Work and Religion (Burma)

While riding my bike along in Bagan, I saw this common scene of field work. The backdrop temple and pagodas represent the Theravada Buddhist religion practiced here. The number of temples and pagodas in Burma is overwhelming, yet Bagan is in a league of it's own with hundreds in view from one location.

Creating a Longyi (Burma)

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We were walking through a rural village when we saw this lady making longyis. Given the opportunity to purchase one, a few of us did so. These two models illustrate the different ways of wearing the traditional Burmese clothing.

Long Necked Woman (Burma)

(PaDong Tribe, Inle Lake)

Inle Lake, Burma

Our study abroad trip went through Myanmar (Burma). Obviously, by looking elsewhere on my blog, you can see I'm quite dedicated to following the current situation on the ground there. I was going to make this video later but after seeing so many images of the protesting monks and subsequent crack-downs, on TV, the Internet I knew I wanted to make it right away. I hope some of the images you see in this video with illustrate the beautiful people and culture of this place. Time spent on Inle Lake was a highlight of the trip for many. Prayers go out to the Burmese people in these dark times...

Burmese citizens who defy the regime

video: The people's mother; 90 year old Burmese woman who is poet, author, and freedom fighter, voices political dissent. Comedians speak against the regime while under heavy military surveillance. Monks under high surveillance to stop them from leading further protests.

Brutal Crackdown in Burma

This videos was on my blog earlier but the original post on youtube was removed so here is a different post of the same video. Must See!

Inside Myanmar: The Crackdown - 10 Oct 07 - Part 1

Very good video illustrating some of the build up protests and ensuing crackdowns in Myanmar. Part 2 is also available on YouTube.

Free Burma!

Wesley's thoughts on the crisis in Burma

I was amazed at the level of the protests -- most of those in the streets weren't old enough to remember 1988 (similar pro-democracy protests that ended badly) -- just as I was not amazed at the brutality of the reaction. As for the future of the Burmese people...history is prologue. When the two countries that have the most influence over internal affairs are India and China, then you're in trouble. Unless and until the people are able to rise up in armed revolt (and where are they gonna get the guns?), nothing is going to change. We (the US) have no influence there b/c of our lack of engagement over the years so we stand on the sidelines incapable of doing anything short of a military invasion.

All despots rule by fear (aka negative reinforcement). But one basic rule is that the one who has the most guns rules. And that's the case in Burma. So who's going to step forward and be cannon fodder until they run out of ammo? That's the problem in Burma. And so if they have a military coup, the general or army officer who prevails just repeats the same pattern. Democratic tendencies are almost never found within the military. The entire structure of the military goes against democratic principles. (Can you have a military where people take orders and obey while at the same time also questioning authority? Difficult to damned near impossible.)

So I'm not pinning my hopes on a rational response from Than Shwe (top Burmese general) or on a military coup leading to freedom for the Burmese people. When you have a military leader/despot that spends hundreds of millions of dollars to build a new capital city on the advice of his astrologer and then marches civil servants to that city in a forced relocation, you're not dealing with someone whose behavior is predictable by usual measures of predictability.

Problem w/ Burma is that there are 17 different tribes and most want their own country. (See Iraq for a Middle East example.) They may be all Buddhist, but the tribal identity is so strong that they historically haven't played together very well in the sandbox that is modern day Burma. So strip away this repressive military regime and what do you have? It may be no prettier than Iraq, just with more warring factions.

That's why the US and the UK ought to go in there, topple that military, grant the generals immunity and find them a place for asylum, get them out of the country, and impose sufficient order to develop a working and stable government. Unlike Iraq, the Burmese would welcome us b/c they remember how good they had it under British rule compared to how it is today. So they'd welcome an invasion, as long as we promised not to colonize them again.

But none of the above is gonna happen. We're going to make hollow pronouncements about supporting democratic reform in Burma while the life of the military goes on as usual. And we're gonna leave the Burmese people to fend for themselves. That's American foreign policy when we're tied down to what was never a winnable war in Iraq.

As for activism, write your US Senators, write the President, write all Congressional Reps from your state. Tell them to put pressure on the UN to act, tell them to establish a full embassy in Yangon with an ambassador so we can engage the gov't there, tell them to lift the trade sanctions and instead put in place a set of guidelines for doing business within Burma. Trade sanctions like the ones we have in place are as hollow as the stomachs of the Burmese people who can't earn a living because we shut them off. People will never rise up and overthrow a government on empty stomachs. Look at Cuba -- it simply hasn't worked, nor will it. So write them all and tell them to get off their sanctimonious asses and do something that's good for the Burmese people while putting in place a system to ensure that the government doesn't benefit from the trade.

Wesley King is a management professor at the University of Dayton. Each summer he organizes and leads a group of students on an Asia study abroad program with a focus on SE Asia.

This breaks my heart

The latest out of Myanmar:

One from a British newspaper another from a Burmese Blogger.

My prayer is that these bodies are found along with the others that will be executed in the jungle, so that the West can make a case for crimes against humanity and act.

These articles about the slaughter in Myanmar make me so frustrated and angry with petty world politics and greedy economics. How are these blatant crimes allowed to go unpunished? Where are the economic and political monsters in the region, India and China? Where is Thailand? These countries only seek their own self interests, i.e. Burmese energy resources and market access for their growing economies. As long as this evil regime is propped up, and Western trade embargoes continue, the door remains open for easy investment by India, China, and Thailand.

Where are the powerful Western governments? How long before an effective coalition is formed to take this regime out? The general public (that even knows about it) is begging the international political community to do something. I thought our governments are ruled by the people? How many more news reports must be published about the military junta's crimes against humanity. Peaceful protests led by non-violent monks are being put down using incredible amounts of violence. Satellite evidence illustrates village destruction and population displacement as military bases are erected. Multiple ethnic groups are being targeted with women raped and the men used as slave labor by the government. Refuges leave with little or no chance of returning. Free democratic election results were completely ignored. The rightful leader of Myanmar and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been under house arrest for the past 15 years. She won 82% of the vote in open elections. A slaughter just like this ALREADY occurred after popular protests in 1988. What more does the international community need??!! Act!!!

As for us as individuals, we can follow suggestions given by the US Campaign for Burma. In the very least we should be aware of the tragedies occurring and spread the news to the unknowing.

Please pray for the Burmese people and get the word out.

Burmese monks protesting

Good photos found on Myanmar blogs:

http://mmedwatch.blogspot.com/

http://ko-htike.blogspot.com/

http://soneseayar.blogspot.com/

Aung San Suu Kyi

I've been keeping track of the latest developments concerning human rights abuses in Myanmar. Almost every site I come across includes this tagline:

"please use your liberty to promote ours"
-Aung San Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi is a Noble Peace Prize recipient who has been under house arrest since 1989. She is the rightful prime minister of Myanmar after winning the general election (while under house arrest) with 82% of the vote. But the military junta ignored the results and continue to repress the Myanmar people today.

Even if you can't do anything, at least be aware of what is happening.

Learn more about the struggle
http://www.uscampaignforburma.org/

Learn more about Aung San Suu Kyi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aung_San_Suu_Kyi

Pagados on the Horizon (Burma)

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Birds chirping, wind gusting, and a plethora of pagados. Very peaceful place actually..