Burma (Again)

[BANGKOK RED]

It's been a hot topic of conversation at work for obvious reasons. and the general (actually unanimous) feeling is that the U.N. should envoke their "Responsability to protect" doctrine and go in to help these people whether the military Cunta (Sic) like it or not.

Also a thought of course for the Chinese, I was actually on the phone to my boss based in Shanghai at the time of the earthquake and he had to hang up cos' the building was being evacuated. At least their government are helping though, if only cos' the olympics are coming up.

I am not one to condone war/violence, but surely there is little or no argument against the U.N. "Having a word" with Burma, and by all means necessary.

[leefer]

Thing is Bangkok the U.N are useless...it needs stronger action,the world should boycott Chinese and Burmese goods until there human rights radicly improve,the world wont though cos there goods are dirt cheap made on the back of woman and child slave labour,how the olympics were given to the Chinese is beyond a joke.

[flammableBen]

It's been a hot topic of conversation at work for obvious reasons. and the general (actually unanimous) feeling is that the U.N. should envoke their "Responsability to protect" doctrine and go in to help these people whether the military Cunta (Sic) like it or not.

Also a thought of course for the Chinese, I was actually on the phone to my boss based in Shanghai at the time of the earthquake and he had to hang up cos' the building was being evacuated. At least their government are helping though, if only cos' the olympics are coming up.

I am not one to condone war/violence, but surely there is little or no argument against the U.N. "Having a word" with Burma, and by all means necessary.

I think the problem is that if the UN do something like that it could endanger any aid workers who have been aloud in and our trying to help. at least that's what I gathered from half listening to radio 4 the other day.

Also stuff like just dropping parcels from planes is supposed to be horribly ineffective.

Tricky situation.

[BANGKOK RED]

I don't thing that the U.N. are completely useless leefer, after all they do have troops "On duty" all over the place, although usually upon request, and they did appear to handle the N. Korean problem quite well. Although China need to take more responsibility in their role as one of the permanent 5.

And surely Ben if the UN went in by force then (Civilian) aid workers could be pulled out allowing the UN military to take over from them, agreed on the air drops though but there are war ships off the coast stocked with supplies that the marines could deliver onshore.

[flammableBen]

Going in by force like that would take a huge amount of resources that UN members (wrongly or rightly) aren't going to want to commit. Especially as you could easily get stuck in a long term situation of policing the country once a power vaccuum kicks in if you dispose of the current rulers. Big massive fuck up potential their.

Of course I haven't got any better suggestions, just saying international politics is a complicated beast.