Comments on: Burma - a thug state

By: Dickiebo

Dickiebo — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 13:01:01 +0000

Burma is a very sad case, and is typified by that wonderful lady, Aung. I do try, on my blog, in my own little way, to keep her, and Burma, in the readers’ thoughts.
Good article, John.

By: David Lodge

David Lodge — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 03:43:42 +0000

Mr. Redwood,

I have always thought that you have been a huge asset to the Conservative party, and your pronouncements are always concise, thoughtful and measured. Long may you contribute and I hope to see you in cabinet soon!

By: Richard Clarke

Richard Clarke — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 12:48:05 +0000

It’s simple really John. Think back to the 1980s - loud protesters everywhere, “maggie out!” and the rest of it. Maggie took all that with grace.

Now under New Labour protesting outside parliament is illegal.

Because the more tin-pot the dictator, the thinner the skin, I think.

By: Cliff

Cliff — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 10:43:22 +0000

I find it very difficult to see an answer to the ongoing problems in Myanmar. I do not believe that there is a will amongst the west to intervene militarily. Both of the countries that seem to have set themselves up as the world’s policeman are still suffering fall out over Iraq and Afghanistan in their own countries and with elections coming up in both the UK and USA, politicians will be unwilling to get militarily involved.
I believe the key to this problem lies with China, they seem to have more influence over the problematic state and perhaps the UN needs to put pressure on China to assist to resolve this matter. As China’s economy has grown, it seems to me they long to be accepted by the international community as a major player, perhaps we could use this to apply the said pressure.

Reply: Yes China does have the most leverage of the larger powers and we need to persuade them to use it.

By: Tony Makara

Tony Makara — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 08:21:34 +0000

John, you are the sort of politican that commands respect. You have strong opinions, you don’t deviate under pressure, and you are prepared to face your critics head on. There is a word that sums all that up ‘Honesty’. If only more politicians were honest then faith in the political process would be restored.

On the subject of Burma, it is very sad that Gordon Brown and the rest of the world is doing nothing. If a brutal regime is shooting dead over a hundred of its own citizens in one day there is a word for that ‘Genocide’. The problem is the world won’t learn from this, just like it didn’t learn from the genocide in Rwanda. Gordon Brown needs to get out his moral compass and look up Burma and act decisively. Gordon Brown’s platitudes may play well on television but they don’t help the people of Burma.

Reply: I agree with you about Burma, and thanks for the kind words.