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| India-Pakistan |
| Inside Burma: fear and repression |
| 2006-05-23 |
| EFL: After years of barely noticed and largely piecemeal operations against the Karen National Union (KNU), the ethnic minority's resistance movement, Burma's junta has launched its biggest offensive in Karen state since 1997. The army's operations are seen as a bid to annihilate the largest of the half-dozen ethnic minority fighting forces ranged against it. Since seizing power in 1962, the military has turned Burma into one of the most repressed and reclusive nations on earth. The only time the generals allowed an election, in 1990, they were soundly defeated by the National League for Democracy, led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. She was never allowed to take office and since then the repression has increased dramatically. Forced labour is common, Ms Suu Kyi is among the estimated 1,300 political prisoners and all democratic institutions have been emasculated. As the economy has collapsed and international demands for change have mounted, the junta's paranoia has also risen markedly. Last year it moved the capital from Rangoon to a purpose-built, heavily fortified city near Pyinmana, deep in the jungle. The junta's information minister, Brigadier Kyaw Hsan, admitted last week that the army is attempting to "clear up" the last of the KNU "terrorist'" resistance, and recent media reports have labelled events in remote eastern Burma as a war or conflict. Resistance But in fact the under-equipped, poorly trained forces of the Burmese army are refusing to take on the several thousand-strong Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), which has perfected its guerrilla tactics over 57 years of resistance. The forces are instead trying to eliminate the KNLA by starving it of money, food and recruits through the systematic razing of all Karen villages in the predominantly highland areas they do not control. Fewer than 100 civilians have been killed since the offensive began in November because as soon as villagers are tipped off about an attack, they flee. This year the operation has spread, and recently the number of destroyed villages has climbed to more than 60, with more than 16,000 people on the run, according to reports from advocacy groups such as the Free Burma Rangers and the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG). Aid groups say tens of thousands of civilians are under imminent threat because the junta appears to be forgoing its usual withdrawal for the monsoon season, which has just begun. "Our sources tell us the [army] are now transporting more food rations, ammunition and reinforcements to the frontlines," said Gilbert Shu of the Karen Office of Relief and Development. "It's clear they're preparing to fight on an even bigger scale than before, despite the weather." More at link |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 A couple of years ago, 2003-2004, I read a surprisingly positive story (as in "this is the USA we like vs Chimpiebush's one" in a very anti-US mag) about an ex-US Special Forces medic who after his retirement had joined an humanitarian christian group, and helped the Karen fight for survival. He so smuggled medical supplies and others commodities in the jungle, along with a team of Karen guerilla (though he was apparently unarmed, from what I understood), and helped refugees the best he could. I also saw a tv documentary about the Karens, same timeframe, in which he was featured. All this to say that this whole mess is an a particulary sad case of an ethnic/religious (Karens are christian) minority being oppressed, slaughtered, and "culturally genocided" by its own gvt (it's called ethnocide, I think)... in absolute msm silence! The same public opinion formating elite who swallow the paleo/muslim propaganda hook line and sinker is completely silent about that (and the Darfur ethnic cleansing, and Nigeria "religious strife", and Chyprus ' occupation,...). I think they don't just care, it doesn't suit their agenda, it doesn't even register. |
| Posted by: anonymous5089 2006-05-23 14:02 |
| #1 So the ruling Junta of Burma have no economy to speak of, no foriegn relations, no allies, no popular support. Just enemies and paranoid fantasies. Congrats, wear your crown of shit. |
| Posted by: Omoluque Gralet4660 2006-05-23 13:31 |