Burma directory set up
Burma Activists Resource and Campaign AreaThe protests have been largely suppressed and, as a result, everything about Burma has dropped from the front page (less said about the UK tabloids the better), but a small number of us are trying to keep the issue current. Setting up the website, a directory of a whole load of other info available on the net is just a small step but it's better than nothing. The intention is to open up this site for the usage of other activists but it's early days yet.
The generals haven't won. The people of Burma have lost another battle but when the Vietnamese won their war against the Americans they lost
every significant battle.
Sanctions
It appears Than Shwe has offered to meet Burma's legitimate and imprisoned leader, Aung San Suu Kyi provided, amongst other things, she drops her calls for sanctions.
BBC storyThis has to be the final nail in the coffin for those who claim sanctions wouldn't work. It hits the generals where it hurts most - in the pocket.
The problem is it has to be concerted action, the US and EU have moved forwards (even though they do nothing about Chevron and Total's continuing presence), but it's true that even a total pull-out would allow others to increase their commitment there, and it's why we need to see the rest shift their position, principally China, Thailand, India, Japan and Singapore.
And to any people who're foolish enough to believe Burma's a faraway small country of no significance to yourselves, every country that isn't already a dictatorship has military governors waiting in the wings, ready to take over should they decide a national emergency became dire enough and they must be watching this with great interest. With the attack on the monks, the illegal regime turned a very sharp corner, distancing themselves from the population much further than ever.
They mustn't be allowed to get away with it.
Bloggers on strike today.
Unofficial 2008 Olympics logo
I think this one expresses more what we feel about it.
Swift
Another target:
Swift is a financial services co-operative company owned and controlled by many of the world’s largest banks, including Citibank, HSBC and ABN Amro. Swift hosts an electronic network that banks use to make transfers to each other. Following the imposition of financial sanctions by the United States government in August 2003 the regime faced a crisis, unable to use dollars in financial transactions. Swift came to their aid, making four Burmese banks part of its network. The regime is now able to avoid US financial sanctions by making financial transfers in Euros using Swift’s network.
Jaap Kamp
Chairman, Swift
C/O ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
Head Office
Gustav Mahlerlaan 10
1082 PP Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Leonard H Schrank
Chief Executive Officer
Swift
Avenue Adèle 1
B-1310 La Hulpe
Belgium
Fax: 00 32 2 655 32 26
Email: kara.condon@swift.com
Managing Director
Swift
7th floor, The Corn Exchange
55 Mark Lane
London EC3R 7NE
Fax: 020 7762 2222
You can also let Swift know what you think of their support for the generals
here. Frankly I don't think you can get your bank to stop using them, swift is too much part of the banking infrastructure, but do they and their users want so much publicity for what, in global banking terms, is a pittance?
Reprisals
News coming out of Burma is slowing to a trickle now the armed forces have closed down communications. We could always be sure the reprisals would be horrific but I've just found
this:
The undertakers from “Yay-Way” cemetry, reported that the SPDC cremates all the corpses as well as those injured protesters who are still alive.
Another graphic for the collection:
Meantime UN envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, is getting the runaround from the generals:
Yesterday, Mr Gambari was stalled for a day and forced to fill in his time visiting a remote corner of Burma courtesy of the military as tensions remained following 12 days of demonstrations that represented the most concerted challenge to the junta's rule since 1988.
...
Yesterday he travelled further north by Burmese military helicopter to the town of Lashio, in Shan state near the Chinese border, to an obscure government-sponsored workshop.
With China and Russia's vetoes in place, they can comfortably humiliate him. No doubt if he does get to see Than Shwe, he'll get only the usual drivel out of him, like their foreign minister, Nyan Win told the UN General Assembly:
"Recent events make clear that there are elements within and outside the country who wish to derail the ongoing process [toward democracy] so that they can take advantage of the chaos that would follow"
Guardian report
With apologies to the Sex Pistols
Please don't give the Burmese generals your tourist dollars.
Burma sinking
... in the news. It's no longer front page, I guess the media assume it's dead for another dozen years or so. Please don't let it drop off the screen, continue hassling your MP and companies that trade / invest there.
Interestingly the BBC has bought
Lonely Planet. Perhaps they may take a more moral stance than the Wheelers over their guide to 'Myanmar'. At least being in the UK it'll be easier to lobby them.
Meantime another blog to check out:
Burmese Bloggers without Borders
This blog was made with recycled bytes.