Burma's monks plan next stage of protests

[T_i_B]

Source: Sunday Telegraph

Burma's underground opposition intends to launch a campaign of civil disobedience to maintain the pressure for change on the military junta.

Moving daily between safe houses, the Burmese pro-democracy activists and monks who co-ordinated last month's protests are planning the next stage of their fight against the ruling generals while on the run from the ongoing crackdown.

Burmese activists are now planning the next stage of their protests. "There are about half a dozen leaders from the 1988 generation who are still hiding in and around Rangoon," one source in the capital with links to the protestors told the Sunday Telegraph. "Both sides know that this is like the lull between battles in a war. It's a question of re-grouping while we see what happens in the near future."

Peaceful protests against the regime are already beginning as people gather at major pagodas, lighting candles and praying together.

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/07/wburma107.xml

[NMMNG]

1. I applaud their efforts

They are indeed brave and dedicated people.

[Xenotime]

3. It's just going to get more people killed...

Is that what they want?

[1monster]

4. No, they want their country back, and they are willing to put their lives on the

line to get it and their freedoms.

I greatly admire them.

What many have forgotten in this country is that constant, nonrelenting resistance will eventually gain them the result they want. The cost will probably be very high, but in the end, they will win, if not for themselves, then for the people they leave behind.

[WhiteTara]

9. Give me liberty or give me death

said Patrick Henry and the monks of Burma

[roguevalley]

10. principled stands are messy things sometimes. I admire them more

than I can say.

[Posteritatis]

15. Yeah; far better to be a junta's doormat. (nt)

[ohio2007]

2. they want the government to keep the price of gas fixed

they don't care about the real cost of gas,they want the government to subsidise it.
MSM seems to be painting this story as a pro democracy movement instead of a "peak oil" cost,supply and demand issue.

[lynnertic]

14. They want to be able to EAT and LIVE in some sort of comfort.

You'd be on the street protesting too, if gas prices went up to $15/gal one fine morning - they saw a 500% increase overnight. Supply/demand my butt!

International sanctions have bankrupted the people and enriched the junta.

[graphixtech]

5. godspeed and safety to the people of Burma

BURMA RESOURCES THREAD: News, Actions and More!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1954428&mesg_id=1954428

On an earlier topic thread at DVB, three comments especially stood out to me:
http://english.dvb.no/letstalk.php
____________________________
lalela1616 (USA)

These are sad times for Burma and the Burmese people, but more than this, these are sad times for the world. It is sad to be a citizen of a world where we do not manage to protect and defend those who have suffered for so many years and finally find the courage, out of desperation, to stand up against their oppressors.

The saffron robes of the monks, a symbol of the power of the quiet voices, has hit the world during these last weeks, and the hearts of many have gone out, wishing, pleading to help. The saffron robes touched so many of us, and yet, today we are left with the feeling- we can do nothing. And the courage shown by the young men in Burma is in vain.

I am ashamed to be a citizen of a world that accepts that their courage is in vain. I am ashamed of the Olympic committee who does not rise to the occasion and use their power to pressure China. I am ashamed of the UN nations who do not send peace keeping forces. I am ashamed that economic gain is more powerful than the voice of the saffron clad monk. I am even ashamed of the neighboring Buddhist countries, which do not rise to the occasion and protect their faith, some even preventing refugees from crossing their borders. But most of all, I am ashamed to be one of the many individuals accepting I have no power to change what I see has to be changed. I am ashamed because the monk in his saffron robe did not accept; he stood tall and fought his own fear, a fear grown over many years of knowledge of a regime and its doings. The monks knew and yet knelt before their oppressor in prayer.

It is not the time now for the protester in Burma; he has already shown his courage. The reprisals are too stern, the risk too high. Even quiet protest is risky unless done so skillfully the military will never know who did it. The monks have shown the way and taken the consequence, now is the time for the rest of the world to show we are not the divided people we think we are. We live in free countries; we have a right to protest. We can protest and make our voices heard to those with power to change. A massive demand from the people of the world will leave no politician with any choice but to obey. Demand the boycott of the Olympics, demand military interventions, demand economic boycott, demand sanctions to China. Give the leaders of the countries we live in no chance but to obey. Make them sure they will surely loose the next election over this issue. Let us not let the deaths of so many and the courage of so many be in vain. Let us make our voice heard.

____________________________

Tree (USA)

What would Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have you do? What would those who lifted no arms against oppression and paid with their lives have you do?

One comment calls all stupid asks why you cannot come up with some clever way. Yet makes no offer of one....... Here would be a good place for that person to do so- when, is that not what your asking the world for on this page, is ideas? Boycott of Olympic sponsors is for the rest of the world to do in honor of you. What may be out of the ordinary for a response, I will risk for so many call one "evil" - here is something different.

How many have sent message of thanks that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed an 'additional' visit by the UN that was not even asked for? How many sent message of thanks for those who were RELEASED. I will not defend evil- nor do I hear cry from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for the death of the government in power but says instead she wants to TALK with him. If I yell at your face of what wrong you do- is this talk? How does that help you to change? Yet if even the most evil person hears praise for ONE SMALL ACT of kindness - does this not help them see "that path" to change????

Is not PEACE what you truly desire? That is the hard path to find. Violence is the easy one. Peace is the way of the wise. If non exists we must "create it". For every action there is more than one reaction.

These are only thoughts and I pray I am not condemned if they are not popular - I am only trying to help you find a path that seems to, for so many decades - to have escaped.

Creating peace in such times - is a challenge but finding the means to do so - is a worthy one. Even if it means praise of a tyrant the MOMENT he stops behaving like one. Plant seeds of peace - seek an end to the suffering - but see beyond the focus of suffering to any cause to praise even the slightest move of peace in your enemy. Then see what response you get.

When in the wilds I find a bush full of berries and I eat the biggest and plumpest and leave the shriveled ones the next year I come back to find those are the ones which have gone to seed. - I accept at their worst and return to them their best that that may be what grows. If you seek change provide the environment for it and the room for it - for even the most evil - to turn to good. Praise for one who kills and rapes and oppresses thousands? DID I say this was EASY??????

Is this not what those monks who's voices are silent would say? What would "they" have you do? If you punish your enemy - and they learn the light - they have already been punished and have little cause to punish themselves.

Help them learn truth - and peace and the things you wish for. Then they will have cause to have to work hard, to find cause to have peace with themselves for what they have done. If you found a better path would you take it? How about if he does not know the better path - then would he then not continue on the one he is on? For how many more decades??? Call him evil focus on only that - what will then grow within him? Do not underestimate the power of peace - even though that path is not always the easy one.

Just ideas - may those who hold hate not hate me for wanting to find a path of peace enough to ask these questions and pose these ideas.

I do not say they are the answer- They are just my own questions.

It is the peace of the Burmese people who caught my attention decades ago. I could not visit your land Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, requested tourists wait.

I honor her request above my own desire.

Tree (USA)
________________________
anke (germany)

If violence is used what is to stop China from military aid of troops to junta??? People of the world who read this please think- no matter how crazy your idea may sound post it here. Help create a NEW way to deal with this ancient issue.

The problem is clear, it is the SOLUTION which needs to take place. Safe behind my computer? I know what it is to have my father killed when I was 12 and flee to the wilderness - To come out only to have my dog team - those I loved murdered one after another in ways meant to drive any man of heart insane and the police do nothing.

I won. And did NOT become like my enemy who sought to destroy my peace.

I did not react in ways expected. I created new ways. PEACEFUL ways. Post your ideas here - no matter how crazy they may sound. We may just find a way to help all peoples of the world - to find peace to situations like this and the Burmese become famous for solving this same issue the world over not just for them.

INVENT the NEW path to peace. The junta cant deal with something new, they wont know how. I did not return insane violence in ways that were expected - and won my freedom and did not kill the killer.

I spend my life now in peace - I fought for using my mind - not a rifle. And can live with myself.

No stranger to years of terror. Nor did I become a terrorist to regain my freedom. I forgave the killer - and he destroyed his own life. There is POWER in peace - HUGE power. A power those of violence cannot tap into. This is your advantage. A tool the oppressors cannot hold.

Post your crazy ideas here - they may sound crazy if they are NEW ways to deal with this ancient issue afflicting mankind.

This is a chance and a place to change the world. Those outside Burma do all you can - boycott - email your governments - and post your ideas here that you may help these people find their path to peace.

If old ways never get much done - create a NEW ONE. My internet goes off today but I will spend my time in mediation on this same thing during that time.

No matter how crazy your ideas my sound post them here - its time to put an end to this - for ALL who suffer this same fate- to find a NEW path - to peace. If new - they will not expect it nor know how to deal with it. Outside Burma - turn off your natural gas - refuse to buy gasoline - refuse the world over to fuel global insanity with your money - they listen to that! How hard is it to live without fossil fuels? Thats why I'm going offline - while I did just that! And FIND the ways to do so- Turn off you fossil power, how you suffer to learn alternatives is nothing compared to how the world does, if you do not.

Those who are not in burma use the internet to help them by giving them what you can send them this way - Your ideas - help them FIND - CREATE - a NEW path to peace, by using peace.

[file83]

6. Why isn't the UN or USA helping them? WTF!?

I mean, the people in Iraq never ASKED for our help, but Lord knows Bush gave it anyway.

Now we have these people in Burma actually protesting, and trying to change things, and not a single boot has hit the ground to help them.

Oh, that's right, Burma doesn't have any oil.

[ohio2007]

7. ?

Burma doesn't have oil ?

You haven't been keeping up as to why civil disobedience is on the table in Burma

[piedmont]

16. Burma has lots of oil and natural gas. nt

[Cronopio]

19. It has oil and natural gas, but it's not the Caspian Sea or Iraq.

The oil and natural gas that is there is tightly controlled by the junta and covertly by China, so it's not like the Bushies can just storm in with a few Blackwater mercenaries. Geopolitically, it's similar to Iran - if they invade, the Chinese get militarily involved, the businessboys trying to get into bed with the Chinese get pissed off, and no Bushie will risk that. High risk, relatively low reward - the big untapped oil reserves are not in Burma.

[AngryAmish]

18. Wrong. It has tons.

Why do you think the Japanese grabbed it early in WWII?

[karynnj]

13. The Bush administration is dragging it's feet

The answer is not the military, but for India, Thailand and China to put pressure on the junta. Here is a link to some footage at the SFRC subcommittee meeting. Boxer chairs this subcommittee, but Kerry held it for as much as 20 years. Note the extreme lack of urgency on the part of the state department guy.

http://www.kerryvision.net/2007/10/sfrc_hearing_on_burmas_saffron.html

This gives some ideas of the options.

[puffymuffins]

8. The Monks are modern day heroes. n/t

[graphixtech]

11. Junta Crushed 'Saffron Revolt,' but What Next?

Junta Crushed 'Saffron Revolt,' but What Next?
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8933

Burma's "saffron revolt" has been crushed
by an entrenched junta, but the brutality inflicted
on Buddhist monks who braved its guns may be the
only thing that could splinter the ranks of its
fiercely loyal military.

(story at link)

Monks praying while peacefully demonstrating

[Acadia Blue]

12. They are my heros too. Why can't the USA help these people?

[ohio2007]

17. The west recognizes top Buhdist monk

Bush throws down gauntlet to China with Dalai Lama meeting

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush will risk angering China by attending a ceremony next week to award a Congress medal to the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama, at the bastion of American democracy.

Barely a month after China strongly protested German Chancellor Angela Merkel's meeting with the Dalai Lama, the White House said Wednesday that Bush and his wife will participate in the landmark event for the 72-year-old Buddhist spiritual leader at the Capitol building next Wednesday.


snip
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071011/ts_afp/ustibetchina_071010220622

Wonder if this story will get covered in Burma?