Tag "displacement"

Why doesn't the world know?

Posted on: 06/07/09

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Author: glitzandglamour

Summary execution, torture, rape, forced labor, extortion, and displacement are among the daily realities for the people of Burma. When they try to speak out, ethnic minority rebels are met by the "four-cuts strategy" from the government.

Cutting off food.

Cutting off funds.

Cutting off intelligence.

Cutting off recruits.

In other instances, the military gains control of an area and establishes a base, using forced labor. From that base, they attack and burn other nearby villages. Areas outside this government control are established "black zones", where soldiers can shoot anybody on sight. As if that wasn't horrific enough, there is a new campaign of "Burmanization", where government troops are using rape against ethnic minority women to force pregnancy.

530,000 are internally displaced.

700,000 have been forced to seek refuge abroad.

3,200 villages have been DESTROYED or abandoned since 1996

Why doesn't the world know?

We must spread the word about Burma, the stories of what the people experience and suffer. Think about how you can take action and raise awareness in your life. Some ideas...

Sign this petition to free Aung San Suu Kyi, a leader in action for Burma!

Arrest yourself for Aung San Suu Kyi

Ask your representative to support a UN inquiry into the crimes at Burma

Find more ideas HERE

Find more information at US Campaign for Burma and GI-Net's coverage of the situation.

Also, here is a video which puts the situation in the words of a survivor, pass it on to friends and family so they can learn what's going on!