NEWS ANALYSIS
Killing the Irrawaddy
By AUNG DIN
Thursday, August 4, 2011
The Irrawaddy River is the past, present and future of Burma and major bloodline of the country. (Photo: www.galenfrysinger.com)
(Page 4 of 4)
It has many names, “Mother of Burma; Bride of Histories; the Great Magic of the Nature,” and so on, that symbolize the people of Burma’s great love for the river. Its water flow touches everybody’s life. Many wars and national affairs have happened on its shoulders. Many historic events have passed with its current. No artists can draw a picture well enough to show the beauty of it. No composer can write a song sufficient to feel the magnificence of it. No poet can write a poem that demonstrates the sacrifice it made. No one will feel their lives valuable if there is no Irrawaddy in Burma. The people of Burma will stand up to protect their most beloved one. The Chinese government should stop building the Myitsone Dam and destroying the Irrawaddy before the growing anti-Chinese sentiment among the people of Burma dangerously explodes.
Aung Din was a student leader during the 1988 popular democracy uprising in Burma and he served over four years in prison as a political prisoner. He is now the Executive Director of Washington, DC-based US Campaign for Burma.
« previous 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
COMMENTS (12)
Phillip Kyin Wrote: |
12/08/2011 |
|
| It seems that the author is blaming the Chinese more. Every country is trying to survive. At least give the Chinese credit for trying to make a name for themselves in the would. I cannot say the same about the regime. All the points that the author made are well taken. Will he feel better if the natives are working on the projects instead of the Chinese? Will the fossil power plants solve the environmental problems? By the end of the article I thought I was reading a press release from a regime, very bias. Those were the articles that I used to read back in Burma. |
|
 |
Zaw Zaw Wrote: |
11/08/2011 |
|
| Aung Din has made very good points and grave concerns of dam constructions on the Irrawaddy river and it's potential disastrous impact on the livelihoods of the Burma. As we all know, how greatly important for the future survival and prosperity of the people of Burma, we as the citizens of Burma must make sure whatever we can in order to save the Irrawaddy river ( Mother of Burma ). |
|
 |
Oo Maung gyi Wrote: |
08/08/2011 |
|
| Why Burmese peoples are coward? Why not kill those are involved killing Irrawaddy. Destroy all properties and wealth of those parties involved. |
|
|
Maung Maung Wrote: |
07/08/2011 |
|
Who is killing the River Irrawaddy?
(1) SPDC
(2) Chinese
(3) Burmese tycoons
Thank you U Aung Din |
|
|
BotherNumberOne Wrote: |
06/08/2011 |
|
| Just FYI: China (and India, yet another big player on the no-ethics-whatsoever-market!) does the same in several parts of ... Africa. |
|
|
Khin Lin Wrote: |
06/08/2011 |
|
| Thanks you Ko Aung Din. Burmese history is very rough, now even reached to destroy the physical geography. Rudeness thought of Chinese is out of words, so did Burmese government. People who only watch the pocket is reaching in main sources of the country. We all civilians need to stand together on this affair.many people in Burma are toxic by Chinese and their own government. Burma, Irrawaddy, Thanlwin, Chindwin, and all parts of Burma are own by all citizens, and we all need to protect our land together. |
|
|
|
| I think Chinese authority and its companies have already filled some of regime's most influential people's coffers with green bucks. Now that civilian regime is desperately speeding up to strike a peace deal with KIO speak its volume in this killer project. I see the day people of Burma will violently occupy these infrastructures, may be next ten years later when they get full citizenship rights of freedom of expression, assembly and choosing their leaders. |
|
|
Zaw Min Wrote: |
05/08/2011 |
|
| Irrawaddy is the heart of this land that can be called whatever by whoever living there. This land and this river is not for Bama nor the Kachins but by all who live on it. They can be Bama, Kachin and any other ethnic minorities like Shan, Karens etc. as well as Indians, Chinese, Laotians and Thais. The only condition is that all must live together in peace in lawful way with understanding and willingness to stand up against anyone who is out to destroy it. Why can't we do this together? It can be a great oasis in this world and it must not be turned into a ruined land where no one can live. |
|
|
|
| All People in Burma and outside Burma must stand up to fight the junta against the murders of the Irrawaddy AND the Salween Rivers before it is too late! |
|
|
tocharian Wrote: |
05/08/2011 |
|
Excellent article, Ko Aung Din!
It should be clear now for everyone living in Burma that China is public enemy number one. It's time to set aside, at least temporarily, local conflicts inside Burma to take a united stand against the robbing, ripping and raping of the natural environment and the social fabric of Burma by the selfish and greedy Chinese. I have warned about these sinister Chinese plans for dams, pipelines and naval bases for quite a while. The writing is clearly on the wall now! The local internal conflicts (both political and ethnic) can be resolved (later) once this huge external threat to the country is removed. In fact, Chinese commercial influence and political control are the main reasons why Burma got stuck in such dire straits. Damn the dams! |
|
|
Myint Thein, Dallas Wrote: |
05/08/2011 |
|
Excellent "Yellow Peril" analysis of the Myitsone Dam.
Freedom and Democracy in Indonesia was precipitated by anti-Chinese riots. Burma will follow the same Road-Map. |
|
|
|
Dear Irrawaddy,
Please disable your autoplay adverts. It really annoyed readers who want to read the article. |
|
|
E-MAIL
PRINT
