Yahweh was presented in the
midst of the Israelites as a column of cloud in daylight and as a column of
fire at night. As long as God was present the enemies could do nothing to the
Israelites because God is more powerful than their enemies and their enemies’
gods. So also God is mightier than the military forces. So for the people of Myanmar there
are nothing to be terror because God’s own mighty presence will go before them
and after them.
2.4. The
Defeat of the Oppressors
After
the Israelites departed from Egypt, Pharaoh’s armies with horses
and chariots pursued and overtook them camped by the sea, by Pihahiroth, in
front of Baalzephon. The Israelites were full of fear that all of them would
die and cried out to Yahweh (Exod. 14:9-10). So Yahweh fought Pharaoh’s armies
on behalf of them and defeated them all. When Yahweh caused to take place ten
plagues in Egypt before the Israelites
departed, the oppressors still oppressed the Israelites. But now all the
oppressors were defeated and killed- no more oppressors for the Israelites.2.4.1. Exegesis
on 14:21-23
Moses’ first act of stretching out his hand over the
sea is the completing of the command of Yahweh report in 14:16 (“Raise your staff and stretch
out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go
through the sea on dry ground”). As the text makes plain, however, it is
Yahweh, not Moses, who calls up a strong wind, cleaves apart the waters of the
sea into two parts, and leaves “solid ground” where water had been. This wind
blew all through the night, and when there was sufficient light to make
movement possible, Israel continued the journey of exodus by way of this
opening through a barrier that had appeared impossible (cf. Exod. 14:1-4, 9-12).
As Yahweh has hardened the
hearts of the Egyptians (14:17-18), they are acting without reason
that they all went into a path strangely opened, which is always covered before
with seawater.
2.4.2. Exegesis
on Exod. 14:24-28
From the pillar of fire and
cloud, the LORD looked down at the Egyptian armies as they began to pursue Israel and
“threw it into confession.” This “look” of God took on concrete proportions,
for the pillar of fire must have suddenly lit up the sky with such a flash in
the darkness that the chariots twisted against one another.
Meanwhile there was also
thunder, lightning, rain, and earthquake that the boldest and most arrogant of Egypt’s
charioteers were struck with fear (Ps.77: 16-20- not seen in Exod.). By this
time the thoroughly troubled Egyptians had another problem: God made the
chariot wheels “jam” against one another as that the Egyptians had difficulty
driving. They were willing to forget about Israel together, but it was
too late. The Lord had begun his fight against Egypt as was promised in v.14;
described in vv. 27, 31; and celebrated in the song of 15:3 “The LORD is a
warrior; the LORD is his name.” Israel had only to stand still
and watch the victory won on their behalf; for with the upraised hand of Moses,
the walls water flowed toward each other to resume their usual place just as
down broke.
Pharaoh lost all the men and
chariots he had committed to that engagement. The text never says that Pharaoh
himself died here even though Ps.136: 15 records that God “swept pharaoh and
his army into the Red Sea.” This is probably a picture of
the hendiadys (i.e. two elements of one idea) of the king's army. Also
"sweep" doesn't necessarily mean "death". Even the
destruction of the “entire army of Pharaoh” is qualified by the clause “that
had followed the Israelites into the sea”. But all involved in the chase
certainly perished: “Not one of them survived” (v. 28).
2.4.3. Exegesis
on Exod. 14:30-31
The entire narrative of 13:17-14:29 is thus summarized by the
two final verses of chapter 14: Yahweh rescued Israel that day from the power
of the Egyptians. The manner of his doing it is secondary to the fact that
Yahweh is the one who made the rescue. Not tide, not storms, not bad luck, or
good luck, but Yahweh. Yahweh did it and Israel saw him to it. They saw
the bodies of the Egyptians, washed up onto the edge of the sea. They saw
Yahweh’s great power performed against the Egyptian force. What will not happen
in all this is the honor of the Lord and His servant Moses.
2.4.4. Explanation
The Egyptians were more
powerful and stronger than the Israelites so that they oppressed them. The
Israelites obeyed and did whatever commands came from Pharaoh. They had nothing
to say because they had no right; they were slaves in Egypt.
However, comparing with Yahweh’s power the Egyptians’ power is nothing. Yahweh
was in the sight of the Israelites and fought on behalf of them. He made sweep
Pharaoh’s armies in the water of Reed Sea. All Pharaoh’s armies died;
the Israelites had no more enemies now.
In Myanmar,
the people fall prey to the tyrant and they are too powerful for them. The
junta always seems to be in the right and the uncontrolled power of the regime
propagates that might is right. They legitimized their holding of the country
in capacity, which has no justification at all. They have taken their own
people hostage for half a century (45 years). Even their severe military coup
in the name of the State Law and Order Restoration (SLORC) and later changed to
the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). However, Yahweh power is
greater than the power of the junta. Since Yahweh is in the sight of the
suffering people, he will defeat the power of the junta and set free the
oppressed.
3. WILDERNESS
JOURNEY
In the wilderness there is no food for the Israelites.
In the midst of their hunger and thirst Yahweh provided them food (quails and
manna) to eat and water to drink miraculously.
3.1. Exegesis
on Exod. 16:13-14
Yahweh’s provision of meat in the evening and bread in
the morning intended to prove Yahweh’s claim of powerful and effective
Presence.
Bodenheimer argued (about
manna) that this substance was really the honeydew effort of two types of
insects or aphids that live on the numerous tamarisk trees in the region. It is
a sweet, sweet, clear product that turns white, brown or yellow, contains a lot
of carbohydrates, but does not contain nitrogen. Another suggestion for the natural
organization of this material is to equate it with the lichen Leanora
esculenta that grows on rocks about the size of a pea and is light
enough to be blown about by the wind.
Both of the above
suggestions are difficult to accept because the manna continued to provide food
for the Israelites for almost forty years, not just for the three to six weeks.
So it is very doubtful that the insects would produce manna for a huge number
of Israelites for many years. Thus we agree with Rawlinson: Manna
“must be regarded as a peculiar substance, miraculously created for a special
purpose, but similar in certain respects to certain known substances, which are
still produced in the Sinai region.”
3.2. Exegesis
on Exod. 17:6
Moses was to “strike” “(on) the rock” just as he had
“struck” the Nile River. Striking the Nile (7:17-20) in the first plague, however,
signaled an interruption in that nation’s water supply, whereas this striking
would signal the commencement of the flows of waters (v. 6). What was darkness
or death to Egypt was light or life to Israel because
of the grace of God just as it was in 14:19-20.
3.3. Explanation
Yahweh provided the exiled Israelites food (manna and
quails) to eat and water in the wilderness where there was no food and no
water. The people have been hungry and thirsty in the wilderness of Myanmar
Way to Socialism dubbed as Myanmar Way to Poverty. The
State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) formed in 1997 turned out to be
State Poverty and Degradation Council.
4. RE-ENTRY
INTO THE PROMISED LAND
Yahweh has promised to give a land and prepared it for
the Israelites since their forefathers the patriarch- Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Egypt is
not their permanent land rather it is the land full of suffering for
them. Their permanent land that Yahweh has given to them is Canaan,
which is full of blessing for them. As Yahweh has delivered them from the land of Egypt,
they will be entering into the promise land Canaan.
4.1. Exegesis
on Exod.3: 8; 6:3-5, 8
Two facts described the land: it was good and a
spacious land. It was good because it was a “land flowing with milk and honey.”
God reminded Moses once
again that it was God who promised the land of Canaan to his ancestors and that
he had seen the suffering of his chosen people. Also in the past patriarchs
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew his character and identity as El Shaddai.
4.2. Explanation
For
the Israelites the land of Egypt was
the land of their suffering and oppressing. The good of Egypt had
no meaning for them, though they were working hard for development of the
country. Yahweh has prepared for their land that is a “land flowing with milk
and honey and spacious. Now all the good of the land shall be for theirs.
For the people of Myanmar their
land is the land of their suffering and oppressing. The good of the land has no
meaning for them, though their contribution for the country is numerous. As
mentioned above, Myanmar is rich in natural
resources; but the military government enjoys the richness of the country. Due
to poor administration the country is facing economical problem. Because of
that Myanmar has been losing her
precious resources. Many precious stones, teaks (or woods), oil have been
exporting to foreign countries and it makes lose of the beauty of the
land. Now Yahweh is preparing for a land that is rich in natural
resources and all the good of the land will be for the people. The famous teaks
of Myanmar,
CONCLUSION
Exodus paradigm in the book of Exodus is about Yahweh’s
deliverance of the people of Israel from the bondage of the
Egyptians, his presence and provision in their wilderness journey to give a new
land (Canaan) and bring them in it.
The Israelites have been
enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. The
Egyptians employing them in whatever necessary works have oppressed them. They
are crying for their liberation because they are suffering different kinds of
pain. Now Yahweh has observed the misery of his people. He has heard their cry
on account of their taskmasters. He knows their suffering and comes down to
deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them to Canaan,
that is a “land flowing with milk and honey and spacious.”
This is also the present situation
of the people of Myanmar. Due to poor administration
and selfish administration the country is backward, politically unrest and
economically poor. It creates the decline of the country in various aspects.
Because of that the people are scattered everywhere at every corner and cranny
of the world. They work as slaves and menial labourers in foreign countries,
but even that is better than the inhuman treatment and oppression they
subjected to their own land under tyranneous dictatorship of the junta. They
have been treated like Hebrew slaves in Egypt by the military regime.
Now Yahweh has observed the
misery of his people who are in Myanmar. He has heard their cry on
account of the military regime. He knows their sufferings and he has come down
to deliver them from their oppression, and to bring them to a democratic
country. God will gather the scattered Myanmarese exiles like lambs and carry
them in God’s bosom. Yahweh will defeat the oppressive regime and will sweep
away like the Egyptians in the Reed Sea. Yahweh will restore hills
and mountains into fertile lands and once again teaks will come up instead of
briers. The people will go out with joy and peace and the pain of suffering and
sorrow shall flee away. Therefore, Exodus paradigm in the book of Exodus serves
as a source of inspiration and hope for the liberation struggles of the people
of Myanmar.
______________________________
CHAPTER
3
IMPLICATIONS
The people of Myanmar have
been struggling for their liberation since the beginning of the military Junta
took the power. So far the opposite party, NLD, has been holding non- violence
to fight democracy under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi. Throughout their
struggle the pro-democracy movement is always in the position of collapse.
Looking at the past history and the present situation, this chapter sees to
some reasons of failure of Democracy Movement with suggestions for the step of
the movement.
1. REASONS
OF FAILURE OF DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT IN MYANMAR
There may many reasons of failure of democracy movement
in Myanmar. Out of them some reasons
will be mentioning as below:
3.1. The
Unfair Election
In Myanmar, election is not effective
to have political change. After taking power 28 years, the military junta
conducted free election in 1990. In this election, NLD party got the highest
seat receiving a large support 82%
3.2. Lack
of Unity
There is a question that why the opposition groups had
not advanced in their causes if the whole nation was against the junta. The
most straightforward and simplest answer would be that there was no unity among
the various ethnic groups and organizations, which had been loosely called ‘the
political oppositions’ in Myanmar.
3.3. Lack
of Confidence and Depending on Outside Help
The people of Myanmar often claim that they
are oppressed, but most of them are not daring to really oppose the regime
because they have no confidence in their ability to face the brutal
dictatorship. During the protest march many people did not want to join it
because they have a fear that if the military see them they will be arrested or
killed. Since the people have been ruled for many years by the brutal military
junta, the fear of military is embedded in the hearts of the people. So, most
of them depend on external forces.
Of course, from foreign
countries NLD receives many supports. United Nations also is used to sending
envoys to Myanmar. It is very good and what
the world ought to do also. However, foreign involvement especially United
Nations seems to be not a great deal effective. The thing is that the envoys
were given a very less time to meet with NLD leaders. The civilians are warned
not to give reports to the envoys any bad things of the regime. The regime show
and explain the envoys what they have done good things for the country.
Therefore, the envoys could not find or know the actual happening of the
country. The junta knows how to welcome and receive the envoys.
3.4. Lack
of Leadership
As a party to achieve something leaders are essential.
The success and failure of a party depends on its leaders. One word of a leader
can change the world. In Myanmar the opposite party NLD
has good leaders. However, the sad thing is that the leaders whom the regime
can find have been arrested. So, the leaders cannot speak out publicly rather
they need to hide themselves from the presence of the regime. As a result, the
people have no unity and no zeal for the movement. If the leaders are given
freedom, the situation will not be as it is now. The word of Aung San Suu Kyi is
very influential and challenging for the people. If she says something the
people are ready to follow it. “On May 6, 2002, she was released from the
house arrest and allowed to travel through out the country. Since populace
responded with massive presence at gatherings, the threatened junta organized
anti-NLD demonstrations and incited violent clashes. So, on May 30, 2003, there was Depayin Massacre
and arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi.”
2. SUGGESTIONS
Knowing weak points is important because from weak
points we can know how to take steps for success. From the above discussion and
the weak points that have been stated the researcher gives some suggestions as
the followings:
2.1. Unity
and Participation
Unity makes strength. In the midst of many differences
the people of Myanmar need to have unity to
resist the junta. To have unity one needs to have a broad-mind and should not
think only for the benefit of his or her tribe, state, religion, culture, etc.
The people need to come together in one accord in spite of their differences.
The success and failure of the movement depend on the strength, willingness and
participation of the people. Therefore in order to restore
democracy the people who are inside the country and outside the country need to
maintain their zeal and participate in every possible ways.
2.2. Confidence
Most
of the people of Myanmar think themselves that
they have no ability to fight against the military regime putting themselves
the losers. Khrisnalal Shridharani said: "Because the rebels have the
capacity to cause an outcome that we cannot resist."
2.3. Option
for Non-violence Struggle
When people fight for their liberation, they normally
want to struggle with violence. They thought that achievement is possible only
through violence. In one point of view violence may be successful and the
achievement also is rapid. However there is a saying ‘violence begets
violence.’ Violence hurts people’s hearts and the loser always will try to
revenge with violence again. As a result there will be no peace and
harmony between them. Therefore, the best way to struggle is by means of
“non-violence” that is effective and last long. “Non-violence” concept has
firmly been held by prominent political leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Aung San,
Aung San Suu Kyi, etc. Jesus also built his kingdom through non-violence and
his kingdom cannot be an end.
Nonviolent action is a set
of techniques by which people can resist aggression without resorting to
violence. It does not avoid conflict but rather systematically organizes
people’s social power effectively.
Since the people of Myanmar have
been suffering for half a century, many of them including some of the leaders
cannot bear at all and want to fight against with violence. They said that the
military are very stubborn; they will never handover the power to NLD party
till they die; so, now, the time has come to prepare and fight with violence.
However, after entering 21st century, while the world is
emphasizing “non-violence idealism”, will it be well-mannered to fight with
violence? Well-known universities like Harvard University and Oxford University lay
emphasis on the “non-violence idealism”.
A non-violence struggle
requires full participation and support of the people. It cannot be successful
if the participants and the people are unwilling to pay the price of
resistance. The success and failure of non-violent struggle depends on the
strength and willingness of the activists to undergo imprisonment and other
sufferings. In non-violence struggle the leaders are typically the sufferers of
the subjugation of rivals whereas in violent struggle the leaders are kept out
of danger. Pau Za Khup suggests four effective ways to bring down the
dictatorship through non-violence:
- Strengthen
the oppressed population themselves in their determination,
self-confidence, and resistance skills;
- Strengthen
the independent social groups and organization of the oppressed ;
- Create and
initiate a powerful internal resistance force; and
- Work out a
wise grand strategic plan for liberation and implement it skillfully.
2.4. Preparation
for Democracy
One very important thing that everyone should know is
that an ideal society will not automatically appear with the down fall of the
dictatorship. Aristotle states, “…tyranny can also change into
tyranny…”
Karl W Deutsch has stated
that the breakdown of the dictatorship simply provides freedom and that is only
the beginning. To improve the society and meet human needs more adequately for
long-term efforts. Serious political, economic and social problems will
continue for years. Because of that the corporation of many people and groups in
seeking their resolution is required. Therefore, the new political system
should provide the chances for people with varying outlooks and favored
measures to continue constructive work and policy development to deal with
problems in the future.
The struggle of democratic
movement is not only to weaken and eliminate the dictators but also to give
self-confident and empower the oppressed. As the people have come across
various difficulties during their struggle the society will be more capable of
dealing with continuing and future problems. Their experiences will result to
increase self-esteem and self-confidence among the formerly no-people. That
self-confidence should be maintained.
The
democracy movement struggle would make unity among the people in spite of their
differences i.e. language, culture, religion, etc. Normally, in human nature
when we face problem we help each other and have unity. But when problem is
over we are disagreeing each other, and conflicts begin. Therefore, it is
important to maintain the unity that they have during their struggle even after
the crisis is over.
The democratic qualities of
the political system would reform social tribulations that the people are
facing today like injustice, oppression, poverty, corruption, etc. Human being
would be treated as human being and one would have a right to express his or
her thought and feeling unlike the military regime where people are treated as
animals.
In the democratic
government, the people would get opportunity. They would be given freedom to
execute their own interest and business whereas under the military regime the
people are restricted so that they cannot perform their talent. In fact, the
military junta is afraid of its people to be educated and skillful. In contrast
to the military regime, the democratic government would promote educated and
skillful from its own people.
In the democratic
government, economic doors would be opened especially from the west (presently
they close). At the same time the country might also be threatened by foreign
attempts to establish economic, political, or military domination. Therefore,
the people of
Myanmar should
try to defend the country not to dominion by foreign countries while welcoming
them and having relationship with them.
CONCLUSION
The people of Myanmar have been struggling
for democratic government hopping that under this form of government they have
right, freedom and the condition of the country will be changed in a better
way. They have been struggling through various forms of non-violence like
negotiation, election, demonstration, etc. However, the dictatorship is still
unshaken and the movement is still without success. Aung San Suu Kyi holds
non-violence for the strategic plan for liberation struggle in Myanmar.
The problem in Myanmar is
that the people are not politically mature enough to initiate the spirit of
resistance. The reason is that the people are kept in ignorance and
backwardness without information and communication with the outside world, and
have been oppressed for a long time. Because of that they have no knowledge of
politic and even do not know that they are oppressed. Therefore the people need
to have knowledge of the real history of the country and what the Junta is
doing.
While fighting for democratic
government, the leaders of the pro-democracy forces should also made proper
plans how the government should go on because the dictatorial structures have
to be demolished immediately and the constitutional and legal bases for a
durable democracy will need to build. At the same time, serious concern should
be given to defend nationality, if foreign attempts to establish economic,
political domination.
_________________________
CHAPTER
4
CONCLUSION
During
colonial period, Myanmar was under the rule of
the British and the Japanese for 25 years and got independence in 1948 under
the leadership of General Aung San. After independence, Myanmar was
introduced the democratic system of government. But it lasted only for about
fourteen years because in 1962 Ne Win seized power and introduced military
regime. Henceforth, the people are under the captivity of military dictatorship.
Since, Ne Win’s coup d'état,
the power of the regime has been passing on among themselves. In 1988, NLD was
formed under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi as the opposite party, and
started for removing the military regime and building a democratic government
once again. The movement is trying in various forms of non-violence like
election, negotiation, demonstration, etc. to remove the junta. So far as the
people’s struggle is concern the ‘2007 September Protest’ was the biggest
demonstration. The second one is the ‘8.8.88 Protest.’ These two have happened
as the country-wide demonstration in Myanmar. Now the consequence of the
‘2007 September Protest’ is going on, though the protest march has stopped. In
the midst of the crisis the junta is strengthening its force and remaining
unshaken.
Due to the oppression of the
military regime the people are suffering from various problems in all aspects
i.e. economics, education, religion, etc. Therefore, it is difficult to manage
for their livelihood and the situation compels to go to foreign countries for
work. They are scattering in different parts of the world i.e. Malaysia, Singapore, India, USA,
etc. Because of all problems and backwardness the people of Myanmar are
looked-down by people of other countries. In fact, they are not abnormal. They
also have the same quality and ability with others. The country is also rich in
natural resources and the place itself is nice and beautiful. So, if the
politics can change in a better way and the country goes with justice and
righteousness, the country can be one of the rich and nice countries in the
world. It is a very sad thing that Myanmar is not as the stage
that she should be. As a result, the people are suffering and dying.
They really need liberation from the unjust despotism of the junta.
In fact, when we talk about
liberation, the liberator is God. In the process of the Israelites exodus, God
is represented as fighting on behalf of the oppressed. Yahweh punished the
Egyptians by ten plagues; (1) Water turned to blood (Exod. 7:14-25); (2) Frogs
(8:1-15); (3) Gnats (8:16-19) (4) Flies (8:20-32); (5) Livestock diseased (9:1-7);
(6) Boils (9:8-12) (7) Thunder and hails (9:13-35); (8) locusts (10:1-20) (9)
Darkness (10:21-28) and (10) First born death (11:1-10). Moreover Yahweh killed
all the armies of Pharaoh in the Reed Sea (14:26-28). It is the work of God because
God is the ruler of the nations (Ps. 22:28). God rules the people justly (Ps.
67:4). God judges the people and the world with righteousness (Pss. 7:11; 96:10, 13; 98:9). God cannot tolerate
with the unjust rulers. God has a concern for the poor and is always in the
sight of the poor, the weak and the marginalized. God gives a hope to the
people who are in hopeless position and liberates who are oppressed.
The wicked will not go
unpunished (Prov. 11:21). They flee though no one pursues
(Prov. 28:1). They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore, they
will stand in the judgment and their way will perish (Ps.1:4-6). Therefore, the
unjust dictatorship will not stand forever; it will surely split and come to an
end one day. However, passive waiting for God’s justice and deliverance does
not fit the Exodus paradigm of liberation. God liberates people who liberate
themselves. The people of Myanmar should try to liberate
themselves so that the God of oppressed will act out as the Israelites cried
first then Yahweh acted out.
The aim of exodus is mainly
not about destruction, or killing of the enemy but it is the liberation and
setting free of people who are in the bondage or captivity. Liberation is not
an end in itself but it is a means to a greater end. In the first Exodus,
Yahweh liberates the people of Israel so that the Egyptians
may know Yahweh (Exod. 7:5; 18:11; 29:46). But with the new Exodus God
liberates people who are under oppression so that all flesh may know God
(Isa. 41:20; 49:26; 52:6).
Myanmar is a
Buddhist country mixing with some other religions i.e. Christianity, Islam,
Hinduism, etc. As the people are struggling for liberation, let the people of Myanmar or
people of other faith know that Yahweh is the one who liberates them. Moreover,
let the whole world know Yahweh is a liberator and a ruler of the world with
justice.
______________________________
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__________ “People of Yangon -
Pray for the Generals for their Brave.” In The
Mizzima Monthly Journal. Vol 5. No 12. December, 2007, 11.
Tun, Aung Hla. “U.N.
peace envoy to meet head of Myanmar junta.” In Burma Related
News. December 01-02, 2007, 15.
The Irrawaddy, 8/4-5 (April-May
2000):5.
__________ “The Monks
Protest March in Pakhukku.” In The
Mizzima Monthly Journal. Vol 5. No. 11. November, 2007, 3.
___________ “The UN Special
Rapporteur for Human Rights Paulo
Sérgio Pinheiro Visited in Myammar,” in The
Year in Review By the Irrawaddy, December 1, 2007, 7.
Woe, Nan Di.
“Marriage of Flim-star Kyaw Thu’s Daugher Prohibited from Publicity.” In The
Mizzima Monthly Journal. Vol 5. No 12. December, 2007, 4.
The former capital was Yangon. In
2006, the military moved it to the jungle Naypyidaw (also spelled Naypyitaw, it
means “Abode of Kings”). That cost it US$10 billion that caused inflation in
the country. (See http://jotman.blogspot.com/2007/09/burma-is-least-developed-country-in.html)
The demands included the resignation of
Sein Lwin, the release of political prisoners, the restoration of democracy in
the country and an end to human abuses, cf. ibid., 30.
http://www.state.gov/p/ea p/rls/rm/2002/11264.htm
Pau Za Khup, opcit., 30-31.
http://www.state.gov/p/eap/rls/rm/2002/11264.htm
Pau Za Khup, opcit., 31.
http://www.state.gov/p/eap/rls/rm/2002/11264.htm
During the 1988 crisis, Human Rights Watch
estimates that at least 3,000 protesters were killed, but other reports cite up
to 10,000. The media, diplomats and activists have been denied it. And so, to
this day, the exact death toll remains covered in secrecy. (See Michael Casey,
“Groups struggle to tally Myanmar's
dead,” in Burma
Related News, October 01-02, 2007, 10.)
Pau Za Khup, op-cit., 40, cf. Amnesty
International Myanmar: “Prisoner
of Conscience and Torture,” London, May 1990, cf., ibid., 41.
/w/index.php?title=Politics_of_Burma&action=edit§ion=6
Pau Za Khup, op-cit., 37, 39.
ibid., 42.
/w/index.php?title=Politics_of_Burma&action=edit§ion=7
http://www.state.gov/p/eap/rls/rm/2002/11264.htm
Pau Za Khup, ibid., 44.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Burmese_anti-government_protests
____ “The Monks Protest March in Pakhukku,”
in The
Mizzima Monthly Journal, vol 5, no 11, Nov., 2007, 3.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Burmese_anti-government_protests
SD Muni, “Monks, Masses and Military,” in Frontline, vol
24, no 20, October 6-19, 2007, 17.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Burmese_anti-government_protests
The monks are protesting in Myanmar. Burma's
monks are the only group in the country outside of the military regime with a
nationwide organization. Burma is one of the most
intensely religious countries in the world, and the presence of the monks was
respected. They used to be in the forefront of the political protests in Myanmar side
by side with the students. (See http://jotman.blogspot.com/2007/09/monk-protests-in-burma-myanmar.html)
http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?
Lang=e&id=ENGASA160152007
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8703
On 24th September, Joker
Zaganar and film-star Kyaw Thu were distributing food and drink for the monks
and nuns that encouraged the people; because of that, later, they were arrested
three weeks. On October 17, they were released. Celebrity artists and writers
who involve in the protest are disciplined by stopping their performance. (See
Nan Di Woe, “Marriage of Flim-star Kyaw Thu’s Daugher Prohibited from
Publicity, in The
Mizzima Monthly Journal, vol 5, no 12: December, 2007, 4. And also see
http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/ 2007_Burmese_anti-government_protests.)
http://jotman.blogspot.com/2007/09/rangoon-protest-video-from-burma.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Burmese_anti-government_protests
September 27 morning, several monks were
injured during a conflict between the security forces and the monks. During the
two-hour raid last night, monks rang the alarm bell and screamed for help. As
the army has announced it would shoot anybody breaking the curfew, civilians
did not dare to come to the aid of monks. The army had raided the six-storied
Religious Science Monastery in Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda, Moe Kaung Monastery in Yan Kin Township,
Maggin Monastery in Thingankyun Township,
and Thein Phyu Monastery in Thein Phyu area and arrested several
monks.
(See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Burmese_anti-government_protests)
Kenji Nagai, 50 years old, was a reporter
for Tokyo-based video and photo agency APF News. (See
http://jotman.blogspot.com/2007/09/round-up-of-events-in-burma-yesterday.html)
An autopsy will try to determine the exact
cause of his death; Japanese officials said that he was not shot accidentally
as Burmese authorities have said, but was shot at close range.
(See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Burmese_anti-government_protests)
Pau Za Khup, ibid., 49.
The Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council is both the chief of state and de facto head of government.
The council oversees the cabinet, presided by the prime minister.
/w/index.php?title=Politics_of_Burma&action=edit§ion=5
Pau Za Khup, ibid., 49-50.
_______, “People of Yangon - Pray for the
Generals for their Brave,” in The
Mizzima Monthly Journal, vol 5, no 12, December, 2007, 11.
“Irrawaddy River”
serves as the most important commerce sea-route in Myanmar.
The river basin is 413,674 square kms, and its length is almost 2,170 kms. It
encompasses 61% of the total area of the country. More than three million of
the people settle in the Irrawaddy delta and 60% of the total
product of rice comes from it. There are 79 kinds of fish in the river
including dolphin. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Conservation Monitoring Center record Irrawaddy among
the list of 30 rivers that are to be preserved for their richness in natural
resources. (See Aung Thu Ngying, “Irrawaddy-Will It Continue to Flow,” in The
Mizzima Monthly Journal, vol 5, no 12: December, 2007, 5.)
ibid.
Aung Thu Ngying, “The Junta has Broken
Down,” The
Mizzima Monthly Journal, vol 5, no 10, October, 2007,
13.
Myo Gyi, “New Armies in Shan State,”
in The
Mizzima Monthly Journal, vol 5, no 11: November, 2007, 4.
______ “The UN Special
Rapporteur for Human Rights Paulo
Sérgio Pinheiro Visited in Myammar,” in The
Year in Review By the Irrawaddy, December 1, 2007, 7.
____“India Maintains her Relation
with Myanmar,” in The
Year in Review by the Irrawaddy, Dec. 1, 2007, 4.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Burmese_anti-government_protests
Aung Hla Tun, “U.N. peace envoy to meet
head of Myanmar junta,” in Burma Related
News, December 01-02, 2007, 15.
RIA Novusti, “The New Prime Minister of Japan Wants
to Continue its Economics Relation with Myanmar,” in The
Mizzima Monthly Journal, Vol. 5, No. 10, October, 2007, 7.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Burmese_anti-government_protests
http://www.globalissues.org/HumanRights/Abuses/Myanmar.asp?p=1
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