Page 34 - mcdanielfreepress2007-08

"They are calling it the Saffron revolution, " I told my parents on the phone the day before Burma lost contact with the outside world. We calked about things coming to change and 1was giddy with the prospect of rhe decadene military regime finally coming ro an end. The words of democracy and freedom were on the Ups of every Burmese person regardless of where they were. The images of monks walking in unison with the people were a sign of hope. The government: warched closely for a few days monitoring the situation closely, waiting for an cpporrunlry to see if the protest would lose momentum by Itself The more the government ...vaired, the more people took to the srreers. In chose past few days, I rarely moved away from the computer, hoping to somehow see (he military government yield to rhe voice of the people. But our hopes and dreams of change were shattered when the. first images of soldiers firing into crowds of unarmed protestors were released. With the power of the internet, crowds of people from allover [he world watched in horror at the arroclries committed. by the military junta. Burma was thrown into the spotlight and along with the protescs in Burma. the international community decided to voice their opinion. But how did the protests happen? What was [he main catalyst that sparked the mass protests after 20 years of oppression? The answer lies in economic mismanagement from the military government. In August 2007, the regime decided {O raise [he price of natural gas by five hundred percent. This produced an angry outcry by the majority of working class people in Burma who relied on rhe natural gas public transportation to commute to work. With economic hardships already in place. the opposition party members decided to stage a protest in light of the recent economic mismanagement by the military junta. The protests chat occurred during August were not known ,if _rfCl.""Hi'iwc-p .~ Irs rule. However this all change when the H....r-noriefte----....lh:dc.,..-.npuhy opposition parties as it has done throughout rewards The Saffron revolution monks rallied peacefully in light of recent hike in fuel prices on September 5th. The military officials used force co break up the group and hurt at least three monks. In rerum, the monks demanded an apology form rhe government. However. the apology never came. On September and the fading dreams 18th, the monks protested non-violently, drawing public support throughout the country. But me non-violent movement proved co be shan lived. On September 26th, military officials fired into crowds of protestors injuring and killing many. Ever since the 26th, military officials of the Burmese people have stepped up their presence through out Yangon and other large cities throughout· Burma. Dissidents are beaten, shot or carried away by unmarked vehicles. In the violent response to the peaceful protests. the government run media has reported killing nine civilians and one japanese reporter. But witnesses to [he event say that rhe number reported dead are far greater. Mark Canning. UK's Ambassador to Burma, estimates the death to be around 100 (0 150. As of September 30th 2007, eyewitnesses and undercover reporters in Burma have said rhar the prisons are now overcrowded as a result of arresdng protestors, rherefore school buildings and colleges are used as temporary holding cells. Monks who played a pivotal role in leading the protests are now arrested or under close scrutiny from rhe military junta. Today, the scenes in Burma portray an eerie silence. there are no more protestors, yet the street.')are filled with heavy military presence. Plain clothed officers raid homes at night taking people to unknown locations without giving any reasons for their arrests. Burma is again in a scare offear, the Orwellian nightmare that I have lived with all my life is again omnipresent. The days when people shouted. out words of democracy and freedom now seem like a Fading dream, a dream that was brutally shattered. No one expected the military leaders to shoot at monks in a highly religious nation such as Burma. It proves to show that the government will take every possible measure to ensure their position of power. The recenr events in Burma have caught worldwide attention, the world calls for [he end to rhe 45 years of illegitimate military rule and to honor the results of the 1990 election where Nobel peace prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is still under house arrests. But many Burmese fear that this will become another "trend" for the affluent nations of me West. "There is no hope for us now" a friend of mine said, "at besr we will be a fancy poster for these American kids to hang up 011 the wall, like one of those Tlananmen square rhlngs." Certainly. I also feel the fear that the United States and the European Union who ate (he forefront of bring change to Burma will nor forger their goal. Burma has come into to international spotlight unwillingly, yet I hope it doesn't leave the stage without change. Burma "''3.$ ignored in their last auempts to change 1.9years ago. In 1988, the military junta shot and killed non-violent proresrors resulting in 3000 deaths. Ever since then. Universities and colleges have been dos.ed in tear students repeating such events. What would happen this time jf the world ignores Burma again? No more monks? Would no onc to stand up in the name of justice in Burma? How many more revolutions do we need before the long lost dream of democracy comes back ro the people of Burma?