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Message to Human Rights Activists : (r)



Subject: Re: Message to Human Rights Activists : Get Real

Note:  This account has posted a number of criticisms of the Burmese
democracy movment, international activists, and US policy (check
Dejanews). I personally doubt that anyone named M Eastman is
writing this.  Perhaps it is someone at Bain and Associates, a Washington
DC pr firm that takes in more than $20,000 per month from Burma and
reports to the Burmese Ambassador in Washington.  Jackson Bain can be
reached at bain@xxxxxxxxxx if anyone wants to ask him. 

Nonetheless, the M Eastman account made an interesting observation when
criticizing the 18 activists who were arrested and sentenced to five years
at labor for passing out small messages of peace, friendship and
solidarity in Rangoon in August.  The message read:

"What a sight it must have been for the citizens of Rangoon to see a group
of American co-eds whose mode of dress and antics were suited more to
Dupont Circle and Times Square than the tranquil surroundings of the Shwe
Dagon Pagoda !" 

The activists obviously took this to heart, and headed off to Dupont
Circle, and the nearby Embassy being occupied by the illegitimate junta,
to continue to show peaceful solidarity with the Burmese people long
seeking an end to violent military rule.  Coments below:

On Thu, 29 Oct 1998 OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx wrote:

> From:	M  Eastman@xxxxxxx
> 
> Message to Human Rights Activists : Get Real
> 
>  		Thirteen demonstrators were arrested outside the Burmese
  Embassy in
> Washington, D.C last Monday for trespassing on Embassy property, chaining
> themselves to the railings in front of the Embassy and being a nuisance
to the
> neighbourhood. If convicted, they face up to $ 500 in fines or six months in
> jail. The court should show no mercy to the demonstrators. It must send a
> message to the world that such behaviour is unacceptable and  emphasise the
> importance of dealing firmly with such infractions so that things do not get
> out of hand.

"No mercy" indeed.  That is the junta way, but this peaceful protest was
inspired by Mahatma Ghandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela.
Colonialists, segregationists and racists, and apartheid supporters
equally called for "No mercy" for similar protesters in the past.  But
remember, these past actions ended colonialism, ended segregation policy,
ended Apartheid.  Non-violent protests (especially those which are
well-organized and well-informed as last Monday's was) inspire more,
similar protests.  Hence the shrill tone of fear in this statement.

> 
> 		It is a shame that those self-appointed champions  of
> human rights and
> democracy have no regard for the norms of civilized society. It is one thing
> for them to demonstrate for human rights but quite another to intrude on the
> porperty of a foreign mission and hinder the normal functioning of
diplomats.
> Their unruly acts debase the very rights they seek to promote.

How ironic to hear this, on the same day that the Special Rapporteur on
Human Rights reports that "The violations include extrajudicial and arbitrary
executions (not sparing women and children), rape, torture, inhuman
treatment, forced labor and denial of freedom of movement," he said.
            Lallah said these violations had been so numerous as to
suggest they were not isolated incidents "but are rather the result of
policy at the highest level, entailing political and legal
responsibility."

So this is the "civilized society" that the non-violent protest so
offended.

Please remember, the junta itself is entirely without legitimacy.  The
"diplomats" who occupy the Embassy premises have no legitimate right to do
so.

> 
> 	The behaviour of the demonstrators is gauche and despicable. The act of
> intruding upon Embassy property and disturbing the peace borders on
terrorism
> and must be condemned. 

Despicable?  Despicable is systematic rape, robbery, torture, forced labor
and murder.  Funny how this message stays silent about that, and gets so
upset about a non-violent action to bring attention to these vile and
grotesque crimes.  Terrorism?  What about the crude and ongoing attempts
to terrorise the peaceful democrats inside Burma?  What about the numerous
cross-border incursions into Thailand, which have resulted in lootings,
burnings, kidnappings, rape and murder?  

> What kind of message do the  activists  think they are
> sending to student organizations and democratic movements around the
world by
> resorting to such obnoxious behaviour ? 

They know very well that their message of solidarity with Burmese who have
struggled for years, who have sacrificed freedom, health, family ties and
their lives for principles of justice, was supported by freedom-loving
people around the world, and by the Burmese people themselves, including
those who joined the demonstration, and those who still live under
military rule in Burma. 

> What a spectacle they must have been
> to television audiences who expect better from American students !  Is this
> the face of democracy they want to present to the people of Burma on whose
> behalf they are  shrilling for ? Burma and other developing countries would
> surely prefer a disciplined, egalitarian and tolerant society over one where
> hooligans prevail.

How right you are.  They've been trying to rid themselves of "hooligan
rule" for years.  Better non-violent action than the shooting of unarmed
civilians, systematic use of forced labor, systematic use of torture, acts
that this message suggests amount to "civilized society."

> 
> 	If human rights activists are serious about promoting the welfare of the
> people of Burma they should start by  shedding their " better than thou "
> attitude and allowing the Burmese to fashion their own destiny.

The military animals of the Burmese "Animal Farm" continue to insist that
"All animals are equal, but some (we the generals) are more equal than
others."  It is the generals who seem to claim only for themselves the
right to determine the destiny of all Burmese.  The demonstrators support
the right of all Burmese to determine their own destiny, free of military
oppression.

> 
> 	It is time to get real and focus on how to assist the Burmese in their
> endeavour to develop economically and socially instead of concentrating on
> ratcheting up pressure on them.

It seems that this suggests ignoring the UN's conclusions that rampant
human rights violations are " the result of policy at the highest level,"
and that the dire state of the Burmese economy is not the responsibility
of the military and its 36 years of rule. To somehow expect the junta's
combination of brutality and incompetence to result in social and economic
development is the height of folly.  Get real. 

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