Ongoing protests in Myanmar
Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007, 1:42 AM by Lonely Planet
You could say the debate started in 1962; some would say 1988, others 1990. But the official travel boycott - called for by Aung San Suu Kyi, came in 1996. Travellers since have questioned whether they should visit Myanmar, coming up with a host of reasons why and why not. Currently the debate is back in the spotlight as protesters take to the street and international media coverage experiences a groundswell.
This week protests in Rangoon have been building with monks and inured citizens congregating at the cities' Shwedagon Pagoda in defiance of the ruling military junta. The suspiciously self-titled State Peace and Development Council took power (then as the State Law and Order Restoration Council) in a 1962 coup and have since failed to instil democratic processes.
Although Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy officially won government in a 1990 election - power was never handed over.
A result of 1988 protests, Aung San Suu Kyi was put under house arrest. Those protests ended in thousands' killed, and although the climate may be different today - with the media's attention on the country unlike ever before, it cannot be guaranteed this latest round won't deteriorate in the same way.
Travellers in Myanmar or those deciding to travel there should make sure they take caution and read widely on the matter. Check news websites and the Thorn Tree Myanmar branch for more information.
Labels: Asia and Pacific, Breaking travel news
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4 Comments:
Thanks for the reminders, I enjoy reading your articles. The information is very helpful.
so do you reckon if democracy is installed (which I'm all for, btw), people on thorn tree will complain about how much authentic travel in myanmar was back in the junta days?
yet despite this and Aung San Suu Kyi's plea to Lonely Planet they still sell the guide and encourage travel here. Traveling to Burma/Myanmar only legitimates and funds the militia governement. It is not possible to travel ethically in this country under this regime. Have a consciense and don't go. I think travelskerricks blog is probably correct.
For those following the situation in Burma who would like to support the protesters in some way, you can do so by signing a petition to be presented to the UN this week:
Burma is ruled by one of the most brutal military dictatorships in the world. For decades the Burmese regime has fought off pressure--imprisoning elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and democracy activists, wiping out thousands of villages, imposing forced labour, creating refugees-
But last Tuesday Buddhist monks and nuns, revered in Burma, began marching and chanting prayers. The protests spread as hundreds of thousands of ordinary people and public figures joined in, finding the hope they’d lost. Now they’re facing crackdown – so please, show your solidarity to this movement towards reconciliation and democracy and sign the emergency petition supporting the Burmese people -- it'll be delivered to United Nations Security Council members and international media all week:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma
In the past, Burma's military rulers have massacred the demonstrators and crushed democracy. The world must stand with the Burmese people at this time, to show the military rulers that the world will not tolerate repression and violence.
Right now, global leaders are gathering in New York for the annual United Nations summit. In speeches, press interviews but also in real actions, we need them to show Burma's military junta that the global community is willing to act in solidarity with the protesters.
Show your solidarity to this movement for peace and democracy and sign the emergency petition supporting the Burmese people. It'll be delivered to UN Security Council members and the UN press corps all week:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/
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