Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Footwear Etiquette

Regarding “These Shoes Are Made for More than Walkin' " [The Irrawaddy online; December 19, 2008; URL: http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14818]:

I believe the junta is worse than the British. Last year they entered Buddhist shrines and monasteries with their boots on, kicking and insulting every one.

Tin

Disappointment All Around

Regarding “Ban ‘Disappointed’ with Junta” [The Irrawaddy online; December 18, 2008; URL: http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14813]:

I am quite disappointed with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon too.

Aung Aung Phyu Lay

Revolving Prime Ministers

Regarding “Thai Elites Install Their Man as Premier” [The Irrawaddy online; December 16, 2008; URL: http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14800]:

"Amazing Thailand": Changing five prime ministers in two years.

Ko Naing

Pregnancy and Women

Regarding “Desperate Decisions" [The Irrawaddy online; December 17, 2008;
URL: http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14809]:

I feel that women should get more time off when they have babies. Abortions shouldn't be a crime, and they shouldn't go to jail. If a woman doesn't want to get pregnant again both the husband and wife should be sterilized or at least the man should.

Andy Bowe

The Year that Was

Regarding “The Drama of 2008” [The Irrawaddy magazine; December 2008;
URL: http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14755]:

Only force can bring change to Burma. These self-made generals and their families are making millions of dollars every day, and they will never give up except by force. Politics will never be able to remove them.

Lal

Preventing Flooding

Regarding “The Drama of 2008” [The Irrawaddy magazine; December 2008;
URL: http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14755]:

What is Burma doing to prevent more flooding? In the Netherlands, we have not forgotten the flood-drama that hit Burma. We want to help Burma to prevent this from happening again, but we do not know how to do this. In Bangladesh, Dutch water experts help the government with constructing levees and organizing flood defense projects. How can we help the Burma people when the Burmese government turns down our help?

Jac van Tuijn

Sandar Win

Regarding “Sandar Win Walks Free after 6 Years” [The Irrawaddy online; December 15, 2008; URL: http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14799]:

I think Sandar Win had some effect on how Burmese schools teach English. When she returned from the UK after failing her entrance exams for a post graduate degree, her father decreed that schools should teach English from the first grade. It is tragic when a country’s rulers recognize failings only when their own children (who have the best of everything) show the results. But [Ne Win] had no regrets about harming a generation of students.

Kyi Kyi Tun

Monday, December 15, 2008

UN Fails on Burma

Regarding “No Time like the Present” [The Irrawaddy online; December 9, 2008; URL: http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14773]:

The UN is just a noisy gong on the Burma issue. Ban-Ki-moon is unable to handle the Burma issue. When conditions are right, Burma won't need the UN, especially Ban-Ki-moon and Gambari. Burmese history will record the UN as a failure.