what's going on in burma - homework!!?

Question

help

Answer 1

Some years ago Burma, a former British Colony, was given its independence but the last democratic rulers were overthrown by a military Junta who basically rule the country like a police state. All the pro-democracy protestors have been put under house arrest and things like phones and internet are monitored and controlled.

This latest round of protests by people who want to get rid of the Generals and their one-party state and have elections instead, was started by Buddhist monks but spread to encompass general protest by people on the street.

Just as they did back in 1988 when there was a previous popular uprising against them, the Generals have used the might of the army to crush peaceful protest by ordering troops to fire on protestors with tear gas, live rounds, and to beat them up.

Sadly it is not possible to do anything to chastise Burma via the UN because Russia and China (two more countries with appalling human rights records) vote to block any moves to censure Burma. Also of course we here in the west have been very busy selling arms to the likes of the Burmese generals which are now being used to repress democratic protest.

Those wanting to register their disgust at the Burmese Junta should boycott Total Oil (Total is a major supporter and supplier of funds via the French government to the Burmese Regime) and also pressure MPs to get the British Government to say we will boycott the Chinese olympics unless China backs down in its support for Burma. Boycotting the olympics would not hurt Britain as we are unlikely to win anything anyway, but it might just start a trend which might make China think again and put pressure on Burma.

China is Burma's nearest neighbour and there is big trade between the countries. No point in trying to shame the Burmese generals themselves, they are 100% mahogany from the neck up.

Answer 2

Oddly enough the other person who answered this question forgot to point out that the ruling government switched the country's name from Burma to (the Union of) Myanmar in 1989. The U.N. is bound is bound by what the sovereign government says. The name comes from 'myanma naingngandaw.' The name itself is now a political issue.

"It would be great if the country was free, and there could be an open debate about it" says David Mathieson of Human Rights Watch, "the point is perhaps more hotly debated outside the country than by its citizens, many of whom have gotten used to the (name) change."

Answer 3

latest for you ITN news thousand of monks have now gone missing feared captured or dead.