Comments on: Burma’s Crimes Against Humanity

By: ALEXISTAN

ALEXISTAN — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:25:26 +0000

It would seem this disaster is performing the same function as the Stalinist terror-famine of the 1930s. I believe this will prove functional (in its hideous way) to the survival of the Shwe regime.

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 03:35:39 +0000

I recently spoke about this very issue with a defense lawyer whose worked in special UN tribunals in Cambodia, Bosnia, and Sierra Leone along with other Human Rights and international human rights law professionals who are actively involved in monitoring and administering these and other tribunals. They all, unanimously, warned against tossing around terms like “crimes against humanity” when it comes to Burma (or anywhere else).

Of course, what’s being done is despicable, but the criminal negligence and paranoia on the part of General Shwe’s regime does not (as you even note) amount to commission of crimes against humanity. It is a crime of omission, not commission, and using the term where it is not applicable denigrates its effectiveness.

What’s happening in Burma is indeed criminal, but it does not amount to the specific definition of “crimes against humanity.”

By: darin maclachlan

darin maclachlan — Sat, 31 May 2008 16:51:03 +0000

China does not care about its own people. They have been ruthlessly persecuting the Falun Gong practitioners since 1999 in China.

By: dougf

dougf — Thu, 29 May 2008 00:13:27 +0000

“How long can the civilized world sit back and watch a catastrophe exacerbated by the willful neglect of the callous regime in Rangoon ?”

I assume that question is rhetorical. Because the answer is obvious.

Forever and a day, until the walls shall crumble in ruin and molder in dust away.

As someone much more talented once stated.

It was suppsedly a ‘crime’ to invade Iraq and in the process hang one tyrant from the proverbial lamppost, but to merely ‘talk’ and preen, while the Burmese junta demonstrates its self-evident EVIL, that’s just business as usual.

And what do the good UN members do ?

SFA, as is their wont and their real intent. But they do talk a lot, and if words were indeed mightier than the sword, the criminally stupid Burmese junta would be in a world of hurt.

But in the real world —- not so much.

Frankly if the price of delivering any aid is propping up these monsters on their own terms then perhaps the price of collusion is far too high.

Send the aid to China. At least they appear to actually give a damn about their own people.

By: njcommuter

njcommuter — Wed, 28 May 2008 23:08:29 +0000

Is it really a crime of omission when there are people and supplies waiting at the border (or just offshore) and the government is blocking them? Or is that commission, not omission?

By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 28 May 2008 22:08:08 +0000

Wait and see what will not be allowed!

By: Truth

Truth — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:04:45 +0000

Its sad that we will never as westerners be in Mayamar to assist because of politics. And we can’t invade unless China leads. I doubt they will allow us to take up position there.
But the disease will bring down the ruling Rangoon.Its just horrible the people will suffer worse.