Staying in touch

Now that Myanmar/Burma has fallen off the US's radar (i.e., it is no longer the top story), it will be harder to follow what is going on over the.

The BBC website has an article about Burmese bloggers managing to communicate with the outside world and from there, I found the link to a newspaper, the Irrawaddy.

There, you can not only follow what is going on with relief efforts but also the referendum on consolidation of the military's power, slated for 24 May but perhaps postponed in the delta.

More on Myanmar/Burma

Editorial in today's New York Times

Disaster in Myanmar

By all accounts, Cyclone Nargis has devastated Myanmar — a 12-foot wall of water sweeping away entire villages, leaving the coastal plain under water, thousands dead, missing or homeless and much of the capital city of Yangon without electricity or water. It is the sort of disaster that brings the world together in a desire to help, and the reaction of governments, the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations has been swift and noble. There is no time to waste.

We wish we could also say that this is no time for politics, but that simply would not be true. Myanmar — the name the junta gave to Burma — has been ruled by military dictatorship for 46 years, increasingly isolated and struggling under economic sanctions by the United States and Europe. Last September, the junta crushed peaceful protest marches by Buddhist monks.

These repressive policies contributed greatly to the the disaster. Crushing poverty left many coastal communities more vulnerable to the storm than they otherwise might have been, and, as Laura Bush observed, the government-controlled news media failed to issue timely warnings. The fear now is that the generals may create obstacles to the rescue operation, which will require moving volumes of supplies as well as large numbers of aid workers, many from countries hostile to the regime.

Though the junta took the unusual step of asking for foreign assistance, the information minister suggested that only “friendly countries” would be allowed to help. It is still not clear whether aid workers will require visas. The junta also has refused to cancel a referendum scheduled for next Saturday on a constitution that claims to be a step toward democracy. The referendum, which will effectively leave the military in control anyway, will divert attention from recovery efforts.

None of this should dissuade any government or agency from trying to help. President Bush pledged $3.25 million on Tuesday. He said the United States stood ready to “do a lot more” — including deploying American naval assets to assist rescue and aid distribution efforts — but first the junta must approve and let American disaster teams assess the damage.

Helping the people of Myanmar is the immediate task. In time, the world can redouble its effort to free Myanmar from the great disaster of the junta itself.

Free Burma

International bloggers are preparing an action to support the peaceful revolution in Burma. We want to set a sign for freedom and show our sympathy for these people who are fighting their cruel regime without weapons. These Bloggers are planning to refrain from posting to their blogs on October 4 and just put up one Banner then, underlined with the words „Free Burma!“.

Go here for more information.

Here are some blogs about Burma.

Saturday, October 6th, has been declared an International Day of Action For Burma. Organizers are asking that people worldwide wear red or saffron as a show of unity for the Burmese monks who are standing in opposition to one of the most brutal military dictatorships in the world.

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While I have not been to Burma, I once worked with a Burmese pastor who had been imprisoned by the military. He showed me the scars on his legs from having been put into a cage with hot lightbulbs. The cage was so small that there was no way for him to avoid getting burned by the bulbs. He spoke of the repression happening in Burma. And this was back in 1991. Sang has always represented for me the struggling Burmese.

I have also talked with The Episcopal Church's missioner to Burma, who is only able to get there once or twice a year. She works with the small Anglican congregations, who run preschools for not just Anglicans but also the Buddhist children of their communities.