Within the last few weeks, Burma’s junta has piled on a list of actions it has done to bring forth backlash and criticism from the international community. The recent action by the junta could possibly warrant the most amount of backlash from the rest of the world. But, let’s recap of the previous actions that Burma’s junta has taken.
Back in 1990, Aung San Suu Kyi had one the elections in Burma. However the junta neither acknowledged nor accepted the results. Instead, the junta had placed Suu Kyi under house arrest.
Back in October of 2007, Burma’s junta had violently cracked down on the pro-Democracy protests.
Burma’s junta also planned to hold a voting on a referendum of Burma’s constitution on May 10. International monitors were barred from observing. Only a “Yes” vote was on the ballot. Voting for the referendum was mandatory. Critics call it a sham as it lets the junta remain in control.
Burma was hit hard by Cyclone Nargis. The junta was criticized by its handling of the situation. At least several million people are at risk of dying by hunger and waterborne illnesses.
Burma was criticized for its handling of foreign aid received. It was criticized for not letting international aid workers into the country to assess the damage.
The junta decided to focus on voting for the referendum instead of focusing on the recovery and reconstruction.
It had also continued its rice exports while giving the survivors rotten food such as bad rice.
Recently, the junta had extended Suu Kyi’s house arrest.
The junta remarked that those living in the hardest hit areas can fend for themselves.
Now, Burma’s junta has started to evict the cyclone refugees from the camps and forcing them back to the devastated villages. That has brought forth condemnation from the United Nations and various human rights groups.
So far, the junta has not given any solid reasons for such an action. It only said that it was time to reconstruct the country.
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