Myanmar Protests

As someone who is newly educated about the situation occurring in Myanmar, I am posting some background information as well as a few of my initial views that might aid some in gaining a better understanding:

Myanmar is the name of the country previously known as Burma (as of 1989). Although the military government changed the name officially, the US State Department does not recognize Myanmar or the military regime that represents it (www.infoplease.com). Although the National League for Democracy came out victorious in a May 1990 election, the State Law and Order Council failed to implement the new governmental system. The people of Myanmar are now being held captive of their government- a tyrannical regime that has no plans of giving up their power. Suu Kyi, the NLD leader, was placed under house arrest to prevent her from publicly defying the SLORC.


According to Wikipedia, Yangon (also known as Rangoon) is the largest city and former capital of Burma...with a population of 6 million it is the country's largest city and most important commercial center. Although it is the hub for music, news, movies, and advertising, all media content must first be approved by the military government. Foreign media of any kind (satellite television, newspapers, radio stations) are extremely hard to access and can be expensive to obtain.

In 2005, the military junta secretively relocated the seat of government from Yangon (Rangoon) to a mountain compound called Pyinmanaa (www.infoplease.com). In 2007 a bill was signed stating that the military regime would continue to control ministries and and that political parties would have limited power. Pro-democracy protests began to break out, resulting in fatal backlash from the government as military officers fired into crowds and arrested monks. Peaceful protesters were killed. Months later, in May 2007, Cylcone Nargis tore into Yangon, killing thousands and leaving many injured and homeless. Although they accepted financial relief, only 10% of supplies were actually distributed to the people in Yangon- solidifying my belief that the current government of Myanmar has no concern for its people.

Below are some links to pictures and visuals:
a map of Myanmar: http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/country/myanmar.html

U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, left, poses with Myanmar junta chief Senior Gen. Than Shwe, second left, and other unidentified generals, during their meeting in the junta's remote new capital, Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007:
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0eFecAKaXm9jp/610x.jpg

Myanmar monks in a peaceful protest:
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/Myanmar-monks.jpg