ick

zed

TeddySanFran @ 2

zed

Not this time. :P

Om Mani Padme Hum

The Olympics are the key. How do we boycott the Olympics? Beijing will only listen if they face being embarassed by a boycott. It’s time.

Tomorrow, Congress will consider a bipartisan resolution, HR200 supporting Human Rights in Burma

I can safely predict that if any large American corporations are doing business there, this resolution will die a quiet death in procedures.

Siun glad you picked up on the Witness link. They do great work. Brave Brave people that should not be abandoned.

Matthews interview with Senator Webb on Iran is another must watch. Webb keeps saying Iran Iran Iran. Matthews also addresses the Rush issue

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/

Is there oil?
Nope
Are the oppressed Christian?
Nope
It will be another 10 years before the UN (and the US) commit there.
Same as Bosnia.

My prayer for the monks and the Burmese people, Om Mani Padme Hum:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9_XdhgsOgg

So Joe Lieberman is defending John McCain for calling the U.S. a Christian nation. Joe says that John doesn’t have a bigoted bone in his body. Yep. “Unbiased” and “unbigoted”. That characterizes the Republican Party alright.

mack @ 8

Is there oil?
Nope
Are the oppressed Christian?
Nope
It will be another 10 years before the UN (and the US) commit there.
Same as Bosnia.

There is oil, and Chevron is involved.

LS @ 11

mack @ 8

Is there oil?
Nope
Are the oppressed Christian?
Nope
It will be another 10 years before the UN (and the US) commit there.
Same as Bosnia.

There is oil, and Chevron is involved.

On which side?

Iraqis, Palestinians, and the Burmese are dying for freedom. And our soldiers are dying for pax Americana.

Ish @ 12

LS @ 11

There is oil, and Chevron is involved.

On which side?

http://www.the-environmentalis…..tions.html

Thanks again, Siun -

Definitely call your congress person to keep the spotlight on Burma. Be sure and call the country Burma in recognition of Aung San Suu Kyi and the Democracy Movement.

China is still the heavy in dealing with Burma. The Burmese community here is continuing to protest in front of the Chinese Consulate and Embassy in D.C. The more calls to them the better. China really is in pain right now. They hate being in this kind of spotlight. They don’t want to interfere with another country because they don’t want another country to pressure them in like manner. It is a very effective tool.

The 2008 summer Olympics is so important to them. They do not want to be humiliated. Leverage is good.

Israel has confirmed that its air force carried out an air raid inside Syrian territory in September – after remaining silent on the issue for nearly a month.

Israel said on Tuesday that its warplanes had conducted the attack deep inside Syrian territory on September 6, saying it attacked a “military target”.

Has the UN envoy been able to meet with the military leaders yet?

It is amazing how Edwards has been taken out of the running by the MSM. No one even mentioning him. Sure has me wondering who is so afraid of Edwards?

The Aznar story and transcript has hit MSM – CNN.

Kathleen @ 18

It is amazing how Edwards has been taken out of the running by the MSM. No one even mentioning him. Sure has me wondering who is so afraid of Edwards?

The big bad wolf.

mack @ 8

Is there oil?
Nope
Are the oppressed Christian?
Nope
It will be another 10 years before the UN (and the US) commit there.
Same as Bosnia.

There’s lotsa oil, but it’s spoken for. By China, our happy lender whom we cannot piss off.

i was heartened to read this article by michael nagler (teaches nonviolence at berkeley). he reports that this uprising was not spontaneous and that there has been some prior planning and organizing. i hope you-all (and siun!) don’t mind, i’m going to quote a longish bit:

Commentators are noting, correctly, several features of the uprising today: it is a massive, disciplined outpouring. It relies on the immense prestige of religious orders in Burma (renamed Myanmar by the regime), and – among other differences between now and 1988 – the world is watching.

But how closely? We who follow nonviolence have to point out what the mainstream media are missing in this “saffron revolution,” as in many of the nonviolent episodes that have been accumulating with increasing frequency:

1) They mis-characterize this movement as ‘spontaneous,’ while in reality it has been well-planned for months. Moreover, in an increasingly characteristic, and extremely hopeful development, many of today’s nonviolent leaders have studied literature and films about past movements and learned from their failures and successes. In this case, thousands of Burmese watched the Steve York documentary Bringing Down a Dictator about the overthrow of Serbian ‘President’ Slobodan Milośevič in 2000 (also mischaracterized as a spontaneous ‘mob’ despite its careful advance planning)

[snip]

2) While monks have been deliberately chosen to be the public face of the movement, the leaders organized multiple “lines” of student leadership (a Gandhian tactic, from the famous Salt Satyagraha of 1930) so that when the first group was arrested or otherwise neutralized, a new group would step up in its place – as is happening as I write.

3) The protestors, as a rule, are not only determined to go on to the finish, but they have learned the futility, or worse, the counter-productiveness, of violence. We in the field know that this decision, while it does not guarantee that no one will suffer (does violence?), is the key to longterm success. And finally,

4) The mainstream coverage is missing the key stories. Here is a lightly edited report from a former opposition leader now studying in the United States:

The whole night, the military regime blocked monasteries and arrested many monk leaders. Second line student leaders have to lead the demonstration while first line leaders are in the prisons and hiding places.

In Mandalay, Monks, students and people confront with soldiers and riot police. Soldiers requested to monks not to pass the line and choose another way. But people responded, “We don’t care even if you shoot us. We will go forward.”

The commanders sighed and kneeled down with respect in front of monks; people cry and cheer.

It is too early to say which side will prevail in this dramatic “nonviolent moment.” But in nonviolence, success has more to do with longterm change than ‘winning.’ And this much is sure: when people lay down their lives for democracy – for all of us – we owe it not just to them but to all of us to know their full story.

QuakerGirl @ 15

The 2008 summer Olympics is so important to them. They do not want to be humiliated. Leverage is good.

Even if there is no boycott, the potential for embarassment through other means of expression during the Olympics is huge and has to terrify the bejeebers out of the old men in Zhongnanhai.

Remarks from the floor by Tom Lantos, Chair of the HFRC:

So today, Madame Speaker, we use our liberty here in the Congress of the United States to condemn the violent crackdown on dissent in Burma. We use our liberty to call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the imprisoned Buddhist monks, and other prisoners of conscience. And today, we use our liberty here in the Congress of the United States asking our friends in Asia and Europe to join us in using economic leverage to promote democratic change in Burma.

Since the last bloody crackdown in Burma seventeen years ago, we in the United States have led the way in imposing tough economic sanctions against the ruling junta. Each year, I ask my colleagues to join me, and my good friend, Peter King of New York, in renewing import sanctions against Burma. And each year, this Congress – under both Republican and Democratic control – has responded overwhelmingly to our request.

But Burma’s elite will only feel the economic squeeze when other countries will join us. The enormous flow of aid and trade from China to Burma – not to mention China’s political support for the regime in the United Nations Security Council – must come to an abrupt end. The military packages for Burma offered by the world’s largest democracy – India – must be removed from the table. And our friends in ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, who have begun to speak out for democratic change in Burma – must move beyond words and suspend Burma’s membership in this very important regional organization.

Madame Speaker, when the generals run out of cash, change will come to Burma. When military officials cannot send their children to be educated abroad, change will come to Burma. And when the Burmese officials are no longer welcome at the table of ASEAN, change will come to Burma.

And to those Burmese military officers who are on the fence – deciding whether to join in the violent campaign of repression, or to refuse orders to kill and torture your fellow citizens, I have a simple message: do the right thing. As in Germany, as in Rwanda as in Yugoslavia, those who commit war crimes will be brought to justice before an international tribunal. Put yourself on the right side of history.

Pretty as these words are, the fact that we are committing war crimes our own little selves rather lessens their impact, don’t you think?

Thank you Siun for another wonderful post.

The US Air Force is working with military leaders from Persian Gulf states to train and prepare Arab air forces for a possible war with Iran, The Daily Telegraph in London reported Tuesday.

TeddySanFran @ 21

mack @ 8

Is there oil?
Nope
Are the oppressed Christian?
Nope
It will be another 10 years before the UN (and the US) commit there.
Same as Bosnia.

There’s lotsa oil, but it’s spoken for. By China, our happy lender whom we cannot piss off.

This is OT, but we would be really f*&^ked right now if China decided to “unify” with Taiwan. What could we do? Our military is beyond overstretched, and the PRC has a huge chunk of our debt.

via email (nonviolent peaceforce listserve):

Burma-Myanmar:  A Historic Moment for Peaceful Transition and Genuine Democratization and Reconciliation
                                                 September 30, 2007

Recognizing the historic moment of opportunity for the emergence of genuine democracy in Burma-Myanmar we call upon all the peoples of that country and of the world to support reconciliation and peaceful transition through nonviolent means.  This is a time for deep wisdom and historic leadership to guarantee a peaceful and nonviolent transition, to engage the government, military and civil society and all the peoples of all nationalities of Burma-Myanmar.

The world community is concerned for the security and well-being of the peoples of Burma-Myanmar.  We call upon all its citizens – Government leaders, officers and soldiers of the military, monks and all religious leaders, students and all citizens – to face this historic moment side-by-side with the courage of nonviolence, openness to dialogue, and respect for human rights and freedoms. We call for the setting aside of violence and the courage to work nonviolently for national reconciliation to achieve genuine and peaceful democratization.
 
We are encouraged by and strongly support Singaporean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of ASEAN George Yeo’s statement (Sept. 29) recognizing the historic opportunity in Burma-Myanmar today for peaceful transition and genuine reconciliation. We urge the people and governments of Singapore, China, Malaysia, India, Thailand and ASEAN as a whole to play a proactive and constructive role, to strongly urge restraint from the use of violence, and to use all opportunities available to engage the Government and peoples of Burma-Myanmar in a process of peaceful transition.
 
We urge the European Union, the United States and Russia to actively support the countries of the region and to directly engage with the Government and peoples of Burma-Myanmar to support democratization and genuine reconciliation. We urge Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, the UN General Assembly, the Secretariat, and Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari to ensure that Burma-Myanmar remains at the forefront of their agenda and endeavor to play a key and decisive role in supporting democratization and national reconciliation in the country.
 
Burma-Myanmar has reached a crucial moment in its history. There now exists an opportunity for peace, genuine reconciliation, and democratization. The peoples of Burma-Myanmar continue to show tremendous courage. We call upon all people of the world – NGOs, citizens’ organizations, businesses, students, religious communities, unions, governments, local authorities and international organizations – to demonstrate their solidarity for the people of Burma-Myanmar, for nonviolence and democratization. In this, we applaud the efforts and dedication of the world’s media and the courage of those journalists who are keeping the world informed about the situation Burma-Myanmar.
 
To all the people of Burma – to the monks and all religious leaders, students, citizens, soldiers, government, civil service, and refugees outside Burma – you are not alone. The world is watching, and stands with you in this historic moment in support of genuine reconciliation, democratization, and peaceful transition.

International Civil Society Organizations from 48 countries, gathered at the Nonviolent Peaceforce International Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, affirmed their support for this statement and encourage the people of Burma-Myanmar and the world to work for peaceful transformation of the conflict in Burma-Myanmar.
 
Nonviolent Peaceforce affirms its commitment to advocate for and provide when able nonviolent civilian peacekeeping to deter violence.

Mel Duncan
Executive Director
Nonviolent Peaceforce

According to Wiki, Burma has
Oil
Natural Gas
Teak and other ‘exotic’ hardwoods
gemstones (although what type not mentioned)

Yes, the UN envoy did get to speak with the military leader today and also spoke with Suu Kyi.

I agree with the others about putting pressure on China via the 2008 Olympics. The Olympics is being used as a gateway to the ‘modern’ world for China and they *cannot* afford to loose face in this.

I am posting a message sent to me by Knightsbridge International, a small NGO that does relief work in war zones and to people living under extreme oppression.

Dear friends,

We are grateful to our many supporters for your emails and calls over
the last week expressing support for the Burmese monks and citizens as
they rise up in protest against the ruling military junta, and
inquiring about how the situation in central Burma is impacting us and
our partners on the ground.

Although the violence has by no means been confined to Rangoon and
Mandalay (there are reports of violence against monks in the border
state of Kachin, where we work), thankfully, our staff and those of
our partner organizations are fine. While we are deeply saddened by
the violence that is taking place, we are also encouraged by the
increased international attention that is being paid to Burma.
Political change is unlikely to occur overnight, but our continued
support to the people of Burma and pressure for change will have an
impact.

We have attached a letter from Dr. Cynthia Maung, head of the Mae Tao
Clinic, calling for international support and reconciliation in Burma.
The US Campaign for Burma website
http://www.uscampaignforburma.org/ details steps you can take to
show your support, including joining the 88,000 Signatures Campaign,
which calls on Chinese President Hu Jintao to compel Burma towards
valid national reconciliation. The Foundation for the People of Burma
http://www.foundationburma.org/ is another resource for assisting the
monks and others in the central areas of Burma.

With respect to our programs in Burma’s border regions, we and our
partners continue to address the pressing health needs of some of
Burma’s most vulnerable populations, including 80,000 who are forcibly
displaced each year in eastern Burma. The atrocities occurring in
central Burma are a continuation of the ongoing oppression of the
people in the border states where we work. As long as the Burmese
regime remains unchecked we will be responding to ongoing and mounting
humanitarian hardships.

We invite you to join us in supporting the people of Burma by donating
online at http://www.ghap.org/how_to_help/money/ or sending a check to
Planet Care/Global Health Access Program, 801 Cedar Street, Suite 200,
Berkeley, CA 94710.

In solidarity,

Bob Condon Tom Lee
Co-Chairman Co-Chairman
Planet Care/GHAP Planet Care/GHAP

They are dying in Burma for freedom. And many in this country can’t even bother to vote.

Ish @ 23

QuakerGirl @ 15

The 2008 summer Olympics is so important to them. They do not want to be humiliated. Leverage is good.

Even if there is no boycott, the potential for embarassment through other means of expression during the Olympics is huge and has to terrify the bejeebers out of the old men in Zhongnanhai.

Exactly. The attention they are receiving now is humiliating to them. They’ve worked to get to where they are today. They don’t want some despot in Burma to mess it up for them.

Siun,
Thanks for sharing this witness to the atrocities in Burma/Myanmar. Sunshine is still the best disinfectant.

I am hearing that the best/only form of pressure that will make any difference to the thugs who rule Burma is to put pressure on all of Burma’s neighbors that these brutal acts of suppression are unacceptable, and that these neighbors must convey this message strongly to the Junta that rules in Burma.

Thanks again,
Bob in HI

September 30, 2007 – Presidential Preferences

September 30, 2007 – Presidential Preferences
Democrats IA NH SC
Biden 3% 3% 2%
Clinton 30% 41% 41%
Dodd 1% 2% 1%
Edwards 19% 10% 7%
Gravel - - -
Kucinich 1% 2% 1%
Obama 24% 22% 30%
Richardson 10% 8% 5%
Undecided 13% 12% 13%

In Iowa, Hillary Clinton leads Barack Obama among men 28% to 21% and she leads Obama among women 32% to 26%. In New Hampshire, Clinton leads Obama among men 35% to 19% and she leads Obama among women 45% to 24%. In South Carolina, Clinton leads Obama 39% to 34% among men and she leads Obama 43% to 27% among women.

http://americanresearchgroup.com/

Oklahoma kiddo @ 30

They are dying in Burma for freedom. And many in this country can’t even bother to vote.

There is some perspective for ya!

good on ya Kiddo.

And heres another group of clergy folks having a very hard time.

A delegation of Iraqi bishops representing the country’s multifarious denominations has given a tragic picture of conditions in Iraq particularly the capital Baghdad.

bishops said their church records now include a little bit more than one third of the figure.

Most affected have been Christians in Baghdad who once were served by nearly 100 churches.

The monasteries and seminaries have been shut down and U.S. occupation troops have occupied two of them in the restive and violent Doura neighborhood.

“I alone have to look after 2,000 displaced Christian families in Baghdad. They were forced to leave their districts simply because they were Christians,” one of the bishops said.

The bishops did not want their names mentioned for security reasons.

They were unanimous in their criticism of the United States and its blunders in Iraq.

They said the coming of the Americans has resulted in tragic consequences for their congregations as many in Iraq associate U.S. troops with Christianity.

“This democracy this man (President George Bush) has brought to us is that of tanks, kidnappings, random killings, car-bombing and massive marauding armies who go about their work with impunity,” another said.

http://www.azzaman.com/english…..fname=news2007-10-02kurd.htm

Oklahoma kiddo @ 30

They are dying in Burma for freedom. And many in this country can’t even bother to vote.

Meanwhile in America the Democrats in Congress can’t stay united enough to challenge Bush, right wing talker Michael Medved is waxing poetic about slavery and Ann Coulter decries women’s right to vote.

This place has gone nucking futs.

-GSD

I hate those numbers, kathleen. I take heart, though, that it’s “early”, whatever that means.

Hmmm…Unocal, Chevron, where have I heard that before?

“Chevron’s interest in the Yadana project is “a long-term commitment that helps meet the critical energy needs of millions in people in the region,” said Nicole Hodgson, corporate media adviser for Asia.

Total and former partner Unocal Corp were accused of cooperating with the military in human rights violations while a pipeline was being built across Burma to Thailand in the 1990s. Both companies have denied the accusations but Unocal settled a related lawsuit in the US in 2005, prior to being acquired by Chevron.”

http://www.irrawaddymedia.com/…..t29_01.php

Tonight on CSPAN they are re-airing the floor speeches:

· House Hearing on Blackwater and Private Security Firms in Iraq (9pm)
· Re-air of House Floor Speeches on the Situation in Myanmar (Burma) (2:30am)
· Re-air of House Floor Speeches on Redeployment in Iraq (3:10am)

Unocal/Burma settlement from Democracy Now:

http://www.democracynow.org/ar…..16/1444238

Ann Coulter finds it very hard to vote, legally.

Kathleen @ 33

September 30, 2007 – Presidential Preferences

September 30, 2007 – Presidential Preferences
Democrats IA NH SC
Biden 3% 3% 2%
Clinton 30% 41% 41%
Dodd 1% 2% 1%
Edwards 19% 10% 7%
Gravel - - -
Kucinich 1% 2% 1%
Obama 24% 22% 30%
Richardson 10% 8% 5%
Undecided 13% 12% 13%

In Iowa, Hillary Clinton leads Barack Obama among men 28% to 21% and she leads Obama among women 32% to 26%. In New Hampshire, Clinton leads Obama among men 35% to 19% and she leads Obama among women 45% to 24%. In South Carolina, Clinton leads Obama 39% to 34% among men and she leads Obama 43% to 27% among women.

http://americanresearchgroup.com/

Are those polled “likely voters” or just general public? It makes a big difference in Iowa.

Bob in HI

Jane has a new post up!

http://www.firedoglake.com/200…..e/#respond

To add a bit of perspective, Burma was a repressive police state even before the military junta in 1988. I was there in 1986, and had the chance to have a few clandestine conversations. The friend I was traveling with almost did not get a visa (1 week visa only choice) because she said she was a writer. Every currency exchange was monitored. There were 3 airplanes in the whole of “Air Burma”, and they looked like broken down PSA jets. (One crashed 3 mos. later).

We stayed in Rangoon for a few days, and then went to the airport to try to fly to Mandalay. We were told that we would get on whatever flight they told us to get on. It was not to Mandalay. The only “official” tours were tightly controlled, irrc in cooperation with a Russian agency. The atmosphere, at least seen as a visitor, was one of fear and repression.

And that was BEFORE the military junta. Thus, I cannot even begin to imagine how terrible life has been for the Burmese people since. Only that the courage shown in the recent uprising is beyond what you or I, living here in the US, can probably even imagine.

Oh my god. So horrific.

mack says:

October 2nd, 2007 at 4:12 pm

Is there oil?
Nope
Are the oppressed Christian?
Nope
It will be another 10 years before the UN (and the US) commit there.
Same as Bosnia.

they-ha_e-other-resour_es-that-_hi_a-wa_ts-a_d-i_dia

bushco condemning burma/myanmar rings a bit hollow to my sensitive ears….his hands are so bloodied with the needless deaths of iraqis and our soldiers from a war of choice…and btw….where’s osama bin forgotten?

dmac @ 46

mack says:

October 2nd, 2007 at 4:12 pm

Is there oil?
Nope
Are the oppressed Christian?
Nope
It will be another 10 years before the UN (and the US) commit there.
Same as Bosnia.

they-ha_e-other-resour_es-that-_hi_a-wa_ts-a_d-i_dia

dmac-send email to
mactech
at
astreet
dot
com.
I have a keyboard for you.

LS @ 4

Om Mani Padme Hum

Om Mani Padme Hummmm

TeddySanFran @ 21

mack @ 8

Is there oil?
Nope
Are the oppressed Christian?
Nope
It will be another 10 years before the UN (and the US) commit there.
Same as Bosnia.

There’s lotsa oil, but it’s spoken for. By China, our happy lender whom we cannot piss off.

There’s plenty of natural resources in Burma. Natural gas for instance, who’s getting that? Thailand, for one.

Also – You Tube has video of the marriage of Gen. Than’s daughter getting married. Un-fucking-believable. The country’s people are barely getting by and this is how the money is spent.

just thought i’d make sure it was clear that the people being hunted by the burmese military in that video are karen, an ethnic minority. like many regimes, the burmese have taken advantage of the bush administration’s labeling people they don’t like, “terrorists” to get rid of people they don’t like. ethnic minorities and traditional peoples are at particular risk. and, assuming the burmese junta’s genocidal plans to pan out, the karen still might be driven to surviving by raising opium poppies again.

So I guess that we’ll have to wait another 15 years for the next GOP administration to use this massacre as an excuse to invade Burma for reasons that have nothing to do with it. So much for Mr. Bush’s humanitarian-based excuse for invading Iraq and toppling Saddam for being an “evil dictator”. Of course, it was BS all along and anyone with a brain knew it. But it still bears repeating. We invaded Iraq for the same reasons that we’re not taking action against the thugs who run Burma and Sudan–oil.

Man, what a dozen or so cruise missles could do right now against the mansions and palaces in which these scumbags live and work. Of course, that will never happen. And China eagerly looks forward to the Olympics.

Whatever happened to “Never Again”? How do all the people who attend and get feted at glitzy humanitarian award ceremonies and balls live with themselves when this sort of thing happens right underneath their noses and they do nothing about it? Where is Bush on this? Where are the Dems and Repubs on this? Why is the UN not holding an emergency session on this? Why are Burma’s borders not being sealed by the US Navy and Special Forces? Whatever happened to all their claims of our being a force for good in the world?

It’s all for shit. And hundreds if not thousands of Burmese monks are being killed because the world will do nothing.

But Britney lost custody of her kids and Hillary took in $27 million, so I guess all is ok in the world.