Humanitarian tragedy in Burma

Many people are aware of humanitarian tragedies in Africa, but much less is known about the human rights meltdown in Burma, (Myanmar). Recently there has been disturbing national coverage that I would like to inform the readers about.

The recent demonstrations are an immediate result of the military government's decision to hike fuel prices by more than double and the underlying hope to end military dictatorship. Protests drew international attention after thousands of Buddhist monks joined in. At the height of the protests, 70,000 people turned out, but were crushed when troops opened fire into the crowds. It's been estimated that over 250 have been killed; 1,500 monks and 9,000 have been arrested.

Burma has been ruled by a oppressive regime for the last 19 years after it brutally crushed the democratic uprising in 1988, where approximately 3,000 people were killed and thousands imprisoned. For the last 12 years it has also kept the democratic opposition leader, Aung San Su Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize in recipient, under house arrest. In eastern Burma, the regime has destroyed and burned over 3,000 villages. Over one million refugees have fled the country and an additional million remain as internal refugees. They face abuse in forms of rape, torture, extortion and murder. Many are forced into labor camps for government projects. The regime has recruited more child solders than any other country (up to 70,000) and rates of child and maternal mortality are among the highest in the world.

I have personally witnessed many of these tragedies in my trips back to Burma, where I was born. For more information on this crisis, to see how you can help, or to sign petitions to help free the people in Burma, please visit www.uscampaignforburma.org.

Evelyn Gluting

Aurora