|
|
The Burmese Caravan of Death
Monday, 1 October 2007 - 6:07 AM SL Time
|
|
|
Generals ruling Myanmar may have thought they won another bout with the pro-democracy movement by cracking down on the recent popular uprising led by Buddhist monks. But, in reality, they are getting bogged down in a politico-military mire of their own making. The 45-year-old military junta stands condemned the world over for its brutal suppression of democratic opposition. The UN has flown a special envoy to Myanmar in a bid to persuade the headstrong generals hell bent on unleashing unbridled violence to perpetuate their dictatorship to mend their ways. ASEAN has minced no words in denouncing its member state and expressed revulsion at what is going on there.
People the world over have pledged solidarity with the Burmese struggling to oust a repressive military regime. Minister of National Heritage Anura Bandaranaike has taken a swipe at his Cabinet colleague, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama for his silence over Myanmar at a time the entire world is condemning violence against Buddhist monks there. One cannot but agree with Mr. Bandaranaike, whose concern for the people of Myanmar and Buddhist monks is totally devoid of hypocrisy.
But, unfortunately, the same cannot be said of most of those who are weeping buckets for the moribund Burmese democracy. Some of them have become ardent defenders of Buddhist monks all of a sudden! Even the countries that have a history of toppling democratically elected governments to install puppet military regimes and are shamelessly supporting servile military rulers are campaigning for hanging the Burmese generals.
The White House has condemned the crackdown on the pro-democratic activists as `barbaric`. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown have reportedly discussed ways and means of stepping up international pressure on the Burmese military junta to put the kibosh on their spree of violence.
One is reminded of the fate of Salvador Allende of Chile, whose democratically elected Marxist government was ousted in a military coup led by General Augusto Pinochet. The role the CIA played in that violent overthrow of a democratic regime for reasons which were more ideological than economic or political or military is only too well known to merit elaboration. Pinochet went on to become one of the most ruthless dictators in Latin America, having had Allende put to death. He launched the much dreaded Caravan of Death to eliminate his political opponents. Thousands of people died as a result. But, he continued to have the blessings of some leading world powers.
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher once presented an award to him for the services rendered to Britain, especially during the Falklands War. Later, when he was detained in London in October, 1998 and his extradition was demanded by the Spanish judiciary probing some of the extra-judicial killings numbering well over 4,000 committed at his behest, Mrs. Thatcher wrote to The Times calling for his release. `By his actions,` she said, `the [Falklands] war was shortened and many British lives were saved.` True, he had allowed the SAS to operate from the Chilean soil during that war and provided material assistance to the British forces. Neither Thatcher nor Britain gave two hoots about the fact that their pet dictator, who helped `shorten` the Falklands war, had also `shortened` the lives thousands of Chileans as well as a considerable number of Spaniards!
What moral right do those who have created and/or nurtured military dictatorships in other parts of the world have to condemn the Burmese Generals` Caravan of Death?
Russia stands accused of not supporting sanctions against Myanmar because of its interests in the Burmese gas fields. The same accusation has been levelled against China and even India, which came under fire over a recently signed agreement with the Burmese authorities. Yes, it is the responsibility of Russia and China to use their influence to make the Burmese generals behave. But, aren`t the critics of Russia and China being driven by economic and religious interests, when they campaign for dislodging the military junta and installing a malleable democratic government in Myanmar?
The western countries shedding crocodile tears for the Buddhist monks have a not-so-hidden agenda. They are only trying to use the Burmese monks as a cat`s paw. They are eyeing the gas fields, teak forests and other natural resources in that country.
Strangely, they who hail the Buddhist monks opposing the Burmese military junta as heroes condemn and treat the monks campaigning against terrorism in this country as villains. Is terrorism a crime which is of less severity than a dictatorial military rule?
The Burmese monks may be aware of the ulterior motive of the foreign powers offering assistance. But, their predicament is so grave that they may have chosen to throw caution to the winds. It looks as if they were desperate to banish the known devil with the help of the unknown. Given their misery, despair and frustration, their impetuosity is understandable.
The daunting task before the true friends of Myanmar is to restrain the blundering violent generals and help usher in democracy without letting sinister forces that are all out to fish in troubled waters achieve their goals. They have to make sure that the Burmese out of their desperation won`t swap ginger for chillies in trying to regain democracy (the way we did in getting rid of the Portuguese invaders with the help of the Dutch).
|
|
|
Ramz
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 54
Member Profile
|
2 Oct 2007 08:43:21 GMT Report for Abuse
|
These Budhist monks are thousand time better than our JHU monks (who run after property and luxery nowadays...) I praise them even I'm not a Budhist
Hope our JHU monks (who claim that they are Desepremi's (patriates)will change their Kadara policy now and do some thing really in favor of the country and people (regardless of their religion or ethnic entity) |
freedom1
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1180
Member Profile
|
2 Oct 2007 17:37:42 GMT Report for Abuse
|
It is disgusting, that Asian and Western leaders are not able to enforce better circumstances in Burma.
Thailand, India and China have a strong influence in the region and that scum Junta is one of the worst leftovers from the last millennium. A serious disgrace for Asia. |
Ramz
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 54
Member Profile
|
3 Oct 2007 07:04:31 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Finally JHU revealed their opinion on the issue...
JHU leader Ellevelay Madhannanda Thero shaid that the protest is against Hunger...not against military rule....(I have just read the article from Infolanka.com)
Is this Thero suggesting that ..since they protest against hunger ....we have nothing to do..koz we fill our belly well and we gain millions and cores by selling out our mercedez and TV channel licenses????
he finally claimed that.....THIS AND OTHER ISSUES SHALL BE SOLVED BY TRUE DISCUSSIONS.....What an ironic statement...He, Thero, insist on WAR to solve the sri lankan ethnic conflict (to eleminate the minorities from the island)....but when it is related to others.....HEY...you have to solve this by discussions...not through protest and violence.....(He might have forgotten that our JHU Theros are protesting and even setting in Bombs (Shah Rukh Khan's incident) to reveal their opinion in S.Lanka)...
|
freedom1
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1180
Member Profile
|
3 Oct 2007 07:15:37 GMT Report for Abuse
|
The genocide on the Burmese monks continues at full speed.
Eyewitnesses report that hundreds get get beaten to to death every night after dark at curfew time when soldiers surround temples and homes.
|
samadi
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1279
Member Profile
|
3 Oct 2007 07:18:14 GMT Report for Abuse
|
A serious disgrace for Asia.
very true! I saw in news yesterday that they killed hundreds of monks inside monastries..
|
freedom1
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1180
Member Profile
|
3 Oct 2007 07:50:56 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Samadi
Europe had to sort out these Serbian genocide freaks in former Yugoslavia.
Burma is now the big challenge for the Asian nations. |
|
Search All News and Discussions