It was this issue that spurred me on to creating this on line journal more than any other story in the news. For years I have despaired at the fact that any country could have a craving for freedom yet have their rights so repressed. However it’s the fact that unlike so many other conflicts or disputes around the world, here the protestors have always been peaceful.
The greatest mistake that most groups or organisations make when calling for democracy or freedom is to use violence. No matter how noble the cause is, as soon as violence is used in or for that struggle towards freedom, they loose the support of so many people around the world. Also, it provides governments across the globe the excuse for doing nothing, as they can then argue that the protestors used criminality to provoke a reaction from whatever regime it is. However, here in Burma the protests were and always have been peaceful. The only real violence has been from a military dictatorship that has used its troops to kill its own people.
While the situation in Burma is no longer on the front pages, the repression still continues and the people who lined the streets and just clapped as the Monks walked past are being arrested, beaten and tortured.
We cannot allow yesterdays news to be forgotten, the last time there was a substantial call for freedom in Burma, and it ended with three thousand civilians being shot dead. This was not in one single event, but spread out over an eight-month period as troops went around liquidating opposition.
Even the thought of that makes me shudder, and can you imagine what it must be like to live in a country where just by speaking out against your government, you risk being murdered? That demonstrates the bravery of the monks that took to the streets in Rangoon, we owe them our support.
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