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The shameful situation in Burma
November 1, 2007, usenet article from "labor"

After Ne Win was ousted by popular uprise in 1988 General Saw Maung seized power in a coup. In May 1990 election NLD won by 83% but the military junta refused to hand over power and on the contrary pursued the democratic victors. Early in his administration Gen Saw Maung became psychologically unstable and was ousted by strongman General Than Shwe who promoted himself to Ultra Supreme Commander Senior General and increased the strength of the arm forces to over 400,000 soldiers with several thousand of them made up of under age child soldiers against the objection of the UN and world community. The junta was too proud, it had the guns and refused to change course despite the plea from its own people and the elders/seniors/statesmen of Burma. Consequently the notorious junta fell out of favour with ASEAN. Sanctions were imposed by the US and the EU. The regime became very unpopular with the masses and its ethnic minorities. But the junta formulated law to cover and protect themselves, surrounded themselves with informers and "Yes-men" and pushed ahead with intimidation, torture, jailing and murder of men, women, students, monks, oppositions and its citizens who would not agree with them and support them or fall in line with their rule and unfair governance similar to the way Nazi Germany went about its business.

It is widely reported that SLORC/SPDC soldiers were overlooked when they raped the ethnic women and their daughters. None of the soldiers were investigated and charged. There were forced labour, forced relocation, confiscation of live stock for the army, capturing villagers from the villages and forcing them to work as porters and janitors without wages and food, using these unfortunate people against their will as human mine sweepers and discarding their bodies along the road side when they are of no use to the army. The soldiers burnt down bamboo housed some times with old disable men/women in the house unable to move. They Bullied farmers to sell their produce at an unreasonable low price to the army, etc.. All these had a detrimental effect on the morale and social fabric of the people who gradually became very bitter, distorted with despair and losing confidence in themselves and those around them. But this junta continued regardlessly to tell the people that they are matching forward hand in hand with the people. That the junta is of the people, for the people and by the people and handing down unreasonable very lengthy (21, 24, 50, 75 years) jail sentences to those who oppose them and refuse to toe the line. The education system deteriorated with the devaluation of the high school and university education. The State Health System is shameful so much so that Than Shwe himself goes to Singapore for treatment. The fighting with the ethnic minorities continues. The junta plants thousands of land mines killing thousands of innocent people in the villages and they feel quite good going to bed every night with that thought. The junta continues to divide and rule and handing down unjustified sentences on political opponents simply designed to deliberately break them and try to eliminate them to safe guard the generals from their crimes. The junta does not like questions that expose them. The junta would find fault on them and put them away. The junta is acutely aware that the majority of the people are not on their side so they rule by fear and the gun. The junta refuses to discuss the affairs of the nation with the people's representatives because they have no legs to stand and falsely believe only the generals are capable of ruling the country. The general rule by force and intimidation and bulldoze people to accept things the tatmadaw way. The junta does not respect the opinion of the people. The people have no voice and certainly no say in the matter. The generals talk of democracy but essentially they behave as brutal dictators. The TV and media are used for the junta's propaganda. The news papers would show pictures of the generals in great meetings singing their praises. The news papers write nothing good about the democratic opposition. The media and news papers are used to discredit and reduce the democratic parties and to run favourable articles for the pro junta group USDA. University students are forced to join USDA otherwise the students are not allowed to sit for their final exams. Without USDA membership graduates are denied scolarship. The junta uses the USDA as an instrument do dishonest and disgraceful things for the tatmadaw which the tatmadaw does not want to be seen as done the deeds. The tatmadaw directed the USDA to commit massacre at Depeyin and then arrested the democratic parties as being the perpetrators. All junta members who committed murder and crime were all set free. Several NLD members were arrested without trial at the pleasure of the junta. Several NLD offices were closed down and all their documents confiscated and examined by USDA. End of 2006 five 1988 generation students leaders were illegally arrested without trial simply because they pose a threat to the junta. The junta would grant amnesty to thousands of prisoners and releasing only a hand full of opposition members.

It has been widely reported that the Generals have damaged the economy of the country. This is evident in the value of the Kyat. The junta is spending nearly 50% of the overall national expenditure on arms and ammunition to protect the tatmadaw from the people. Most of the trade was with China to secure protection in the Security Council. A very large number of the population is suffering from HIV Aids but this matter ranks very low in the list of priorities. The junta has changed the capital city of the country to Pyinmanar and has changed the flag of the nation with only one star without the permission and consent of the people. The junta's dishonesty is well known as they engage in lying and deceiving the people to achieve their objectives. If the person that planted the bomb is not found they blame it on the opposition. The important matters concerning the nation is disclosed to the overseas media first instead to it own people. The people frequently come to know of these matters via the overseas news. So much for respect for the people.

The regime has also defied repeated calls by the International Labour Organisation to end forced labour not to mention forced relocation, forced confiscation, etc... The generals are the wealthiest people in the country with unexplained wealth. Half of the generals seem to be concerned with the state of the nation and most of the other half is power drunk. The top general's actions and decisions are based on astrologers' predictions instead of scientific findings. What can one expect with their education level? The junta relies heavily on foreign investment and foreign manufacture and thought they would surpass China. The country has suffered from brain drain and most of the intellectuals have left for other countries because of the disastrous policies of the junta. Several foreign investments have pulled out. The Finance and Banking systems and the Science and Technology structure have run down setting the country several years behind the neighbouring states. The country suffers from hyper inflation and poverty is wide spread with some families have only one meal a day. The junta's priority is purchase of arms for the tatmadaw and the protection of the army although it has no obvious enemy. The peoples' welfare rank very low in the list of priorities. It is more important for the generals to protect themselves. So those who are problematic to the tatmadaw' s policies are exterminated even to the extent of engaging in purging with genocide. Citizens are picked up in the early morning to avoid wide spread spectacle and objection of the people around. To achieve this end the junta is engaged in a sham National Convention widely known to be made up of special hand picked pro junta personnel to perpetuate military rule despite the fact that the people have told the nation in the 1990 general election that they do not want military rule. The junta is shaping the constitution to safe guard themselves by filling 25% of the parliament seats with unelected military personnel to act as eyes and ears to protect the power hungry generals. The junta demands that the President of the country can only be a general from the arm forces and that the tatmadaw will have the veto power over the parliament. The constitution gives the junta the right to nab the country at any time after declaring emergency. The generals do not trust any one and believes only the tatmadaw is capable of ruling Burma and is acutely afraid of reprisals. They are now engaged in installing military officers in civilian positions over career civilian officers. The junta is engaging "Sawn Arr Shin" pro junta militia or thugs and freed jailed criminals to beat up and abuse peaceful demonstrators who cannot live a normal life with 500% fuel price rise last month. The junta does not understand the importance of dialogue with the people before such a hefty price rise. This junta does not care about the people. The junta has no consideration for the civilian officers although the civilians are more educated, experienced and qualified than the military officers who are only qualified to pull the trigger. It is an unfair strategy to protect the generals and military rule. They have caught hold of the tiger's tail and are unable to let go of it. Their hands are still wet with blood and the junta calls this Democracy.