Heck of a Job Bushie

The death toll from this weekend’s cyclone and tidal wave in Burma has reached 22,500, with 41,000 people still missing. This is not looking good. Before this the people of Burma were already desperately poor, mostly as a result of the mismanagement of the oppressive military junta mismanaging the country. As a result of the cyclone millions of people are now left without food, shelter, medical services, and most likely even clean water. Worldwide, nations and international relief agencies are scrambling to send as much aid as possible as quickly as possible.

Did I say Worldwide? My bad, that is except for the United States. The 'Master of Disaster' Shrub has released an unbelievable $250,000 from a U.S. Embassy emergency fund for the Burma relief effort. Bush is refusing to send more until the government of Burma allows American disaster assessment teams into Burma to, do what he has shown we do so well and that is um...assess.

UNICEF has five disaster assessment teams in the hardest-hit areas already, but of course the 'Master of Disaster' Bush can’t trust the United Nations assessments. He has to have his own 'crack' team on the ground. They are, of course, hardened professionals that have demonstrated their 'crackness' on the ground in NOLA.

The final insult to all this is that Shrub sent his highly medicated bride out this morning in the press room to chide the Burmese government over their poor disaster response....the stupid really burns. No pot and kettle jokes here folks...move along, nothing to see here.

Free Burma

Today October 4th all bloggers are being asked to participate and post an entry with a graphic from www.free-burma.org and with the Free Burma title. You can engage as much as you like but I think it is important to show our support for the people of Burma. Do what you can and think is right.

Burma Update II

Things are still cloudy with regard to information coming out of Burma. Reports are that the military are driving through the streets and arresting people 24x7. Other reports are saying the Buddhist Monks are attempting to flee Rangoon but many people are wary of giving them aid.
The BBC is reporting that thousands of Monks have been arrested and are being moved to prisons in the North.

The UN is putting pressure on the junta leader General Than Shwe and also with the detained opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. No official report has been released by the UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari but something should be forthcoming soon.

This continues to be a tragic situation and there is going to be more suppression and more killing of protestors. The controlling military junta has shown itself to be ruthless and uncaring about world opinion which makes for a very difficult problem.

Burma Update

The situation in Burma is absolutely tragic but there are things you can do.

You can sign the global petition at Avaaz.org and support the efforts listed at the Burma Campaign Facebook group such as today’s email campaign calling on companies to end their investments in Burma.

Today, Congress is considering a bipartisan resolution, HR200 supporting Human Rights in Burma. You can call and make sure your representative knows that you want their Yes vote: 1-800-828-0498.

Here is a story via Crooks and Liars from the blog, Prosaic Collection:

We just got phone call with our sister living in Yangon about a few hours ago.

We saw on BBC world, saying that 200 monks were arrested. The true picture is far worse!!!!!!!!!

For one instance, the monastery at an obscure neighborhood of Yangon, called Ngwe Kyar Yan (on Wei-za-yan-tar Road, Yangon) had been raided early this morning.

A troop of lone-tein (riot police comprised of paid thugs) protected by the military trucks, raided the monastery with 200 studying monks. They systematically ordered all the monks to line up and banged and crushed each one’s head against the brick wall of the monastery. One by one, the peaceful, non resisting monks, fell to the ground, screaming in pain. Then, they tore off the red robes and threw them all in the military trucks (like rice bags) and took the bodies away.

The head monk of the monastery, was tied up in the middle of the monastery, tortured , bludgeoned, and later died the same day, today. Tens of thousands of people gathered outside the monastery, warded off by troops with bayoneted rifles, unable to help their helpless monks being slaughtered inside the monastery. Their every try to forge ahead was met with the bayonets.

When all is done, only 10 out of 200 remained alive, hiding in the monastery. Blood stained everywhere on the walls and floors of the monastery.

Please tell your audience of the full extent of the fate of the monks please please !!!!!!!!!!!!

‘Arrested’ is not enough expression. They have been bludgeoned to death !!!!!!

Even with this brutal treatment, the people of Burma are still fighting for their rights and there are reports of two attempted demonstrations in Yangon (Rangoon) today as well as word that 500 additional monks are being held at a detention center. The monks refuse to accept food from their military jailors. If you know of other actions we can take let us know in the comments and I will update the post with them.