Today marks the International Day of Action for Burma. Protests have been held in over 30 cities all over the world and presumably still counting, since as I write this it’s only morning in most of North America. The streets of Rangoon are no longer filled with protesting monks and civilians, however soldiers and barbed wire barricades remain. But the revolution does not stop here. The spectacular protests and violent crackdown that grabbed the world’s attention were the kick that got the ball rolling in the right direction.
This week we learned that in addition to the monks and protesters who were arrested during the demonstrations, the military has been arresting people from their houses in the middle of the night for participating in the protests, even for as little as standing on the street when it happened or clapping as monks and people walked by. Close to 3,000 people have been arrested, and it is believed that night time arrests continue. With the first night time raids and abductions of monks from their monasteries, people began to organize sentry duty to protect their clergy. Civilians are reportedly still guarding monasteries all over the country, armed only with homemade weapons, such as slingshots and arrows made out of spokes from the wheels of bicycles.
While the news emerging from Burma this past week may have slowed to a trickle, more will come. The junta’s shutdown of internet and phone lines has stopped a lot of information from getting out, but it will come out eventually. The SPDC cannot afford to keep communication lines cut indefinitely, journalists are finding ways into the country and there will undoubtedly be more people fleeing the country with stories to tell.
The media focus has shifted towards the next steps. Ibrahim Gambari returned from his visit to Burma, where he met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and then junta leader Than Shwe and then Daw Suu again, suggesting that he might have been carrying messages between the two. And most recently, Than Shwe announced that he would meet Daw Suu if she abandons her “confrontation attitude” and stops calling for international sanctions. Sounds like China’s demands that the Dalai Lama give up his desire to split up the motherland! I’m not sure that Than Shwe would meet with her even if she did agree to the ridiculous demands. It seems more like an attempt to show the world that he made an effort at reconciliation. Then he can blame Daw Suu when they never meet.
There are many theories about what could contribute constructively at this stage, mainly China stepping up and playing a key role. Personally, I don’t see that happening. If China were to take a leading role in Burma, it would be opening itself up for more criticism about its track record with the Falung Gong, Tibet, and even it’s involvement in the Sudan. At the same time, with the Olympics approaching, China may be more willing to participate in international action so as to avoid such criticism. Other possibilities include Singapore which has a lot of investments in Burma, and the Malaysian gas company, Petronas, who supposedly supplies the junta with all of its diesel fuel. If Petronas were to temporarily halt its shipments of gas, the SPDC would be crippled and completely unable to function! One company with that much influence in this situation!!
Burmese exiles and activists here say that people inside have not given up. They are hunkered down, trying to avoid being arrested, and waiting for the chance to regroup. The Saffron Revolution continues!!
