October 2007 Archives

I'm sorry I haven't blogged on Burmese news - but my health was affected by keeping up with the horrible news day and night, so I had to rest a little.

I was writing this long essay on how we can help Burma/ what should be done, but I thought I'll just write a short version in bullet points. This is my imagination of what it would be like, if the Junta could actually be persuaded by the UN to hand over power slowly to the people:

- The UNSC needs to persuade and mediate the Junta to slowly give up the power and eventually let Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and party to be in charge of parliament.

- How is the UNSC going to do this? Heck, I don't know, I don't have a degree in Political Management - the people in the UN should be able to figure it out. All I can say is, let the Junta and his allies leave with all the money they have and say you won't press charges if they give up the power slowly (and I emphasise slowly because well, things can't happen overnight).

- And all that not interfering nonsense in another country's affairs- what are you waiting for? Are you waiting for another Pol Pot to happen - are you only going to be happy when 1 million people die? Prevention is the best cure!!! Do something.

- The UN needs to sit down with Than Shwe and Daw Suu and see how the meeting goes and also that they follow up on promises. I've been living on empty promises all my life, I want to see some real changes.

- About everyone worrying about Burma breaking apart if the Junta isn't there to control it - get real - the only way they are controlling them are by killing and raping and extortion. When the transition from the Junta ruling to People ruling happens, everyone is going to have to make sure that the ethnic minorities don't just split apart. Even though I hate to say it, they can split apart later, if they really so desire but the beginning stages are very important in country building so I'd like to implore that they stick together.

-I like the federal state system that Burma used to have - kinda like the USA. I think having different states with some degree of control on their own will make people happier.

- Please stop saying sanctions. You, me and everyone and their mamas know there are sanctions against the Junta - but when you are going to impose sanctions, you have to have unity. You can't alienate a government who is being backed by all of its neighbouring countries' governments.

- Instead, how about telling the government you will give them incentives and privileges and do business with them? For example - say a company will open business in Burma and the government has to let them open a training centre, education centre, etc. Or maybe they will get a huge aid help but they have to consistently show where the money is spent - people will have to go there and check it constantly - and also please tell the people who are checking to not take bribes - because they will try to bribe them with girls, heroin, money, gems, you name it.

- Talking about bribes - the corruption system is going to have to be the first to go. We are going to need money from people in this changing hands from Junta to the people. If the UN isn't going to help - I think we can try to get money from corporations who want to have business in Burma - again the money has to be made sure it goes to the people and not into the pockets of the Junta. You see, I don't want UN troops and soldiers killing the Junta and stuff - it's too messy. I want the UN diplomats to come in and work in the country and change it into one that will go from struggling to - struggling less and improving.

- Singapore, China, India and Thailand are going to have to do more than just "condemn" the Junta's actions. I'm sick of everyone from George W. Bush and China's premieres to Singapore's Minister Mentor saying things like "the situation is very bad", "it's wrong to use force", "we are repulsed by it", "the people should have basic rights". HELLO? You don't think everyone already knows that? Talk is cheap. If you want to dismantle the ticking bomb that is Burma, you are going to have to start by looking at all the dealings and support that you are giving to the Burmese Junta. Your country is not going to go bankrupt because you don't do business with Burma. And I'm not even asking that. I'm merely asking that you review your policies and your deals. Make sure they are ethical and make sure you stop giving them guns and machinery and things that detonate and kill and spy centres,etc. Your hands are bloody too, when the Junta spills blood, you have to remember that. So, give the Junta incentives - say you will continue business, if they release political prisoners, if they rebuild villages they destroyed, if they stop torturing and arresting peaceful people - and can someone please tell the Burmese Junta how good they will look if the country prospers? Someone's got to have the cajones to go and persuade the pint sized brains that belong to the Junta.

- So wrapping it up -

(1)the UN needs to intervene - not with guns and soldiers but with diplomats, politicians and policy makers and come in and change the mindsets of the people. They need to persuade the soldiers to give up the power to the people. Someone in the UN must have an idea on how to do this. Maybe UN soldiers would only be needed to keep peace when the transition is going.

(2)Education is sorely lacking in Burma and if the big corporations want to make money in Burma - build Universities and training centres and make it affordable so everyone can attend. I know I ask for a little too much but consider the exchange rate. Very little money can build schools and train teachers.

(3) Stop imposing sanctions and instead give them incentives, such as your business in Burma, if the Junta agrees to human rights, and transition to a people led parliament.

(4) Singapore, China, India and Thailand needs to review their policies in dealing with the Junta. The plight of the country is now on full blast and so are the ethics of the countries who do Business with Burma, so y'all have no where to hide, you money loving people.

(5) If China again says the UN should not help Burma - I say boycott the Olympics in Beijing 2008. Also try to find alternatives to products besides those made in China. I know that's hard but we can try.

Do any of my ideas make sense? The Burmese Junta has probably killed thousands by now and are torturing thousands more. How can the countries who do business with Burma look at this and be OK with it?

Companies have to be ethical - we cannot compromise on things such as human rights and freedom. If you let the Burmese Junta go free and roam about Burma extorting from people, what will you let others do next? How will the world progress? Only if we are united, we can survive.

OK, so I did write an essay but with these words, I have to bid you farewell, my dear readers, I'm going away to seek some treatment that will hopefully solve all my ill health problems. I should be back in a about a month or so. Meanwhile, Mizzima and DVB always have up to date news about the situation in Burma. Adieu.

May the suffering be suffering free.

May the fearful be fear free.

May the grieving shed all grief.

May all beings find peace.

I'm participating in Free Burma's International Bloggers' Day for Burma. Therefore, in a bid to show solidarity with the rest of the bloggers all over the world supporting a Free Burma, I shall be refraining from posting anything today, besides the banners below.

Peace and love,

Yangon Thu

A friend of a friend just came back from Burma today and here is what she had to say: (The witness is in a state of high shock from having witnessed/heard all these news)

Last Friday, September 28, soldiers raided the Shwe U Min Monastery in North Okkalar Town in Yangon. During the raid 3 of the monks would not speak to the soldiers, they remained silent no matter what was said or done. The soldiers then shot the 3 of them on the spot. Those monks were said have been meditating at the time and were highly revered as great followers of Buddha's teachings.

Also when the soldiers raided the monasteries at Moe Kaung and Kyauk Kaung Monasteries, one of the monks tried to ask for help from people in the neighbourhood by trying to announce the soldiers' arrival by hitting the "Kyi Si". The soldiers shot the monk responsible for trying to inform the people. The soldiers then washed away all the blood, to cover up their heinous acts.

Meanwhile, Associated Press reports that many reporters in Burma have been missing, arrested or have been harrassed.

U Min Zaw, 56, who works for Japanese newspaper Tokyo Shinbun was arrested last Friday at his home by plainsclothes policemen.

Japanese Reporter Kenji Nagaii was gunned down among protesters last week.

Several reporters for media outlets such as Reuters and AFP have been harassed - physically attacked or prevented from doing their work.

Ko Kyaw Zeya Tun, 23, a reporter for The Voice, Ko Nay Lin Aung, 20, of 7 Days News and an unidentified female journalist from Weekly Elevan News are said to be missing. They are thought to be arrested during protests last week.

The Junta's Press Scrutiny and Registration Division is said to be harassing editors to print articles filled with pro-junta propaganda. "Most privately owned Burmese publication have not appeared or have been closed since the start of the crackdown," reports the Associated Pres