August 8 marked 20 years since Burma’s popular democratic uprising and the deaths of 3,000 Burmese who participated in that struggle. No one knows how many more have suffered under the oppressive regime of a military junta.
In an anniversary statement released by the State Department, the United States renewed “its call for Burma’s military junta to release immediately all political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, and end its detention of Burmese engaged in peaceful political activities.” But the unspoken question left hanging in the air is “Or else what?”
The Burmese government’s disregard for the welfare of its citizens has allowed it to hold them hostage, a virtual human shield against pressures by other governments and nongovernmental organizations to help Burma find a path to peaceful reconstruction and restoration of basic human rights to its people. Even in the wake of the destruction wrought by Cyclone Nargis, governmental restrictions delayed and diverted aid from people who desperately needed it.
Like Zimbabwe, this resource-rich East Asian nation was once a regional breadbasket capable of feeding its own people and exporting its surpluses. “Now half the people who live in Burma suffer from malnutrition and hunger,” first lady Laura Bush said August 7 at a Thai camp for Burmese refugees. She reiterated a call for other nations to join in “U.S. sanctions directed specifically at General Than Shwe and his cohorts in the junta.”
What more can or should the world be doing to champion the Burmese people?
Comments (2)
Jeffrey Karl Hellman
17 August 2008, 18:04 EDT (#)
What more can or should the world be doing to champion the Burmese people?
There are many areas of action we as the world community can take action…
1. Sanctions are a huge part of implementing punishment to the brutal military regime for it’s illegal incarceration of (Daw) Aung San Suu Kyi, elected leader of Burma, among other noble imprisoned individuals. General Than Shwe should be behind bars not a noble peace prize laureate.
2. Senior General Than Shwe must be tried at Universal Criminal Tribunal within the next month.
3. Immediate Aid must be provided in the areas of Burma’s Irrawaddy delta region, the area worst affected by cyclone Nargis.
4. China’s vote in the United Nations concerning Burma must be considered null in void. Considering their government’s immediate relationship with trade for oil and weapons forced upon children it is not a question.
5. Aid must be provided to the millions of people seeking refuge outside of Burma.
That is a start. What ideas do you have? Let’s keep Burma on the top of our agenda for offering help with compassion.
I wish peace to all nations large and small.
Thank you very much.
Jeffrey Karl Hellman
Jabavu Mhlanga
7 October 2008, 1:05 EDT (#)
The issue of Swaziland is not getting the attention it deserves. The people of Swaziland lost their democracy in 1973 when the then-King suspended the constitution and the bill of rights. Today the people of Swaziland are denied the right of exoression and assembly. The people fustration is turning to violence. The world will wait for dead bodies before they pass resolutions on the Swaziland issue. I think the world need to change its mindset and deal with issues before they become a crisis.