Over the past decade, while America has struggled with intractable conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, ominous long-term changes in the international landscape have evolved into an ugly new reality. Once we have freed ourselves from the mayhem of Iraq and Afghanistan, we may be shocked to find that our attention has been needed elsewhere. A number of so-called “brush-fire” wars may have serious long-term consequences, and North Korea’s and Iran’s uncompromising and unrelenting efforts to obtain nuclear weapons are coming to a crisis. It seems that while we have been focused elsewhere, they have been fixated on their goal.

As the U.S. participates in the gathering of the United Nations General Assembly that opened yesterday morning, our feeble response to both North Korea and Iran has set a bad example — potentially resulting in a nuclear arsenal in the hands of one or both of these erratic and irrational regimes. A number of other unsavory characters also seek the clout, security, and respectful attention that nuclear weapons provide. There have been recent revelations, for example, that the Burmese junta, a government that is the worst of the worst, is engaged in a long-term endeavor to obtain nuclear capability.

Over the past two decades, the Burmese military has turned a once-prosperous country with enormous potential into a poverty-stricken police state where the government literally enslaves its own people for manual labor. Village after village in Burma’s ethnic tribal areas has been burned and savaged by the junta’s forces, turning hundreds of thousands of Burmese into displaced persons. The more fortunate refugees have managed to flee across the Thai border in order to reach some semblance of safety. But even Thailand, with its long history of benevolence and charity toward refugees fleeing tyranny, is reaching its limits.

The suffering of the people of this hidden corner of Asia knows no bounds. When a massive cyclone hit Burma in 2008, the military delayed Western aid from reaching devastated areas, with no concern for the suffering of their own people. The ruling generals are tyrannical, bloodthirsty, and without moral restraint. So how do nuclear weapons fit into this picture? Recent reports indicate that the regime is actively pursuing a nuclear program, with the help of North Korea. Such awesome new power in the hands of psychotic bullies who have no regard for human life would be a nightmare — not just for the suffering Burmese, but for all of humanity. Like North Korea’s nuclear program, Burma’s does not suggest that it’s time to cut a deal. It’s time for regime change. Such a goal does not require us to send troops, but it does require a commitment to an alternative, and it requires our attention.

Thankfully, there is an alternative to the Burmese military establishment. Aung San Suu Kyi and her ethnic allies are democratic and give the West a viable and powerful option. They would already have succeeded in toppling their oppressors, except that China has supplied the junta with an arsenal of modern arms and other instruments of repression. There is a steep price for China’s assistance. Burma’s vast natural resources are being plundered, and China is being provided with strategic military positioning for its army and navy, which puts India in serious jeopardy. All of this is, of course, in keeping with China’s global game plan of adding to its own power by helping the world’s most rotten regimes, including North Korea, Iran, Sudan, and Venezuela, among others.

America, stuck in quagmires of our own, has not made any serious effort to counter the Chinese-led coalition of despicable regimes. The State Department’s policy of engagement and patience has not resulted in domestic changes, while at the same time some of these countries have made great progress toward gaining nuclear-weapon capabilities. The suffering of their people continues even as they pour their money into nuclear-weapon development. Iran and Burma both have organized opposition movements, but while America may applaud them, our government has always stopped short of full and vigorous support.

I recently returned from the Thai-Burmese border, where I consulted with members of the Burmese democracy movement. I was deeply impressed with not only their courage, but also their commitment to a decentralized, denuclearized, democratic Burma. The freedom-loving people of the region want to be our allies against an evil enemy, as they were in the fight against the Japanese in World War II. The American government has treated them as pariahs.

A few Americans — missionaries, former members of the Special Forces, and a sprinkling of adventurers — are there on the border as volunteers. Reminiscent of the Flying Tigers before Pearl Harbor, though not as well equipped, this ragtag contingent of American idealists help as best they can, though often facing hostility from elements in our own government. They are doing what my father used to call “the Lord’s work” — literally as well as figuratively.

Our government did not support brave anti-Taliban forces in Afghanistan, like Commander Massoud, until after we had been attacked on 9/11. Had we done so, the attack might not have happened. So there is a cost to a policy of ignoring those struggling against tyrannical and/or fanatical forces, as in Afghanistan — and in Burma.

When America supports those brave souls fighting for their freedom against despicable tyrants, we are not only doing the right thing by them, we are invariably bolstering the safety of our own country. This is especially true in an era when proliferation of nuclear weapons is not just a theoretical threat.

— Dana Rohrabacher (R.) represents California’s 46th CD.

Key themes about Burma Today:

Facing down China now – Hill tribes stand in the gap as the final obstacle to China’s aim of totally controlling Burma as a puppet government for access to the Indian Ocean

A hornets’ nest of activists – Pro-democracy groups and resistance forces now consider their future after sham national elections that left the dictatorship in power.

Now or never -  They are emboldened now by the fracturing of the Burmese Army, desertions and crumbling morale.

People power – Everybody wants “Freedom Now” after six decades of oppression by the Burmese Government
 

Hope lives on – Give the people the capacity and confidence to go the distance now

One Team - Unify all freedom-loving people to stand as one against tyranny

How can you help?

Join the tribes! –   Ethnics and activists desperately need your help.  Raise awareness + Raise funds.   Click on this link:

Do what is right -  ”Freedom in our land depends on freedom in other lands”.    Stand with the oppressed people of Burma.

Write the President, your senators and congressmen -  Innocents with American values perish now while politicians talk.    “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

Pray -  A full-scale offensive is coming in which our friends in Burma are hopelessly out-numbered.                                            

Email – Get on our email list so we can keep you updated.         Write to burmaincrisisnow@gmail.com

Your Donation Makes The Difference – Examples:

• $25.   Feeds one orphan child for a month
• $50.    Pays for a volunteer medic’s monthly personal clothing, medicine and hygiene costs in the war zone
• $100.   Provides a blinded landmine amputee with a bed and a cassette recorder for books-on-tape and music
• $250.    Assures three-months food for the family of a volunteer medic risking his or her life in the war zone
• $1000.    Buys a satellite phone for human rights abuse reporting or coordination of medical evacuation
• $5000.    Provides a complete VHF / UHF radio network used to support mobile + fixed clinics and backpack medics
• $10,000.  Provides two x satellite phone-computer-solar panel sets to support two humanitarian relief teams for a year
• $25,000.   Funds an ethnic Youth Leadership Academy deep inside the jungles of Eastern Burma for a year
• $50,000.     Builds a network of  training centers in the war zone to give ethnic peoples various skills the to survive

The Gathering Storm

Do what is right … Right now!   Ethnic Karen, who were faithful allies to Americans and Brits during World War II, are being attacked by the Burmese Army now.    Reason:  The dictator wants ethnic lands rich in natural resources.    Innocent farming villages are overrun and destroyed in this scorched earth campaign.

We are allied with an expanding international network of action-oriented people and organizations doing what is right in such circumstances.  We support humanitarian outreach, human rights reporting, leader development and critical skills development.   This includes helping ethnic groups and underground activists  by doing what is necessary to keep these pro-democracy resistance movements alive.    This is an expanding consortium…a network of networks.

Reality: The United Nations and most governments are doing little for a number of political and economic reasons.   Many nations profit from business with Burma.    Politicians talk.   Money is made.   The innocent die.   Finally, China “wins” in terms of its stategic aims of controlling Burma for Indian Ocean access and influence.

So What? This means freedom fighters need American citizens and their friends need to stand in the gap now.   Support those who seek freedom in Burma.

Our Themes and Focal Points

Make Strategic Impacts – Rally Yanks, Brits, ethnic groups and activists to unite now against tyranny and oppression.

Support the Right of Self Protection – Build capacity to protect innocent farmers and ancient ethnic cultures.

Free the Oppressed -  Help orphans, blinded landmine amputees, medical clinics and schools in Eastern Burma’s war zone.

Partner with Key People – Make new friends with those inside Burma’s government and business community, who are eager to join the pro-democracy movement. Help them work with pro-democracy movements to lead the way for Burma’s promising future as  ”the economic power house” in Southeast Asia.

“Truth revealed is a force more powerful” – We are providing extensive communications, remote-controlled camera technology  and modern sensors across Burma.  This has been going on quietly for years.   It’s all about Truth.  Tyrants cannot handle this.

“You can run, but you cannot hide” – We are working with international investigators, lawyers and independent defense contractors to bring certain Burmese elites to final justice.  They think they are untouchable, but their days are numbered.

A “network of networks” is taking shape as an “action consortium” to support pro-democracy movements in new ways.   “The storm approaches”.

Why is China so invested in Burma?

Bottom line:  Burma is China’s front door assuring economic Super Power stature and a New World Order on China’s terms.

Ratonale:   By first supporting and then controlling Burma’s dictator, General Than Shwe, China can gain unrestricted access to the Indian Ocean. This will give them significant economic power.

Reality:  Through Burma’s land and river routes, China will gain shorter and more secure access to Middle Eastern oil, the African continent’s natural resources, and European markets.   This assures huge economic advantage over America and its friends.

China will also get naval basing in the Indian Ocean for its expanding navy.    Consider what this means in terms of controlling the seas.

It is now common knowledge in the region that Burma’s dictator is quietly trying to assassinate all pro-democracy opponent leaders. The intent is to then stage “democratic” elections in October to gain international legitimacy.   Then  comes the destruction of all pro-democracy ethnic resistance armies.   All of this with the help of China as the dictator’s financial backer and provider of weapons.

So What?   Pro-democracy resistance groups today are China’s only obstacle success in Burma.  These resistance groups, freedom fighters and the people they protect continue to pay dearly with their blood.

This map depicts dotted brown zones in one area of Eastern Burma, where ethnic resistance forces now defend.   They are in the way of China’s progress, because they represent a continuing threat that can disrupt the flow of oil, natural gas, hydro power and transportation of goods.

What does all this boil down to?
•  Democracy Dies Again -  Freedom fighters are going to be finally annihilated, because they are not backed when it counts most
•  China’s  New World Order  -  This means yet nother win for China
•  Unstoppable rogue tyrant –  There will be no resistance to stop Burma’s dictator as one of the worst human rights violators in the world
•  Double Nuke Threat –  This dictator can become Nuclear Rogue + Nukes could possibly in the hands of Al Queda down the road

Overall Bottom Line on Burma:

•    This is China’s most vital strategic move today for its New World Order.
•    The world does not need Burma as another rogue nation with nuclear weapons, nor does it need another safe haven for Al Queda – Particularly so close to a source of nuclear power.
•    Americans need to stand with faithful hill tribe allies from WWII who embody the very Spirit of 1776 and still fight on for this prize.   Freedom calls.

There is no “Later.”     The time is Now.

The “Spirit of 1776” lives on in the hill tribes of Burma/Myanmar. These are our allies and friends, who, along with their families, died by the tens of thousands for our freedom during WWII, but never got their own freedom.

After 65 years, these primitive farmers still fight on today for liberty against a succession of Burmese tyrants.

Some of the old soldiers are still out there deep in the mountain jungles of Eastern Burma today protecting their people in the face of overwhelming odds against a modern 400,000-man army.  This is their last stand, as the Burmese army prepares to wipe them out once and for all with China as the major backing force.

Their only hope is that American citizens will champion their cause.   “Join the Tribes!”

The military dictatorship of Burma terrorizes its own people by a campaign of terror in the shadows on a massive scale.   The Burma Army is directed by the dictator to attack villagers to drive them off ancestral lands rich in natural resources.

For the best information, refer to www.tbbc.org to get the full story of what is going on in Eastern Burma today.  Thai-Burma Consortium is led by a distinguished British humanitarian who has been in the region for over 25 years.  The Dirty List of corporations backing the dictatorship by doing business with it, is listed at www.burmacampaign.org.uk, a non-profit organization based in Great Britain.

See reports at www.karenwomen.org :  “Walking Amongst Sharp Knives” and “State of Terror”.  

Young farm girl (left). Young farm girl after rape by Burmese army battalion (right).

Why? Ancient hill tribes or “ethnic groups” are sitting right on top of the richest deposits of natural resources in Southeast Asia.   The place is a treasure chest of oil, natural gas, precious metals, gems, uranium, other minerals and hydro power potential.

See the recent report, Energy Insecurity,  concerning international oil companies in Burma at this link:

http://www.earthrights.org/publications

Image source: Free Burma Rangers

As testament to this, over 3500 farming villages have been burned to the ground and strewn with landmines, over 440,000 internally displaced persons are presently driven from their homes, and over 800,000 villagers daily are worked as forced or slave laborers for the generals to make incredible profits.  International corporations know what is going on here and have been taken to court over this.     They insist that what the dictator and his generals do to the people is not the corporations’ responsibility.     These corporations continue to profit.   And so the people perish.’

See www.freeburmarangers.org for up to date reports on what is happening to villagers today  inside Eastern Burma.

Bottom line: There is money to be made here and the lives of primitive farmers is not going to stand in the way of profiteers.