WHAT OUR READERS SAY
By The Irrawaddy 19 May 2012
Burma Marks First Ever LGBT Day
It is not appropriate to bring Western gay culture to the Myanmar community. Myanmar has its own good reputation of respecting the gays and the lesbians. It would be an ugly sight to see the Western style of gay-marching on the streets, wearing no clothes. Myanmar is a land of spirituality and tolerance.
—Snoopy
UN in Talks with Govt over Kachin Conflict
Whatever the Myanmar president says in the Parliament, to the media and the international community, the continuing military operations against the Kachin people shows there is no sincerity in the government peace initiative.
There must be a real dark side in the military-dominated Myanmar government. The UN should get involved in this conflict to prevent ethnic cleansing.
—Maung Aung
Kachin Crisis Needs Urgent International Action
Perhaps, in a further article the writer should demand not only to the United Nations but also that free democratic states like the US and the UK agree to a “no fly zone” over Kachin State by the Myanmar government. Furthermore, the no fly zone should be extended to include Shan, Karen, Karenni, Chin, Mon, Rakhine states, etc. Maybe International Law will aid and abet the disintegration of the Myanmar state and usher in independent sovereign states of Kachin, Shan, Rakhine, Karen, Mon, etc. History is not dead. Myanmar is still in the making, and the Myanmar people will never allow their political destiny to be determined and to kowtow to others.
—Myo Nyunt
Kachin Crisis Needs Urgent International Action
Those countries and groups of countries which are in such a rush to revoke or suspend sanctions are not in the least concerned about democracy, human rights or the fate of the Kachin people. Their only thought is to make sure that they don’t miss out on the coming exploitation of the country’s natural resources. As always it is a small minority who will benefit and the cost to the rest of the population will be high. What a tragedy.
—Sai Lang Kham
Suu Kyi Backs US Suspending Burma Sanctions
At this time, land confiscations are on the rise in a more and more violent manner—by not just the military and the government, but by the private companies aligned with the upper echelons of the military government and Chinese businessmen. Violent repression is also on the rise. The sentiment that Suu Kyi wants to get rid of sanctions without any legal framework or independent law enforcement ability at all not only doesn’t make sense, it is outright dangerous. Being cooped up with self- serving visiting elites, she is way out of touch with the perpetually suffering public who unfortunately put blind faith in her for their own demise. She is unilaterally deciding the fate of 60 million people without any little explanation or consultation. And she claims to be a champion of “democracy”? The people of Burma have now jumped from the frying pan into the fire.
—Ohn
Chin Refugees Coexist and Survive in India
Many Chin people are migrating to neighboring Manipur state just like in Mizoram. These people assimilate with the Kukis easily due to their language similarity and culture, thereby increasing the Kuki population drastically over the past decade. This is a cause of concern since the predominantly refugees have started demanding a Kuki state out of Kuki-inhabited areas of Manipur. Better living conditions in Burma would certainly decrease their migratory behaviour.
—Meiraba
