on_re_as/myanmar;_ylt=Ar45a2.MMTK3N95.2crG4cys0NUE

An interesting note on Myanmar's outlook on sexual orientation: the military regime has made same-sex relations an offense that could lead to a ten year to life jail sentence, if not execution. The pro-democracy government in exile seeks to abolish this law and decriminalize same-sex relationships. Despite this, Myanmar has transgender women who serve as individuals of luck and fortune, and are protected by law.

The thing that all fascists have in common is fear. Fear of anything that is different, fear of change, fear of any kind of "movement" from what is to what might be.

You know that feeling when a train or a bus begins to move while you are standing up? the sudden "disequilibrium" that causes you to reach out suddenly to grab something that will stabalize you? That feeling is terrifying to fascists. Normal people solve this problem by reaching out and holding on to something. The fascist solution is always to shoot the bus driver.

[scrupulous_stoic]

The thing that all fascists have in common is fear. Fear of anything that is different, fear of change, fear of any kind of "movement" from what is to what might be.

You know that feeling when a train or a bus begins to move while you are standing up? the sudden "disequilibrium" that causes you to reach out suddenly to grab something that will stabalize you? That feeling is terrifying to fascists. Normal people solve this problem by reaching out and holding on to something. The fascist solution is always to shoot the bus driver.

Of course. This isnt the first time protests have taken place in Myanmar, but I do believe this is the first time protestors werent met with gunfire.

However, I dont think the nation is a fascist state, per se. Fascism usually involves one strong leader that rules. Myanmar is more of an oligarchy; generals share the power.

[scrupulous_stoic]

More protests. Seem to be getting much larger.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070923/ap_on_re_as/myanmar;_ylt=Aui8eKkSBFY8iMlCQZ2MN86s0NUE

[scrupulous_stoic]

And, as expected, military crackdown.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070926/ap_on_re_as/myanmar_070926233403;_ylt=AnovwFhl7bejM07kPW1q9nn9 xg8F

[Steven E. Webster]

And, as expected, military crackdown.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070926/ap_on_re_as/myanmar_070926233403;_ylt=AnovwFhl7bejM07kPW1q9nn9 xg8F

This is very sad. It will be interesting to see if a nonviolent movement can prevail in this situation or not.

Steven Webster

[scrupulous_stoic]

I hope so. Thanks to technology that has shown the protest continuously since it started, these brave monks and nuns are receiving international support, both at a federal and a grassroots level.

[andrewlittle]

... and the international community seems to be settling for "quiet" diplomacy. China and Russia blocked any stronger language or action on the grounds it is "an internal affair."

Meanwhile, the military seems to be drifting further away from using "restraint."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7015751.stm

[andrewlittle]

Here's a clue why China is foot-dragging. Meanwhile, let's see if Bush puts any feet on his "pro-democracy" rhetoric.

China, the dragon that keeps breathing new life into the absurdly corrupt and incompetent cabal of generals running the place, is apparently too hungry for energy to say no to the natural gas piped in from neighbouring Burma.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7015465.stm

[scrupulous_stoic]

Here's a clue why China is foot-dragging. Meanwhile, let's see if Bush puts any feet on his "pro-democracy" rhetoric.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7015465.stm

It seems that India is also in the same predicament:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070927/wl_sthasia_afp/myanmarunrestindia_070927133419

[Daniel]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/world/asia/27cnd-myanmar.html?hp

When a democratically elected leader was not allowed to hold office- and subsequently won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi, 60, has spent about 10 of the past 17 years in detention. In 1991, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.


http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/a/daw_aung_san_suu_kyi/index.html?inline=nyt-per

And recent events were precipitated by the price of gasoline, which has risen greatly in recent weeks. Last I heard this evening, 500 monks were hauled away.

[scrupulous_stoic]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/world/asia/27cnd-myanmar.html?hp

When a democratically elected leader was not allowed to hold office- and subsequently won the Nobel Peace Prize.



http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/a/daw_aung_san_suu_kyi/index.html?inline=nyt-per

And recent events were precipitated by the price of gasoline, which has risen greatly in recent weeks. Last I heard this evening, 500 monks were hauled away.

Aung San Suu Kyi is such a humble woman. She always diverts attention that is given to her on the plight of the Myanmarese people.

I heard the same. I also heard that a pagoda full of monks was raided last night, and the residents nearby only found saffron robes and blood. It could be the same story.

[Daniel]

I heard the same. I also heard that a pagoda full of monks was raided last night, and the residents nearby only found saffron robes and blood. It could be the same story.

You know really bad stuff is happening.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/28/world/asia/28myanmar.html?hp
The violence of the past two days has answered the question of whether the military would fire on Buddhist monks, the highly revered moral core of Burmese society. For the past 10 days, the monks have led demonstrations that grew to as many as 100,000 before the crackdown began.

“The military is the one who proudly claims to preserve and protect Buddhism in the country, but now they are killing the monks,” said Aung Zaw, editor of The Irrawaddy, a magazine based in Thailand that has extensive contacts inside Myanmar.

Like others monitoring the crisis, which began on Aug. 19 with scattered protests against steep fuel price increases, he said it was difficult to learn the numbers of dead in a chaotic situation in which hospital sources are sometimes reluctant to talk. Mr. Aung Zaw said he had been told of one death on Thursday when soldiers attacked two columns of monks and other people.

“The military trucks, I was told, just drove in, and soldiers jumped out and started shooting,” he said, describing a scene that was reminiscent of the mass killings in 1988, when the current junta came to power after suppressing a similar peaceful public uprising.

Addendum:

Here is an article which gives context to the situation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/weekinreview/30mydans.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

What Makes a Monk Mad
By SETH MYDANS
Published: September 30, 2007
BANGKOK

AS they marched through the streets of Myanmar’s cities last week leading the biggest antigovernment protests in two decades, some barefoot monks held their begging bowls before them. But instead of asking for their daily donations of food, they held the bowls upside down, the black lacquer surfaces reflecting the light.

It was a shocking image in the devoutly Buddhist nation. The monks were refusing to receive alms from the military rulers and their families — effectively excommunicating them from the religion that is at the core of Burmese culture.

That gesture is a key to understanding the power of the rebellion that shook Myanmar last week.