And so it starts

After another round of gigantic demonstrations today, the hated SLORC has imposed a curfew, declared Yangon and Mandalay off-limits and deployed troops in the main cities.

Here's the story (Reuters India): Myanmar government imposes dusk to dawn curfew

Today Bush took a strong stance against the Burmese Generals at the UN. The hypocrisy of the Bush administration is boundless: based on their logic and their bullshit "freedom agenda," they should have sent an expeditionary force to Myanmar a long time ago. They obviously didn't. Because of their catastrophic Middle Eastern adventures, they have lost all the moral authority they could brought to bear on the Myanmar government's patrons (China mostly). So now we're left with principled declarations that are as lofty as they're toothless. Bush, the guy who authorized torture, renditions and surveillance over Americans (all crimes under American law), is now giving lessons on democracy and human rights to the Burmese military autocrats. The thugs that make up the State Peace and Development Council, who've been at it for much longer (it being torture, surveillance and oppression), are shaking in their jackboots. They also know Bush will do like them eventually, and like every other retiring dictator, and have himself amnestied.

A friend noticed that Burma was renamed Myanmar by the SLORC back in 1989. I have no position on the best and most appropriate nomenclature. In the actual Burmese language, the difference between Burma/Barma/Bama/Myanmar is barely audible. The SLORC did it as a public relations/propaganda stunt directed at the West. It was corporate rebranding of the worst kind. A little like cancer peddlers Philip Morris magically turning into altruistic, elevated and very latin high-brow Altria... The wire services use Myanmar, while the BBC has stuck with Burma. So I don't know what to do. And I know that in a political struggle of that sort, semantics are fundamental. So I'll think about it.

I can't help but find some irony and poetic justice in the fact that George Orwell started his career in Burma.