Buddhist Monk and Nuns Lead Escalating Protests in Burma

[Ley-Loe]

While many observers thought the protest against an increase in fuel prices were going to be short-lived - and most of the human rights and democracy activists involved have either been arrested or have been forced into hiding - thousands of Buddhist monks, and now nuns, have taken up the protests, their numbers have grown each day this week -
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070923/wl_ ... tiGkEE1vAI
The Burmese have always felt a special affinity for Ireland - something to do with past-British colonial rule - and it is sometimes referred to as the Ireland of South-east Asia... Ireland in turn has an active pro-democracy in Burma activist movement (Burma Action Ireland) - and a number of Irish politicians, including Simon Coveney have pushed the issue at national and EU levels as well as at the UN.
The UK government has pledged to push the issue at the UN Security Council level - what can, and what is the Irish government doing, within the EU context and at the UN to support what is happening in Burma...?

[Ley-Loe]

sorry, title should read "monks" not monk - there is clearly more than one involved!!! typing too fast!!!

[paypal]

"what can, and what is the Irish government doing, within the EU context and at the UN to support what is happening in Burma...?"

What they ought to be doing is not sticking their noses in other nations' business. We have a damn cheek telling a country 10.000 miles away what to do. We know as little about Burma as the Burmese know about Ireland.

[stannis]

Ireland in turn has an active pro-democracy in Burma activist movement (Burma Action Ireland) - and a number of Irish politicians, including Simon Coveney have pushed the issue at national and EU levels as well as at the UN.

Don't forget Paddy Casey.

[paypal]

Who's Paddy Casey?

[Ley-Loe]

Actually the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi - who in 1988 won the only democratic elections held in Burma by a landslide - have called for international support and intervention - particularly at the UN level. So it's not as unclear as you might like to think paypal.
The people now protesting, including the All Burma Monks' Alliance have also called for international solidarity and support - so again, what they want is fairly clear.
It's also quite clear what the SPDC want - non-interference and to be ignored by the international community.

[paypal]

What's the SPDC?

See, Irish people know nothing about Burma.

And we care even less!

[Riadach]

Once again paypal needs only look into his own heart to understand the will of the Irish people. One of the largest protests since 1988 is currently ongoing in Burma, which has be oppressed by a military dictatorship for decades, and Paypal doesn't care. Well good for you paypal but stop posting on the thread if you don't care about it or recognise it as an important issue. Stop diverting attention.

[Thac0man]

Once again paypal needs only look into his own heart to understand the will of the Irish people. One of the largest protests since 1988 is currently ongoing in Burma, which has be oppressed by a military dictatorship for decades, and Paypal doesn't care. Well good for you paypal but stop posting on the thread if you don't care about it or recognise it as an important issue. Stop diverting attention.

To be fair, Burma, like Tibet, are no longer in 'vouge' with those who make the most noise about their supposed commitment to human rights. I care about what happens to Burma and have hoped before that progress could be made. I do think now is the best chance thus far for change with stability. But I don't cod myself that many outside Burma actually care about the country unless they can lever it into some wider context.

[irishpeoplearewhingers]

I hope they kick the military from power and that winners of the last election take over. This is not poking my nose in because the people themsleves decided it. That regime is an anachronism.