Take Action to Help the People of Burma

Since August 15th, the people of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) have been demonstrating publicly against the military junta that has ruled that country since 1992 (and the military rule since 1962, when democratic rule ended as a result of a coup d'etat). These peaceful, pro-democracy demonstrations gained momentum when the country's highly-respected Buddhist monks joined in peace marches on September 18th.

During the past week, the military-controlled government has begun to crack down on these demonstrations in an attempt to repress the pro-democracy movement and maintain its control. "Cracking down" has meant firing bullets into crowds of demonstrators, entering Buddhist temples to physically beat and arrest monks, and shutting down any connections to the internet, thus attempting to cut-off any contact with the outside world.

The official death toll, as of today, is 13 killed. But according to ABC, the number of those who have been killed by the military crackdown is in the hundreds. And British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has stated that he believes the loss of life in Burma has been "far greater" than that reported by the authorities.

Human rights violations in Myanmar are widespread and systematic (source). They include:
--> The use of child soldiers and forced labor.
--> Laws that criminalize peaceful expression of political dissent. At the end of 2006 most senior opposition figures were imprisoned or administratively detained, among more than 1,160 political prisoners held in deteriorating prison conditions.
--> People are frequently arrested without warrant and held incommunicado.
--> Torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment are common, especially during interrogation and pre-trial detention.
--> Judicial proceedings against political detainees have failed to meet international standards of fairness.
--> Defendants are often denied the right to legal counsel and prosecutors have relied on confessions extracted through torture.

You can TAKE ACTION right now!
--> Ask President Bush to urge a UN Security Council mission to Burma
--> Download Amnesty International USA's Urgent Action sheet for detained protesters

When the people of Burma last staged mass pro-democracy protests back in 1988, the military junta murdered thousands (source). Let the military junta know that the world is watching!!! Take a minute and take action right now! Because failing to do so is to remain silent. And as Zack de la Rocha sings in Fistful of Steel:

Silence

Something about silence makes me sick

'Cause silence can be violent

Sorta like a slit wrist