Burma, or as their military has renamed it, Myanmar is a forgotten country which most people would not even think to look at on a map. As the news reported some time ago, several monks were killed in a government protest. After everyone read about it, they were shocked.
But what most people don’t consider is that this nation has been suffering under a fascist-militaristic rule for roughly 40 years. Nor is it a pleasant place under the government if an individual chooses a religion different from the Buddhist faith.
Somewhere between the Thai and Myanmar borders are dozens of refugee camps over-crowded with various former Burmese residents, many of them from hill tribes forced off their land. There are teenagers living in these camps who have never been outside them. Meanwhile, dozens of activists illegally cross the Thai border daily to bring supplies, education, drug rehabilitation, and all other sorts of help as they risk whatever consequences they might face by the Burmese government.
Ironically, the government still has plenty of contact with the international community. This would include deals with Chinese corporations, the black market (as one of the world’s largest opium suppliers), and tourism, yet the government was extremely reluctant to allow the UN passage to offer aid after thousands of people were killed in the cyclone that hit it less than a year ago. Rumor has it that governments of a few Western nations have their hands in the Burmese cookie jar as well.
While many people rant about how miserable governments in places like Iraq, Congo, North Korea, and countless other places, why is it that we rarely hear about Burma?
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5 users commented in " Remember Burma (Myanmar)? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackYou normally would not hear any news on Myanmar, because most major countries do not have large organizations or companies, that contribute tremendously to political processes in their own countries, factories or businesses in them. Thus there are no vital interests to pursue. Only the intense lobbying of such organizations prompt, governments to take action to ensure stabilization, so that the wheels of commerce may turn.
If there were 20 US companies that did 25 billion dollars of revenue in Myanmar, you would see troops, on the shore of Ngwe Saung. Vietnam had shown that ideological pursuits are not worth the political sacrifices.
Marty, you are quite right, that is why myanmar news are not expressed widely. But another factors are included , such as neighbor countries (not friendly or not wanted to see and compete if myanmar grows or ), ethnic problems ( as myanmar have 135 groups) , and the minds of people that they are most satisified people in the world (except the junta). Other many factors still left!
We got the independence with unmaturely leaders.
Anybody read the (fictional) book “Saving Fish from Drowning?” which takes place in Burma/Myanmar and is by the magnificent author, Amy Tan?
Nobody wants to cover Burma because nobody’s willing to explain the convoluted and complicated past that has caused Burma to have one of the world’s most corrupt and repressive governments, the world’s worst health care system and severe political repression. Most journalists simplify the entire political situation into a good versus evil scenario, even though it’s far more complex. And Burma’s not like Darfur and other places, where the open wounds of human rights abuses are so fresh that nobody can’t help but noticing. The Burmese have become so blistered and tired of half a century of military rule that it’s become “old” news to the rest of the world, even if ethnic genocide continues in the jungles and people die of starvation everyday. An unfortunate reality.
plaese do not believe the burma goverment all people help each ather
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