# Reports of Large-Scale Massacres in Burma **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 2, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276 "2007-10-02T17:12:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/1 "2007-10-02T17:12:45Z")
I hope this is in the right forum, if not Mods please feel free to move. [Here](http://cryptome.org/burma01/burma-kill-01.htm) is a link to disturbing and graphic photos from Burma. Remarkable how information can get out nowadays. Initial reports are sometimes wrong, but point to a large-scale massacre. **These photos are graphic.** ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/2 "2007-10-02T17:17:59Z")
I’ve read that the military is confiscating cameras to stop pictures from getting out. Places like this is where our military should be. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/3 "2007-10-02T18:24:46Z")
No oil. The U.S. won’t touch it. Sad how far up their asses the heads of our gov’t officials are. That said, the troops would encounter many of the same problems they have in Iraq and they had in Somalia. Sending troops is a no-win situation for everybody. There’s got to be a better way. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/4 "2007-10-02T18:33:33Z")
Fuck them. [These fucking bastards](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3755684.stm). The good news, should any country have the balls to intervene, is that the generals have installed themselves in their own city, Naypyitaw, built from scratch in the jungle. Would minimise collateral damage if someone decided to start bombing. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/5 "2007-10-02T18:39:38Z")
[QUOTE=D\_Odds] No oil. The U.S. won’t touch it. Sad how far up their asses the heads of our gov’t officials are. That said, the troops would encounter many of the same problems they have in Iraq and they had in Somalia. Sending troops is a no-win situation for everybody. There’s got to be a better way. [/QUOTE] That is not true. Burma has plenty of oil. Their nearest big neighbors have deals for the oil and are not inclined to make waves and upset the the deals. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/6 "2007-10-02T18:42:22Z")
After the fuckups and screw ups the past few years, I think the US should definately NOT get involved in any new countries, trying to pull back from the ones they are in. And if the US doesn’t, no one else will. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/7 "2007-10-02T18:47:15Z")
[QUOTE=gazpacho] That is not true. Burma has plenty of oil. Their nearest big neighbors have deals for the oil and are not inclined to make waves and upset the the deals. [/QUOTE] One neighbor in particular stands out on this score. The PRC has been propping up SLORC for years. In India and Thailand, protests were directed at the Chinese Embassy. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/8 "2007-10-02T18:48:34Z")
[QUOTE=kidchameleon] And if the US doesn’t, no one else will. [/QUOTE] Apart from Vietnamese intervention in Cambodia, Australian intervention in the Solomon Islands and East Timor, French intervention in Côte d’Ivoire, British intervention in Sierra Leone, &c. ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/9 "2007-10-02T19:36:17Z")
While I think that --no. While I KNOW that what’s going on in Myanmar is atrocious and should be stopped… What can we, realistically, do? Go into their country with air attacks followed by ground troops? Ferret out their despotic, murderous leader and assist the local population in bringing him to justice? Help the people establish self-rule and try to import democracy? Doesn’t always work. I am strongly against the war in Iraq, but at the same time I wish we could do something to help out the Burmese…well, I feel a bit conflicted. At what point does that make me a hypocrite? I just don’t know. But my heart goes out to _any_ peaceful people being massacred. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/10 "2007-10-02T19:51:46Z")
I stand corrected. So it’s our lust for oil versus avoiding another ‘police action’ in China’s back yard. Cheney must be boiling mad that he can’t add another notch to his belt. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/11 "2007-10-02T19:51:57Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Fuck them. [These fucking bastards](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3755684.stm). The good news, should any country have the balls to intervene, is that the generals have installed themselves in their own city, Naypyitaw, built from scratch in the jungle. Would minimise collateral damage if someone decided to start bombing. [/QUOTE] What a nice bunch: a former postal worker who relies on astrologers, an alcoholic, and the guy who led the massacre of the pro-democracy group. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/12 "2007-10-02T19:53:56Z")
[QUOTE=Swampwolf] I am strongly against the war in Iraq, but at the same time I wish we could do something to help out the Burmese…well, I feel a bit conflicted. At what point does that make me a hypocrite? I just don’t know. [/QUOTE] The situations are markedly different. There has been an election in Burma within living memory in which the overwhelming majority voted for one party and one person. That person is ready to lead a government with democratic ideals. The only potentially warring tribes involved are the Karens, and to a lesser extent the Shan. And they’re on the same side as the people currently being massacred. They’re not in such a tinderbox area, and they don’t have a global spiritual support network to inflame. And the reason for an intervention would be entirely, 100% humanitarian. Genuinely, any invading party would be welcomed (provided they didn’t opress, posture, murder and torture the liberated people, as our armies have done). It’s a no-brainer, or would be without China in the mix. ---
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/13 "2007-10-02T20:05:05Z")
What a mess. What a horrible, hopeless mess. It feels like there’s so little we can do. I encourage folks, at times like these, to consider donating to Medecins sans Frontieres… ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/14 "2007-10-03T06:10:11Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Apart from Vietnamese intervention in Cambodia, Australian intervention in the Solomon Islands and East Timor, French intervention in Côte d’Ivoire, British intervention in Sierra Leone, &c. [/QUOTE] Are you suggesting that one or more of these countries has even a 1% chance of intervening in Burma? If not, what’s your point? **kidchameleon** did not say, or even imply, the no nation other than the US has ever intervened anywhere. He said the no one is going to intervene in Burma if the U.S. does not, a statement I agree with. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/15 "2007-10-03T08:58:39Z")
Well, Iraq has demonstrated that we can’t occupy a country effectively or easily or at low cost, but we can definitely go in there and depose a despised dictator pretty quickly and easily. Why not invade, overthrow the military, kick their asses, and leave? Let the Burmese sort things out. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/16 "2007-10-03T09:38:46Z")
[QUOTE=Random] Are you suggesting that one or more of these countries has even a 1% chance of intervening in Burma? If not, what’s your point? **kidchameleon** did not say, or even imply, the no nation other than the US has ever intervened anywhere. He said the no one is going to intervene in Burma if the U.S. does not, a statement I agree with. [/QUOTE] Sorry, I kneejerked, thinking it was the oft-seen “ah me, we are the world’s policeman and it is our burden” attitude, whereas there are other, occasionally successful, interventions out there that don’t necessarily end up on CNN or Fox. I apologise for misinterpreting **kidchameleon** ’s post. And alas, no, I suspect none of the countries I mentioned will help. ETA: I’m inclined to agree with **Evil Captor** in this instance. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/17 "2007-10-03T10:15:50Z")
Where is Japan…why haven’t they made their stand? Where is Thailand? Where is India and Sri Lanka? Where is Indonesia? Where is the U.S.? Where is China? Please help the peaceful people of Burma. Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/18 "2007-10-03T10:44:37Z")
Deleted: already been asked and answered. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/19 "2007-10-03T11:46:50Z")
[QUOTE=devilsknew] Where is Japan…why haven’t they made their stand? Where is Thailand? Where is India and Sri Lanka? Where is Indonesia? Where is the U.S.? Where is China? Please help the peaceful people of Burma. Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha [/QUOTE] I can think of problems with all of those, unfortunately. Thailand and Burma have a long history (although it’s been quite a while) of invading each other. Sri Lanka has it’s own problems, and Pakistan might mess with India if they were to move toward Burma. China is hardly a paragon of human rights. Indonesia would make Thailand and Malaysia pretty nervous by going through/over/around them to get there. The United States is spread thin at the moment and that’s a long supply chain. Best would be a U.N. peacekeeping force maybe made of Thai, Malay and Indian troops. But U.N. peacekeeping usually only happens during a hot war and not during peaceful protests. And China would probably block it to keep from setting a precedent. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276/20 "2007-10-03T12:25:17Z")
Pressure should be put on China. I believe there is a rather big sporting event coming up there. IMO western nations should start threatening boycotts if the PRC dont sort their little vassel(esque) state out. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-of-large-scale-massacres-in-burma/421276.md?page=2)