Murdered Monks Dumped
Daily Mail reports thousands of Buddhist clergy and lay Burmese protestors murdered, dumped in the jungle.  Â
Thousands of protesters are dead and the bodies of hundreds of executed monks have been dumped in the jungle, a former intelligence officer for Burma’s ruling junta has revealed.
The most senior official to defect so far, Hla Win, said: “Many more people have been killed in recent days than you’ve heard about. The bodies can be counted in several thousand.”
Mr Win, who spoke out as a Swedish diplomat predicted that the revolt has failed, said he fled when he was ordered to take part in a massacre of holy men. He has now reached the border with Thailand.
…
Reports from exiles along the frontier confirmed that hundreds of monks had simply “disappeared” as 20,000 troops swarmed around Rangoon yesterday to prevent further demonstrations by religious groups and civilians.
Word reaching dissidents hiding out on the border suggested that as well as executions, some 2,000 monks are being held in the notorious Insein Prison or in university rooms which have been turned into cells.
There were reports that many were savagely beaten at a sports ground on the outskirts of Rangoon, where they were heard crying for help.
Others who had failed to escape disguised as civilians were locked in their bloodstained temples.
There, troops abandoned religious beliefs, propped their rifles against statues of Buddha and began cooking meals on stoves set up in shrines.
In stark contrast, the streets of Rangoon and Mandalay - centres of the attempted saffron revolution last week - were virtually deserted.
This is a regime that needs to go. So how to accomplish that? UN? Sorry, I know, it’s cruel to even bring that up. Invasion by ASEAN member states? Here’s the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ about:
The ASEAN Declaration states that the aims and purposes of the Association are: (1) to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and (2) to promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries in the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.
Promoting regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law … yeah, I don’t think so, even though nations like Thailand, the Philippines have substantial, well-equipped, well-trained militaries, and could probably get assistance from you know who. Read on:
… They (ASEAN founders) did not want their intentions to be misunderstood. They did not want ASEAN to be mistaken for a military grouping among political allies-as some of its predecessors* had been. Â
I get it. They’re just interested in making money. Anyway, Burma’s a member. “Concerned” ASEAN is now  ”most disturbed.” Hey, speaking of money, here’s a thought. Who is Burma’s primary ally? Who has the most influence over the ruling junta of “Myanmar.”  Â
China! We buy scads of stuff from China. China has just signalled to us, amid scandals over tainted food and toxic toys, that while China doesn’t mind things that are rotten, China is highly sensitive to financial pressure over the inexplicable foreign distate for things that are rotten.Â
Things like China’s coddling of the Myanmar regime.Â
Maybe if America, Europe and Asia were to signal to China that “Made in China” is a no go … Beijing Olympics, no go … Supporting the sham that China is actually anything like a modern nation, no go … I bet China would hate that. Never mind the political prisoners in China. The last thing the Peoples Republic of China wants people to do is associate the Beijing Olympics, cheap toys, etc., with piles of rotting monks in the Burmese jungle.  Â
It may be too late for Burma. The back of the pro-democracy movement may well be broken. Though China’s a great nation. Maybe China can figure out a way to make it better. If not, maybe it’s just time for the world to let China know how it feels about China’s many, ongoing outrages. On principle.
Don’t just take my word for it. Here are some brainiacs writing in Foreign Affairs, at RCP, who actually appear to know what they are talking about. U.S. needs to take a lead role in guiding, and pressuring ASEAN, Japan … and Myanmar’s chief enablers, China and India … to bring pressure on Burma’s rogue, destabilizing regime. Re India, here’s the new army chief:
India’s army, which is battling numerous insurgencies in the remote northeast bordering Myanmar, favours a “good relationship” with the military junta, said army chief Deepak Kapoor, who took charge on Sunday.
“We have a good relationship going with Myanmar and I am sure we will try and maintain that,” Kapoor told reporters in New Delhi, adding the turmoil in Myanmar was “an internal matter.”
Not everyone in India feels that way: Indian MPs and religious leaders back pro-dem protestors.
Gateway has the revolting images of slaughter.
*There used to exist an organization that, as with NATO in Bosnia, might be embarrassed by mass murder and compelled to act. But SEATO was dissolved in 1977. Abovementioned FA/RCP article suggests internal affairs of ASEAN member states and regional security issues is a growing concern for ASEAN, but not to the point they appeared to be ready to do anything about it.Â
Topics: asia
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 8:45 am on Monday, October 1, 2007
33 Responses to “Murdered Monks Dumped”
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October 1st, 2007 at 9:19 am
I predict a stern resolution will be forthcoming from the Security Council with China and Russia abstaining.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:31 am
So much for the Saffron Revolution.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:47 am
Slaughter in Burma
No wonder they cut off Internet access the other day. This is just horrifying.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:59 am
It’s only a matter of time before the Junta signs a tripartite alliance with Venezuela and Iran.
October 1st, 2007 at 10:45 am
[...] Jules Crittenden, news that the jungle is stacked with dead monks like cordwood: Thousands of protesters are dead [...]
October 1st, 2007 at 11:04 am
Web Reconnaissance for 10/01/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:38 am
Blogging Burma
It’s becoming more and more apparent that things in Burma may be far worse than we initially realized. Gateway Pundit is aggregating all the latest news and info on this tragedy, while other bloggers are trying to sort out the…
October 1st, 2007 at 12:13 pm
[...] Jules Crittenden _uacct = “UA-1237831-1″; urchinTracker(); Posted in Convert or Die by Infidelesto [...]
October 1st, 2007 at 12:53 pm
No kidding vinman, just don’t call ‘em an axis of anything, cuz you know that makes them do mean things that they wouldn’t normally do if they weren’t otherwise “provoked” by someone telling the truth.
October 1st, 2007 at 3:14 pm
[...] How long do you think it will take the useless and feckless UN to do anything about this slaughter in Burma? [...]
October 1st, 2007 at 4:27 pm
I expect to see “Free Burma” bumper stickers any day now. That’ll show ‘em.
October 1st, 2007 at 4:47 pm
[...] Human Rights, Travesty. trackback Gateway Pundit has the details if you really care to know. Jules Crittendon is pointing out that we should stop supporting China until they put an end to their support for [...]
October 1st, 2007 at 7:17 pm
This is really hard to countenance.
If true I ,just heard on “the news” that the source of much of Myanmar/Burma weapons is China.
The same crowd that built the oil pipeline in Sudan and has very likely sold arms to Sudan.
October 1st, 2007 at 7:37 pm
If you put a “Free Burma” bumpersticker on your car, you’ll be doing more than the Republican president apparently is:
Q So that hasn’t risen to the presidential level yet?
MS. PERINO: It’s possible that the President has been briefed on it. I don’t know, but can we get back to you on it?
Q I’m sorry, I mean outreach, is the President calling, picking up the phone?
MS. PERINO: Not that I’m aware of.
Q Okay. And another one is, at the APEC summit, the President invited all the ASEAN countries to Texas, including Burma. Has that been rescinded?
[..]
MS. PERINO: Now I’m remembering. You’re refreshing my memory. I don’t know. And that meeting is way in the future.
—————
Meanwhile, over in the Congress, Burma is even lower on the agenda. But apparently Rush Limbaugh has said something stupid again.
October 1st, 2007 at 7:46 pm
corndog:
Good God is there anything in the world that you can not blame on Bush? Sickening, it is like a disease with you people. Prodemocracy monks are slaughtered in Burma and here you are yammering about Bush. Other than trying for some campaign contributions via an Asian middleman what is Hillary doing about Burma?
October 1st, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Gee, I know, maybe we should liberate Burma. I am sure the left would jump right in there.
October 1st, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Oh, don’t come in here with that cheap attempt to bait the commentariat, corndog. It’s unworthy.
October 1st, 2007 at 10:06 pm
Corndog:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/25/AR2007092500136.html?nav=rss_politics
“UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 — President Bush announced new sanctions against the military government of Burma Tuesday, figuratively joining hands with tens of thousands of protesters in the streets of Rangoon and challenging the United Nations to join him in a broader “mission of liberation.”
The president used his speech here to focus particularly on Burma, where Buddhist monks and other demonstrators returned for an eighth day of peaceful protests against the junta that rules the Southeast Asian nation…
“Americans are outraged by the situation in Burma, where a military junta has imposed a 19-year reign of fear,” Bush told the U.N. assembly. “Basic freedoms of speech, assembly and worship are severely restricted. Ethnic minorities are persecuted. Forced child labor, human trafficking and rape are common. The regime is holding more than 1,000 political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party was elected overwhelmingly by the Burmese people in 1990.”
Bush said he will tighten economic sanctions against government leaders and their financial backers and expand a U.S. visa ban on those deemed responsible for “the most egregious violations of human rights.” He also called on other nations “to use their diplomatic and economic leverage to help the Burmese people reclaim their freedom.”
Burma has occupied a prominent spot on the White House radar screen since first lady Laura Bush became personally upset about the situation in the country now called Myanmar by its leaders. In recent weeks, she called on U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to urge more action on Burma and summoned reporters to condemn the government — unusually public moves by the first lady.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Good God is there anything in the world that you can not blame on Bush?
See, corndog? I told you to see about treatment for your BDS before it consumes. Take the first step and recognize that you have a problem!
And while you’re at it, don’t forget to put that “Free Burma!” on your car. If you lack room, either stick it on the rear window, or put it over your “Free Mumia!” sticker.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:45 pm
TRJ,
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Thanks.
October 2nd, 2007 at 1:26 am
2007.10.01 Politics and National Defense Roundup
[Updated frequently throughout the day. Please come back often.] ******** Quick hits: Thousands Murdered in Burma Never Forget Burma Murdered Monks Dumped
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:16 am
Pardon me, Terrye. Next time I’ll address my concerns to someone who is actually in charge of foreign policy.
Nice link, Jules, but apparently the Burmese leaders are still invited to the ranch for dinner. And Unocol is still having its pipeline. And Mobil’s still drilling for gas.
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:20 am
Even worse for your paste, there Jules, is that His Impotence made his announcement of new sanctions the week BEFORE the body dumping began. Seeing that they had no effect, his spokesman said he was sitting this one out.
Interestingly, the Foreign Affairs article you link to says that the U.S. could have done much more except, you guessed it, we’re too tied up in Iraq.
October 2nd, 2007 at 1:50 pm
But ‘dog, I thought “sanctions” and endless diplomacy and invites to address prestigious universities were the only way to convince the recalcitrant meanies of the error of their ways. So in this case Bush stifled his overwhelming cowboy urge to go bomb Rangoon and to widen and pave the Ledo Road out to 8 lanes so his oil buddies can exploit the natives and now you have a problem with that?
This nuance stuff is so confusing to a simple sort like me.
October 2nd, 2007 at 2:40 pm
VC,
My point is that Bush’s “sanctions” from last week were obviously impotent. And there is no “endless diplomacy” because Bush has yet to do squat (see quotes I pasted above).
Meanwhile the leverage we actually have - through Unocol and Mobil, as well as our great relations with India - is ignored. Instead, Jules wants us to go crawling to the Chinese to please! please! do something!
Bush doesn’t have to bomb Rangoon. But he also doesn’t need to invite the junta over to his ranch for dinner (see quotes above).
October 2nd, 2007 at 3:37 pm
So where are you going with this? Bush is doing re: Burma exactly what his smarters have prescribed for him elsewhere:
Why can’t we be like Sweden and New Zealand and just tut tut about it and get on with our comfortable subsidized lives while the wogs off each other?
Burma is a regional problem, let the “region” or the UN take care of it. No sense going all cowboy imperialist over a few murdered religious extremists, and if we can do a little business on the side, well heck, that’s just gravy. Right? I mean the Clintons did business with the PRC and the Norks while they were doing dastardly things to dissenters and minorities and nobody who’s opinion mattered gave a crap. And since you know doubt dislike religious extremists here, why do you care about them 8000 miles away? And the perps are socialists so the Left should be fawning over them anyhow.
And your prescription is we shouldn’t have them over for BBQ???
I guess that’ll show ‘em. Man I am confused.
October 2nd, 2007 at 3:44 pm
No, you’re right, VC. Bush should have the junta over to his house for a swim in the pool, and maybe afterward, his manservant will rustle up some crab rangoon for them.
No doubt they’ll say they’re sorry for killing all those monks, and they’ll promise, scouts honor, never to hurt Unocol or Mobil.
October 2nd, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Crab rangoon, say, that sounds good… Oh sorry.
How is that different than Maddie Albright, heels, pearls and all dancing with ‘lil Kim and letting him have a little feel (eiuww, sorry, hope you’ve eaten) and having him promise her he’ll never, commies honor, never make a nuclear bomb?
Simple as I am, I believe I’ve got it. Its about Bush isn’t it? If he does something, anything, he’s an out of control cowboy. If he does nothing or if he advocates the continued flow of the world’s oil so that people have heat and transportation, he’s obviously got a sinister agenda.
I got news for you ‘dog. No matter whether oil is Unocal or Exxon Mobil or Total Fina Elf, or a completely nationalized entity: some rich guy somewhere will still be making a lot of money off of it. You have to let go of that at some point.
October 2nd, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Let me understand this: If we weren’t in Iraq, Corndog would advocate going into Burma to stop the slaughter? Would he then complain that we were doing it for the oil companies? And when we don’t, we’re not doing it because of the oil companies?
October 2nd, 2007 at 6:29 pm
No, Salty - please read what I wrote. I haven’t said one word about invading Burma.
I am saying we should do real diplomacy. That means using what we have as leverage. Our leverage is with the Unocol and Mobil contracts, and our close alliance with India.
Instead of doing this, Jules wants to plead with the Chinese. And Bush wants to keep up the junta’s invite to his ranch next summer. Oh, and he’ll have his spokesperson put out “strongly-worded” statements such as:
“we understand that some of the monasteries have been sealed. Now, obviously, this has, again, a chilling effect on protestors, but we would ask that everyone show restraint and allow those who want to express themselves to be able to do so in Burma.”
VC,
The difference between Maddie’s diplomacy and Bush’s, is that Maddie, using whatever means at her disposal (ok, let’s not go there), was…. successful.
October 2nd, 2007 at 6:46 pm
“The difference between Maddie’s diplomacy and Bush’s, is that Maddie, using whatever means at her disposal (ok, let’s not go there), was…. successful.”
Oh. My. Goodness. ‘dog I greatly enjoy our sparing and witty repartee but you must stick to facts. If your girl Maddie was successful, that is one heck of a low standard.
Or is this one of those cases where they didn’t develop a bomb until they were provoked into it by a speech from the “world’s biggest moron”?
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:39 am
Simple as I am, I believe I’ve got it. Its about Bush isn’t it? If he does something, anything, he’s an out of control cowboy. If he does nothing or if he advocates the continued flow of the world’s oil so that people have heat and transportation, he’s obviously got a sinister agenda.
That’s the BDS in action, VotC. Classic symptoms.
October 5th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
[...] There’s further discussion in the blogosphere at TalkLeft; The Mahablog; The Glittering Eye; The Van Der Galiën Gazette, Real Clear Politics and Jules Crittenden. [...]