Burma

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Apollonius
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Re: Burma

Post by Apollonius »

Burma learns how to protest - against Chinese investors - Lucy Ash, BBC News, 23 January 2013
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21028931


Burma's steps towards democracy have made it possible for people to protest publicly, for the first time in decades, against things they don't like - and Chinese businesses have turned out to be top of their list.

Standing at the bottom of the vast open mine, I am a tiny matchstick figure.

My colleagues are standing hundreds of feet above but they can't hear my shouts or even see my face.

From their perspective, the giant dumper trucks snaking their way to the bottom of the pit look like children's toys.

This is one of the world's top 10 copper deposits, expected to generate tens of billions of dollars over the next 30 years.

According to its Chinese co-owners, the metal extracted here, in the north-west Sagaing Region, is of the purest quality and much sought-after globally.

Most is destined for Japan, Malaysia and the Middle East, but Geng Yi, the young managing director from Beijing, believes Burma itself will soon be an important customer.

Although five decades of military rule have turned Burma - or Myanmar as the generals named it - into the poorest nation in the region, it has ambitions to become a "golden bridge" between the mega-economies of India and China.


[...]


"The mountains are as precious as our parents - so I felt as if they were slaughtering my own mother."

Plans to relocate a sacred pagoda which was once home to a famous Buddhist teacher, helped to mobilise hundreds more of his fellow monks.


Along with other protesters, they occupied the hillside temple, in the heart of the mining complex, for several days.

Since they were forcibly evicted, it has been guarded night and day by police.

Geng Yi, the mine's director, admits the protests made him feel "uncomfortable and unsafe" and he is still clearly frustrated by all the delays holding up the expansion plan.
"Without the rule of law and stability how can this country attract or protect foreign investments?" he asks.

"From our point of view, we would like the government and important people to pay attention."

When the government finally reacted, the confrontation turned ugly.

On 28 November, riot police cleared the protest camps which had brought the mine to a standstill.

Nearly 100 villagers and monks were injured. Many suffered horrific burns caused by incendiary devices - possibly phosphorous shells.

The brutal crackdown was a stark reminder that the country's transition to democracy is still in its infancy.

Many suspect the government acted to avoid angering China - the country's powerful northern neighbour and biggest investor.

President Thein Sein's popularity shot up last year after he suspended the $3.6bn Myitsone hydro-electric dam on the Irrawaddy river - another controversial Chinese mega-project - but perhaps he was warned not to make the same mistake twice.



Whatever the case, latent Sinophobia has recently exploded.

At a demonstration outside the Chinese Embassy in Rangoon one banner said "This is our Country - Dracula China Get out!"

Kyaw Min Swe, editor of The Voice newspaper, said many Burmese bitterly resent Beijing for its cosy relationship with the former military junta and are now determined China's unchallenged dominance should end.

"The old regime got everything it needed from China - legitimacy, weapons and political support, like a veto in the UN Security Council and people had to put up with this for so many years.

"Now they are channelling all their anger with China into opposing this copper mine," he says.

Six activists from the demo outside the embassy have been charged with holding a protest without permission. If found guilty they could face fines and two years in prison.

A parliamentary investigation into whether the mine expansion should be allowed to go ahead - chaired by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi - is likely to condemn the police for their heavy handed response, when it reports in the next few days.

But the investigation is a poisoned chalice for the Nobel laureate.

It is unclear how far she will risk antagonising either China or the Burmese top brass - outside the halls of the new parliament the military still wields formidable power.
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monster_gardener
Posts: 5334
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Location: Trolla. Land of upside down trees and tomatos........

Almost hoping that similar happens in Afghanistan.......

Post by monster_gardener »

Apollonius wrote:Burma learns how to protest - against Chinese investors - Lucy Ash, BBC News, 23 January 2013
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21028931


Burma's steps towards democracy have made it possible for people to protest publicly, for the first time in decades, against things they don't like - and Chinese businesses have turned out to be top of their list.

Standing at the bottom of the vast open mine, I am a tiny matchstick figure.

My colleagues are standing hundreds of feet above but they can't hear my shouts or even see my face.

From their perspective, the giant dumper trucks snaking their way to the bottom of the pit look like children's toys.

This is one of the world's top 10 copper deposits, expected to generate tens of billions of dollars over the next 30 years.

According to its Chinese co-owners, the metal extracted here, in the north-west Sagaing Region, is of the purest quality and much sought-after globally.

Most is destined for Japan, Malaysia and the Middle East, but Geng Yi, the young managing director from Beijing, believes Burma itself will soon be an important customer.

Although five decades of military rule have turned Burma - or Myanmar as the generals named it - into the poorest nation in the region, it has ambitions to become a "golden bridge" between the mega-economies of India and China.


[...]


"The mountains are as precious as our parents - so I felt as if they were slaughtering my own mother."

Plans to relocate a sacred pagoda which was once home to a famous Buddhist teacher, helped to mobilise hundreds more of his fellow monks.


Along with other protesters, they occupied the hillside temple, in the heart of the mining complex, for several days.

Since they were forcibly evicted, it has been guarded night and day by police.

Geng Yi, the mine's director, admits the protests made him feel "uncomfortable and unsafe" and he is still clearly frustrated by all the delays holding up the expansion plan.
"Without the rule of law and stability how can this country attract or protect foreign investments?" he asks.

"From our point of view, we would like the government and important people to pay attention."

When the government finally reacted, the confrontation turned ugly.

On 28 November, riot police cleared the protest camps which had brought the mine to a standstill.

Nearly 100 villagers and monks were injured. Many suffered horrific burns caused by incendiary devices - possibly phosphorous shells.

The brutal crackdown was a stark reminder that the country's transition to democracy is still in its infancy.

Many suspect the government acted to avoid angering China - the country's powerful northern neighbour and biggest investor.

President Thein Sein's popularity shot up last year after he suspended the $3.6bn Myitsone hydro-electric dam on the Irrawaddy river - another controversial Chinese mega-project - but perhaps he was warned not to make the same mistake twice.



Whatever the case, latent Sinophobia has recently exploded.

At a demonstration outside the Chinese Embassy in Rangoon one banner said "This is our Country - Dracula China Get out!"

Kyaw Min Swe, editor of The Voice newspaper, said many Burmese bitterly resent Beijing for its cosy relationship with the former military junta and are now determined China's unchallenged dominance should end.

"The old regime got everything it needed from China - legitimacy, weapons and political support, like a veto in the UN Security Council and people had to put up with this for so many years.

"Now they are channelling all their anger with China into opposing this copper mine," he says.

Six activists from the demo outside the embassy have been charged with holding a protest without permission. If found guilty they could face fines and two years in prison.

A parliamentary investigation into whether the mine expansion should be allowed to go ahead - chaired by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi - is likely to condemn the police for their heavy handed response, when it reports in the next few days.

But the investigation is a poisoned chalice for the Nobel laureate.

It is unclear how far she will risk antagonising either China or the Burmese top brass - outside the halls of the new parliament the military still wields formidable power.

Thank You VERY Much for your post, Apollonius.

I am VERY tempted to wish that even better deposits of copper are soon discovered all over Afghanistan especially in Tallywacker controlled areas and that the Chinese get control of the extraction....... ;) :twisted:

Cheap :twisted: :twisted:

But better not.........

Wishes can come back to bite you..........
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Nonc Hilaire
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Re: Burma

Post by Nonc Hilaire »

The military regime has seized control of the bank accounts of billionaire George Soros’ Open Society Foundation (OSF) in Myanmar and announced that it will take legal action against the foundation, which is accused of violating restrictions on the activities of such organizations.

https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/my ... ation.html
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Typhoon
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Re: Burma

Post by Typhoon »

By all accounts, the military has been brutal against protesters.

Myanmar protesters urge 'guerrilla strikes' as internet blackout widens
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Nonc Hilaire
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Re: Burma

Post by Nonc Hilaire »

Colonel Sun wrote: Fri Apr 02, 2021 6:33 am By all accounts, the military has been brutal against protesters.

Myanmar protesters urge 'guerrilla strikes' as internet blackout widens
We also get reports that the people support the military.
“Christ has no body now but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks among His people to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses His creation.”

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Heracleum Persicum
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Re: Burma

Post by Heracleum Persicum »

Nonc Hilaire wrote: Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:31 pm
Colonel Sun wrote: Fri Apr 02, 2021 6:33 am By all accounts, the military has been brutal against protesters.

Myanmar protesters urge 'guerrilla strikes' as internet blackout widens
We also get reports that the people support the military.


People do not care whether rulers "dictator", what they care whether the rulers "Patriots" or traitors to the nation

Most Western cronies are (not only dictators but) traitors to their own nation .. meaning they are guardian of foreign powers interest versus their own national interest.

"Sovereignty" is #1 priority, everything else comes after that
.
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