Burma Solidarity Protest

by Jim Sat Sep 29, 2007 20:17

Democracy for Burma

Democracy Now

Eamon Gilmore and Michael D Higgins

Amnesty International

Speeches

Labour Youth

by Isiodor Sat Sep 29, 2007 21:23

The protest was interesting. With very little notice a large number attended. It shows that the Irish people are in solidarity with the Burmese people in their fight for democratic freedoms. I think that the campaign can now build on today and increase actions. There should be a protest march built for next saturday and there will be even more people there.

I do think that this campaign needs to be aware of it's slogans and demands. I totally oppose the United Nations having any involvement in Burma. The UN is merely a collection of rotten governments that do not have honourable intentions towards the Burmese people. The UN and the governments want to persuade the Junta to introduce reforms. The permanent members of the Security Council all have financial interests in Burma. eg. France's Totaal oil are in joint ventures with the Junta. If reforms are won by the people on the street it would send out a message to the oppressed people in other non-'democracies' such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China, Indonesia, and others. That message would be that people power works. The UN and the dominant world power do not want that! SO ditch slogans around the UN.

There is also the question of what kind of Burma are we for? If there is elections in the morning and the junta loose (most likely if there are free elections) the lot of the Burmese people will not be a whole lot better. Yes, they would overthrow the rotten military junta and their oppression. This is would fighting for. But the Imperial interests will still be there. The multinationals will continue to rape Burma of the valuable resources it holds. There is a need to not just fight against the junta, but also FOR a Burma where the Burmese people own and control the wealth that they produce.

Achieving this is not going to be done with appeals for "Peace" alone. It will not be achieved by looking for UN help. And by the way it won't be helped by the likes of Eamon Gilmore who's comrades around Europe are facilitating companies doing deals with the Junta.

by Gigidy Sat Sep 29, 2007 22:20

Why was the Labour Youth banner brought?? Members of other parties (including at least five from the PDs) attended, without needing to advertise their presence. Why is the only banner of a political party that we see Labour's?

by Dave Sun Sep 30, 2007 00:01

...a cynic, but do you truly believe that these protests etc will have any bearing on the situation in Burma?

Whilst I admire the sentiment behind it, does anyone think that the military junta in Burma will even hear about an Irish protest, much less pay heed?

by VenusInFurs Sun Sep 30, 2007 00:06

Is your head an irony free zone Gigidy? You participate in a rally defending the right to free political expression in Burma yet oppose the Labour Kid's same right on O'Connell Street?

by Dano Sun Sep 30, 2007 00:49

simply because UCD Labour were the only party that bothered to bring the banner...Bringing banners is what one does at demos as you well know.......It's normal

by Realist Sun Sep 30, 2007 02:15

"Whilst I admire the sentiment behind it, does anyone think that the military junta in Burma will even hear about an Irish protest, much less pay heed?"

Nope, but that's not who the protest is aimed at. A couple of hundred people on a street in Dublin is not going to shake the Burmese government. They can be ignored.

Harder to ignore it when that protest is one of hundreds taking place around the world.

Harder still to ignore the issue when diplomatic pressure is brought to bear in no small part because of the protests.

Ahern was on RTE tonight saying that the Irish government had brought in the Indian and Chinese ambassadors to ask them to use the influence their countries have with the Burmese government to try and stop the violence.

Irish people can only really put pressure on the Irish government to act. As one of the speakers said today, if all people do is turn up to one rally and go home, it will slip off the agenda. But if the pressure is maintained, and there are ways of doing so other than street protests, it can add to the force being brought to bear on the Burmese.

Also, there might have been members of other political parties there, but the only elected reps I saw were Labour ones.

by Joe C - Solidarity Union Sun Sep 30, 2007 09:01

http://unityaotearoa.blogspot.com/2007/09/burma-one-sol....html

by iosaf Sun Sep 30, 2007 13:08

& as you know Ireland has no direct business ties nor has had for 7 years in Burma / Myanmar. But also as you know countless Irish people have applied for visas & visited the state & not all for completely wholesome reasons. It is important not to lose sight of the ultimate goal which brought you to express solidarity for Burma in the past, perhaps before the events of the last fortnight. It is vital that the whole range of issues, international powers, business competitions, which created & maintained the junta are explained properly to those who now join the campaign & it would be most sagicious to increase awareness in Ireland of both the tourism & hydrocarbon exploitation factors in the past, now & any presumed or negotiated future. It can often be difficult to keep a campaign as ardous as yours going through the years without any sign of change, it must be traumatic and/or angering to see the crises & brutality of the last fortnight but it would be foolhardy not only for the Burmese people in their totality of all their state & exile, refugee and displaced community but also for those in neighbouring states such as Laos & Thailand who ostensibily enjoy better political conditions to see in any immediate conflict resolution brokered by diplomacy - the goal you had set.

it's a long sentance - but ye know what I mean.

by Isiodor Sun Sep 30, 2007 19:34

I think that the protest was important to show solidarity with the Burmese people. I think it does encourage them to know they have thebacking of the people of other countries. Solidarity is a very important boost for people involved in a tough struggle. I do think that the Campaign needs to not pay attention to what our own masters to. The likes of the Irish government will not really show any solidarity with the people of Burma. If the Irish government were serious they would provide serious backing to the opposition in Burma (finance, political advice, military material, etc.). Instead they want to "use influence" to pursuade the Junta to stop the massacre! The UN and the world powers it's run by want to restrict the people power aspect of the Burmese struggle. If the Burmese people win consessions by people power on the streets it would send out a message across the world where there is oppressive governments. For example China, Pakistan, Singapore, etc. would all have an example of how to deal with their own oppressive governments. This is not what the EU, the UN, the USA, France, UK, China, et al want to see. They would prefer if the Junta brought about stability with a few consessions so that they can continue, business as usual for their multi-nationals.

Yes, we should put demands on Irish government - but we should have no illusions in their ineffective "lobbying". We need a campaign that will increase the actions. We need more protests, we need increased solidarity action. We also need to put forward what kind of Burma we think there should be. Yes, a democratic one with free and fair elections. But also one where democracy is extended to the wealth and resources of Burma. The Burma solidarity campaign should oppose all imperialist enterprises in Burma.

On the parties. It's ironic that a person supporting the calls for free speech oppose Labour bringing a banner! I'm no fan of Labour, but they have the right to bring a banner, leaflets, and plackards. The only other organisation that were there were Socialist Party.

by anon Sun Sep 30, 2007 20:08

"The only other organisation there was the Socialist Party"

And what are you basing that on? I saw members of the SWP, ISN and WSM at the Burma protest. In fact, I picked up copies of SP, Labour Youth and ISN publications while there.

You must have been going around with your little SP eyes firmly squeezed shut.

There was a great attendance - a march had it happened would have attracted even more participants.

by Isiodor Sun Sep 30, 2007 22:36

I saw Labour and SP there. Personally I did not see any ISN or SWP material there. That does not mean they were not there. All it means is that I did not see them. That's all. What makes you think I'm an SP member? All I said was that I got their leaflet! I got an LY publication which I read afterwards. Does that make me a Labour member? Some people on this site just want to stir an argument. Let's debate the topic and what next for the Burma campaign.

by Gwen Mon Oct 01, 2007 01:07

This image made from a video provided Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007 by the Democratic Voice of Burma via APTN, is believed to be the body of a monk, covered in bruises, floating face down in a river in Yangon, Myanmar. AP Television cannot independently verify the content of the video, or its authenticity but DVB said the video was shot on Sunday. Troops and police locked down Myanmar's biggest cities on Sunday, keeping most protesters off the streets.

Dead Monk

by (+ / .:.) = ($/€) Tue Oct 02, 2007 19:04

........."he Buddha's body was cremated and this set the example for many Buddhists, even in the West. When someone is dying in a Burmese home, monks come to comfort them. They chant verses to them, such as:

"Even the gorgeous royal chariots wear out; and indeed this body too wears out. But the teaching of goodness does not age; and so Goodness makes that known to the good ones."

After death, while the dead person is being prepared for the funeral fire, the monks continue to chant in order to help the dead one's good energies to be released from their fading personality. The monks come with the family to the funeral. The family and all their friends give food and candles to the monks. Goodwill is created by these gifts and it is believed that the goodwill helps the lingering spirit of the dead person.................."

__________________________

1. The funeral ceremony, traditionally lasts over 49 days, the first seven days being the most important. Prayers are said every seven days for 49 days if the family can afford it. If the family is in poor circumstances, the period may be shortened to from 3 to 7 days. Usually, it is the responsibility of the daughters to bear the funeral expenses. The head of the family should be present for, at least the first and, possibly the second, prayer ceremony. The number of ceremonies conducted is dependent on the financial situation of the family. The head of the family should also be present for the burial or the cremation.
2. In the second tradition, the prayer ceremony is held every 10 days. The initial ceremony and three succeeding periods of ten days until the final burial or cremation. After 100 days a final prayer ceremony is conducted, but such a ceremony is optional and not as important as the initial ceremonies.
...........thoughts for the day Sun 30/ix, 1/x, 2/x of 2007 common era

Whoever makes love grow boundless, and sets his mind for seeing the end of birth, his fetters are worn thin. If he loves even a single being, Good will follow. But the Noble One with compassionate heart for all mankind, generates abounding good. - Buddha

On hearing the Teachings, the wise become perfectly purified, like a lake: deep, clear, and still. - Buddha

We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. - Buddha


Rest in Peace & Renew - Compassion encompasses the defilement of the Just.