The uprising in Burma...
I am saddened by the recent events in Burma, as someone who actively writes emails to and for Amnesty International causes and cases I am shocked at the way that the peaceful protests in Myanmar are being handled by the Military Junta that rules that country.
The latest figures to come out of that country regarding the numbers of dead is only 9 which I do not believe for one minute. The internet connections have been severed since yesterday ( co-incidence? I think NOT). Hotels that house foreigners are being searched for internet use, internet cafes shut down and the flow of news coming out in the last 24 hours has slowed to a trickle ( according to BBC American International News this am only 12 emails and picture texts have come in this am as opposed to thousands yesterday). A Japanese journalist has been killed in the protests which is causing Japan to think about halting aid to Burma ( Myanmar) and asking for answers as to how and why this occured.
Many monks have been arrested from their beds, monasteries closed and sealed off to prevent them from their peaceful protests, Major roads near those monastaries have been sealed off and even with the U.N. envoy on his way there to handle the situation I am not sure it will help as the Military Junta have not been willing to change or even negotiate.
I only hope that the dis-interest displayed does not last as it may not directly affect us, however any struggle for *democracy* should concern us even if they do not have oil supplies in Burma.......We are indeed lucky, and we need to appreciate that....
Joan