Myanmar: thoughts?

[Die Neue Zeit]

Any thoughts right now in regards to the Myanmar situation, from junta incompetence at emergency aid to an idiotic referendum held right in the middle of the emergency?

[Red October]

The military junta is obviously incompetent at dealing with this disaster, but it's also being used towards imperialist ends. Time Magazine is already advocating a US invasion of Myanmar: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1739053,00.html?xid=feed-cnn-topics

I don;t know much about the referendum, but this seems like a bad time to be focusing so much of the country's resources on that when so many people are starving.

[Os Cangaceiros]

The military junta is obviously incompetent at dealing with this disaster, but it's also being used towards imperialist ends. Time Magazine is already advocating a US invasion of Myanmar: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1739053,00.html?xid=feed-cnn-topics

I don;t know much about the referendum, but this seems like a bad time to be focusing so much of the country's resources on that when so many people are starving.

Yep, because when I hear that a country has been devastated by a natural disaster, my first thought is, "Ya know what that country could use right 'bout now? An invasion!"

[bootleg42]

It's a lose-lose situation for Myanmar.

The U.S. literally has ships waiting to take over the place while the ruling junta only cares about holding on to power. Either way, it's the people, the peasants mainly, who lose out.

[Hiero]

The military junta is obviously incompetent at dealing with this disaster, but it's also being used towards imperialist ends. Time Magazine is already advocating a US invasion of Myanmar: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1739053,00.html?xid=feed-cnn-topics

I don;t know much about the referendum, but this seems like a bad time to be focusing so much of the country's resources on that when so many people are starving.
It shows the stupidity of the bourgeoisie media, they are too emotional. Right now the US imperialists are losing the war in Iraq which is costing billions of dollars and has created a "humaniterian crisis", and this idiot is calling for another invasion. In the bourgeois realm of politics it is clear that the neo-conservative model of intervention has failed, direct military intervention is no longer possible in the post Vietnam world. I highly doubt that either Republican or Democrat are that stupid as to try another occupation.

[Pawn Power]

I'm guessing "development" projects will come about similar to that which arose after the 2004 tsunami which devastated Indonesia. Perhaps more luxury condos in place of villages...

[EscapeFromSF]

There was a WSWS article posted that pointed out that the US government/military really doesn't care about the Burmese people. I think it is safe to say their junta doesn't care about them either.

Power must be a real mind trip.

[BobKKKindle$]

Socialists should advocate the military defense of Burma as a country facing the threat of imperialism, and yet at the same time should also call for internal revolution to destroy the junta and abolish capitalist property relations. The deformed workers state created through the military coup of 1962 under the leadership of Ne Win was able to make many progressive advances, especially in the countryside, and concerning the issue of womens oppression.


Peasant committees (where big estate owners, merchants and bankers were excluded), with the right to lease land were formed. In 1963 all peasant debts to the state were written off and an aid program was launched to help farmers with fertilisers, better seed and access to tractors. The state loaned out 700 million kyat (the Burmese currency) to farmers and doubled the number of tractors by importing one thousand from Czechoslovakia. New laws were implemented that meant that farmers could not be evicted from their land. Bankers that had harassed the farmers were severely affected by anti-capitalist laws.(x) A campaign against illiteracy was also launched even the country’s ability to read was already quite high. In 1983, 86 per cent of men and 74 per cent of women could read and write.

http://socialistworld.net/eng/2004/10/25burmab.html

[Niccolò Rossi]

The Junta is a complete joke and should be attacked by the left for all it's worth as with all bourgeois dictatorships, whether they lye naked as in Myanmar or veiled under the notion of "democracy". Add that to the government's failed reponse to Cyclone Nagris and you have a pretty grim situation.

I will however make one other comment. Whilst I in no way support the Military Junta and it's actions, one thing that really boils my blood in the coverage of the current events in Myanmar by the media and the blatant propoganda portrayed. Whilst the criticism we are seeing in the media of the military Junta is legitimate, the accusation of the government playing politics whilst it's people suffer is complete hypocrisy. It is used as a cheap shot against the junta, whilst in reality not only are the Junta playing politics but the western media too.

[Die Neue Zeit]

^^^ Good point there, Zeitgeist. I mean, TIME did say above (first reply to the original post) to "give war a chance." :glare:

[black magick hustla]

Socialists should advocate the military defense of Burma as a country facing the threat of imperialism, and yet at the same time should also call for internal revolution to destroy the junta and abolish capitalist property relations. The deformed workers state created through the military coup of 1962 under the leadership of Ne Win was able to make many progressive advances, especially in the countryside, and concerning the issue of womens oppression.


Socialists shouldn't advocate the "military defense" of any capitalist nation, especially where in places where military service is obligatory. Advocating the forced defense of the bourgeosie's private property is NOT a communist position.