Burma

[BANGKOK RED]

Surprised that nobody else has posted about it before now, although I guess that being in Thailand, which is right next door then it will be more "In our face's"

What on Earth can we do, It is likely that thousands could be killed by the military, or is it Burma's problem.

Tough call really, I guess I a no win situation for our politicians, after look at what happened with the US and Vietnam.

Which leads me to 2 case scenario's:

1) The yanks in vietnam: Well we all know what happened there.

2) The Vietnamese going into Cambodia and liberating her from the Khmer Rougue: Well done Vietnam for doing something that somebody else should have done long before.

If the sanctions are having any effect at all it appears to be only that the civvy population of Burma is suffering and the military, who have complete control, with absolute power and wealth, therefore seem not to care less about the sanctions.

So, do we (The rest of the world) take decisive action to prevent countless murder's of innocents?  Or we do nothing because it is essentially none of our business?

Let's just hope that the UN know what to do.

[Amir]

India and China are the key to putting pressure on the military.  As you say, sanctions will only hurt the general population, yet if these two were to stop giving them billions of dollars in revenue for their natural gas supplies they could have a sizable impact.  The problem, as ever, is that money probably outweighs ethics  

[Nomoreheroes]

Its a tough one. I think that China is the key.

Anyway, why does everyone still call it Burma when its been Myanmar since at least 1989 ?

NMH

[tans]

What has caused it all exactly, im lost  :?

It seems pretty savage though.

[pauld]

It's very much "in our faces" BR - lead headline every news bulletin and front page of every serious paper.

[sonic youth]

Its a tough one. I think that China is the key.

Anyway, why does everyone still call it Burma when its been Myanmar since at least 1989 ?

NMH

i was born in 86 and i've always known it as burma :?

it's quite mind-boggling that in the year 2007 people are getting killed for pro-democracy protests.

[Panda Paws]

Its a tough one. I think that China is the key.

Anyway, why does everyone still call it Burma when its been Myanmar since at least 1989 ?

NMH

Quote Wikipedia

In 1989, SLORC declared martial law after widespread protests. The military government finalized plans for People’s Assembly elections on 31 May 1989.[20]

SLORC renamed Burma "Myanmar" in the English language in 1989.

I think it's probably because the name change was forced after martial law was declared - and the recent troubles started.

[pauld]

What has caused it all exactly, im lost  :?

The immediate spark for the current round of protests started out as protests against fuel and food price increases. Veterans of the failed pro-democracy protests of 1988 then latched onto these protests and, significantly, formed an alliance with Buddhist monks who spearheaded a push to spread the protests into a more general wave of protests against the military regime. More or less.

[tans]

Cheers pauld.

Sounds well harsh.

[BANGKOK RED]

Its a tough one. I think that China is the key.

Anyway, why does everyone still call it Burma when its been Myanmar since at least 1989 ?

NMH

Both Britain and the US still call her Burma, the reason being that the name was changed by the current regime, which neither nation recognize as a legitimate government.  

I think we have a point there, and so therefore I call her Burma also.

[Chubbs]

I havnt read to much into it, but being the protest led by monks, its a peacfull one one would assume (correct me if im wrong)
there is no need for military force.

[BANGKOK RED]

I havnt read to much into it, but being the protest led by monks, its a peacfull one one would assume (correct me if im wrong)
there is no need for military force.

I am sure that we all agree Chubbs, although the thing is that a regime like Burma's relies on fear to maintain their absolute control over the country. Them allowing the monks to protest, albeit peacefully, would be a challenge to the national fear of the regime. Therefore they won't allow it.

[Chubbs]

I havnt read to much into it, but being the protest led by monks, its a peacfull one one would assume (correct me if im wrong)
there is no need for military force.

I am sure that we all agree Chubbs, although the thing is that a regime like Burma's relies on fear to maintain their absolute control over the country. Them allowing the monks to protest, albeit peacefully, would be a challenge to the national fear of the regime. Therefore they won't allow it.

ye makes sence....like i said, i dont know much about it so cant really input too much.