The foreign ministry has joined a worldwide chorus of condemnation of the extension of the house arrest imposed on Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Give me more please...

Did someone ever penalise that western guy (American is it?) who started all this?

Is he guilty of leading on the junta to facilitate this sentence extension?
I did not say the junta is correct, but the American certainly "helped" them along...

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HAT
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The American who swam over the lake to meet her? I think he was sentanced to five years. It is a disgraceful state of affairs and western governments should hang their heads in shame. Although, with Burma having no oil or other natural resources to exploit (apart from gemstones) they are unlikely to want to actually do something.

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One should either be a work of art or wear a work of art.

I've just read on the Times website, that the american man's sentence is seven years. I do think it is fishy that he swam over just before the elections.

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One should either be a work of art or wear a work of art.

Incredible. If it wasn't a setup then I am sure that they will reward him for doing them a favour with an early release...

BigD

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Conspiracy theories aside, why are westerners "part" of the game?
To raise awareness?
As a double agent?

I come from Asia, and I have a little bit "more" knowledge. Sometimes I laugh (actually often) at the level of knowledge that western governments and their people think about Asia dictatorships and rogue countries.

I am not agreeing with their actions nor endorse them, but it is not as easy as say making Burma or Myanma, suddenly adopt American or British democratic models.
What I can say is: they are sometimes a necessary evil and time will slowly erode them towards a more open society.

It is a long ongoing process. Suu Kyi is part of that process. She may need to undergo some more lengthy unfairness, before any change can or will happen.

Lets hope she is treated well, and that American guy also not tortured.
As for democracy for such a country, just take a good look at Iraq. What is happening there with a forced government and pseudo democracy?

Afghanistan, anyone?? (I am not even going to discuss WHY they are there for reasons other than setting the people on path to real democracy)

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HAT
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It is seldom that I agree with you HAT, but I think your analysis is spot on. Conspiricy theories are much more interesting than the truth though. I have spent a considerable time urging people not to visit Burma, although one could adopt the same stance on Zimbabwe and China, Thailand, Turkey.........................................in fact anywhere that human rights are either abused or not recognised. I often remind Mr L and the girl how lucky we are to be born British and free.

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One should either be a work of art or wear a work of art.

Actually giving her the nobel prize was the worst thing that could have happened because it enforced her tendancy for her to focus the party on her rather that on providing effective opposition.

Things are never quite what they seem - even in Asia.

They have destroyed her. This is not the same as say, Mandela, who came out and went on to great success with his political career. She is broken, physically and psychologically. If she ever gets out she will need lots of therapy to help her get over what she endured. She was begging this stupid idiot for days to leave her house.

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Old MacDonald had tourettes. EE II EE II bollox fcuk sh1t

Thanks. I hadn't realised that bit.

This whole thread has echoes of my experiences in Africa. I remember a certain type of British exprat who would drag you into potentially dangerous circumstances simply because they didn't "get" the place or thought themselves above observing local customs, and in some cases laws.

One example is that you never criticised the President in front of the locals, as you could end up in jail.

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