Women in several countries have begun sending their panties to Myanmar embassies in a culturally insulting gesture of protest against the recent brutal crackdown there, a campaign supporter said Friday. "It's an extremely strong message in Burmese and in all Southeast Asian culture," said Liz Hilton, who supports an activist group that launched the "Panties for Peace" drive earlier this week.
The group, Lanna Action for Burma, says the country's superstitious generals, especially junta leader Gen. Than Shwe, also believe that contact with women's underwear saps them of power. "You can post, deliver or fling your panties at the closest Burmese Embassy any day from today. Send early, send often!" the Lanna Action for Burma Web site urges.
"So far we have had no response from Burmese officials," Hilton said.
| Amusing, but in the time I spent in Southeast Asia, I never ran into any unusual fetishes against ladies' underwear. I don't know where this comes from, unless I missed something. Since at that age and degree of singularity I was trying to do regular ladies' underwear checks, I'd probably have run into it at some point in my travels, unless it's a purely Burman thing. |
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