Mums the Word

Peace is not the product of terror or fear.
Peace is not the silence of cemeteries.
Peace is not the silent result of violent repression.
Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution of all to the good of all.
Peace is dynamism. Peace is generosity.
It is right and it is duty.
- Oscar Romero

India has been silent on the human rights violation in Burma.

The issue began when the monks started demonstrating the 500% hike in the gas/power prices by the dictatorial junta. Over 150 political activist groups including the 88 generation student groups led the protest.The autocrat crushed the protest thr' brutal voilence which has caused a bug uproar in the international community.

This kind of violence is not new to the dictator genral Than Shwe. He had crushed the protest in 1988 by the university students and the had killed over 3000 people at that time.

While the UN Human Rights Council and the others have passed on comments. The EU has imposed more sanctions against the Junta. Japan, one of the biggest donors has threatened sanctions to the Buddhist nation. India and China, two of the largest trading partner of the Junta govt. have turned a blind eye to the whole affair.

Why is India, a peace loving nation, who in the past has supported the Dalai Lama, the Tibet cause, the Bangladeshi cause etc... silent on the whole deal.

Indian Govt. had a deal with the Junta a couple of years back that India would make it a trading partner. In return, they would help India in removing the training camps in burma that train the insurgents in the North-East. They would not support the rebel groups in the NE.

India trades with Burma on military supplies. Recently, India has sold a maritime defender from the 80's that India brought from the Brits. Other items also include the tanks and other artillaries. There are talks of selling that helicopters made at HAL. China has been their other major arms supplier which today supplies them the helicopters and the other artillaries.

Indian oil companies including ONGC has large investments in the Oil & Gas exploration in the burmese oil rigs.

India is already having different problems with each of its neighbor Pakistan, bangladesh and Nepal. Looks like it is reluctant to add one more to the list by
adding Burma to the list.

Should we stay mum or support the efforts of Aung San Suu kyi's democratic efforts?

Unforgiven
- Metallica

New blood joins this earth
And quickly he's subdued
Through constant pained disgrace
The young boy learns their rules

With time the child draws in
This whipping boy done wrong
Deprived of all his thoughts
The young man strugggles on and on he's known
A vow unto his own
That never from this day
His will they'll take away
Chorus

What i've felt
What i've known
Never shined through in what i've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What i've felt
What i've known
Never shined through in what i've shown
Never free
Never me
So i dub thee UNFORGIVEN

They dedicate their lives
To RUINING all of his
He tries to please THEM all
This bitter man he is
Throughout his life the same
He's battled constantly
This fight he cannot win
A tired man they see no longer cares
The old man then prepares
To die regretfully
That old man here is me
Chorus


You labeled me
I'll label you
So i dub thee UNFORGIVEN
Never Free
Never Me
So i dub thee UNFORGIVEN
You labeled me
I'll label you
So i dub thee UNFORGIVEN