Burma is on the Brink of Revolution

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NySuaJ2B20E

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7000000/newsid_7003800?redirect=7003839.stm&news=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&bbram=1&bbwm=1&asb=1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7000000/newsid_7009400?redirect=7009488.stm&news=1&bbwm=1&nbwm=1&bbram=1&nbram=1&asb=1


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7004625.stm

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article2993289.ece



Suu Kyi greets protesters as Burma's junta faces biggest test in 20 years
By Andrew Buncombe, Asia Correspondent
Published: 24 September 2007
In a remarkable show of defiance Burmese monks and nuns yesterday led 20,000 demonstrators through Rangoon in the largest protest against the country's military regime for almost two decades.

A day after hundreds of monks had walked to the house of the imprisoned democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, thousands more returned to the streets in a show of numbers not seen since the pro-democracy marches of 1988. Back then the regime responded with a brutal crackdown, killing thousands of civilians and monks. While yesterday's march ended peacefully, it was clear that the authorities had increased security in the city and the monks and the other marchers were refused access to Ms Suu Kyi's house when they tried to repeat Saturday's extraordinary meeting.

"Aung San Suu Kyi has not been seen in public since 30 May 2003, when her convoy was attacked by thugs," said Mark Farmaner of Burma Campaign UK. He was speaking after Ms Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), appeared at the gates of her home on Saturday, where she is under house arrest.

"By visiting her the monks are putting their spiritual authority behind the democracy movement. It is a strong message of unity," Mr Farmaner added.

Yesterday's march followed a week of demonstrations by monks in Rangoon and in a number of other cities which have re-energised the country's pro-democracy movement. Burma experts say that with many of the democracy activists having been seized and arbitrarily detained by the authorities earlier this summer, the monks could be the catalyst for persuading more ordinary citizens to take to the streets and confront the military.

The crucial issue now is how the authorities will respond to this threat to their rule, a threat underlined by the statements of several of the Buddhist monks who said they would not end the marches and demonstrations until the regime had been ousted. One group of monks chanted the slogan: "Our uprising must succeed."




Talking about it on KPFA today
http://www.kpfa.org/archives/index.php?arch=22412

listen at 18:08 to

Thirsty Boots

You've long been on the open road
You've been sleeping in the rain
From dirty words and muddy cells
Your clothes are soiled and stained

But the dirty words and the mud of cells
Will soon be judged insane
So only stop and rest yourself
And you'll be off again


Oh, take off your thirsty boots
And stay for awhile
Your feet are hot and weary
From a dusty mile
http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/09/23/majmonks_wideweb__470x234,0.jpg

And maybe I can make you laugh
And maybe I can try
I'm looking for the evening
And the morning in your eyes
Then tell me of the ones you saw
As far as you could see
Across the plains from field to town
Marching to be free

And of the rusted prison gates
That tumble by debris
Like laughing children
one by one
They look like you and me

So, take off your thirsty boots
And stay for awhile
Your feet are hot and weary
From a dusty mile
And maybe I can make you laugh
And maybe I can try
Looking for the evening
And the morning in your eyes
I know you are no stranger down
Crooked rainbow trails
From dancing cliffhead Soattered sills
To slander shackled jails
http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/09/23/W_MONKS_wideweb__470x250,0.jpg
Where the voices drift up from below
His walls are being scaled
Yes all of this, and more my friend
Your song shall not be failed
Oh, take off your thirsty boots
And stay for awhile
Your feet are hot and weary
From a dusty mile

And maybe I can make you laugh
And maybe I can try
Looking for the evening
And the morning in your eyes

Oh, take off your thirsty boots
And stay for awhile
Your feet are hot and weary
From a dusty mile
And maybe I can make you laugh
And maybe I can try
Looking for the evening
And the morning in your eyes


http://www.burmadebate.org/archives/novdec97ownwords.html



http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0924/p01s02-woap.html#

The Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon was a rallying point for pro-democracy activists in 1988. On Sunday, thousands of monks, and nuns (in pink), gathered to pray at the site.
AFP/Getty Images/NEWSCOM


Rain-drenched Buddhist monks march through the streets of Burma's largest city, Rangoon, yesterday




http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/09/20/ww.buddhist.monks/
With no free press, United Nations and human rights groups have been critical of the military regime, with Amnesty saying "torture has become an institution" in the country.


In Hiding: A year of survival under the Burma Army 2004-2005
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8256420628774304257&q=burma&total=3347&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1

"In Hiding" is a detailed account of human rights abuses committed by the Burma Army against ethnic minorities inside Burma over one year. ... all » It is an unrelenting document of the harsh reality of life inside Burma. The film shows a people who continue to resist the Burma Army and despite intense oppression, have hope

"This is our home"; Standing for Freedom in Burma
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5273089644495608550

Burma's Secret War
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-YVdpQHdqo

[babylonsister]

1. Rec'd! I tried, but you tried harder!

And BTW, nice to see you! :hi:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1882114

[seemslikeadream]

4. That's just because I've had some time to rest

;) :hi:

[cherokeeprogressive]

12. Welcome Back. The dungeon was boring without ya.

:hi:

[Swede]

2. I hope this turns out peacefully.

nt

[seemslikeadream]

3. Burmese military threatens monks

:(

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7010839.st...


Burma's ruling military junta has warned it is ready to "take action" against Buddhist monks leading mounting protests, state media have reported.

Brig Gen Thura Myint Maung, minister for religion, warned them not to break Buddhist "rules and regulations" as Rangoon saw the largest march yet.

He blamed the protests on "destructive elements" opposed to peace in Burma.

Monks are highly revered in Burma and any move by the junta to crush their demonstrations would spark an outcry.

Map of Rangoon showing locations in the democracy march

The military government has so far showed restraint against the protests but there are fears of a repeat of 1988, correspondents say, when the last democracy uprising was crushed by the military and some 3,000 people were killed.

Some monks' representatives had called for the entire country to join them in their campaign to overthrow the government, which began eight days ago.

[cui bono]

21. Man, let's hope they don't start killing them.

Were the monks involved in the 1988 protests? If not, perhaps the military will not go that route. I wonder if any of them getting killed would spark a much bigger uprising, one that would be uncontrollable?

Welcome back SLAD!!! Good to see you coming back with great informational posts, as usual.

:hi:

[seemslikeadream]

5. MYANMAR (BURMA): MORE THAN 100, 000 ON YANGON'S STREETS

http://www.agi.it/world/news/200709241301-cro-ren0030-art.html


http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/7500

Two British parliamentarians flayed Burma military rulers’ human rights abuses
Tue, 2007-09-25 02:13
London, 25 September, (Asiantribune.com): The military dictatorship in Burma is notorious for its savage human rights abuses. The desperate suffering of the ethnic nationals in eastern Burma has been extensively catalogued, but this compelling report draws on extensive eye-witness accounts to highlight just how grievously the Chin people are suffering at the hands of Burma’s sadistic tyrants, John Bercow, a British Member of Parliament pointed out while commenting on his recent visit to India – Burma border.

Two British Parliamentarians returned last week from a historic visit to the India-Burma border with reports of gross human rights violations by Burma’s military regime against the Chin people. The visit was organised by Christians Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and coincided with the escalating protests across the country.

John Bercow MP, Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma, and Baroness Caroline Cox, a member of the House of Lords and CEO of HART, visited Chin refugees on the India-Burma border with a delegation from CSW UK, CSW Australia and HART. The visit was the first time a member of the British House of Commons has visited the Chin people and the third visit for Baroness Cox and CSW.

The delegation heard first-hand accounts of horrific forms of torture, conditions in prison camps, forced labour, rape, religious persecution, forced marriage and cultural genocide. According to one witness, prisoners in Chin State face even more severe torture and living conditions than in other prisons because it is a more isolated part of the country. He described how prisoners are shackled and chained, yoked like oxen and forced to plough fields and if they attempt to escape they are placed on a fire to burn, stabbed with knives, and then forced into a tub of salt water.

One witness told the delegation how he had been arrested hung and held suspended upside down for an entire night, with soldiers beating him and banging his body against a pillar continuously. Another man was beaten so badly he is now paralysed. Numerous further testimonies of torture, forced labour and sexual violence are documented in CSW’s report on the visit, which is released today.


http://timesonline.typepad.com/times_tokyo_weblog/2007/09/the-saffron-rev.html

"It is a fascinating moment, fraught with promise, when this spirit of the times, dozing pitifully and apathetically, like a huge wet bird on a branch, suddenly and without a clear reason ... takes off in bold and joyful flight. We all hear the shush of this flight. It stirs our imagination and gives us energy: we begin to act."

Ryszard Kapuscinski

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2525171.ece
Buddhists fear ‘white head’ monks will give junta excuse for violence

[babylonsister]

6. Have I mentioned this is a beautiful post? Thanks! nt

[seemslikeadream]

7. More photos

[Redstone]

8. We are about to be witnesses to a miracle.

Redstone

[seemslikeadream]

9. Pray for peace

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article2996091.ece

'No injustice can last for ever': Burma's biggest protest for 20 years provokes ominous threat


Observers believe that pressure from China, Burma's most important trading ally, may have been responsible for what has so far been a cautious response from the regime, seeking to avoid confrontation with the monks who are highly revered in Burmese society. Yet unconfirmed reports last night suggested the regime was planning to disrupt the marchers, possibly by sending in troops dressed as monks to act as agent provocateurs among the demonstrators. One report said that one unit of troops had been ordered to shave their heads and that 3,000 monks' robes had been sequestered by the military in readiness for such an operation.

[Redstone]

13. Not to worry. We in the West do not comprehend the moral authority that

Buddhist monks carry in Buddhist countries.

As purely evil as those generals who run Myanmar are, they KNOW that once the monks rise against them, they're toast. They've been terrified of this happening for years. They know that they can can gun down a thousand ordinary citizens, and keep their tenuous hold on power, but if they kill ONE Buddhist monk in public, they'll spike a rebellion by EVERY citizen in that country.

Every one of them. With no regard for their safety, and no fear for their life.

What we're seeing here is the 2007 version of that Chinese guy standing in front of that line of tanks rolling toward Tiananmen Square. And stopping them.

This is history being made.

Redstone

[seemslikeadream]

16. Yes I had that in my sign line

just changed it today (for awhile)

you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers

[Redstone]

17. I recommended this post, too. People need to see ONE good thing

happening in the world.

If they'd give me a visa (which wouldn't happen even in my dreams), I'd be on a flight to Rangoon.

Redstone

[Dorian Gray]

31. And it's fascinating....

[conscious evolution]

35. Absolutely correct

Karmic blowback for killing a monk would come around really quick.

[leftchick]

10. K&R

:wow:

[seemslikeadream]

11. Burma 'reaches tipping point' as monks take on the military junta

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23413664-details/Burma+'reaches+tipping+point'+as+monks+take+on+the+military+junta/article.do







Burma 'reaches tipping point' as monks take on the military junta


Last night there were rumours of soldiers massing on the city outskirts and imminent emergency law. Britain's ambassador Mark Canning said: "The demonstrations could subside - that's looking less and less likely.

"Secondly, that we could see some sort of counter-reaction, which would be a disaster, although in terms of probability it, I'm afraid, ranks quite high."

If the military do come down hard on the Buddhist monks, who are revered by the bulk of the population, it risks turning pockets of dissent into nationwide outrage.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/burma/0,,970917,00.html

Special Report Burma

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

14. Great post. Brave people. K&R with great pleasure and thanks.

[lovuian]

15. Amazing pictures

Can you feel the people want a change from violence

[me b zola]

18. SLaD!

:bounce:



Now that I have that out of my system I will read your post. :hi:

[seemslikeadream]

19. News videos

http://www.reuters.com/news/video/videoStory?videoId=67162&newsChannel=worldNews

http://www.reuters.com/news/video/videoStory?videoId=67146&newsChannel=worldNews

[wildbilln864]

20. K&R! SLAD........

:yourock:

[motocicleta]

22. Good luck, people of Burma;

is it our turn yet? I stand ready to march against our homegrown fascist regime. When will we ever get to these levels of support, though? The Burmese, for now, are only guidestars by which we can aim our own fledgling efforts. Perhaps one day the US will also have the populist support for serious civil disobedience.

K n R

PS I fear that by stating my desire to march against this junta I have guaranteed myself a spot in Gitmo, and that these posts may one day be the only record of why we get disappeared. Am I being alarmist? Only time will tell ...

[Octafish]

23. Authoritarian American Nutjobs LUV Myanmar Military Types

Here's what I mean, Tricky Dick Nixon and Gen. Douglas MacArthur discuss Burma. In other commentary we can read the wonderful words of Al Haig.

Foreign Relations, 1969-1976, Volume E-4, Documents on Iran and Iraq, 1969-1972

Released by the Office of the Historian

EXCERPT...

Nixon: Well, the point is that we, getting back to your point, it is true, I guess you're right, Iran is the only thing there. The Philippines is a can of worms, as you know.

MacArthur: Yes.

Nixon: Taiwan, strangely enough, is a pretty strong little place, but it lives in sufferance. Malaysia and Singapore are at each other's throats with Lee Kwan Yew, the Socialist, being probably the ablest leader. The Indonesians are beginning to come back but they're twenty years away.

MacArthur: Burma's in a mess.

Nixon: Burma's always in a mess. Always will be. And you know the Burmese, they just chew that weed. That Black Tea.

MacArthur: And a strong Iran, sir, in terms of the oil—a conviction which I share 200% is that we must not see a basic balance between East and West altered radically. A strong Iran—

Nixon: Yeah.

MacArthur: You know, the Soviets have been able, by—through their polarization of this Arab-Israel conflict, they have been able to gain increasing influence in these places, there's no question about it. But a strong Iran helps counterbalance that.

Nixon: But they're just one friend there. And it—Iran is not of either world, really, in a sense, I guess. But the point is, that by God if we can go with them, and we can have them strong, and they're in the center of it, and a friend of the United States, I couldn't agree more—it's something. 'Cause you look around there, it just happens that, who else do we have except for Europe? The Southern Mediterranean—it's all gone. Hassan will be here, he's a nice fellow, but Morocco, Christ, they can't last. Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria, the, the Sudan, naturally the UAR, all the little miserable countries around—Jordan, and Lebanon, and the rest. They're like—they go down like ten pins, just like that. That some of them would like to be our friends, but central to every one of those countries, even as far off as Morocco, is the fact that the United States is aligned with Israel, and because we're aligned with Israel, we are their enemy.

MacArthur: That's right.

SOURCE...

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/frus/nixon/e4/71804.htm

Haig, according to William Bundy, was "a MacArthur" man, one who favored fast, decisive, military action.

[nashville_brook]

24. glad to see you back.

thank you for the pictures and links!

[nam78_two]

25. K&R.nt

[file83]

26. Before you all go to sleep tonight speak this mantra silently to yourself:

Peace to my right.
Peace to my left.
Peace in front of me.
Peace behind of me.
Peace above me.
Peace below me.
Peace within me.
Peace all about.
Peace abounds.
Peace around the world.

[uppityperson]

27. oh my, kick and rec for Burma and its people. Aung San Suu Kyi, maybe now.

[mogster]

28. Thank you, SLaD

Important info amdist the Iran debacle. K & R!

[pampango]

29. Fantastic post. Great pictures. Best wishes to the Burmese people. n/t

[Dorian Gray]

30. Thanks for posting this

I used to be up on Burma's/Myanmar's political scene when I lived in Hong Kong. All things Asia fascinated me, and I had a lot of interest in Aung San Suu Kyi's story. Of course, in the last few years, I have not heard much about Myanmar, as it's political turmoil is rarely mentioned here in the US. The Buddhist Monks are showing a lot of courage backing the democracy movement here, and Kyi's movement has seemed to have the edge on international morality within the various factions within the country. If only the international community had backed her more, she may not have disappeared for so long.

[Desertrose]

32. This just fills my heart so.....thank you, Seems

Just a beautiful beautiful post. So glad you are back!!!!


I think we are seeing the future here....such striking images. I see so much courage in their sweet faces.

Bless them for having the courage and the will to make these sacrfices. I pray they are kept safe. We owe them much.

:hug:SLaD
DR

[seemslikeadream]

33. JUNTA IN TROUBLE

:hug:DR



JUNTA IN TROUBLE: Buddhist monks and their supporters stage a protest march in Myanmar capital Yangon on Tuesday. They swarm around the city hall and the Sule Pagoda, praying and chanting. Thousands of people linked hands to form human chain. The ruling military regime is facing five weeks of protests that were sparked by a massive increase in fuel prices in August. —

[pampango]

34. Heard that the military just declared a curfew and an end to demonstrations.

Soldiers are deploying around Rangoon. Tomorrow should be an eventful day in Burma. Best wishes to the Burmese people.

[G_j]

36. troops being deployed

I am offering prayers for these courageous people

[Mike03]

37. Extraordinary Thread

I've read this thread at least three times today, and there are photos that are priceless, as well as the detailed attention to this utterly fascinating and hopeful development.

Thank you for posting this.

[seemslikeadream]

38. Thank you Mike03

There's more photos here :hi:

AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME AROUND
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1896963&mesg_id=1896963

[RestoreGore]

39. This brought tears to my eyes

This is the epitome of showing what can be accomplished without bombs.

[judaspriestess]

40. what stunning photos

"despite intense oppression, have hope"

what a beautiful country.

[Pastiche423]

41. You never fail in presenting well, an issue that all need to learn about

I am marking this so I can come back read every word.

It is so great to see you posting again, slad! You have been missed.

[TheMadMonk]

42. And the terribly ironic thing is that PNAC could have owned...

...the world by now if it had only started its games by playing responsible policeman in places like Burma & Somalia. Move in, spank some arses, build a couple of low tech hospitals & schools and move on. Wash rinse repeat.

But of course that would cause a bit of a cash flow crisis. ie. Very fucking little of it flowing into the "right" pockets.

[BornagainDUer]

43. Halliburton in Burma: "pipleline projects led to crimes against humanity". K&R

...WASHINGTON - Lawyers for victims of human rights abuses committed by the military regime in Burma claim that the Republican Party's vice presidential nominee was involved in a company that assisted in energy projects in Burma associated with violent human rights abuses.

Republican vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney said Tuesday night's presidential debate made clear the choice between his running mate George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore. Cheney is shown speaking during the Republican National Convention August 2, 2000 in Philadelphia. (Khue Bui/Reuters)

Until he was selected as vice presidential candidate for the Republican ticket, Dick Cheney headed the energy giant Halliburton, which activists say owned a subsidiary which helped construct two pipelines that involved the forcible relocation of villages, forced labour, rape and murder.

''Halliburton partners and subsidiaries, both before and during Dick Cheney's tenure as CEO, have been contractors for pipeline projects that have led to crimes against humanity in Burma,'' says Katie Redford, a human rights lawyer with EarthRights.

The military government in Burma, also known as Myanmar, has long been considered one of the world's most abusive regimes. The United States and the European Union have imposed economic sanctions against the country due to the military's human rights abuses....


http://www.commondreams.org/headlines/100500-01.htm

[Swamp Rat]

44. kick

I tried to recommend the thread, but I was too late. :hi:

[lovuian]

45. Call for urgent talks by UN

http://www.ipsnews.net/login.asp?redir=news.asp?idnews=39405

WASHINGTON - Amid growing anti-government demonstrations in Burma, the International Crisis Group (ICG) called Tuesday for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to convene urgent talks with the foreign ministers of China, India, and Singapore, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to promote a peaceful settlement to the political crisis there.

[madmom]

46. so bush said the American people where outraged at what is occurring

in Burma, are we outraged at the monks and nuns or the military junta?(from bush's point of view)

[Rainscents]

47. This is great!

People are waking up and they want change!!! Thank you for posting this!

[flyarm]

48. Wonderful Thread Seemslikeadream..you are the best!! K&R!!!! eom

[seemslikeadream]

51. kick

so I guess I will
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1915339&mesg_id=1915339

[ProSense]

49. Kick! n/t

[BornagainDUer]

50. Kick

[Judi Lynn]

52. Amazing photos, links. Thank you. n/t

[Truth2Tell]

53. Kick!

Thanks SLAD! :hi:

[mogster]

54. Important info

Thank you, this is why we need to read the DU.

[seemslikeadream]

55. 10 dead

http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=10429&size=A

[mogster]

56. Kick! n/t

:kick:

[Theres-a]

57. .

:kick:

[suffragette]

58. Democratic Voice of Burma

This site from Norway is still managing to get some reports out from there.

http://english.dvb.no/


Security forces fire on school pupils

Sep 28, 2007 (DVB)–Government security forces beat up and fired upon young students in front of a school during yesterday’s brutal crackdown on large-scale protests in Rangoon, according to witnesses.

A group of students was marching from Pansodan bridge to the high school in Tamwe township, while many other students were inside the school compound. Soldiers and government guards fired automatic weapons into the air and at chest-level to prevent marching students from reaching the school.

snip

“They also rammed a truck with its headlights on into a crowd of students before arresting them at gunpoint,” said another witness, who stated that about 300 students were arrested in the crackdown.

“Teachers at the school had to take all the children and their parents inside the school building and give them shelter,” the witness continued.

[mdmc]

59. kick

[backscatter712]

60. My bet:

Bush and Cheney and their cronies are looking at what the .mil in Burma did, and they're thinking "I wish we could do that."