Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Salaamualeykum... (0) comments If you guy have been keeping watch of the news, you would know whats going on in Burma/Myanmar nowadays. If you don't, then here's a brief flashback of what happened. First,in mid-August, the government increased petrol price, causing increase in bus fares and other petrol-consuming services...this in turn caused a massive inflation of consumer goods in general. This led to public anger (just like how the people were angered in 1988 when the government nullified the 100 kyat currency notes).At first the pro-democracy groups led the protests...they were,however, small and was easily cracked down by the army.Although, I should mention such courage to protest in Burma is a very formidable feat. Eventually, some Buddhist monks join in the protests, as they too were affected by the price hike.Some even claiming they can't even afford to buy razors to shave their heads anymore. Just like the pro-democracy activists, the army beat up some monks and jailed a few.This led to an outrage by the Sangha(Buddhist Monk Order).They demanded apology, which they never got.They resulted to boycott the government and people with connections to it.Means they wont perform rituals or accept alms from them(this is a humongous blow to any sane Buddhist). Before you know it, thousands of Monks hit the streets.   At first they demanded cheaper commodity, then they turned the economic protest to a political one.They demanded, for what is a taboo word in Burma-democracy. This is much to the delight of the public.At first the monks asked the people not to get involved in the protests, but after 6 days of protests, the monks asked the public from all walks of life to join in. On Saturday, they achieved what was impossible (even for foreign diplomats)- they met the Iron Lady-Aung San Suu Kyi. Though it was brief, it was very symbolic moment for the nation.It kinda resembles the officiation of fresh efforts to restore freedom in Burma. Suu Kyi is pretty much an idol of many Burmese. Though the government will deny that. Sunday, the protests were in its full swing.Down town Rangoon, the capital was flooded by a sea of protesters. Estimated 10'000 Buddhist monks and nuns along with 90'000 civilians marched from to the heart of the city.       This is very astounding for a nation where even a slightest backbiting of the government (Junta) is punishable by lengthy jail sentences. On Monday, the generals broke the silence, and warned of strict actions against the protesters, even the monks. However, the couragous heros of the nation marched on.The next day saw deployment of troops around the city, though they just stood there and didn't act. Today, Wednesday, 26th September 2007, the army- the pseudo-Buddhists troops, started getting rough. They cordoned off the focal point of the protests- the Shwe Dagon Pagoda. Men were placed at different points all over the city. Curfew was ordered between 6pm to 6am. Gatherings of more then 5men were forbidden. A jeep went around the townships with the loudspeaker warning of consequences to those involved in the protests.As they put it 'Dont get nosey and meddle with politics'. Perhaps someone should inform the generals that politics ARE people's affair, and its them that should stop being nosey and meddle with politics. However,despite all threats, the march went on. Monks were defiant and were willing to put their lives in the stake. Public joined in, of course. In the country where they rather live in torn down shacks while showering the Monks with gifts and coating Pagodas with pure gold leaves, religion is everything. Monks are revered, and they are the main authority. If a senior monk say a black cat is white, the people wont argue that- thats the amount of respect the Monks get in Burma.
 The Junta has shown its true colours...well, not that it was ever hidden.They defied the international pressure..and caused harm to hundred of protesters. Monks were chanting and the people were following the monks- in some cases, forming human chains around them. This would probably the first nation in the world where a Buddhist government,prosecuted Buddhist monks for chanting Buddhist sutras(scripts). So much for the 'hero nation' of Buddhism that hosted the 2004 International Buddhist Conference. The end results, 5monks and civilians were confirmed killed.300 monks and civilians were captured,plenty more were injured. In the evening when the news of the beatings of the monks reached the general public(who werent participating) they came out of their houses, and joined in the protests.  According to some sources, the army fled the scene as the crowd swelled in number.However the day ended, the tally have started, Protests Day 9-Violence Day 1 : 5 monks, 3 civilian national martyrs. As I write this entry, al-Jazeera is broadcasting a in depth coverage of events in Burma. In a few hours, UN Security Council will be holding a meeting in about an hour's time to discuss about Burma. With China and Russia already stating that its an internal affair of Burma, I for one, fear that the meeting will come up with no affective resolution. EU and US are proposing tougher sanctions...which are completely useless. The only thing the sanctions did was to further degrade the livelihood of the citizens. The Junta's not bothered by the 'petty' sanctions. However,if China, India and Thailand impose these sanctions, the world will see, finally, the generals on their knees- at the mercy of their main business partners. My hope, as well as hope of the millions of Burmese around the globe, is that, this Saffron Revolution will mark a day as successful as the Bastille day in France.Over 4 decades of military rule has washed down the country. If life is a series of downhills and uphills, we hope, its time to go uphill after so long. Sad to say though, older generations have little faith in this new Revolution. They assume, the junta will rule forever, and their bullets wont finish...the Revolution will be crashed just like in 1988. Well, I'ill keep on hoping and praying. Back in the early 20th century, no one would have expected the British Rajs to leave South Asia, but they did. I wonder, perhaps, my generation will be able to go back and live in Burma, and work towards its prosperity.Who knows, perhaps we will gain back the prosperity Burma had back in the 1930-s. Before I end this entry, let me say that Strada Placido (thats the name of this Blog) is proud to fly, the Fighting Peacock (symbol of Burma's Struggle) Everything is with God now-and He answers to the prayers of the oppressed.Pray! Allah Madad! useful link: http://burmadigest.info/ http://www.dvb.no
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Salamualeykum, (1) comments Ok, this time I'ill be writing something,which i predict, will be of little interest to most of you guys. This week, the Burmese Military government has approved the Constitution written by over a 1000 strong delegation, hand picked by them.Evidently, the convention for the forming of the constitution is a sham, and is boycotted by the main opposition of the Burmese Government, the National League for Democracy. To give you the idea of how the Constitition works, here area few points:- -25% of parliament is reserved for the Military men -posts for the Ministry of Defence, Borders,Home Affairs,Security is reserved to Military men, or ex-Military officers -3 candidates will be field for the post of the President(who is elected by the Parliament).One of them will be an ex-Military General.Bear in mind that he has already got the 25% votes from the Parliament thats reserved by the military. Yes, the constitution is just a facade.Sometime in the future, the people of Burma will have to decide weather to vote YES, NO or simply boycott the referendum on the Constitution. This constitution was first proposed 14 years ago in 1993.After the opposition party boycotted the convention, all works for the forming of the constitution came to a halt.It was only in 2003 that the convention was reconvened. What I'm trying to say is that...the constitution took a LONG time to finally finish.Grab the opportunity, vote YES. Vote NO and we'ld end up waiting probably another 10 years or so. Even though the constitution is not in the best interest of the Burmese people,its the best chance we got to having a civilian government since the coup in 1962. Let the elections come, let the learned men among the Burmese take over the government, and bring the nation to its previous glory, economically and sociologically. I'm sure, by the time Burma become a successful economic giant (again), the military will lose its interest in being in the Armed force, their men will quit and join the lucrative Business opportunities.And eventually, what remains of the Armed force will be those who are really caliber and is in the Armed force for the love of the nation, rather then desperation. LOOK AHEAD, VOTE YES
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