Latest news from Burma is worse than we may have thought. If true, several thousand people have been killed and dumped in the jungle, many of them monks. Meanwhile a Swedish diplomat there attests that the revolt is over, and failed.
V
BURMA..... what did you say that for?.......... I paniced!! Two penguins on top of the telly sktech, Monty Python circa 1975
I'll get me coat
Update
Hi all,
Today's update. See:
<a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href=" http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7025357.stm?lsm "> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7025357.stm?lsm
Monks 'trying to escape Rangoon'
Scores of monks are trying to leave Burma's main city, Rangoon, following the military's bloody crackdown on anti-government protests, reports say.
Monks were seen at the railway station and bus drivers were reportedly refusing to take them, out of fear they would not be allowed petrol.
Curfews and night-time police raids are continuing in Rangoon. Correspondents describe a climate of fear there.
...
Military vehicles patrolled Rangoon's streets before dawn with loudspeakers blaring: "We have photographs. We are going to make arrests."
One correspondent in Rangoon told the BBC that people in the country's former capital were angry and frightened.
The correspondent described how a middle-aged man in one of the city's tea shops whispered: "I really want change - but they have guns and we don't, so they'll always win."
Reports from Rangoon said around 25 more monks were arrested by security forces in a raid on a temple overnight.
Diplomats and activists believe the number of dead is many times higher.
Hundreds of monks - who led the protests - have been detained and sources have told the BBC they will be sent to prisons in the far north of the country.
Defector
A Burmese army officer, who fled to Thailand in the first apparent defection since the crackdown, has been giving interviews to media organisations.
The officer, whose unit was ordered to Rangoon to deal with the protests, said he did not want to beat or shoot monks - who are revered in Burmese society.
"I knew the plan to beat and shoot the monks and if I stayed on, I would have to follow these orders. Because I'm a Buddhist, I did not want to kill the monks," he said.
The officer is now seeking asylum abroad.
Regards.
Prashna
I see that my rather flippant quip about Monty Python has been deleted by presumably admin? (I have received no IM about this), while would agree that it was juvenile, I did not do it to cause offense. I would like to state that I fully support the monks of Burma and would like to apologies to anyone I may have caused any offense to.
However for all the hand wringing people have done in the west for the past 3 weeks, we are compliant to it, this evil regime has been in place since 1962 (?) and for the vast majority of that time it does not make any news at all and anyway with the support of China there is little the west can do, but hope and support them.
Oddly though, I doubt if a Buddhist would take offense at such a silly remark, just goes to show you eh?
Anyway once again sorry.
I didn't know it had been deleted, but it's good of you to apologise. Myself, I can also sigue from one mood to another, but on another thread off-HP about Burma, humour or any other such tone was just out-front said to be not on, so I saw yours at the time in the same light. But not in any way judging.
On what to do, the UN doesn't invade nations. We don't want the USA to invade nations surely? So it's just one of those terrible things. Within the borders of a nation state, it's hard to effect things from outside like N. Korea. But individuals can sometimes find an illumined way, where governemtns cannot.....
V
Let's not forget that Communism in the West seemed like a fixed and solid reality until people power challenged it and then it largely crumbled. Lets not forget that all predicted that apartheit could never end without a blood bath. Let's not forget that a few years ago, the idea of Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley forming a government together was laughable.......
Once that a spiritual idea - and this is an idea of freedom and justice - has gone out into the universe, it has power. If we side with despondency, despair and negativity, we become part of the problem, but if we change our thinking, we become part of the solution.
Judy
I do agree with you, Judy. thanks for the reminder.
BTW I've just received this online petition: http://www.avaaz.org/en/index.php
If anyone would like to sign it, please go ahead. (Yes, I know it's only a petition but as Judy says, you never know! Or words to that effect!)
Love
Sunanda xxx
I agree with the two ladies that not only can anything happen, but I don't believe such regimes do last forever, ever. However a point I've made off-HP is that it's not governments IMHO that'll do anything. "Miracles" or the unexpected tend to come from individuals or individuals combined. The Junta doesn't seem to listen at all to governments or the UN.
V
I signed the avaaz petition some time ago, the link was sent by a vicar friend of mine who I get on with very well, she does not like organized religion either!!
There I was reading another thread when my computer told me me that I had a message from HP, for a moment I thought I was in trouble again!! ............................. it was the weekly bulletin lol
There I was reading another thread when my computer told me me that I had a message from HP, for a moment I thought I was in trouble again!! ............................. it was the weekly bulletin lol
You won't get messages from HP, at least not in regard to PMs, until you enable your notifications. Please see:
https://www.healthypages.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=46208
Holistic
Sorry Admin, I am not sure what you mean, my PC told me that I had a message from HP and when I opened it, there was the bulletin.
I have looked and I can receive Email from admin and PMs, is it, please explain what you mean, is it me being thick!!
I think the confusion has arisen here, LioninLondon, because your post was not deleted by Admin, but by a moderator. To further explain, I have sent you a PM, copied to email as well.
Once acknowledged, I shall return to this thread and delete these further off-topic posts.
With apologies to other members who have been following this thread, which hopefully will now return to the topic ... the situation in Burma.
Holistic
On behalf of the Moderating Team
I was at the demonstration today in Glasgow, there is a link where people can show support and donate, it is www.burmacampaign.org.uk