The military government said terrorists were responsible for the blasts. Could bombings happen again in 2011? Of course. The background is grim: tensions have escalated on the border between government troops and ethnic armed groups. All cease-fire groups are under constant pressure to transform into a Border Guard Force controlled by the government. An ethnic Karen armed group attacked outposts of the government's security forces in Myawaddy and Three Pagoda Pass, towns along the Thailand-Burma border. Such attacks, including bombings of civilian targets, will go on as long as the tensions can't be resolved through political means.
May: This month will bring memories of happiness and anger. In 1990, May 27 was the historic election day in which millions of Burmese voters got a chance to choose their elected representatives: the National League for Democracy won in a landslide. But the government was never formed with elected candidates, and now the junta's Union Solidarity and Development Party, is convening a new parliament.
Another bitter event on this month was the deadly attack against Suu Kyi and her supporters who were ambushed by thugs organized by the military government's civil organization, the Union Solidarity and Development Association, the mother organization of USDP. Who can guarantee that a new government led by former senior members of the USDA, won't orchestrate another plot designed to remove her from the political arena.
June: Former student activists who took part in the 1988 uprising will never forget June 16 and 17, when demonstrating students were beaten by riot police and arrested. Many were injured and hundreds were thrown behind bars.
Aung San Suu Kyi will celebrate her 66th birthday on June 19. Here's a beautiful dream: If Suu Kyi had been given a chance to play a key role in a government formed after her party won in the 1990 election, today's Burma might look totally different. Twenty years can make a country politically stable, economically prosperous and developed in areas such as education and technology, all under a democratic government. Imagine no political prisoners in the country's jails. Regionally, Suu Kyi's role as a key leader of a government would create a better relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Her voice on democracy, human rights and other issues would have been heard at Asean summits, which would be very likely to have had a positive impacts on Asean countries. That wasn't the case.
Let's back to 2011. Suu Kyi will at least be able to hold birthday celebrations with her colleagues and friends freely on June 19, provided she's been able to avoid arrest and detention.
July: Burma has never had a historic student union building since it was blown up by late dictator Ne Win's troops on July 7, 1962. Under a new government in 2011, will students have a chance to rebuild a Union building on the campus of Rangoon University and to form and organize a student union? Student unions have always initiated political activities since the country stood up against the British colony. Because of that, all military leaders since Ne Win have banned student unions. The new government will continue the ban and keep a watchful eye on all student activities.
July 19 is Burma's Martyrs' Day, when nine national leaders, including Aung San, were assassinated more than six decades ago. There are actually many more martyrs who have sacrificed their lives or lost beloved family members through their struggles ever since British rule, Ne Win's authoritarian Socialist government and military governments. The struggle has yet to end and so, 2011 is likely to see more new martyrs.
August: The 8.8.88 (the four eights) haunts the generals who ordered troops to shoot down thousands of people on Aug. 8, 1988. Twenty-three years later, there's always the potential for another '88-type uprising. And the spirit of '88 hasn't diminished. Many of the current 2,100 political prisoners are from the 88 uprising generation, including the most prominent former student leader, Min Ko Naing, who is serving 65 years imprisonment. Will those political prisoners be released by August next year? Fifty- fifty. The release of all political prisoners would be a breakthrough moment. But they are “troublemakers” in the new government's eyes. Of course, a number of political prisoners might be released in early months of 2011.
I oppose changing Myanmar's official name to "the Republic of the Union of Myanmar". Why? Because, in abbreviation, the country's name will be read as RUM. Though not so superstitious, I do not like a Buddhist country's name being abbreviated to any type of alchoholic beverage.
Peter Ole Kvint Wrote:
15/12/2010
It seems completely ridiculous to talk about Burma's future without mentioning the KNU. It is the KNU who have money and weapons.
PB Publico Wrote:
14/12/2010
September:
A sad month to remember.
The monks demonstrated by way of prayers for the uplift of their alms-donors who have been taking the brunt of extreme economic hardships, very similar to 1988 scenerio.
It is the military that has no right to political power just as much as the monks are. The monks live on the support of the Buddhist population, the common people, just as much as the office workers and the soldiers do. But the difference is that it is goodwill and love by which the monks are worshipped and supported. But rarely the government officials that way, for they are paid out of taxes collected from the population.
Please do not say the poor people never pay taxes. But they do, by way of municipal and bazaar taxes at least, if not by income tax.
They are also paying taxes when they board a transport vehicle. They get nothing free. They can't "squeeze" anything out of any body's pocket.
Again this is a challenge for the military and those in the authoruty. Take care.
PB Publico Wrote:
14/12/2010
August:
A great deal to remember and remind us what did really go wrong.
The military then thought they deserved due respect and gratitude by the people. And they still do, I think.
Well the fact is that only the economically productive forces like the farmers and the workers or whoever are contributing to the economy of the nation are the real benefactors. The rest may be doing some useful, necessary works, but nevertheless, they live on the support of those productive forces and so can be termed "parasitic", however regretable the term.
So it is clear that productive forces are just as good standing as, if not greater or lesser than, any other sections of the community. If that concept is lost, then slavery comes into effect.
In a developed economy, the farmers, workers and the middle class are the real engine of a nation, both production- and consumer-wise.
This again is a challenge for the military, that to see through and accept this concept, and act accordingly or not.
PB Publico Wrote:
14/12/2010
Quote:
"July: Burma . . .
. . . more new martyrs."
We have many cultural and political traditions, perhaps most natural, most gracious and honourable ones not excluding the military before March, 1962.
All national traditions must stand to the test of time, not arbitrary abolition or rejection by some one so thoughtless and temperamental. We simply cannot justify such actions as destroying the Students Union Building or not allowing student activities to their full flowering to maturity to take upon leadership of the people in their time. Students are true sons and daughters of a nation just as much as any other sections of the community who are actually responsible to nurture their sons and daughters, but not destroy their destiny. Their destiny is synonimous with that of the nation.
The military must take this to heart,and remember this fact at all times.
Again this is a challenge for the military to choose between the wrong and the right.
PB Publico Wrote:
14/12/2010
Quote:
"Former student activists who took part in the 1988 uprising will never forget June 16 and 17, when demonstrating students were beaten by riot police and arrested. Many were injured and hundreds were thrown behind bars."
It is the duty of authorities to control mob violence, but not to the point of supressing self expression and freedom of individual or public action, so long as they do not go beyond provisions of fair and just laws, and not subject to personal temperaments and moods of any personality or personalities in high places.
This again is a challenge to the military to choose whether they use brains or brawn, and whether they stand for the protection of people's freedom, lives and properties.
PB Publico Wrote:
14/12/2010
Quote:
"May: This month will bring memories of happiness and anger. In 1990, May 27 was the historic election day in which millions of Burmese voters got a chance to choose their elected representatives: the National League for Democracy won in a landslide. But the government was never formed with elected candidates, and now the junta's Union Solidarity and Development Party, is convening a new parliament."
If the government at the time forgets this, then the military leaders must remember the injustice done to the people. It is up to them to make amends and make peace with the people.
Our people might have been angry and bitter, but for goodness sake, they can forgive.
It is again a challenge to the military: to act but choose between brains or brawn.
PB Publico Wrote:
14/12/2010
Quote:
"The conference idea is good, but unrealistic, since it would lead to a head-to-head confrontation between the government and opposition groups. If the idea is actually pursued, the regime would probably launch a brutal crackdown on the opposition and ethnic groups. If that happened, the current number of political prisoners (more than 2,100) would soar, and Suu Kyi would again be detained. Surely, Suu Kyi and ethnic leaders will not risk such a confrontation."
A reasonable analysis, based on the track record of the junta. But that record is the very reason why Daw Suu and the ethnic groups that include the majority Bamas (on equal basis) have made it clear that they don't want and seek any confrontation, while insisting on the rights of the people and the military (on equality basis) to self determination.
And that, without a bloodbath or more rights abuses.
It is up to the military to take that challenge. Take it with brains or brawn, the choice being theirs.
George Than Setkyar Heine Wrote:
11/12/2010
“Now, plans are underway to implement the two remaining steps [to convene a parliament and build 'a modern, developed democratic nation'] to hand over State power to the public,” BELLOWED the BULL Than Shwe.
And DAMNED those who believed the bull as well.
The monk murderer has STOLEN the 2010 elections in broad daylight no doubt.
Orders are out to nail (3 yrs in jail) any member of his whore house - parliament - whoever makes a move to change his constitution.
Where is DEMOCRACY then?
And you can forget about a modern developed country hence.
The only guys who will develop - power and wealth - are Than Shwe, his thugs and their cronies only.
There is nothing to look ahead to in 2011 other than a burgeoning prison population - politicians and activists - and increasing chaos and woes in Than Shwe ruled land.
Daw Suu even could be a CASUALTY of FREEDOM in case she doesn't WATCH OUT, Buddha forbids!
However, Than Shwe's EXIT out of this world would be BEST thing for Burma as we prayed for since day one, I say.
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