[Reader-list] Fwd: Burma

Sun Sep 30 13:13:47 IST 2007

Ayush,

We have never pretended to be the "biggest upholder of human rights", don't
know where you got that one from. India, for one, is plagued by many
problems, we have many issues to be concerned about which does not leave
much space [for our government] to shift its focus to our immediate
neighbourhood. Which needs to change...

This would not be a place to trigger another round of huge discussions over
the kind of philosophy, policies and code of morality and ethics that
countries follow... but to try and understand what is in our best interest.

Diplomacy is not as simple as most of us make it sound like discussion
forums. Each and every step has to be taken with circumspection and
foresight.

--Anirudh

PS: We are not international policemen either. Let other countries deal with
their own problems, lest the image of India becomes one that the United
States currently has in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

On 9/30/07, ayush <ayushdelhi at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Apart from China we need to look within. What are we doing about it.
> Being the biggest democracy and upholder of human rights(well we pretend to)
> we need to do something rather than just think of our economic interests in
> the region. If we continue to behave this way,in my opinion, we would soon
> be like US - supporting and having dictators and repressive regimes as our
> best friends for the sake of economic interests. And ceratainly ones culture
> does not strength by endorsing or standing mum over repression - ceratinly
> not for India - where non vilonence and peacefulful protests are inherent
>
>
>
>
> Ayush
>
>
>
>
>
>  ---- Original Message ----
> From: Anirudh <anirudhsbh at gmail.com>
> To: reader_list <reader-list at sarai.net>
> Sent: Sunday, 30 September, 2007 11:13:40 AM
> Subject: [Reader-list] Fwd: Burma
>
>  ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Anirudh <anirudhsbh at gmail.com>
> Date: Sep 30, 2007 11:13 AM
> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Burma
> To: Yousuf <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com>
>
> India has always been in an eternal dilemma: Whether to have volatile
> democracies in it's neighbourhood or relatively-stable dictatorships. And
> I
> don't think we are moving towards a concrete solution either. :-(
>
> As for boycotting the Chinese Olympics, I think that would segregate them
> even more from the world, which is something we cannot afford to do. India
> must  maintain strong cultural and economical ties in it's neighbour hood,
> for it's own good.
>
> - --Anirudh
>
> On 9/30/07, Yousuf <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> > Eddie Woods <metal.dragon at hetnet.nl> wrote:
> >
> > Hello People,
> >
> > We're concerned about Burma, right?
> > But no one can do anything.
> > Except talk. And make useless threats.
> > The UN. The EU. The USA. The UK. Etc.
> > Sanctions. Travel restrictions. Blah-blah-blah.
> > The generals don't care.
> > They never did, they're not going to now.
> > Yet a nation is in pain. And people are dying.
> >
> > We know China COULD do something. But it won't.
> > They do too much business with the corrupt Burmese
> > regime.
> > Nearly two billion dollars' worth annually.
> > More than 400 companies.
> > And Burma's biggest arms supplier (along with India &
> > Russia).
> >
> > Well, there are organizations that can do something.
> > To force China to do something.
> > Sports federations.
> > Beijing is hosting the 2008 Olympics.
> > (Which it never should have been awarded. With its
> > godawful human rights
> > record. Its polluted air. And all the crap they'll be
> > selling, made by what
> > practically amounts to slave labor.)
> >
> > Urge your national sports federations to boycott the
> > Olympics!
> > The message is simple: "China, wring the generals'
> > necks. Stop selling them
> > guns. Insist they step down NOW. And release Aung San
> > Suu Kyi IMMEDIATELY.
> > Make them give political power back to those they
> > stole it from, the people
> > of Burma. Or we won't come and play with you, China.
> > We'll skip the Olympics
> > till 2012. Your stadiums will be empty. Your cheap
> > trinkets and t-shirts
> > will rot. And you can go back to flogging poisoned
> > toys to the world."
> >
> > Will they do it, the sports federations? Probably not.
> > But YOU can tell them
> > to anyway. You can find most of the international ones
> > at
> >
> >
> http://www.agfisonline.com/vsite/vnavsite/page/directory/0,10853,5148-176060
> > -193278-nav-list,00.html
> > and then Google for the rest. Know any athletes? Talk
> > to them, twist their
> > arms. To twist the arms of their federations. Sports
> > is business, too.
> > France's Total (gas & oil company) is not about to
> > quit Burma, but maybe a
> > handful or more pole-vaulters will.
> >
> > Ah, and all of you in cricket-playing countries:
> > pressure your cricket teams
> > and federations to boycott India. Until they cease
> > arms sales to Burma's
> > dictators. "You need gas, India? I'm sure any future
> > democratic Burmese
> > government will be more than happy to do business with
> > you."
> >
> > I haven't a clue about what anyone might say to
> > Russia. But two out of the
> > big bad three would be great for starters.
> >
> > Oh yeah, the BBC, CNN, et cetera could also stop
> > running tourism ads for
> > China. You know, the folks who execute more of their
> > citizens than any other
> > nation; and then charge the poor sods' families for
> > the bullets.
> >
> > [The attached poem (with thanks to Rudyard Kipling for
> > the title + first
> > line) is appended below as well as attached; this for
> > the benefit of those
> > on my mailing list (there are a few) who cannot open
> > attachments.]
> >
> > Go for it, eh!
> >
> > Amen, EDDIE
> >
> >
> > MANDALAY
> >
> > On the road to Mandalay,
> > Where Buddhist monks march and pray
> > With their begging bowls turned upside down,
> > Their fear of reprisals flung to the ground,
> > A brutal regime strains to hold sway.
> > Yet in the grim face of tyranny
> > It is the Sangha, and the people,
> > Who must seize the day.
> >
> > On the streets of Rangoon,
> > Even yesteryear was not too soon
> > For those murderous generals
> > To be thoroughly swept away.
> >
> > Common soldiers, hold your fire!
> > Turn your weapons on the liars!
> > Build a pyre, enormously tall!
> > Set it alight, let it burn bright
> > With the sizzling corpse
> > Of oppression overthrown!
> >
> > Flames of freedom, please prevail!
> > As Burma valiantly seeks to sail
> > Into a new and fragrant dawn.
> > Burma oh Burma,
> > May the spirit of Buddha
> > Guide your future for evermore.
> >
> >
> > EDDIE WOODS
> > September 2007
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> ____________________________________________________________________________________
> >
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> >
> >
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