Burma’s Fight for Freedom

This past week has been a historic period for the fight for democracy and freedom in Burma.  Here is a good video report that highlights the events that led to the uprising against the ruling military junta:

In what started out as massive peaceful protests for the restoration of democracy in Burma that drew up to 100,000 people, has now turned violent as the expected crackdown by the Burmese military has descended on the Buddhist monks and civilians leading the protests. 

The shootings by the Burmese military has left scores of civilians dead including the Japanese journalist pictured below:

Video footage of the shooting has been smuggled out of Burma and it appears the Japanese journalist was intentionally shot by the military.  The Japanese government is sending an envoy to investigate the killing and Japanese sanctions for the killing are not being ruled out:

"Mr [Mitoji] Yabunaka of the foreign ministry will go to Myanmar tomorrow and push for the government to find out the facts," he said.

No decision has been made on sanctions, Mr Fukuda added, saying that the results of the envoy’s investigations would be taken into account in deciding the best course of action.  [Guardian]

Al Jazeera has also been able to smuggle out of Burma footage of the monks fighting back against the military with slingshots and demands from the people for the restoration of democracy:

News and footage of the crackdown is becoming increasingly hard to get as the Burmese military has cut off the nation’s internet thus making webpages based from Burma such as Burma News inaccessible. 

Criticism is growing against the Burmese military crackdown, the international body ASEAN has issued a some what strong statement against the violence:

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ chief urged Burma’s authorities on Sunday to avoid any “strong action” against growing anti-government protests, in hopes of avoiding violence.

About 20,000 Buddhist monks and citizens were demonstrating against Burma’s military junta in the country’s largest city, Rangoon, with many shouting support for detained pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, witnesses said.“I hope the relevant authorities in [Burma] will not take any strong action and turn the protests into a big confrontation,” Asean Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong told The Associated Press by telephone from Poland.  [AP]

The international body that you would expect would do nothing has met expectations:

The United Nations Security Council has issued a statement of concern about the violent response to demonstrations in Rangoon yesterday, according to press reports.

“Members of the council have expressed their concern vis-à-vis the situation, and have urged restraint, especially from the government of Myanmar,” the statement said.  [DVB]

"Concern"?  How about outrage at the killing of civilians?  This is just another example of the complete irrelevance of the UN in solving international problems.  The UN Security Council is being blocked from taking any strong action against the killings in Burma due to the obstruction of China which seeks to keep its hegemony over Burma by ensuring the military junta survives this fight for democracy in the country.  Despite this obstruction, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon could still show moral courage by strongly condemning the killings yet he does not.

However, of all people Jim Carrey has launched a Youtube campaign to pressure Ban Ki-moon to take action against the Burmese military:

I hope Jim Carrey’s efforts work but I doubt it will have any effect on the weak and corrupt UN.  It tells you something when Jim Carrey is able to do more for the people of Burma than the United Nations.

Some late breaking news is that a coup has been launched by the nation’s second ranking general and negotiations with Aung San Suu Kyi are currently being held:

Military sources in Rangoon are claiming that the regime’s number two, General Maung Aye, has staged a coup against Than Shwe, and that his troops are now guarding Aung San Suu Kyi’s home. A meeting between him and Suu Kyi is expected. Maung Aye is army commander-in-chief and a renowned pragmatist.

Our diplomatic sources are also telling us that Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved to a police academy compound outside Rangoon, where she is expected to meet Maung Aye. As yet, though, we have no independent confirmation of this development.

Other reports of troops marching from central Burma to Rangoon are being reported along with fighter jets being scrambled.  We may be seeing the beginning of an internal civil war among the Burmese military.  One thing is for sure, more blood is going to flow before it is all said and done. 

I for one hope that this news of a coup is true, that the fight for democracy in Burma is successful, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi is restored to power reflecting the will of the people of Burma. 

For more coverage of Burma’s Fight for Freedom read the following sites below:

One Free Korea
Global Voices
Democratic Voice of Burma
Zin Media
Mizzima News
Ko Htike