Thursday, September 27, 2007
Whatever happened to 'Myanmar'
A few years ago, The BBC dropped the name 'Burma' and started calling the country 'Myanmar'. I remember wondering where this new place called Myanmar was. And now that I've become used to using the new name, the Beeb has switched back to using 'Burma' again. There must be a reason for this. Perhaps someone will post a comment. I'm fascinated by this running story. A beautiful woman, daughter of the nation's Independence hero, and worshipped by millions behaves with a dignity and poise that puts politicians across the world to shame. Its a long running tragic story of a country reported to be stunningly beautiful, which has fallen into the hands of villains. Whenever I hear people tell me that they have no interest in politics, which has no impact on their lives, I think to myself that they need to spend a little time in a place like Myanmar - or Zimbabwe.
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9 comments:
Just joined an Event on Facebook called "Red Shirts for Burma".
Simple idea - IN SUPPORT OF OUR BRAVE FRIENDS IN BURMA: MAY ALL PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WEAR A RED SHIRT ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28.
Well, I'm sure that the renaming of Rhodesia was justified due to the obvious dislike of having your country named after a white bloke who exploited it. But I'm happy to see Myanmar returning to being Burma, unless it was named after some bloke called Mr Burm. Still, there's worse than Myanmar. I'm sure astronomers would have named it TX34566b or something like that.
Glyn
I thought this might be of interest to readers of this post
Hwyl
Daran
URGENT DEMONSTRATION
Burma: Peaceful Demonstrators at Risk of Violent Attacks
FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2007
PROTECT THE PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS
ALLOW PEACEFUL PROTEST
TIME: 17:00 – 18:00
VENUE: Nye Bevan Statue, Queen Street, Cardiff
EVENT: DEMONSTRATION IN SOLIDARITY WITH PEACEFUL PROTESTERS IN BURMA
Burma has seen an escalation in mass peaceful protests nationwide in the last week. Led by Buddhist monks, hundreds of thousands of people have demonstrated peacefully on a daily basis. Demonstrations on this scale have not been seen since the nationwide demonstrations in 1988, which were violently suppressed by the authorities with the killing of approximately 3,000 peaceful demonstrators.
Tension is escalating and the military are now increasingly visible and riot police and military have moved into Rangoon. A crackdown on the protestors appears to be happening, and violence against the demonstrators has been used.
Visible public action everywhere is crucial NOW to create international pressure on Burma not to react with violence. If we respond solidly we can help to protect the peaceful demonstrators.
I believe Myanmar was the name favoured by the new ruling junta to break with the colonial past. Now that the fashionable politicians have allied themselves to the demostrators, it has reverted to Burma (similar to the difference between old Cambodia, the Khmer Republic (under Polpot), Kampuchea, and then back to Cambodia again..). Also, I'd favour Zimbabwe returning to life as Rhodesia. Couldn't be any worse off than they are now.
ROJO
daran - I will be wearing my red shirt tomorrow. Not sure that I can get to Cardiff - but I will if I can. The murderous behaviour of these thugs sickens me.
roman jones - thanks. I don't know if what you say is right but it sounds entirely plausable - so I'll go with it.
It was the Beeb being left-liberal as usual and supporting the regime in Burma by calling the country 'Myanmar'. Now that the regime has proven itself guilty of some nasty human rights abuse (the murder of protesters, for example, which reminds me of Tianmen Square), the BBC has reverted to the name by which the country used to be known.
After all, didn't Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge rename Cambodia too in "Year Zero"?
I am delighted that Bernard Kouchner has said it is time for sanctions and actions against the Burmese regime. He is a great humanitarian and an inspired appointment by Sarkozy - whereas Brown hides behind "the UN" (according to Conservative Home). Now France, not the UK, is willing to act...
Check out the link on my blogg to sign the global petition
Valleys mam - will do. In passing, this looks like being another disaster for the standing of the UN - standing aside and doing nothing that is.
"Whatever happened" ... to Cleckanndra? I can't seem to find his site at all - moved somewhere else?
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