From National Geographic.
Satellite images of eastern Myanmar (Burma) seem to corroborate reports of human-rights violations in the troubled Southeast Asian country, an international team of experts announced today.
A detailed analysis of images spanning several years pinpoints locations where villages have been burned, settlements have been relocated, and military forces have expanded their camps.
Project participants hope that the images will force the ruling military junta to account for its practices in front of the international community.
In recent days, the project team also ordered satellites to document the current military crackdown against escalating antigovernment street protests in Yangon and other cities.
The images may prove especially valuable now that phone lines and public Internet access have been shut down in the country, noted Lars Bromley, project director for AAAS.
“These images, if they come through, will be one of the few ways to really understand the level of deployment of the military regime around the cities,” he said.
The people of Myanmar have been largely living in poverty, experts say, and several ethnic groups have been systematically abused or displaced.
The release of the satellite analysis comes at a time when Myanmar has drawn international attention due to a growing conflict between protestors and the military government.
A government crackdown that started this Wednesday has included raids on monasteries and shots fired into crowds. The military has reported ten fatalities, although the exact death toll is uncertain.
At least one confirmed death is that of Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai, a photographer for the AFP news service. Images smuggled out of the country seem to show Nagai being deliberately shot by a military gunman.
Din, of the U.S. Campaign for Burma, said he hopes the newly released satellite images will increase political pressure and rally other governments—including Burma’s closest ally, China—to take action.
“With this satellite imagery,” he said, “at least we are able to organize international activists around the world to stand together with us to put the pressure on the Chinese government to change its policy on Burma.”
11 Comments
Than Shwe: Myanmar junta’s “old fox”. (Reuters)
The rare outsiders who meet him say he can be friendly and engaging, but behind the smile of “the old man” at the top of Myanmar’s junta lies the heart of a cold, calculating military tactician.
Global Hypocrisy on Burma by Satya Sagar.
As the Burmese military brutally cracks down on a popular uprising of its citizens demanding democracy the question on many minds is – so what is the world going to do about it?
From the trend visible so far the answer is simple- nothing at all.
Nothing, that is, beyond the usual condemnations and pious appeals for ‘peaceful dialogue’ and the posturing at international forums in support of the Burmese people.
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In fact the Chinese, pragmatic as they are and conscious of protecting their many investments in Burma, may also be among the first to actively topple the Burmese junta if they feel that the tide of protests for democracy is about to win. Their future position on Burma will surely seesaw like a yo-yo depending which cat, black or white, is catching the mice.
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Burma shuts down last communication links. (Guardian)
· Satellite phones seized in information blackout
· Crackdown reflects worry over world opinion
UN slams Myanmar crackdown, urges prisoner release.
“The Security Council strongly deplores the use of violence against peaceful demonstrations in Myanmar,” said the unanimous statement, adding it “emphasizes the importance of the early release of all political prisoners and remaining detainees.”
The UN Security Council statement, which was watered down to win the consent of members China and Russia, urged “the government of Myanmar and all other parties concerned to work together towards a de-escalation of the situation and a peaceful solution.”
“You are no longer monks,” Myanmar prisoners told. (Yahoo)
Hundreds of Buddhist monks rounded up by Myanmar’s junta were beaten and kept in animal-like conditions without toilets or drinking water during days of interrogation, one of those freed said on Thursday.
Burma regime ‘frees 70 detainees’. (BBC News)
About 50 members of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) are said to have been among those freed.
The detainees freed on Thursday had been kept at Insein Prison in Rangoon, said Nyan Win, a spokesman for the NLD.
Child prostitutes available at $100 a night: the human cost of junta’s repression. (The Guardian)
Hints of a thaw in Myanmar. (iht.com)
Myanmar crisis to dominate ASEAN summit, but free trade, climate also high on agenda. (iht.com)
1,000 Karen Villagers Flee Attacks. (irrawaddy)
Refugees Observe International Refugee Day. (irrawaddy)