Burma_humanrights

=Burma Human Rights=

Background (Burma_humanrights2) History (Burma_humanrights3)

media type="youtube" key="szHkK7N2F5U&hl=en" height="344" width="425" = =


=__**//What is Going On???//** __=

Burma officially the union of Myanmar, is the largest country in Southeast Asia. The country's culture heavily influenced by neighbors is based on Theravada Buddhism. There has been a lot of controversey developing in Burma by many buddhist who are protesting for their human rights and fighting towards becoming a democracy. The practice of buddhism plays a major role in fighting for human rights in Burma. Many Buddhist in Burma believe that their religious freedom has been violated. The military regime, from [|sierraclub.org] "Burma's military regime, Orwellianly known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), has committed egregious human rights violations, including repression and torture".

Copyright American Humanist Association Nov/Dec 2007

According to the article entitled [|The Humanist]"BURMA (known officially as the Union of Myanmar) is a deeply Buddhist nation, steeped in conservative, ancient Theravada tradition. Since 1962 Burma has been ruled by an oppressive military junta that claims legitimacy through Buddhism and governs in the purported image of the great Buddhist kings of yore. In short, no figurative wall separates monastery and military state in this socially repressive, economically depressed, and technologically deprived South East Asian nation of roughly 50 million people" (The Humanist, 2007).

=//__Are There Human Rights in Buddhism??? media type="youtube" key="gsP0Q6YW3Bs&hl=en" height="344" width="425"__// = Within the Buddhism religion, buddhist believe that all individuals should be treated fair. In the Buddhist culture the Four Noble Truths is something that is very important within the buddhist community. The Four Noble Truths are said to be:
 * 1) **Suffering Exists**
 * 2) **Suffering arises from attachment to desires**
 * 3) **Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases**
 * 4) **Freedom suffering is possible by practicing the eightfold path**

These morals have a huge impact on the condition of the buddhists human rights.Within the Buddhism culture they follow they take thes practices very serious. The government is very controlling "While Burma has suffered for 45 years at the hands of a brutal dictatorship, rising gas prices this past summer led the monastic community and the people to risk their lives for freedom. Led by monks and dubbed the “Saffron Revolution,” the Burmese took to the streets to call for an end to decades-long military junta. The military responded with overwhelming violence. Many monks have been forcibly disrobed, beaten, tortured, and killed. While there is no accurate number of how many were killed or jailed, sources inside Burma say thousands are still not accounted for. The Buddhist Peace Fellowship appeals to the international community to take swift and effective measures to release all political prisoners, stop the arrests, and restore democracy in Burma (The Buddhist Channel, 2007)".
 * Economic and Political Status**


 * Becoming a democratic country is one of Burma's goals for a better economy, the country is ran by a military junta

"The Government's extremely poor human rights record worsened, and the Government continued to commit numerous serious abuses. Citizens still did not have the right to criticize or change their government. Unlike in previous years, there were no reports of government-affiliated agents killing pro-democracy activists. Security forces continued to carry out extrajudicial killings. Disappearances continued, and security forces raped, tortured, beat, and otherwise abused prisoners and detainees. Citizens were subjected to arbitrary arrest without appeal. Arrests and detention for political dissent occurred on numerous occasions. During the year, the Government arrested at least 85 democracy supporters, primarily members of the country's largest pro‑democracy party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), although it subsequently released 42. The remaining 43 were charged, tried, and imprisoned. The Government detained many of them in secret locations without notifying their families or providing access to due legal process or counsel. During the year, the Government released approximately 59 persons who were arrested and sentenced to prison following the Government‑orchestrated May 2003 attack on NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Since May 2003, the Government has released 151 of 153 individuals who were arrested or detained after the attack, including 7 of the 9 members of the NLD Central Executive Committee. However, Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD Vice Chairman U Tin Oo remained under house arrest, and all NLD offices, except the Rangoon headquarters, remained closed. The Government did not investigate the May 30 attack (Burma, 2005)".

"Since 1962, Burma has been ruled by a succession of highly authoritarian military regimes dominated by the majority Burman ethnic group. In 1990, pro-democracy parties won more than 80 percent of the seats during generally free and fair parliamentary elections, but the junta refused to recognize the results. The current controlling military junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), is the country's de facto government, with subordinate Peace and Development Councils ruling by decree at the division, state, city, township, ward, and village levels. On October 19, hardliners further consolidated their power by ousting former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt and appointing Soe Win. From May through July, the SPDC reconvened a National Convention (NC) as part of its purported "Road Map to Democracy." The NC excluded the largest opposition party and did not allow free debate. The judiciary was not independent and was subject to military control (Burma, 2005)". Sources:

International Human Rights Day Rally for Burma: http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=65,5530,0,0,1, Burma [|http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41637.htm

Sierra Club [|.]

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">