Myanmar (or Burma) has been in turmoil for years- the crisis is now so bad, it fills our television screens every day. I decided to do some digging into this crisis as soon as I remembered a Nobel prize winner is in a Glorious position in government as a sort of Prime Minister whilst the most appalling ethnic cleansing happens under her nose.
Myanmar is made up roughly of 90% Buddhists; the other 10% Muslims ( the Rohingya).
On 25 August 2017, Rohingya militants attacked police posts in northern Rakhine killing 12 security personnel. The Rohingya group “Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army” claimed responsibility for the attack.
Ever since then, tensions have escalated with thousands of Rohingya being chased over the border into Bangladesh where they live as starving refugees.
The Myanmar military have burnt entire villages and killed/raped countless Rohingya. Land mines are laid in the escapees’ wake as a deterrant- in case they wish to return home.
So, it happens that Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy and the first and incumbent State Counsellor, a position akin to a Prime Minister and the 1991 Nobel Peace prize winner- has decided to call the ethnic cleansing ‘fake news’.
The Burmese do not recognise the Rohingya as citizens, but call them ‘illegal immigrants’. No matter what, nothing justifies wiping out an entire ethnic group.
It’s even more galling that a Nobel Peace Prize winner is at the helm and does …..nothing.
I don’t know about you, but my journey about town today does not involve land mines or being in fear of my life. My biggest problem at the moment is whether to buy another coffee here at my favourite café- or go home and make one instead.
Let’s Wake up and Smell the Coffee, folks. We could be these people if it weren’t for God’s grace.
“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.”- Edmund Burke
Please Donate to Oxfam if you can.
-Vivian Zems
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September 18, 2017 at 3:11 pm
Her Nobel prize needs to be revoked so she is held accountable to the world community for not doing and continuing to do nothing.
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September 18, 2017 at 4:49 pm
I agree. It just doesn’t make sense. Her actions smack of insincerity.
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September 19, 2017 at 12:57 am
There is something much more sinister going on then insincerity I think. I wonder if she is corrupt? Or just a puppet figurehead to the military or maybe force but slaughter and genivide is unacceptable. A Buddhist country my arse. 40,000 children aimlessly wandering unattended by adults in camps and roads. Heinous.
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September 19, 2017 at 7:50 am
Disgusting 😠
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September 19, 2017 at 8:49 am
Did you see her live address today?
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September 19, 2017 at 12:41 pm
I did. Too little, too late. Just heard the first bit before dashing off to work- but NOT impressed. It beggars belief!!!
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September 19, 2017 at 1:03 pm
It’s like she was talking in ambivalent code
I do think the military acted without her knowledge and she is in a hard position but it is not the point. She could use the position she has and the relationship she has built with the world community to get backing. I reckon the military are going to rise up over her
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September 19, 2017 at 1:29 pm
Well, let’s see. She’d better play her cards right. I keep imagining what it’s like for those people… and I can’t. It didn’t help when she called it ‘fake news’…… that statement already got everyone’s back up.
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September 19, 2017 at 1:55 pm
Yeah she was so ambivalent and defensive. I sense much more is underneath and I think something more is about to happen. Maybe a military coup. God is this world ever not falling apart? It could be so beautiful
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September 19, 2017 at 7:10 pm
Definitely falling apart…sigh!
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September 20, 2017 at 2:07 am
😦
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October 4, 2017 at 10:31 pm
Oh, we could talk for days on this one, Vivian. The families of Aung San’s inner circle (her father) shared a church with us; were in my classroom; had Thanksgiving dinner at my table. I lived and breathed with the Karen people for five years when the refugees were relocated to the US. I watched the connections between the various people groups as it played out in my school; the caste system they held just below the surface. It makes my heart hurt.
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October 4, 2017 at 11:14 pm
Amazing- you have much to tell!
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