burma - potential uprising?

[purves grundy]

In anticipation of the referendum, possibly the first opinion poll in Burma since the 1990 election. Not exactly MORI, only 50 people, but still...

http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=11367

 

[frogwoman]

http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11011992

 

[purves grundy]

Monks and laypeople try to protest again

About two weeks to go until the referendum on the new 'constitution', which will, according to most (inc. me), ensure dominance for the military and their cronies for good. Criticising the constitution will get you a jail sentence of 20 years, so those urging a 'No' vote are having to be careful. Not that that makes any difference to the authorities.

No vote campaigners beaten and arrested

They know they would lose this referendum if it was genuinely free and fair, and, having lost one back in 1990, the junta are taking no chances this time. There are some fucking nasty goings-on:

Junta uses threats to win referendum vote

Multiple yes votes for factory workers

We'll vote for you

 

[frogwoman]

Thanks for those links, Purves.

you're in burma at the moment aren't you? x

 

[purves grundy]

Thanks for those links, Purves.

you're in burma at the moment aren't you? x

Nah, not yet - got an exam to do first End of May.

Better get my flight booked...

 

[purves grundy]

Even worse:

http://www.mizzima.com/MizzimaNews/News/2008/April/62-April-2008.html

In a campaign meeting held in Rangoon, a junta official who is the chairman of a township, told participants that for the convenience of voters, every vote is being registered with code numbers.

This coding system would help authorities trace the voters and the votes cast, thereby creating an environment of fear.

"In every ward, for everyone, votes are registered with code numbers against the name. It is for your convenience," the official said.

 

[frogwoman]

Fuck, seems like something out of 1984.

 

[frogwoman]

Two bombs blast in Rangoon

Mizzima News
April 21, 2008

Two bombs blast almost simultaneous on Sunday evening in Burma's former capital city of Rangoon.

The first bomb went off at about 8:00 p.m (local time) in Rangoon's business district on the 36th street, near a restaurant named 'ABC' on the Maha Bandoola road. About an hour later, another explosion took place at the 32nd street behind the famous 'Trader Hotel'.

There was no report of casualties on both the blasts.

This isn't good although thankfully it doesn't seem to mention any deaths.

Any thoughts about who might be behind this?? I remember someone saying that the junta had been known to do a few "false flag" type things ...

 

[Lock&Light]

Any thoughts about who might be behind this?? I remember someone saying that the junta had been known to do a few "false flag" type things ...

If I remember, it was me way back at the beginning of this thread. (I wasn't the only one, of course).

 

[fela fan]

Monks and laypeople try to protest again

About two weeks to go until the referendum on the new 'constitution', which will, according to most (inc. me), ensure dominance for the military and their cronies for good.

Nothing lasts forever mate. I understand your frustration that led you to this comment though. Just wanted to remind you that one day the army will not have this stranglehold.

When the nasty bastards die off, younger sorts will take over obviously, and someone somewhere will do some kind of gorbachov...

Or the people will do some kind of romania...

Or the international community will intervene due to radical new political climate in the world...

 

[purves grundy]

Nothing lasts forever mate. I understand your frustration that led you to this comment though. Just wanted to remind you that one day the army will not have this stranglehold.

When the nasty bastards die off, younger sorts will take over obviously, and someone somewhere will do some kind of gorbachov...

Or the people will do some kind of romania...

Or the international community will intervene due to radical new political climate in the world...

We live and hope and pray...

This isn't good although thankfully it doesn't seem to mention any deaths.

Any thoughts about who might be behind this?? I remember someone saying that the junta had been known to do a few "false flag" type things ...

'Responsibility' was claimed by the Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors, but many don't believe it. Apart from very destructive explosions in 2005 (which killed about 30 people) the bombs that go off in Rangoon are small and always well away from anything that an opposition group would really want to target.
More on that here Junta accuses VBSW

Interesting goings-on on the Rangoon streets right now, but it looks like the authorities are well-placed to stop anything like September happening again so soon.
http://www.mizzima.com/MizzimaNews/Breaking%20News/27-April-2008.html

 

[purves grundy]

A massive cyclone hit Rangoon head on this morning. Things sound pretty bloody awful there right now. Can't get through to anybody, all lines down.

http://www.irrawaddy.org/highlight.php?art_id=11743

It's had an immediate effect on the prices of basic commodities that were already unaffordable to a great many families.

http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=11751

 

[frogwoman]

Fuck - very sorry to hear that.

thinkin of u mate ... and burma and it's people

 

[fela fan]

In the run up to the 'vote' for the new constitution, here is an interesting article on the merits of accepting it, or for the people to forge other routes towards freeing their country.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Perspective/04May2008_pers007.php

For me it is only a matter of time before burma gets an uprising in the same style as romania and the ousting of ceasescu.

It is absolutely the only way out of the slavery of a nation. It will need bravery, but a point will come where the people will no longer see it as being brave, just necessary.

You can't keep people in slavery forever, and the protest by the monks last year has shown the way.

Not too long now...

 

[Lock&Light]

For me it is only a matter of time before burma gets an uprising in the same style as romania and the ousting of ceasescu.

You do realise, don't you, that the Romanian Revolution was organised by the communist establishment and achieved their ends in prolonging their rule for an extra number of years?

 

[purves grundy]

Death toll climbs to 4,000

I guess you could call this Burma's tsunami. Unless the junta allow international aid groups unhindered access to affected areas, which would be utterly unprecedented and anathema to the minds of the generals, then hundreds more will die. There's no worse place to have a natural disaster than in a dictatorship.

And they still intend to have the referendum in 5 days time.

Plenty of pictures and accounts on Irrawaddy, Mizzima etc.

 

[frogwoman]

oh for fuck's sake. i heard this on the news this morning. What utter cunts

 

[frogwoman]

 

[purves grundy]

it's so fucking fucking shit

 

[frogwoman]

Is there anywhere we can donate to?

 

[purves grundy]

I'm waiting on some info from the Burma Campaign, so hang on... There are a few inevitable Facebook groups which have posted up details of account numbers etc into which you can donate, but I wouldn't trust them as far as etc

 

[frogwoman]

http://www.economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11321955&top_story=1

The junta says it will allow some foreign aid. but to be honest after what i've heard i'd believe anything of them ...

 

[purves grundy]

That they should even sit about discussing whether or not to allow foreign aid assistance into the country, mulling over the pros and cons of letting foreigners save Burmese lives, shows what a despicable bunch of fuckers they are. I have no doubt there'll be serious restrictions on where aid workers can go, what assistance they can provide and who they are to be accompanied by.

A nasty incident at Insein Prison during the cyclone shows just how much the junta values order and security and how little it cares for people's lives:
http://www.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/4-inside-burma/431-36-dead-70-injured-in-fire-at-notorious-prison-

 

[frogwoman]

Innit.

they're completely disgusting. also disgusting that because of burma's links with china, nobody is saying or doing anything. they are just leaving them to it

and why the hell do the UN seem so keen on repecting the "wishes" of a junta that have proved, over and over again, that they don't care about anyone except themselves?

A member of Burma's junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Association in northern Shan state was shot death while two other officials were severely injured when anonymous gunmen fired them on Sunday.

Kyaw Myint, secretary of the USDA in Nam Kham town in Shan state along with Kyaw Sein from the electricity department and Tin Aung from the geological survey department, were attacked by unknown gunmen for conducting campaigns to win supporting votes for the upcoming referendum on May 10, sources said.

Kyaw Myint, who is also representative to the junta's 14 years long National Convention that ended in September last year, died on the spot after being hit on the face and chest with bullets. But the other two sustain severe injuries and are reportedly taken to the Nam Kham hospital's emergency ward for treatment.

Sources said, Kyaw Myint's assassination, however, is not the first such incident in Shan state.

On April 9, the USDA secretary in Pan San Township in Muse District was shot by three gun men while campaigning to people to support the government's draft constitution.

Similarly, another USDA official in Sittwe Township of Arakan State on April 21, was stabbed by a civilian while campaigning to people to vote in favor of the constitution in the upcoming referendum.

good job, whoever that was. any thoughts on who might have been behind this?

 

[fela fan]

Here is an email from one of my burmese students here in chiang mai.

Dear All,

I think you have heard about a massive cyclone hit Burma. Latest estimates death toll increased now to 10,000 people. Many people are without shelter, thousands without water and food and many homes lost their roofs. One of my teachers said tens of thousands of people are missing. Most of the houses in Rangoon were destroyed and many others lost their roofs, including my neighbours' hourses. Until now, I could not call my home yet. I pray and hope that GOD will protect them. I also heard that two townships of Kyaik Lat and Latputda were almost completely destroyed. We cannot do anything except prayers.

 

[fela fan]

That they should even sit about discussing whether or not to allow foreign aid assistance into the country, mulling over the pros and cons of letting foreigners save Burmese lives, shows what a despicable bunch of fuckers they are. I have no doubt there'll be serious restrictions on where aid workers can go, what assistance they can provide and who they are to be accompanied by.

It's in the nature of people in power in this region, not just in burma.

When the tsunamai hit, thaksin in thailand declined various help being offered by the world, saying that thailand was capable of doing all the help themselves.

In other words his need to save face, to look good, had a higher priority than all the people who hadn't died, yet had their homes destroyed.

 

[Barking_Mad]

10,000 dead in just one town.........Looks like the actual total could be far, far higher

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7384858.stm

 

[david dissadent]

This looks apalling I think it deserves its own thread.

 

[purves grundy]

It's in the nature of people in power in this region, not just in burma.

When the tsunamai hit, thaksin in thailand declined various help being offered by the world, saying that thailand was capable of doing all the help themselves.

In other words his need to save face, to look good, had a higher priority than all the people who hadn't died, yet had their homes destroyed.

Yeah, I agree, saving face is a crucial factor for many governments in the region. Having said that, the junta care not one iota for their fellow Burmese, and uppermost in their minds will be the fear of having outsiders with official positions around just when their pet referendum project is about to be held. They've spent the last two months denying visas to outside agencies - and 'suspicious' tourists - who want to be in Burma at this time, and now they've had to let them in.

This looks apalling I think it deserves its own thread.

One over in General.

 

[purves grundy]

While people in the Irrawaddy and Yangon Divisions struggle to stay alive, the rest of the country has to suffer a referendum. Most people are utterly disinterested - they know it's a done deal, just like the referenda in Ne Win's time.

DVB has some telling reports:

“…Some people are going about their own businesses. Some people went to vote. At Let-pan-pin Village, they told people, just give us your signature. Do nothing else. They told people just to sign. They didn’t give people voting slips, just forced them to sign and tick the right one (vote YES)….

“….At Kyonpyaw, it was officially declared on the loudspeakers that those who vote NO will be given 3-year prison sentence and fined 100,000 (Kyat). We heard from the elected representative Dr. Kyi Min Htut…At Pantanaw, Irrawaddy Division, although it was not announced officially through loud speakers, similar words were heard…”

“…quite a lot of people had voted...but they are still telling people to vote on the loudspeaker…of course, there are (intimidations)…they are telling people that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the like are being given money by foreign (countries), to invade and occupy Burma. You must oppose Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Support us (vote YES), or you will be in trouble. They tell people like that and forced them to sign…On the following day (the polling day), they tell people not to come and vote…many people were forced to give YES votes like that…

May 10, 2008 (DVB) – “…At Karen State (Southeast Burma), they blared out the song ‘Let’s go to the polling stations and vote’ until 10.30 a.m., all the time. But, there were very few voters…the villagers were too afraid to ask for ball pens and only put blank, white papers (into the ballot boxes)…

http://english.dvb.no/