from: Support Free Burma (SFB)
-thoughts and strategies for change in Burma-
San Francisco, California, USA
info@supportfreeburma.org
To all of you that are concerned with Burma -
OUR GROUP HAS A SERIOUS MESSAGE AND A STRATEGY THAT WE WOULD LIKE
ALL OF YOU TO READ, CONTEMPLATE, DISCUSS, AND
THEN PLEASE RESPOND TO US -
- FOR THE SAKE OF THE BURMESE PEOPLE!
Please share this with your members
BURMA ASSESSMENT and NEW STRATEGY
If you look on the web, there are many, many Burma activists groups throughout the US,
Canada, a dozen or more European countries, and many Asian countries.
Many people have spent much time and admirable effort for the sake of Burma.
However, now let's have a sober look at the situation.
The Burmese regime is even tougher, better armed, more defiant, and has the opposition
in Burma nearly completely squelched. After 18 years are we making progress? Have we
really forced the regime to do anything? Unfortunately, despite all of our good intentions
and noble efforts we are not getting concessions from the Burmese regime!
Examples: we banned selling weapons to the regime - so it buys them from China,
Russia, India etc; we have created various economic and business sanctions - and nearly
all Asian countries rush in; we work to get Western oil companies out of Burma - and
China, India, Russia, and South Korea jump right in; we've demanded the release of Aung
San Suu Kyi - but instead, she's now isolated, muzzled, and has no influence; in many
cities we have divested, protested, embargoed, and banned - but other countries just see
an open door to Burma. (We are not suggesting abandoning these kinds of things, but
let's pause and look at the current situation.)
Is the regime stronger now than before, or is the opposition?
Is the opposition (both inside and outside Burma) gaining influence and
strength, or losing them?
Has world and media attention really become greater, or lesser over these long
years?
All of our efforts have been done with the best of intentions, and long, hard work. Many
thanks to all!
But.......should we continue with these tactics, or do we need some new strategies?
The January 12, 2007 veto, of the resolution against Burma, at the U.N. Security Council,
was disappointing - but (unfortunately) not that unexpected. And, ASEAN’s unwillingness
to deal adequately with Burma’s terrible abuses are frustrating. And none of Burma’s
neighbors - India, Thailand, and China are of significant help at this time.
We need new and/or revitalized strategies -
and IMPORTANTLY - we need for each of us to be open and willing to embrace new
ideas, and perhaps change ‘set in stone’ positions.
(please consider printing this, in order to easily refer to it)
OUTLINE:
I - THE CURRENT STATUS OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI
II - WHAT COULD CHANGE THE MINDS AT THE UN, ASEAN, etc?
III - WHAT DOES A LEADER DO? THE PEOPLE’S INPUT......
IV - RESPONSE TO ‘SHE SAID SHE WILL NOT LEAVE BURMA’
V - FREEING HER IN BURMA IS NOT REALLY AN OPTION ANYMORE
VI - EFFECTS IN BURMA AS SHE IS HEARD AND SEEN ON CNN....
VII - HOW TO GET HER OUT
VIII – OTHER POINTS
IX - CONCLUSIONS
X - WE WANT INPUT FROM YOU, AND PEOPLE IN BURMA
I - THE CURRENT STATUS OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI
(To be continued)......