Horror in Burma
- From: pluto <pluto@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2007 07:59:08 +0800
Horror in Burma
Tag it:Our Correspondent
27 September 2007
Isolated and alone, Burma?s brutal generals are in a corner and shooting back
Photos courtesy of Irrawaddy.org: Blood-splattered floor of monastery
Burma?s insular and isolated junta, frightened of the massive demonstrations
occurring across the country, may be divided as to what course to take, despite
Wednesday?s and Thursday?s shootings and raids that carted away Buddhist monks
from monasteries in Rangoon. Hundreds of other people have been hauled off the
streets by soldiers to an unknown fate.
Undeterred by the crackdown, on Thursday tens of thousands of protesters poured
back into Rangoon's streets despite more tear gas and reports of soldiers firing
directly into crowds. According to news reports from Burma?s state media, at
least nine people are dead. Shots reportedly were fired in at least three areas
of Rangoon as the standoff continued. One western resident said police were
broadcasting warnings that "extreme action" could follow if crowds didn't
disperse. Authorities sealed off both the Shwedagon and Sule Pagodas, the
country's two holiest sites.
International condemnation has been swift, with governments worldwide calling
for the junta to back off. Harrowing reports and video posted on web sites paint
a picture of Rangoon as a budding killing field, with combat-clad soldiers
firing on unarmed civilians, while state TV blames the crisis on the protesters.
Monks have been less in evidence after dawn raids by soldiers hit monasteries.
A Japanese photojournalist was also reported killed.
Elite officers reportedly have been shaken by the monks' rebellion and are said
to be seeking a solution, although there is considerable skepticism about how
much actual division there is among the ruling command. ?We've heard that other
units from the border regions are moving to Rangoon to handle this. They are
more battle-hardened and willing to use force,? a Western diplomat said. ?My
feeling is that reporting in the press and exile groups contains a lot of
wishful thinking. Unless there are greater splits in the junta we don't know
about, this regime doesn't care. They are willing to kill, and their golden
ticket is the Chinese, who aren't going to push them.?
That said, the diplomat continued, ?there could still be a surprise from splits
in the military we don't know about. In 1988, it was very significant when the
civil servants and government came out. We have known for some time that
frustration among civil servants has grown after the move to (the new
administrative capital) Napyidaw, which has been very hard on their families. So
that could provide a potential spark.?
Win Min, a Burma military analyst, told Asia Sentinel that the government
appears to be having a much harder time controlling security forces than the
former dictator Ne Win did prior to 1988 and suggests that the military could
withdraw in a few days if Than Shwe, the country?s senior leader, senses that
soldiers are losing morale. With most of the soldiers practicing Buddhists, the
violence against monks is taking a serious toll. The military was shocked when
monks began to refuse alms from soldiers over recent days, analysts said.
Donating to monks is a recognized way of making merit.
In 1988, when the military gunned down thousands of students and other
protesters, the military had already effectively locked down the country,
denying visas, shutting down telephone service and keeping the news media at
bay. But in the current confrontation, while they have tried, pictures of
protesters under attack have made it out of the country by cell phone and other
means, giving the rest of the world an idea of the stark brutality as the
government cracks down, and bringing condemnation from across the region and the
world.
Than Shwe, Win Min said, remains the hardliner in the junta after sending his
wife and family to Thailand, then to Singapore, according to the Nation
newspaper in Bangkok. The Rangoon Bureau of special operation chief, Myint Swe
and Rangoon Commander Hla Htay Win are responsible for the troops in Rangoon,
but neither wants to shoot into the crowds, Win Min claims, but if Than Shwe
orders them they may have no choice.
?Today and the day after tomorrow will be very crucial,? TinMin wrote. Compared
to 1988, Ne Win had more battle-hardened and aggressive regional commanders to
crack down and the complete loyalty of his subordinates. But Than Shwe has to
struggle with his subordinates, especially the second man, Maung Aye.?
If the demonstrators can sustain their momentum for at least few more days,
there is the risk that military morale will crumble. Than Shwe may not risk the
chance that the army might turn away from the junta, making it likely that the
junta will strike with devastating force as soon as possible.
Then the question will be how the leaders can maintain a united front.
Aung San Suu Kyi, the nation?s most popular figure, is likely to remain under
house arrest although she was rumored to have been moved to the infamous Insein
Prison, along with other leaders from the 1988 generation.
Virtually alone among Asian nations, Thailand?s junta leader Gen. Sonthi
Boonyaratglin, speaking on television Wednesday night, defended the Burmese
government, saying no military force was used and that only police were
deployed, although the Internet was awash with pictures of uniformed soldiers
confronting the marchers.
?The actual tactics may vary from country to country,? Sonthi said. ?I think
there is no violence in the current situation. Everything is under control.
?On the reports that Buddhist monks were assaulted [during the dispersal of
demonstrations], that cannot be concluded just from looking at the photos. I was
informed that Burma uses dialogue to solve the problem, and senior Buddhist
monks have helped negotiate to end the problem.?
Elements of Burma?s ruling junta are saying privately that the worsening crisis
in Rangoon is provoking fear and misgiving among upper echelons of the nation?s
military elite, who may refuse to shoot at monks, Asia Sentinel has been told.
At least some of the ruling junta?s generals are reported to be ?in shock? at
the uprising of the nation?s revered clerics. With monks in play, the crisis is
worse than the junta could have imagined and some military leaders are
reportedly deeply worried that the situation may already be out of hand.
?It's horrible to see what happened yesterday. I can't believe they beat the
monks terribly (one monk was beaten even to death). I was shocked. People were
shocked and very angry at the use of violence and they said on the radios that
they would continue marching. I think the United Nations Security Council should
intervene quickly now. I am worried there will be more bloodshed today and
tomorrow,? Win Min said.
With the press firmly sealed out, it was difficult to assess the situation on
the ground Thursday. The military reported that one person was killed in
Wednesday?s violence, although other reports were that at lest five and possibly
as many as nine had been killed in Rangoon. Tear gas and shots were also
reported in Mandalay.
One source insisted that changes have begun to be rumored at upper levels of the
military but that it is almost impossible to tell what the early shifts mean.
Certainly, the junta has committed a dramatic series of miscalculations, from
the five-fold increases in fuel prices to sending thugs to beat both marchers
and onlookers after the protests started on Aug. 18. The firing of shots in the
monastery town of Pakoku, near Mandalay, was a particularly telling blunder that
brought the monks into the streets.
Comments (6)
Show/Hide comments
.... : JK Long
Pressure the China, start boycott Chinese made goods.
September 28, 2007
Creator/Owner : Liberator : http://www.lynways.net
In MyanMar, Monks and the People have ?Numbers, Truth and Justice? on their side
and SOME Military Generals have ?Guns, Soldiers and Stolen Power? on their side.
I let common sense and intelligent insight judge which side will prevail in the
END.
September 27, 2007
.... : Monastican
The Burmese Generals had done it in 1962 and then again in 1988 and now in 2007.
Once a criminal had committed a crime it is not difficult to do it again the
second time or the third or the fouth. Because of massive monks involved in this
current crisis, the military Generals cannot willnot withstand the prolong
killings, murderings of monks or the people. TIME is on the side of the people
and the monks. IF the monks and the people keep on dissent towards the military
regime, the top brass can be broken/split and another military coup can occur in
removing General Than Shwe and his gang. These Generals cannot keep on killing
the monks/civilians indefinitely. No way. The more they kill, the more they are
nearer to their demise. Some of the good minded military officers can switch
side and join the people and the monks. I predict this very boldly and strongly
in advance for I know and understand the mentality of Burmese and the Burmese
military tactics. This crackdown is nothing surprise for me in fact I had
predicted "murders" will occur for I know the Burmese military tactics and their
psychotic behavior. I HAD live with them (military), grow up with them/among
them BUT do not associate with them in any shape or form in the past.
September 27, 2007
the only answer... : Girvan Holbien
mza, I would agree that the use of UN forces to remedy the situation would
appear to be the obvious thing to do. However the Burmese army is large and well
equipped, to be able to send peacekeeping forces in would cost a great deal more
lives I fear. The best resolution would be for the military junta to see sense
and negotiate with the opposition for a peacable outcome. China holds the key,
only they can persuade the Burmese Government to see sense.
An alternative outcome is for Burma's government to split and for the army to
turn on itself. However this would again lead to much bloodshed with the Burmese
people caught in an unnecessary civil war.
The protesters bravery and their attitude of peace is a shining example to the
rest of the world, you have the support of the people of the UK.
September 27, 2007
The only answer : mza
The only message /language tha the generals understands is by using force and
guns.The only answer should be the same to those shameful and inhumane
thugs.They have done this in the past (1988) and they will do it gain this time
as well.If the world is really serious about helping burma current crisis and to
solve domestic burmese people suffering and sacrifice against the fully armed
generals,the only answer is to send international armed forces to prevent
further bloodshed and oprn dialogue among all these people.
The history repeating itself and the people and monks of burma are dying as we
speak.
mza
September 27, 2007
Architect : Girvan Holbien
The Chinese government should be ashamed of itself for having such evil friends
in power in Burma. China's continued support of the military junta will be
remembered during the forthcoming Olympics and long after the Olympics have been
forgotten. There is still time for China to reconsider who its long term allies
should be and the kind of image that it wants to project to the rest of the
world. I respectfully urge them to think carefully and act swiftly to prevent
further bloodshed.
September 27, 2007
as
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