Burma crisis.

Dyr · 26-09-2007 01:16PM

I guess if an oblivion gate opens up the army might be distracted

Dyr · 26-09-2007 01:18PM

oh wait, thats bruma...

MOH · 26-09-2007 01:20PM

Deliverance wrote:

Bush is doing something

"President Bush yesterday announced new US sanctions against Burma, accusing the military dictatorship of imposing “a 19-year reign of fear” that denies basic freedoms of speech, assembly and worship."

Right. So they were already 12 years into this reign of fear when he took up his presidency, and he's only getting around to doing something about it now?
Obviously high on his agenda.

lezizi · 26-09-2007 01:23PM

Dirty Dave wrote:

http://www.gubuwire.com/?p=268

Terrorisy monks, i have heard it all now

MOH · 26-09-2007 01:24PM

Bambi wrote:

oh wait, thats bruma...

OK, I LOL'd

Dudess · 26-09-2007 01:24PM

estebancambias couldn't be here today but he asked me to pass on this message:
"Monks rebelling? How impudent of them! May there be a Tiananmen Square-style retaliation. Hail the glorious regime of Burma! Now THERE'S a society we could learn from - where citizens learn manners and respect and everyone's happy. Ditto Zimbabwe, and Chile under Pinochet. That is all."

Terry · 26-09-2007 01:30PM

Dudess wrote:

estebancambias couldn't be here today but he asked me to pass on this message:
"Monks rebelling? How impudent of them! May there be a Tiananmen Square-style retaliation. Hail the glorious regime of Burma! Now THERE'S a society we could learn from - where citizens learn manners and respect and everyone's happy. Ditto Zimbabwe and Chile under Pinochet. That is all."

Careful now.

popebenny16 · 26-09-2007 01:55PM

They weren't bad for their time.

Wishfull Thinking, that was them.

Oh, Burma Crisis. Sorry.

Wasn't there a filling station chain called Burmah in the 70's? Maybe George B is rushing to help them out.

MOH · 26-09-2007 02:41PM

Dudess wrote:

Ditto Zimbabwe and Chile under Pinochet. That is all."

Zimbabwe under Pinochet? When was that?

Dudess · 26-09-2007 02:46PM

And I give out about people not using commas.

Fixed.

HammerHeadGym · 26-09-2007 05:47PM

I'm in that neck of the woods right now, and the atmos is a wee bit tense. There were 2 monks killed earlier today and the word peaceful is being left out of the term peaceful protest now.
The burmese I've been talking too are praying for Dubya to step in and flex his mighty penis.

SimpleSam06 · 26-09-2007 06:04PM

HammerHeadGym wrote:

The burmese I've been talking too are praying for Dubya to step in and flex his mighty penis.

He'll piss off the Chinese if he does that, and he doesn't want another Korea on his hands, never mind that the Chinese own lots and lots of his debt.

But China's ties with the military junta ruling Burma go deep, and include expanding trade links, the sale of military hardware and diplomatic support.

"In the last decade or two, with the improving economic situation in China and the increasing isolation of Burma, China has become increasingly important to the regime," said a spokesman for the Asian Human Rights Commission, based in Hong Kong.

The relationship between Burma and China is mainly based on trade. Burma, which has very little industry itself, imports manufactured goods from China.

"If you walk around the streets in Burma, particularly in the north, the overwhelming majority of manufactured goods are Chinese made," said the commission spokesman, who regularly visits Burma.

That trade is reflected in official Chinese figures, which show that exports from China to Burma were up by 50% in the first seven months of this year. They were worth $964m (£479m).

According to research published a few days ago by EarthRights International, 26 Chinese multinational firms were involved in 62 major projects in Burma over the last decade.

These include the construction of oil and gas pipelines stretching 2,380km (1,479 miles) from Burma's Arakan coast to China's Yunnan Province.

The rights group, based in the United States and South East Asia, says this is to help China import oil and gas from the Middle East, Africa and South America.

Official Chinese figures say total imports from Burma amounted to just $146m in the first seven months of this year.

But others doubt the accuracy of these figures. Rights group Global Witness estimated timber exports to China alone were worth $350m in 2005 - most of it illegally exported.

China also sells Burma military hardware, according to the Asian Human Rights Commission.

And Beijing used its veto in the United Nations' Security Council in January to block criticism of Burma's military junta.

So basically pigs will fly out of dubyas arse before he takes any active involvement in Burma. Remember, when those monks are being gunned down in the streets, theres a "made in china" sticker on the side of the rifle.

Deliverance · 26-09-2007 08:11PM

Seems that at the moment the ball is China's court. With the Olympics coming up, that might be a motivation for them to have a quiet word in the Juntas' ear. Maybe the threat of heavy economic sanctions will work their is still a deadlock to be resolved though. Hopefully the monks will get some reasonable demands met for now.

It will still be a landmark victory for their stolen democracy though if the monks get their way. Hopefully some kind of internal change can be realised and brought about eventually. The massacre and attempted media blackout in 1988 was F'ing attrocious.

It is scary though as their seems to be two obvious sides with interests in this country ie China, India and the Russians vs the US Britain and Europe. Watching this drama unfold with keen interest it has implications on many levels.

Burma crisis.

Comments