Not so long ago, we were all watching the anti-government demonstrations in Burma, or Myanmar as it’s now known. We saw monks being beaten, people being taken away never to be seen again, and the harsh reality of a military junta demonstrating full force. We then cried and were deeply saddened and even angry watching that same junta sit on its hands after Cyclone Nargis, and refuse humanitarian assistance from the outside world. Through the eyes of both these events, we clutched at straws trying to work out a way of doing something about this brutal and hideous regime that has had a stranglehold over its people for over forty years. It seemed hopeless.
I regard TIME magazine as one of the finest publications that I have ever read. I have said to people that I hate it in a way, because I can never escape reading it from cover to cover in under 90 minutes! Every page has quality journalism. Every story, whether it is finace, the environment, politics or just pure witty observations, is just downright interesting. It is not a magazine one just ’skims’. I have tried to skim it. Just not possible.
The reason I wax lyrical about TIME is that one of their recent issues had a superb article about Burma which literally opened my eyes and made the recent events there, and our lack of pressure on the junta, much clearer.
While American and European foreign policy thinkers ponder how to financially strangle an army government that has ruled since 1962, Burma’s regional neighbours are embarking on a new Great Game, scrambling to outdo each other for access to this resource-rich land
The New Great Game – Hannah Beech- TIME Vol. 173, No.12
It does not get more heartless than this. On the one hand we watch innocent peaceful monks being bashed, on the other we say “Oh well” and elbow every other country out of the way to rip the riches out of their soil, and further abuse a people that have been abused enough. These are just some of the natural resources that Burma has to offer: Gold, Jade, Hydropower, Logging, Nickel, Rubies & Sapphires, Copper, Gas, Oil. The treasure trove does not get any richer than that, and the military leaders know it. Try to find a natural resource that Burma doesn’t have. So of course they can snub the world. They need not rely on the world for anything. They have everything, and their neighbours would love a slice of that everything, especially China.
China wants Burma as a buffer state. It wants Burma to be secure – so China will be secure.
-Col Gun Maw, spokesman for the Kachin Independence Organisation
The New Great Game – Hannah Beech- TIME Vol. 173, No.12
As we move further into the 21st Century, I am finding that we are becoming more self absorbed, more greedy, more corrupt than we have ever been before. The corporate greed that we have discovered has been happening during the late ’90’s and throughout the first decade of this new century. Corruption is being uncovered in high office, and crimes against humanity are still being committed. Now we uncover the true reason behind why we turn a blind eye to the woes of the Burmese people.
Burmese dissident and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest for absolutely no reason, and will remain there until her death, that fact is unfortunately true. Releasing her and allowing her to take power that she democratically achieved, would have dire consequences on the mining contracts put in place by the junta. The junta is raping the land, and its people. That’s how their pockets are being lined. We think that the junta don’t wish to relinquish power because of the simple fact that they have ruled with an iron fist since 1962. Any injustices that will be found out after they are gone will land them on trial in front of the International Criminal Court. That fact is a given.
But with all the other countries being ‘accessories’ to the raping of Burma, the tangled web may end up with the leaders of quite a few other countries in the hot seat as well. Burma is an easy country to exploit. The fat cat military just let anyone walk in who is willing to pay a good price. With an endless rich cocktail of minerals and energy laying deep within Burmese soil, the door is open, the world is their oyster, and ethics, humanitarian issues, environmental issues or even legal issues for that matter are of no concern. It’s a greedy corrupt person’s paradise.
I’d like to say that there is a silver lining to this, but what I read in this article further confirms to me that unless Burma’s business associates, especially China and Burma’s regional neighbours, develop some sort of conscience, the people of Burma are doomed for many years to come, if not forever.
The best thing we can do is find out who deals with Burma and boycott their goods as well. That all depends how many countries are involved. After reading this artcle, the list could be endless and no one is going to be part of a campaign of boycotting 40-50% of the world’s nations.
Saving our planet from environmental disaster? If we can’t save one country, how can we possibly save the world?
Enjoy your day
