Burma - "When the SLORC military junta changed the former British colony of Burma to Myanmar in 1989, however, journalists followed the U.S. State Department's refusal to accept the new name. Even "liberal" outlets like NPR still call it Burma or "Myanmar, formerly Burma." We need a consistent rule here, too. Either countries get to call themselves whatever they want or they should be stuck with their current names for eternity."
Burma is often called by that instead of Myanmar because the crowd running it rates very low from every side of the political spectrum.
The SLORC regime has persecuted Buddists, animists, Hindus, Christians, Muslims - everybody except Scientologists, which they would persecute, except they don't have any. Many Muslims have fled to Bangaldesh - and those are NOT economic refugees, obviously. Anyone opposed to theivery becomes a target.
The SLORC crowd pretty much fits the definition of evil kleptocracy - they make Ferdinand Marcos look tolerant, and Saudi Arabia look progressive.
It appears that even China, which is benfiting by buying out Burma bit by bit, and buying residency to settle Han farmers in Burma, seems to be disgusted with the SLORC.
The ASEAN nations, which includes a wide spectrum from Viet Nam to Malaysia to Singapore and Phillipines, have to hold their nose when "constructively engaging" with Myanmar.
news.bbc.co.uk
Slorc has changed their name 2 or 3 times to some other set of initials, but pretty much the same crowd.
Umbrella org with links -
burmaproject.org |
