Current Events
Tevin Malcolm- Acrostic Poem
Surplus of food, but people are still hungry
The WFP says that a third of Burmese kids(under 5) are malnourished
Army check-points stop farmers from taking produce to the markets
Regime’s way to “Burmese Socialism” has left people starving
Vital help is needed in Burma
Incompetence of the regime has left people sick
No health care = many diseases
“Go hungry”, says Burmese junta
AIDS are now a big epidemic
Nice people are suffering
Diseases are spreading fast
Selfish junta has people sick and starving with no health care
International Committee of the Red Cross had to curtail its operations
Chronically malnourished kids
Kids are suffering from many diseases
Personal Response
People starving and being malnourished is one bad thing alone. But stopping farmers from providing food for the people who are starving is just cruelty. I think that the junta is being very cruel. The issue that gets to me the most is the fact that Burma has a surplus of rice and yet thousands of kids are malnourished. Another thing that gets my attention is that the junta does not want to give out health care so this leaves thousands of people sick and with diseases. I think that the way the junta treats the citizens is absurd.
Questions
1) How do you feel about the way the junta treats the people?
2) Do you think that there can be hope for Burma? Why or why not?
3) Why do you think the Burmese junta is so cruel?
“Misery piled upon misery.” 2007. Economist. 24 Apr 2008
<http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9905435>.
So Hyun Park Article: No place like home
No place like home is an article about Muslims being abandoned in Myanmar. The Muslims are suffering because Myanmar government wouldn’t treat Muslims as equally as the Buddhists. Just because they are Muslims, there are no proper jobs available and they are sometimes forced to do dirty work. Thus, because of its hard and unfair life, they are fleeing Myanmar. The Muslims flees to neighboring countries such as Thailand. United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees (UNHCR) has documented 12000 immigrants in Malaysia but predicts that there are more. More over, since 1992 Bangladesh sent back immigrants and now there are only two UNHCR camps left for the immigrants. The camp is very small and floods a lot. Bangladesh has soften the policies and decided to move the camp to a drier and permanent location. Nonetheless, the fact that treating others differently because of its religion is very a selfish and irresponsible act.
Article 2: Questionsl Is there any country that is helping the Myanmar Muslims?l Are there any Muslims left in Myanmar?l How do citizens of Burmese treat the Muslims?
Summary: Aung San Suu Kyi Article 2- Kai Maekawa
Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s democratic opposition leader, was interviewed by The World Today on BBC World Service. Aung San Suu Kyi mentioned that it is important for Burma to embark within the next few weeks, on a process of dialogue and co-operation for the sake of its people. Her speech was about the need of opposition group members to be open minded about a dialogue with the military government. She said her democratic opposition members should not go into a dialogue with the government with pre-conceived ideas. Her group wants to keep their minds open and see what they can do for the country to make it better. After Razali Ismail, UN special envoy, left Burma after meeting junta leaders and ethnic minority leaders, Aung San Suu Kyi was interviewed by the BBC World Service. Mr. Ismail told reporters in Kuala Lumpur that Aung San Suu Kyi is willing to co-operate with the government if it directly benefits people in Burma in every possible way that would help the revolution of a democratic state.
Personal Response:
I think everything that Aung San Suu Kyi is declaring makes sense and is reasonable. There will be a huge difference if Aung San Suu Kyi co-operates with the government as she may be able to convince the government to help the people suffering from poverty and harsh treatments. She responded to the reporters very thoughtfully with brilliant ideas towards the future. The part that I was most impressed was when she stated that she was able to stay strong during more than a decade of great difficulties because she and her people were able to believe in what they were doing.
Questions:
1. Why can’t the government release Aung San Suu Kyi?
2. Why doesn’t the government use Aung San Suu Kyi’s ideas for the country?
3. What can Aung San Suu Kyi do to help the country?
“Burma’s opposition leader tells World Service of need for dialogue and co-operation.” Press Office BBC 25 April 2008
Compare and Contrast: Stanzin Namgyal
Article 1- ‘General Command’ Differences:
• Myanmar is ruled by the longest-standing military dictatorship.
• Military Junta has power over armed forces, politics and economy.
• One third of nation’s budget spent on armed forces development.
• Military one of the most unified and disciplined.
History:
• Military started off as a group of freedom fighters, achieving autonomy from British Colonialism.
• Sr. Gen. Than Shwe’s successor to be Junta No. 3- Shwe Mann.
• The economy being the central element in ‘the Burmese way to Socialism’.
• Therefore, shutting off Myanmar from the outside world forever.
• Burmese people are suffering from lack of education and healthcare.
• Aside from diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, HIV AIDS is a major threat, around half a million infected.
• After recent protest, UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived in Myanmar; holds talks with Aung San Suu Kyi and Sr. Gen. Than Shwe.
Article 2- ‘On the brink’ Differences:
• 400,000 monks, with public support.
• Difference-the protest takes place in the age of internet and digital cameras.
Images sent of protests around the world, to convince others to revolt and bring international attention.
• Protest began with the increase of fuel prices.
• The protest (Buddhist public) will be hard for the Military Junta to clamp down.
• ‘All Burma Monks’ Alliance’, non-violent movement involving the ordinary Burmese too.
Political chant- ‘democracy, democracy’.
• Troops surrounded monasteries and crushed resistance in monasteries.
Military Junta:
• Aimed at repressing the protests, to prove the protests are useless.
• Sr. Gen. Than Shwe plans to choose a successor; who will have control over the army and ethnic-militias.
Progress Development:
• A new constitution to be drafted by the NC (National Convention).
Predicting the outcome:
• If Military Junta falls, the consequences are…
• Ethnic-minorities still do not trust the majority, Burmans.
• Aung San Suu Kyi is not tested as a leader, yet.
Similarities:
• Government has ruled for 45 years with an iron grip over the nation. Still maintaining power.
• Military Junta is thought of the only institution/force in holding and running the country, Myanmar.
• 100,000 protestors, including monks in Rangoon, waving the emblem of students of ’88 protest, red fighting peacock.
• Crackdown on thousands of peaceful protestors, killing several demonstrators in Rangoon (Yangon, former capital).
• 1990 general elections held by Military Junta. The opposition NLD (National League for Democracy) won, led by their leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Military Junta ignores election results.
• The Military Junta’s opposition forces are imprisoned or under-house arrest/exiled.
• Around 100 ethnic groups, several armed ethnic insurgencies continue to fight against the Central government.
Some ethnic groups have forcibly accepted cease-fire with the government.
• The Military Junta blames the outside/foreign powers for encouraging and aiding the protestors through world media.
• Sr. Gen. Than Shwe has been rumored to be ill.
• Many protestors and monks were beaten and detained.
Personal Response Paragraph: (On two Articles)-
Although I had a difficult time in comparing and finding the differences in the articles, it proved to be useful for my knowledge about my country. Both the articles have a clear and detailed view and opinion on the issue of democracy in Myanmar. The pro-democracy protest led by the monks, caught my attention especially, as it was the first time I had seen monks protest against the Military Junta. Their anger and despair, made me realize how the oppressive regime of the Military Junta, is unbearable and harsh. On the other hand, the government clampdown on the protest, as well as storming the monasteries had proved to be a great success for the Military Junta. The Junta, once again proved to be the stronger force both in size and spirit. As one of the articles mentioned, the protest took place during the age of modernization (telephones, computers, digital cameras). This affected the outcome of the protest, through images and videos taken by ordinary Burmese. These two articles have outlined the main important sections, regarding the Military Junta as the strongest armed force in the nation, ruling with an iron fist for over 45 years.
The articles had conflicting information, when I compared and contrasted. It was quite interesting to see the two different viewpoints on the same subject. Here is an example of conflicting information on the controversy of Sr. Gen. Than Shwe’s successor. The article from TIME magazine, said he had chosen Junta No-3, Shwe Mann. However, in the Economist, Sr. Gen. Than Shwe was still planning to choose a successor. In my opinion, I feel that the Economist provided better general information; as most newspapers and magazines that I have read have not confirmed the Sr. Gen. Than Shwe had a successor, but was planning. To conclude, I think that the reason behind the different viewpoints on this subject is because of the reporters sources. Since, they have different sources; the information given to them might be different. Therefore, their assessment on the information causes the conflicting information to appear.
Six Open-Ended Questions:
1) Where and what have the Military Junta done to the democratic protesters and monks?
2) Why aren’t neighboring countries like China and India, applying sanctions on Myanmar and its Military Junta?
3) Why isn’t the National Convention (NC), preparing the new drafted constitution before the deadline?
4) Why hasn’t there been the strong role of the United Nations in Myanmar? Why have we (world) not seen any progress in Myanmar after the talks to Aung San Suu Kyi, and Sr. Gen. Than Shwe with the United Nations special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari?
5) Why has the Military Junta’s, “Burmese way to Socialism” failed to develop Myanmar’s economy instead of slowing down its growth?
6) Myanmar is a member of ASEAN. What has been the role of other ASEAN countries on the lack of democracy in Myanmar?
Compare and Contrast:
Current Event#3:
Article 1: Beech, Hannah. “General Command.” TIME October 15, 2007: 26-27.
Article 2: Author-None, “On the brink.” The Economist September 29th, 2007: 27-28.
