TheLostGlobe

It seems the protests in Burma are over for now. It’s really frustrating to see the “Coalition of the willing” sit by and do nothing when a country’s people scream for democracy, while they invade others which are at best reluctant. It’s even harder to see China sticking with it’s “non interference” policy, although they are happy to interfere when someone else wants to. With a human rights record like China’s it’s no surprise really, that country’s government dumbfounds me. Regardless of the frustration there in reality these two powers are not really the ones best to target for action. One thing is for sure, although everyone seems to blame someone else in one way or another, but no one doing the blaming can say their hands are clean on the issue.

Tim Paterson at Brave New Traveler posted a list of stories related to Burma the best of which I think was The Ghost Road by Mark Jenkins which gives a very interesting look into what it is like in the parts of Burma that are not open to the few travellers that make their way there.

It seems nothing happens fast in Burma (unless it helps oppress the people) and the UN is being typically useless about it. ASEAN who should be on the receiving end of calls to support democracy in Burma is quiet where it could be most influentia, even more so than China. China is being called upon to pressure the Junta more than anyone but they have enough trouble quashing pro democracy movement in their own country to even think about giving them more fire by being seen to advocate democracy in a country they have such close ties with.

If you are actively doing something to help the Burmese, I suggest averting frustrations from the US and China on their inaction and turn it on ASEAN followed by the UN. What are your thoughts?

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