Crisis in Burma
Sometimes it's hard to remember why one should even bother standing up for moral beliefs when you look at what happens in the world. I've been watching the news for the last few days with a feeling of disgust. In case you haven't seen this story, people have been protesting in the streets of Burma against theor government. Initially, a huge crowd of Buddhist monks marched to show their displeasure at the news that fuel prices were going to be inflated. But it has turned into a movement for democracy in their country and protests against the military reign there.
In the last few days, as I said, I've been watching in disgust at the army response to these - and I am going to stress this word - peaceful protests. I mean, they're lead by MONKS for goodness' sake. In the recent days, the monks have been joined by civilians who have been given courage to speak out against the militia due to the presence of their spiritual leaders. Yesterday, I was absolutely appalled to watch the footage on the BBC News of soldiers firing bullets and deploying tear gas on the protesters. What were they doing that warranted such a response? They were sitting down on the ground and refused to move. There was a young student who'd inhaled the tear gas and he was literally gasping for air. This guy could have been no older than 21, he was pretty thin and he could barely stand up because of the tear gas. And when they showed the soldiers firing shot guns and other weapons, I just thought, "But... they're just innocent people."
Today, the BBC told us how monastaries had been trashed and the monks beaten and arrested. Wow, that's fantastic. The struggle they must have encountered fighting those Buddhist monks must have been terrible. And now, we have nothing to fear since they've been arrested. Honestly, it was sickening to hear.
So today, the protests had very few monks, but those still around marched all the same. But there were many many more civilians today. They were marching, and saying "Don't shoot at your own people" and "We will win." And what happened? The military came out and said "If you don't leave in 10 minutes, we will take extreme action." What were the people doing? Standing in the streets saying they weren't going to put up with the military government anymore. And none of them left. And what happened was just the same as the other day, they started firing bullets and tear gas at the crowd. And people died. Innocent civilians and some monks. The reporter based in Bangkok thinks that this will actually rally more people to march tomorrow, since the Buddhist monks are seen as the spiritual leaders of Burma and won't stand for them being killed - especially when they live such peaceful lives.
And still, the monks that have been interviewed (obviously living outside Burma) have not expressed any hatred towards the soldiers, because they are not allowed to deny the soldiers any spirituality.
Seriously, I find this disgusting. That a government is able to just mow down its own people for wanting some moral dignity from those running their country. For wanting democracy, something we take forgranted sometimes (though, it does sometimes go out the window when you're left with a Prime Minister that wasn't really voted in... but that's a completely different issue!). These people are innocent, I don't see how they've warranted such a reaction from the military. Their protests have been nothing but peaceful. Yes, they are passionate and want something done. But the only action they have taken is to march through the streets to show people their defiance. In fact, on the BBC they showed this clip from a Burmese news station where a news reader says that the BBC is full of liars. There was also an incident where a camera crew was caught filming the violence and the military raided the hotel they were in. A Japanese photographer was also shot dead. Yes, all the footage from the last week or so has been totally fabricated on the scale of a Hollywood film.
But now I wonder, why isn't the US chomping at the bit to get in there and do something? Wasn't Geroge Bush only too eager to get into Iraq and throw over Saddam Hussein, who was doing pretty much what's happening now? And, of course WE'RE not going to do anything, oh no. Gordon won't make a move unless ol' Georgie's dangling a nice bit of meat for him.
I'm not necessarily saying that intervening is the right way to go about it, or the wrong way. What I am saying is, why was America the first one to jump to "freeing" Iraq, but couldn't give a rat's arse about Burma? Although, when you look at what our intervention did to Iraq, maybe Burma should be thankful no one is coming.
Just another example of human nature rearing its ugly head :/ God, the world is so corrupt