Radical Avenue

Christmas Day has arrived in Burma but the Grinch is still in charge. We’ll celebrate the holiday on this side of the world. But it’ll be another Blue Christmas in Rangoon.

The Burmese junta government continues to incarcerate citizens it suspects of having participated in pro-democracy demonstrations. The Democratic Voice of Burma recently reported that three people were sentenced to over two years in prison after giving water to protesting monks in September.

“Ko Shwe Thway, Ko Zaw Gyi and Ko Yazar were charged with incitement of offences against the state or public tranquility under section 505 (b) of the penal code, and also with defamation, according to Monywa residents.”

The report continues, “Local residents said that none of the men were political activists or affiliated with any political groups.”

The government forces villagers to supply recruits to the Burmese army. “Local troops from government brigade (66) in Nattalin, Zeegone, and Kyopin Kout townships are demanding that local villagers contribute one recruit from each village group or 1500 kyat per household to hire mercenaries.”

The Burmese military also amuses itself by pillaging from local merchants. “Leh Pyin village, located on a railway line half way between Thar Si and Kalaw township in Shan state, is well known among people in the gold business for its mines and is populated by informal gold diggers.”

“Village residents said that around 70 soldiers from the government’s Defence Services Command and General Staff College in Kalaw township, led by major Myat Htun, raided the village on 14 December and seized items from several gold shops.”

Earlier this year the acting Burmese government, led by General Than Shwe, promised to maintain a dialogue with the democratically elected leader of Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi. The government has now reneged on that promise.

“Although there was an agreement on holding weekly meetings every Monday between Suu Kyi and government liaison minister Aung Kyi, the regime has gone back on its word. No meeting has taken place between Suu Kyi and Aung Kyi since November 19. Moreover, the military’s promise of allowing two liaison officials from her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), to see her regularly has yet to be realized.”

The last few months have seen a flood of refugees out of Burma. Many now live in squalor, terrified of local officials. Some countries, like Malaysia, have not exactly held out the welcome mat.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s website references this report. “Living in miserable camps not far from the glittering Petronas Twin Towers, Burma’s refugees in Malaysia are some of the most wretched of the hundreds of thousands who have fled their homeland.”

“‘Malaysia has become one of the worst places for Burmese asylum seekers because of the way the government and its enforcers have brutalized and abused refugees,’ says Debbie Stothard from human rights group Altsean Burma. ‘Large groups of refugees are in hiding around the country and they are penniless and desperate.’”

The Burmese people could certainly use some gladder tidings in 2008.

Burma, Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese junta, Burmese military, Saffron Revolution, Than Shwe, the Grinch