News of the growing protests and the violent suppression of democratic movements in Burma reached a fever pitch early this past week, but most sources of information about what’s happening inside the country were cut off abruptly when the ruling junta shut down all internet access to the outside world. Still, activists within Burma managed to keep slipping bits and pieces of info about the increasingly brutal actions by the government forces against the Buddhist monks and their citizen supporters past the news embargo anyway. Sketchy though they might be, the reports of what went on their during the week and its ugly aftermath this weekend are deeply disturbing.

While members of the world community have had a lot to say in response to the crisis in Burma over the past few days, there’s precious little that they’ve actually done to pressure the Burmese dictatorship into relaxing its stranglehold on pro-democracy forces within the country. The White House in particular was slow to take a stand in support of the protesters, and its actions in support of those standing up against the regime so far have been ineffectual at best. Of course, America’s ability to effect change in the rest of the world has been greatly reduced by the Bush administration’s reckless squandering of so much of our country’s moral and ethical capital — and so much of its financial and military capital, too — in the course of its disastrous ground war in Iraq.

Senator Kerry has expressed his support of the pro-democracy protesters in Burma on several occasions and has repeatedly urged the US to join with the United Nations and other countries in the region, especially the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to work together in putting social, economic, and political pressure to bear on the ruling military junta in order to bring about positive, lasting change in Burma. As he said in a speech he gave on the floor of the Senate earlier this week,

Against all odds, the long-suffering people of Burma have risen up against one of the world’s most repressive regimes. What began a month ago as modest, impromptu protests has since mushroomed into a nation-wide, peaceful democratic groundswell. Tens of thousands of students have joined Buddhist monks in the streets, marching and chanting in unison against Burma’s brutal military rulers.

The Burmese people should know that America and all free peoples across the globe stand in awe of their commitment and courage. Their actions follow in the venerable footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Lech Walesa, and all those heroes who understood that nonviolent resistance is humanity’s greatest weapon against tyranny and injustice. I want to join the President of the United States, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and many others in letting them know: We support your struggle. We stand with you.

What is happening today in the streets of Rangoon is as tenuous as it is unexpected. The cabal of generals, who pillage Burma under the guise of governing it, could easily meet these non-violent protests with a bloodbath, just like they did in 1988. And we must do all that we can to ensure that this does not come to pass.

No one should doubt the Burmese junta’s potential for brutality and large-scale violence. Since taking power, they have killed tens of thousands of Burmese and razed more villages than have been destroyed in Darfur. Over half a million have been internally displaced, and an additional one million refugees have fled the country. These tyrannical thugs have engaged in the systematic use of forced labor, human trafficking, forcible recruitment of child soldiers, torture, and rape — an appalling laundry list of human rights violations.

And, yet, despite such grave danger, the people of Burma have stood strong in the face of this extraordinary evil, to demand democratic reforms and basic human rights. They have done so with dignity, and they have done so peacefully.

The United States and the rest of the free world must stand with the people of Burma. The President’s decision yesterday to target the top generals for financial sanctions is a step in the right direction — but it will not solve the problem. And it is not enough.

The massive pro-democracy demonstrations in Burma represent the best opportunity for genuine political change in nearly twenty years. Burma’s “Saffron Revolution” is also an excellent chance for America to finally show greater diplomatic leadership on the world stage.

The United States must lead the international community in pressuring the military junta to release all political prisoners, starting with the venerable Nobel Peace Prize laureate and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and take steps down the path towards political change.

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The international community must respond to this ongoing tragedy by providing humanitarian aid to a desperate and deserving people. Current levels of international assistance are woefully insufficient. We need a network of public and private donors to fund health, education, and infrastructure projects. The resilient and brave Burmese people have shown they are more than worthy of our support and compassion.

We must not forget Burma’s last great democratic uprising in 1988 — one that was brutally crushed by the military at the cost of some 3,000 innocent lives. That day and the repression that followed show the horrible human toll of our collective failure to act.

A peaceful, pro-democratic outcome in Burma is within reach: the UN, ASEAN, India, and especially China must stand with the United States in solidarity with the Burmese people. We must not fail the people of Burma once again.

The situation on the ground in Burma continues to evolve on a daily basis. By Sunday, an eerie and artificial calm seemed to have settled over the country and it appears that the brutal repression of the Buddhist monks has succeeded in breaking their ability to stand up for democratic principles there — at least for now.

Here are some links for reliable and/or up-to-date information about what is happening inside Burma’s borders from MSM news reports, outside support groups, and directly from online sources within the country itself.

Those activists and citizen journalists who are managing to slip information past the government-imposed digital firewall do so at great personal risk. As Burmese blogger Ko Latt wrote just as the ruling junta cut off access to the Internet there on Friday, “They know who we are, they know we are bloggers, and I am afraid.”

MSM sources:

Time magazine – Burma’s Military Solution (Sept. 6, 2007)
Time magazine – The Fighting Monks of Burma (Sept. 19, 2007)
Time magazine – Monks vs. Police in Burma (Sept. 26, 2007)
Time magazine – Burma Takes On the Generals (Sept. 27, 2007)
Time magazine – An Eye in the Sky on Burma (Sept. 28, 2007)
Time magazine – Burmese Junta Silences the Monks (Sept. 28, 2007)

BBC News – Monks in defiance of military rulers (Sept. 18, 2007)
BBC News – ‘Nine killed’ in Burma crackdown (Sept. 27, 2007)
BBC News – Soldiers break up Burma protests (Sept. 28, 2007)
BBC News – Heavy army presence in Burma city (Oct. 1, 2007)
BBC News – Monks missing as bustle returns (Oct. 1, 2007)
BBC News – Burmese monks ‘to be sent away’ (Oct. 1, 2007)

London Daily Mail coverage (includes historical background articles on Burma)

Mandalay Gazette breaking news forums

The Irrawaddy (includes frequent news updates from Burma)

Burma News International online edition

Non-MSM sources:

Burma News RSS feed on Cbox (constantly-updated links and information)

Burmese Bloggers Without Borders

Alternative Asean Network on Burma

The United States Campaign for Burma

The Burma Campaign UK

Updated again on October 2 to add:


Senate Approves Kerry Resolution Condemning Military Crackdown in Burma

McConnell, McCain, Brownback join Kerry, Reid in supporting measure in support of democratic activists

WASHINGTON D.C. – Sen. John Kerry announced today that this afternoon the Senate unanimously approved the resolution he introduced condemning the harsh military crackdown on Buddhist monks and pro-democracy protesters in Burma. Sen. Kerry spoke out on the Senate floor last week in strong support of the Burmese people and the monks who had risked their lives demanding a return to democracy. The resolution marks the first official action Congress has taken in the wake of the violent crackdown on protestors that began last week.

“The world must send a clear message to the junta in Burma that it is unacceptable to respond to non-violent protesters with bullets, tear-gas and beatings. Ultimately the only solution for Burma can be found in a political dialogue that begins with tolerance and mutual respect,” Kerry said. “I hope that this resolution and the Senate’s unanimous strong condemnation reminds the Burmese junta that the United States speaks with one voice against this brutal military regime and that we stand united in support of long-overdue dialogue towards national reconciliation and the return of democracy.”

The Kerry-McConnell bi-partisan resolution calls for the release of Nobel prize winter Aung Sang Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners; the suspension of military assistance from China; pressures Burma’s ruling junta to engage in dialogue with opposition leaders; argues that the U.S. and the United Nations encourage China, India, and Russia to use their influence to convince Burma to engage in dialogue towards national reconciliation; and urges the international community to pressure Burma to lift all restrictions on humanitarian aid delivery and allow international humanitarian aid organizations to work unimpeded.

The full text of the above resolution can be seen here.