What was once Burma

(Our Uncle Bert served in Burma During WWII. It was one of the most deadliest duties during the War.)

The country is now called Myanmar (pronounced myahn-mah). This is such a beautiful place, that only God could have created. A place, in my mind, that would take the breath away from heaven. This country is rich with natural resources in which jade and rubies are plentiful. Undiscovered, oil and gas reserves await those who would conquer. Tigers, elephant, and crocodile run free. There are exotic animals, plants, and flowers, many of which are rare and some extinct. Some of the rare orchids are found there, and some, still undiscovered. There are places in this country where man has never set foot. After the British ruled the country for 100 years, and before WWII, it was the leading exporter of rice in the world. After the war, the country never reached that production level again. There are 67 different ethnic groups living in Burma.
The country of Burma has been under military dictatorship since 1962. Due to a military government of isolationist economic mismanagement, the 45 million people there live without their human rights and in extreme poverty. The world became hopeful for a few months when the military actually decided to hold elections in the spring of 1990. Though the election was tightly controlled, the National League for Democracy (NLD) won by a landslide: 392 of the 485 seats- 80%. (The military backed "National Unity Party" won 10 seats.) Apparently the military was surprised and frightened by this, because they suddenly declared the election void, and killed, tortured, imprisoned, or chased away all the NLD party members they could find. The charge: "attempting to form a government." This sounds all so familiar. This same act is what followed the free election between Batista and Castro in Cuba. One of the most visible, eloquent, and best loved proponents of democracy, and the founder of the NLD, is Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of assassinated independence hero Aung San. The junta locked her in a house in Rangoon (now Yangon) for six years. She was released in July 1995 but is not allowed to rejoin her political party. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. On August 8th, 1988, the largest demonstrations the people have ever dared to stage took place. Organized by students, news spread fast. On the declared day many more than expected turned out. People assembled throughout all the major cities in Burma. Over 200,000 people assembled for non-violent demonstration and took turns giving speeches. About midnight troops fired into the masses killing hundreds on the spot. They even shot monks. The people kept trying for a few days but were finally silenced. By that time between 5,000 and 10,000 people from all walks of life were dead. Four times the number killed in Tiannanmen Square. Universities were closed down and surrounded. 8,000 students fled to the border areas. Hundreds of people were arrested. Then America, protesting the military government, placed embargoes on Myanmar. This only multiplied the problems they already have, and now there is little hope for any democracy. As if this is not enough turmoil for one country to bear, they have even more problems since the war in Afghanistan. The druglords of Afghanistan have moved to Myanmar, where they may grow their opium poppies, in safe seclusion, and protected from the corrupt military government. Myanmar is now the leading producer and exporter of heroin.
How could one of the most beautiful places on earth be so engrossed in such pain and suffering for so long. The pain and suffering, for centuries, of not only Myanmar but of this whole region including Tibet, Nepal, and other Asian countries. For centuries, Buddhism has been the most practiced religion for this region. I find this most interesting. Young boys are sent to monasteries to be educated and learn Buddhism. When the young monks become young men they are released back to society where pain and suffering await them. It is like they practice all their lives to cope with this suffering, just as Generals practice all their lives to fight War’s. The somewhat evolution of coping with pain and suffering has found its way through generations. These people do not react to suffering or emotion like normal people. They have found that meditation puts them in a state of mind where pain and suffering is prohibited. What choice have they had in the past for peace, and what choice do they have now? Why are We (America) not helping these people?

A must see movie “Beyond Rangoon”, starring Patricia Arquette. Beyond Rangoon‘s mood is helped by the low-keyed, elegant way U Aung Ko sums up Buddhism for Laura, “We were taught that suffering is the one promise life always keeps”.
(read also “Merrils Mauraders” during WWII)
http://www.freeburma.org/