Burma

[agentundercover]

Has anyone commented on whats been going on in Burma on here?

What a shocker. In a microcosm why world politics is f&^cked up - all the burmese people get is words from us. They even had to co-erce the chinese & russians into condeming what is happening there (i guess as burma is comething of a US fave cause, they want to stick two fingers up - and valuable trade relations with the Junta).

i have not seen the cover of the express today, however I imagine the most important thing that is happening for their readers is princess di, ditto the mail and immigration/maddy.

whilst thousands of monks are rounded up and sent to concentration camps to recieve god knows what punishement for a peacfull protest.

a rant i know, but it. makes. me. angry. inside.

 

[Morbyd]

Do you mean Myanmar?

Truly shocking to see monks manhandled.

Unfortunately, it's a domestic issue. Condemnations, sanctions, etc... little effect on people who really want to stay in power in a rural country where there's no rival power base.

 

[djchewie]

no outside help from the west because of lack of western interests. a bit like zimbabwe.

love the way GWB waded in with a few harsh words. like thats gonna make a blind bit of difference.

seems like an idyllic and beautiful country run by despots.

 

[Beckiboo]

Do you mean Myanmar?

It was only re-named Myanmar by the military, the majority of people still use it's true name, Burma.

I think it's shocking the things that are going on in Burma, sadly I doubt things will ever change unless the Western World step in a do something about it. The military will never give the people democracy, why would they, at the moment they are rich and the common people are poor. These uprisings have been going on for years and nothing has ever come of them.

Very sad to think it's neighbour, Thailand, has such a prosperous economy, and Burmese have to live in such poverty

 

[Morbyd]

It was only re-named Myanmar by the military, the majority of people still use it's true name, Burma.

While we might disagree with the rulers of a country, the UN registered name is its official "true" name. In this case, that name is Myanmar (just like Siam is Thailand or Zaire is the Democratic Republic of Congo or Rhodesia is Zimbabwe). To call them otherwise is condescending.

...

I'm curious as to what people think Western governments should do... invade? Well, that usually doesn't go over very well as we've seen with the last time we decided we didn't like a particular government. Sanctions? Already in place.

In reality, as offensive as events in Myanmar might be, it's not really our place to decide the fate of this country.

 

[Beckiboo]

While we might disagree with the rulers of a country, the UN registered name is its official "true" name. In this case, that name is Myanmar (just like Siam is Thailand or Zaire is the Democratic Republic of Congo or Rhodesia is Zimbabwe)

True if you follow the military who are in control of Burma, but if you are an oppressed citizen of the country then you'll not be calling it Myanmar. Nor will anyone who supports the opression in Burma. Hence why all the leaders of our countries and most Western countries call it Burma.

And as for those other examples... they are all democratic countries hence why the majority call them by their registered names.

 

[djjaycool]

Sad state of affairs maybe GWB should invade to make a regime change?

 

[djchewie]

Sad state of affairs maybe GWB should invade to make a regime change?

hell better do it now, cos he's got under 2yrs left in office to mess up the world even more!

 

[Morbyd]

True if you follow the military who are in control of Burma, but if you are an oppressed citizen of the country then you'll not be calling it Myanmar. Nor will anyone who supports the opression in Burma. Hence why all the leaders of our countries and most Western countries call it Burma.

And as for those other examples... they are all democratic countries hence why the majority call them by their registered names.

You're calling Zimbabwe & DR Congo democratic? I'm sure those same world leaders you spoke about would disagree!

I seemed to remember hearing something about this years ago (back in the '80s when the name changed), so I just double checked: the name of the country in the Burmese language is Myanma (formal) or Bama (colloquial). "Burma" was the country's colonial name.

So to say that Burma is the name used by the people of the country isn't necessarily correct. However, because it was the military that changed it, I think it's become a badge for pro-democracy movement when they speak in English.

In any case, it's condescending of us great democratic Western people to say "well, Myanmar is the country's name, but we don't like the government, so we'll just call it Burma." It's a hollow gesture for the people, and it certainly isn't helping our leaders build a dialogue with the junta!

 

[Beckiboo]

You're calling Zimbabwe & DR Congo democratic? I'm sure those same world leaders you spoke about would disagree!

I seemed to remember hearing something about this years ago (back in the '80s when the name changed), so I just double checked: the name of the country in the Burmese language is Myanma (formal) or Bama (colloquial). "Burma" was the countries colonial name.

So to say that Burma is the name used by the people of the country isn't necessarily correct. However, because it was the military that changed it, I think it's become a badge for pro-democracy movement.

In any case, it's condescending of us great democratic Western people to say "well, Myanmar is the country's name, but we don't like the government, so we'll just call it Burma." It's a hollow gesture for the people, and it certainly isn't helping our leaders build a dialogue with the junta!

I really cant be arsed to get into a debate about this

 

[agentundercover]

I'm curious as to what people think Western governments should do... invade? Well, that usually doesn't go over very well as we've seen with the last time we decided we didn't like a particular government. Sanctions? Already in place.

.

Apparantly (stock statment for I heard/a man said/i have no evidence) the Chinese government do a ton of business with them. Ditto Russia. So I am not convinced the sanctions are being imposed by all - but its a fair point you make - I can wring my hands as much as I like but i've heard that invasion & regime change has not been an entirely succesfull foreign policy recently. maybe a UN led force...but then again I always told myself its got to come from within. people are poop sometimes.

 

[LagunaBeachCA]

If you go to Rangoon (the capital) there is a street named after my mom's granddad; Jamal Avenue. He received one of those OBE or CBE titles. I think she still has a copy of the official letter. She is very proud of it. I on the other hand tell her that he should have been shot for not throwing it back at the faces of his colonial masters. That starts a mom/son fight.

She grew up there till the revolution, and then had to flee to Bangladesh (East Pakistan at that time). They were ruby traders. Burmese food is very good.

 

[Padster]

My grandfather fought against the Japanese in Burma in WWII. Even came home with a lasting souvenir (malaria ). He almost gave his life in the name of 'freedom'. Hmmmm...

 

[Morbyd]

Apparantly (stock statment for I heard/a man said/i have no evidence) the Chinese government do a ton of business with them. Ditto Russia. So I am not convinced the sanctions are being imposed by all - but its a fair point you make - I can wring my hands as much as I like but i've heard that invasion & regime change has not been an entirely succesfull foreign policy recently. maybe a UN led force...but then again I always told myself its got to come from within. people are poop sometimes.

I've heard that about the Chinese as well. The Russians don't have much going there business-wise but they do have a general policy of frowning upon getting involved in other countries' internal affairs (except within the CIS, where they feel quite comfortable messing around with Georgia or Ukraine).

It does need to come from within... which is hard when you're dealing with the military. As much as I'd like to see Myanmar "free", it's basically a cross your fingers and hope scenario.

 

[djjaycool]

The E.U. is heavily involved in oil and gas. The companies in those sectors do not have to abide by the sanctions impossed. If you have oil or gas you can get away with anything you want; greed what power it has.