Burma Shame

BURMA SHAME

Myan……Myna…..May…M…Ma—Damn! Burma!

The media has labeled the situation in Myanmar as the Saffron Revolution, because of the color of the robes that the monks wear, since they are the leading force of the protests. Saffron revolution? Why do the media have to tart up everything? Like The environmental revolution, the Green Revolution or the democratic process in the Ukraine as the Orange Revolution? It is like changing a Jungle to a Rain Forest, it is more serene sounding and people will save a rain forest, but not so much a jungle.

Sorry, I digress. Myanmar, then Burma flirted with democracy in 1990, when a democratic election swept into prominence a bunch of elected “democrats”, but as quickly as they were elected the military junta annulled the election to keep power. Since those days Burma has slipped into the darkness of poverty; it is one of the poorest, if not the poorest countries in the world. The country’s major source of income is natural gas and gemstones. About 90% of the world’s rubies come from Burma.

The Myanmar military junta lives in relative luxury compared to their beleaguered people. Price increases have led to the situation now in Burma. Monks began quietly protesting the government’s move and were joined by thousands of Burmese. The government could not tolerate this affront to their authority and sent out security forces to quell the protests. Hundreds of monks and civilians have been detained or just up and disappeared. People beat in the streets, but not as many were killed as there were in 1988, which led to the success of the democracy movement of 1990.

The UN has enacted sanctions against the Burmese government, but what will that mean? Not much! A French company is still using Burmese gas and oil, “blood” rubies will still be bought at Macy’s.

These sanctions are just a way for the world to appear to care what happens to the people of Burma. In reality, they care not. The loophole of the sanctions on rubies is huge. For the US they cannot buy Burmese rubies from Burma, but as long as the stones are cut and polished in another country, it will be legal. The people will continue to suffer and the junta will continue to oppress.

Burma is a good example of why I personally do not like the theory of non-violent action. The people protest peacefully and with conviction and the response will be violence and conviction. Sorry to say, but the violence will triumph every time.

Since the fateful day, much has been said and even street demonstrations throughout the world. People are marching and carrying signs in cities like London, Bangkok and other cities. Everyone is trying to do their part to bring about more democracy for Burma. I would like to point out that a hundred people have died in Burma. But what of Darfur? Thousands have died, millions displaced and yet the world is not up in arms about that, why? A hundred deaths, the people of Darfur would consider themselves lucky if that was the total deaths from the situation with Sudan. Why no more outrage than a whisper for Darfur? Is it because they are black? Are black Africans somehow less important than Asians?

I bring up Darfur, not to lessen the situation in Burma but to bring attention to the fact that there are people all over this world fighting for democracy. No matter where it is, one situation is no more important than another. We stand for democracy for ALL people, no matter where the live, what they believe or who will lead them. If the people do not participate in the country’s government, then it is not a democracy, no matter how hard it is sold. May I suggest that if a person does not embrace “real” democracy then please shut the hell up! If you want to demonstrate for democracy, then do so for ALL oppressed people, or stay home and play HALO 3. Stay out of the way of us who are fighting for ALL humanity, not just the situation du jour.

It was amazing to see the amount of conviction of the Burmese people to demonstrate peacefully, but all they accomplished was a momentary footnote in recent history. Their struggle will soon be forgotten when the story slides from the headlines. I am sorry to suck the life out of the moment, but face reality—POLITICAL POWER GROWS FROM THE BARREL OF A GUN!

You may not like Mao, but he was correct in this assumption. The only way the Burmese will rid themselves of the parasitic junta is through an armed struggle. If they wait for the world to come to their rescue, then they need to see the progress that it has made in Darfur. That is what they will have to look forward to in the future.

We Communists condemn the actions of the junta in dealing with the Burmese people. We stand together with our comrades and demand human rights for all people. We will work with our comrades to bring an end to the suffering of the Burmese people and a return to “real” democracy for all.

WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!

Professor CHUQ

06 Oct 07