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    November 21

    Buffalohair Flyingman’s Can of Worms

    Flyingman’s Can of Worms




    Posted in America's with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 21, 2009 by buffalohair


    Have We Forgotten

    Tribal politics aside the situation in Concho is a very human crisis. On one side there is a tribal governor who consistently ignored many of his own constituents. On the other side are the elderly who took a major hit by Darrel Flyingman over the course of his tenure. In the case of my village the elderly were left to fend for themselves since funding for their only hot meal a day stopped. Other types of aid were also canceled with little or no notice as well. I personally know this for a fact since I was supporting some of my people in the interim on the assumption assistance would eventually come to my relations. I also funded meals for my elders with the same assumption. The only response to our needy from Flyingman was the sound of Gary Owen echoing across the grasslands.



    Eventually the proverbial well went dry as the economy assisted in draining my finances. Sadly no assistance ever came to my relations. Homes that were scheduled for repair were simply stopped. Tarps remained on roofs to keep the rain and snow out during the harsh Oklahoma winters. I’ve witnessed with my own eyes as my family struggled to find the basics to feed our nieces and nephews while trying to make ends meet. I would do all I could to ease the suffering but the magnitude of neglect my people had to endure was overwhelming and beyond my financial capability. I still felt guilty for not being able to contribute more especially when I look into the faces those chubby cheek babies.



    Why did these human beings have to endure such ambivalence while others lived in the lap of luxury? How could anyone be so callous as to simply ignore people from their own tribe? At the very least the US Cavalry gave the people flour and grease to weather the winter months. It boggles the imagination to think that someone could be so cruel to their own people. The politics behind such tyranny simply does not fit into this equation for we all are descendants of survivors of genocide. But what is most striking about this event is the over riding fact the US government has encroached on the sovereignty of this nation. Flyingman managed to side with outsiders in an attempt to regain control so he could finish robbing the coffers of the tribe. In a correction to the previous news report it was not the US Supreme Court Justice who granted Flyingman access to tribal funds and business. It was other usual government entities who willfully ignored the will and the traditions of the people by their obvious support of Flyingman. Is Flyingman a traitor to his people? That is up to the folks back in Oklahoma to decide but it is obvious he chose to use the power of the US Government to force his will on these humble people at the expense of tribal sovereignty. Invoking the powers of the federal government over tribal law can be viewed as treason in many opinions. My relations call him Veho.



    The issue that needs addressing is this nation’s sovereignty as well as the sovereignty of all tribes. Flyingman opened up a can of worms with his total disregard for the will of his people. Are we to expect the feds to march into any rez when there is an election that booted a corrupt politician? Frankly the USA has shown itself to be poor stewards of the ballot box with the Iraq’s hopelessly corrupt politicians which the US backed. President Zelaya of Honduras was ousted from power with little more than an impotent condemnation. It should be noted he was a favorite of the Indigenous people over industrialists who robbed land from the natives and murdered their chiefs. Burma is another classic failure of the US to recognize the duly elected officials in the case of Daw Aung Suu Kyi. Now this beleaguered nation is about to have another election regardless of the fact the people voted for democracy overwhelmingly. The US simply became an enabler of a corrupt military dictator (Gen. Than Shwe) who continues to murder the ethnic minorities within his nation. Gen. Than Shwe is Asia’s version of Gen. George Armstrong Custer for his soldiers rape and murder ethnics at their leisure while the free world looks on. Dare I mention that these villagers are being murdered for the natural resources that lay on their tribal land? To the joy of international corporations I might add. Sounds familiar eh.



    With a multitude of articles promoting a new policy dealing with the Indigenous population of America I fear that ultimately sovereignty will be on the chopping block in the near future. Just so you know, with the arrival of the new world order we all will loose our sovereignty regardless of treaties and national boundaries. Under the guidelines of these economic unions that are popping up around the world there is a clause that allows any nation or industry to go into sovereign soil and glean natural resources. The European Union and our NAFTA are to the benefit of international corporations not the nations who subscribe to this global initiative. The Indigenous populations are of absolutely no concern. Globalization is colonization and as we all know the Indigenous populations of the America’s were colonized hundreds of years ago. We are told that we must forgive the history of the past and to move forward but it is hard to forgive when we are still under siege.



    Flyingman is only a microcosm of the cancer that is raging around the America’s and the world. Traditional people are placed in a position of ridicule in some cases while others are simply overlooked and live in abject poverty. Tribal officials drive around in Town Cars and Navigators while their electorates scrounge for spare change to buy Duct Tape. Those are the lucky ones since throughout Central and South America tribal people are murdered if they stand in the way of corrupt politicians. Africa is another holocaust in motion. It’s a pandemic of greed that has changed the landscape not only in Indian Country but around the world. And if for one second you believe that world politics is of no concern to Indian Country you are sorely mistaken. The culture of greed is a global initiative and we as Indigenous people and our sovereignty are on the chopping block.



    Your Devil’s Advocate

    Buffalohair

    November 20

    Buffalohair Cheyenne Arapaho Tribes in the Grips of Tyranny

    Buffalohair Cheyenne Arapaho Tribes in the Grips of TyrannyNov 20, '09 8:04 AM
    by Ann for everyone



    Cheyenne Arapaho Tribes in the Grips of Tyranny



    Posted in America's with tags Darryl Flyingman, Dennis Banks, Native American Sovereignty, Russell Means, Southern Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, Supreme Court Injustice, Supreme Courty Authority, Tribal corruption on November 20, 2009 by buffalohair

    Nothing like getting a call from home only to discover that corruption has taken a nasty toll on your elders. That is what happened with me the other day when my cousin called and described what I thought to be the most reprehensible act of government meddling in tribal affairs. Imagine having an election where clearly a person was voted out of office only to discover the Supreme Court has decided to side with the looser. In this case the person was hopelessly corrupt, Darryl Flyingman of the Southern Cheyenne Arapaho Nation.


    I know first hand about all the lack of care for my elders for this person canceled hot meals for the elderly as well as other critical aid for my clan as well as our village. This was the case across our rez as this person played favorites at the expense of our elderly and the suffering. I personally was paying for meals for my elders since the tribal government had ignored my village on more than one occasion. My other cousin with a big family was constantly denied aid and assistance for his kids forcing him to scrounge to survive. But on our own rez? Flyingman along with his select crew always pointed aid in the other direction. It was unbelievable that my cuz would be forced to come up with proof he was a tribal member by people he was blood related to. This was nothing more than an excuse not to give him aid.


    What really torques my shorts is the fact this Flyingman refused to relinquish his position as chief even though the tribe voted him out of office. My elders went down to Concho Oklahoma to complain when they were forced to turn around at Cherokee. It is unclear if they were forced off the tribal bus or that they were told to turn around. The news is just breaking as of this writing and I was just informed that Dennis Banks, Russell Means and the Crazy Dog Society from Lame Deer were heading down later this morning in a show of solidarity for our plight. With CNN heading down as well I hope the issue of sovereignty is addressed since I believe the Supreme Court over stepped its authority. And if they get away with this they will pull the same crappola on other reservations. 


    One thing is for certain, there will be a peaceful demonstration held at Concho today (Nov 20) and the world wide press will be there to cover this event. Senior citizens from my village will be there so I can only pray they will not be ruffed up by this corrupt and morally bankrupt politician and his goons. Hopefully with the press there things will not go violent hurting my elders. But what was the Supreme Court thinking anyway? With what authority did they have to cancel legal election results from a sovereign nation? Truly this is an abuse of the bench and should raise some major questions about the ethics of the court. It’s been long since rumored that Flyingman had this federal judge in his pocket for quite some time.


    Is this change we can depend on or more of the same old crappola from the non Native community? Why is it that the government would rather do business with corrupt and shady criminals rather than the traditional folks in the first place? This is more common than not in Indian Country and maybe this will offer more focus on the plight of us and other tribal nations across the US. Canada shares in this travesty as well I might add. The have’s continue to have while the have not’s continue to live in abject poverty. The outside world makes nice with examples from people who have all the loot saying all is well in Indian Country when in actuality it is not. There is greed and abject poverty on many nations and it is perpetrated by corrupt officials such as Flyingman. At least this dark secret of tribal life is out in the open now. But to be fair, not all tribes suffer this kind of corruption and there are honest and moral chiefs who actually do the bidding of their respective nations. Sadly this is not the case on my rez though.


    With regard to “Turkey Day” my cousin had a more appropriate title for the coming holiday, he simply calls it, “Dog Day” since we will theoretically eat dog again for the holiday season since tribal funds were squandered leaving our village with only the dogs on the streets to munch on. Thanks Giving? Forget about it since what do we have to be thankful for? A US Government who sides with corruption? Oh boy. In any event I will have a blow by blow accounting from my people later on today. Hopefully peace will rein on my rez but truthfully I fear things will get much worse before they get any better. Hey Obama, how about fighting for human rights here in Oklahoma?


    Your Devil’s Advocate


    Buffalohair


    http://buffalohair.wordpress.com/
    November 11

    Buffalohair: Monitoring the Falun Gong Human Rights Crisis in China

    Monitoring the Falun Gong Human

    Rights Crisis in China

    Posted in Asia with tags , , , , , , on November 10, 2009 by buffalohair

    China Opinion

    As we continue to pretend China has evolved from its brutal past atrocities continue with greater zeal than ever before. Slave labor within China’s elaborate Gulag program has made China an economic giant. This racers edge makes it all but impossible for other nations and industries to compete since slave labor is illegal for the most part. With slaves at the helm it’s no surprise China’s good’s continue to have quality issues such as date rape drugs in children’s toys, defective drywall that has already made hundreds of thousands of homes in the US defective and unlivable. But it’s all about the money and corporate interests who’ve continued to import these bogus products  and continue to get fabulously wealthy at the expense of US citizens. China is not held accountable like the rest of the world and we continue to allow for their flawed goods to enter this country.

    But what is shameful is the fact the free world continues to pander to this criminal regime while millions of her own citizens are tortured, raped and used for body parts. US and other industries have allied themselves with tyranny and wholesale genocide for the corporate bottom line. Sadly this makes the consumer a party to murder and rape as we continue to buy goods made from the blood of innocent people. We, the free world, have become the enemy of humanity in favor of the corporate bottom line and discount prices from China. Small wonder the world is thrust into economical chaos.

    The Falun Gong sect along with Christians are subjegated continually enduring false imprisonment, torture, rape and forced disection for human body part “donations”.  The mainstream media all but ignored the atrocities and human rights violations with this reprehensible and barbaric regime since their parent companies are deply invested in all that is wrong with China. And we the people let it happen.

    Buffalohair

    10 Nov 2009

    News from Inside China

    News from outside China

    FDIC: Mr. Huang Lizhong Tortured to Death in Panjin City Prison
    Oct 29: Mr. Huang Lizhong was arrested on February 25, 2008 at his home. He was subsequently sentenced in a show-trial to nine years in prison by the Lianshan District Court, and in September 2008 was taken to Panjin City Prison. On April 20, 2009, a guard named Wang Jianjun shocked Mr. Huang extensively with electric batons to the point that his internal organs were damaged.

    At around 2 p.m. on October 20, 2009, Mr. Huang was helped into the visitation room by another prisoner to see his wife. Mrs. Huang hardly recognized him. His face looked very dry, he was as thin as a skeleton, his teeth were deformed, he had no energy to talk, and his whole body shivered. Over a period of only five months, Mr. Huang, a perfectly healthy 47-year-old had his physical condition deteriorate significantly.

    Only five days later, at 9:30 p.m. on October 25, 2009, the prison authorities notified Mrs. Huang that Mr. Huang Lizhong had died in custody.

    For the full case details, see: http://faluninfo.net/article/922/?cid=6

    NTDTV: Shanghai Falun Gong Practitioner Sues Police for Torture
    Oct 28: “Plain-clothed police from the Shanghai Cangning Bureau of Public Security kidnapped 39-year-old Zhang Ying on September 8th outside her home. Her mother says Zhang was taken away because she practices Falun Gong.

    [Ms. Cu, Zhang Ying’s Mother]: ‘The police illegally arrested her and beat her. Zhang Ying was hung up and beaten by three people until she fainted. Now we can’t see her. It’s been over a month, nearly two months now…. We can’t even fall sleep at night.’

    [Zhang Chuanli, Zhang Ying’s Lawyer]: ‘Around September 22, at the Shanghai Prison Hospital where I saw Zhang Ying, she needed people to help her walk. She could not walk by herself and was extremely weak. She said police tortured her to get a confession, so now I’ve filed a law suit on her behalf.’”

    To view the full story, see: http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_china/2009-10-28/153176823490.html

    The Washington Times: Chinese lawyers want Obama to push for Beijing rights
    Oct 30: “Five Chinese lawyers met reporters at the National Press Club on Wednesday to discuss their concerns ahead of the Obama visit [to China in mid-November].

    Mr. Jiang , for example, has been placed several times under house arrest and lost his license to practice law in June.

    ‘I defended more than 20 cases involving Falun Gong practitioners,’ he said… ‘Physical torture was quite common. After their arrest, they were often beaten to the point of being paralyzed or . They had trouble gaining access to a lawyer, and even for the lawyer it was difficult to work: We would be stalked, harassed or beaten.’”

    To read more:
    http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/30/chinese-lawyers-want-obama-to-push-for-beijing-rig/
    http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/24578/

    Canada Leads with New Parliamentary Falun Gong Friendship Group
    Oct 30: “An all-party group of senators and members of Parliament concerned about adversities facing followers of the Falun Gong spiritual discipline have founded a Parliamentary friendship organization to address those issues.

    ‘Our first goal is to make sure Parliamentarians are better informed about issues related to Falun Gong,’ said PFOFG chair Bill Siksay. ‘One of the key purposes of is to encourage respect for fundamental human rights in China.’

    Future activities may include sponsoring programs and events with FDAC on Parliament Hill such as the May 27 China human rights forum hosted by MP Scott Reid, a PFOFG director… The founding PFOFG membership comprises two senators and 18 MPs from all parties represented in Parliament.”

    To read more: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/24549/

    Amnesty International USA: Open Letter to President Obama Highlights Religious Persecution
    Nov 3: “On behalf of Amnesty International USA, I urge you to candidly address grave human rights concerns in the People’s Republic of China during your upcoming first official visit to China and press the President of China to make substantive improvements…

    The scale of China’s human rights violations is staggering…. Thousands are suffering from brutal religious persecution and political repression. Religious persecution has led to the detention and repression of thousands of Tibetans, Uighurs, “unofficial church” members, and Falun Gong practitioners…

    I further request that you establish the following benchmarks to assess improvements : … A lifting of all restrictions and obstacles to freedom of worship. Thousands are detained for their religious activities.

    Sincerely,
    Larry Cox
    Executive Director”

    To read more: http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGUSA20091103001&lang=e

    U.S. State Department: Religious Freedom Report 2009 Cites Arrests and Deaths of Falun Gong Practitioners
    The Government also continued to restrict severely the activities of groups…including several Christian groups and Falun Gong…. There were widespread reports that employers, both Chinese and foreign, were discouraged from hiring members of Falun Gong.

    Overseas Falun Gong organizations alleged a surge in arrests and deaths of Falun Gong practitioners…

    In April 2009, Zhang Xingwu, a retired physics professor from Shandong Province, was sentenced to seven years in prison after police found Falun Gong literature in his apartment.

    In November 2009, a Shanghai court sentenced Liu Jin to three and a half years in prison for downloading from the Internet and distributing to others information about Falun Gong.

    In December 2009, Bu Dongwei left the country after serving two and a half years at a re-education through labor facility; he maintained that he was tortured because of his Falun Gong activities. Before his arrest, he worked for The Asia Foundation, a U.S.-based organization.

    On August 8, 2008, Falun Gong practitioner Cao Changling disappeared while riding his bicycle. Two days later, his family was summoned to the Tenth Wuhan City Hospital, where they found him unconscious, with broken bones and bruises. Cao died on August 15 without regaining consciousness; his family maintained that the circumstances of the death were suspicious.

    On January 26, 2008, Beijing police stopped musician Yu Zhou and his wife, poet Xu Na, for speeding. Police found Falun Gong materials in their car and detained the couple. Yu died in custody 11 days later. He was reportedly tortured; police refused to allow an autopsy. His wife was sentenced to three years in prison.

    To read more: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127268.htm
    http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127268.htm

    Taipei Times: “Activists Call for Release of Falun Gong Practitioners”
    Nov 5: “A number of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, human rights activists and family members of two Falun Gong practitioners yesterday urged China to release the pair ahead of the fourth round of cross-strait talks.

    At a press conference at the legislature, DPP Legislator Tien Chiu-chin said the two practitioners — 63-year-old Li Yaohua (李燿華) and her daughter Zhang Yibo (張軼博) — were arrested by police at their residence in Shanghai without any warrant in the middle of the night on June 4 because they distributed 30 Falun Gong flyers to their neighbors’ mailboxes.

    Tien said Li, a Hong Kong citizen whose father is a Taiwanese national, and Zhang, a Chinese national, had been detained for more than five months without bail even though Li had been suffering from a chronic illness. Li’s son Zhang Yi-yuan said government agencies in Taiwan, including the Ministry of Justice and the Mainland Affairs Council, had sent letters to their Chinese counterparts urging the Chinese authorities to allow family members to visit Li and Zhang Yibo, but to no avail.

    Pan said the DPP is also considering launching a legislative proposal to ban Chinese officials suspected of having persecuted Falun Gong practitioners from entering Taiwan.”

    To read more: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/11/05/2003457689

    Buffalohair:Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s Possible Release



    Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s

    Possible Release

    Posted in Asia with tags Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma, Burma 2010 Election, Min Lwin, NLD, Than Han, Than Shwe on November 10, 2009 by buffalohair

    Aung San Suu KyiWith news *Daw Aung San Suu Kyi may be released to organize her party for the pending election by Senior Burmese Diplomat Min Lwin, I am both happy and fearful. The last assassination attempt on Aung San Suu Kyi made by the junta on May of 2003 is a grim reminder of what the junta is capable of. The need for tight security should be on everybody’s roster if her release comes to pass. Fact is she should have security provided by an international contingent of security experts since I’m fearful the junta will try to have her whacked again. We must not forget the Burmese military’s involvement in the fateful assassination attempt of May 2003, notably Lt. Col. Than Han, Chairman of the Shwe Bo District Peace and Development Council who directed the massacre on May 25th.  Over 100 top NLD officials were beaten to death on that fateful day. Fortunately Aung San Suu Kyi survived this attack, to the chagrin of Than Shwe.

    Smiling Lt Col Than Han during assasination attempt

    The photo to the right shows Lt Col Than Han smiling during the massacre and assassination attempt of May 30th 2003


    The release of the political prisoners is also on the agenda according to reports and this is also a welcome piece of news. But again, I am very guarded since the junta is not known for doing anything truly humanitarian. Their lives would be in danger as well since they would be in the public sector and subject to assassination as well. With gangs on the streets of Burma funded and supported by the junta “civilians” would have free reign to execute assassinations while keeping the junta’s hands clean. Is this a trick to get Aung San Suu Kyi out in the public sector then killed by some civilian loyal to the junta? Or is Than Shwe truly turning a new leaf? One thing is for certain, we must be vigilant regardless of what is said for the lives of Aung San Suu Kyi and the political prisoners are in the balance.

     

    With her and the political prisoners release the next area of discord would be the Constitution of 2008 since it is inherently flawed and totally unconstitutional. What guarantee’s are there that the junta will relinquish power if they loose the elections in 2010? The fact they lost in 1990 then arrested the winners is a grim reminder of what can be expected if and when the NLD wins again. Credibility is a commodity that is in very short supply within the ranks of the elite class that has enslaved Burma. It’s ironic that word of a possible release has not stopped the arrests and incarcerations of opposition. Tortures continue on all political prisoners in Insein and other prisons around the country. Ethnic groups continue to flee by the droves as the Burmese Army continues their 4 cuts campaign as well as their genocide program.

     

    Is this latest news just another ploy to buy more time for the junta as they prepare for this rigged election? Or are both Aung San Suu Kyi and the political prisoners simply a bargaining chip to extort money from the USA? If they are bargaining chips their lives will always be in jeopardy and true democracy will never come to pass. Only time will tell as we enter into a new phase as Burma spins towards 2010. On the other hand, what if Than Shwe actually decided to alter the course of destiny? If that were the case he would secure his place in the afterlife as well as that of his generals provided it was sincere. When it was all said and done and Than Shwe was sincere in altering Burma’s destiny I would be the first to give him accolades. I would write a piece that would honor his decision to allow Burma to live and be prosperous once again. But until then, I will continue to observe the activities within Burma with a judicious and skeptical eye.

     

    * http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=17187

     

    Your Devil’s Advocate

     

    Buffalohair

    October 06

    Buffalohair: Obama Passes on Dalai Lama Visit

    Obama Passes on Dalai Lama Visit



    Posted in Asia with tags , , , on October 5, 2009 by buffalohair


    Lama Obama copy

    President Barack Obama passes on a visit with the Dalai Lama outraging many human rights supporters around the world. Interestingly enough in the *Dalai Lama Camp they are not as miffed, in fact they welcome the warming of U.S. China relations. Top aid and negotiator for the Dalai Lama, Lodi Gyari defended Obama’s “snub” and embraced this action noting that the Dali Lama was always supportive of U.S. engagement with China.




    According to Gyari the Tibetan people took a “broader long-term perspective” on this turn of events. In a statement Gyari said;




    “Our hope is that the cooperative US-Chinese relationship that President Obama’s administration seeks will create conditions that support the resolution of the legitimate grievances of the Tibetan people,”




    With all that said it would behoove others not to second guess the Dalai Lama since it is clear President Obama has his blessings. It would appear the Dalai Lama is looking at the bigger picture in establishing a qualitative and productive dialogue with China. Open discussing rather than pointed barbs does yield better results where showing face is an equal part of any negotiations in Asia. Does President Obama get a “pass” on this issue? No, on the contrary this places Obama under the microscope of worldwide public opinion since now there are billions of witnesses.




    Outrage, disappointment and anger prevail throughout the globe by this “snub” and have placed the US president on the same level as pond scum with many ardent human rights activists and Dalai Lama supporters. The ramifications of this action have rippled throughout the diplomatic communities around the world as well, especially nations who’ve already engaged his holiness the Dalai Lama. More hinges on what transpires on Obama’s visit to China then he may realize for his credibility is at stake. And if Obama can pull off a positive Tibetan solution he will stop the downward spiral of his popularity. If this visit is all about money the downward plunge will continue with a vengeance as he alienates more of his core supporters.




    Like they say, “the opera ain’t over till the fat lady sings”. Whether I agree with this latest presidential action or not is of no consequence since it is still the Dalai Lama’s call. His camp has embraced this engagement with China with promise and great hopes for the future. I look at this turn of events with great skepticism but I will follow the Dalai Lama’s lead and bite a hole in my tongue. I will not hold my breath though. And I pray that my gut feeling on this turn of events is nothing more than gas.




    Your Devil’s Advocate




    Buffalohair




    * http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=25656#


    September 29

    Buffalohair: Without Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, There are no Negotiations

    Without Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, There are no Negotiations

    Posted in Asia with tags Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma, Burma Sanctions, China, Daewoo, Korea, Senator Jim Webb, Tata Motors on September 28, 2009 by buffalohair


    Jim Webb's Garage Sale

    Jim Webb’s Garage Sale

    As the western press goes hog wild with “new” news about Burma it is clear this is all a façade. Making a mountain out of a mole hill or simply stretching the truth about Aung San Suu Kyi’s position on sanctions, Than Shwe should thank Senator Jim “Garage Sale” Webb for promoting lies and misinformation. We might as well thank the corporate world for their manipulation of the press as well.



    At this juncture it must be stated that there are no negotiations about lifting sanctions without Daw Aung Suu Kyi present. How could anyone other than a moron even consider discussing Burma’s fate without the duly elected leader of that nation anyway? Since Jim Webb opened the flood gates of miss-information the media has gone wild with speculation and bold faced lies about Burma. Why hasn’t the media given equal coverage about the continued brutality, rape and murder that has increased since Jim Webb’s first lie?



    Without Aung San Suu Kyi at the table these actions by senators, presidents and the spineless United Nations are meaningless at best. The only thing accomplished; another attempt to sugar coat the presents of a myriad of international corporations already invested in Burma. Sanctions? Give me a break; through the art of triangulation international corporations have managed to side step sanctions. *Lee Seung Woo, of The Korea Federation of Textile Industries (KOFOTI), revealed that Korea already had approximately 30 textile factories operating in Burma. Further Woo boasted that labor was cheap, about $35 a month average wage and the KOFOTI had plans for more. Small wonder Ban Ki-moon has been so impotent in dealing with Burma. It would be a conflict of interest if Ban Ki-moon were invested in these firms or firms who are directly benefiting from Burma’s repression. So I wonder what Ban’s excuse would be why Korea does not have to comply with international sanctions. Dare we mention the totality of investments by Daewoo in Burma? Take a long hard look at the electronics section of your local store. Daewoo is lining the shelves across America.



    The list goes on and on. **Tata Motors, the parent company of Land Rover and Jaguar, is investing throughout the UK making British subjects inadvertent violators of sanctions. Why? Don’t forget the truck building facility being built in Burma to build trucks for the junta under India’s “Look East Policy”. The frosting on the cake is U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s involvement in this game of charades. This sends chills down my spine since it was her husband Bill Clinton who sold America and the free world to China making her a favored nation. Clinton’s position on economics over humanity must not be forgotten for it will weigh heavily on the final “diplomatic” outcome in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi MUST be at the table of negotiations for any dialogue to be legitimate. Anything less is a sham and a fraud. Sadly the U.S. State Department has been in negotiations for months already proving there is more at stake than the needs of the Burmese people. Without Aung San Suu Kyi at these critical meetings they are meaningless at the very best.



    Daw Aung Suu Kyi had always promoted “engagement” with the junta so this is not a news flash as inept politicians boast of this achievement. I only see greedy politicians backed by corporations who want to join China and other Asian nations in the grab for Burma’s natural resources. Sanctions were nothing more than a feel good word since they were never enforced as the corporate world lined the pockets of murderers and rapists. Money laundering has become an art form as billions in profits were hidden for both the junta’s sake and the international corporate world. Now the World is “concerned” about the fate of Burma only after China scored the mother load in the oil and gas fields of this impoverished land. Torture, rape and genocide have no place in this equation, just the corporate bottom line.



    As for Burma’s 2010 Election, you have to be drop dead stupid to even consider that it was legitimate in the first place. Only those who want to white wash Burma’s corrupt regime would by into this line of malarkey. Maybe Senator Jim “I lie” Webb got a million dollar ruby and his pick of Burmese starlets like Ibrahim Gambari for a favorable opinion of Burma. The bottom line is the fact that it’s all about the money Paisan, it’s all about the money.



    Daw Aung San Suu Kyi sent a letter to Than Shwe expressing her willingness to take part in the negotiations process to lift sanctions. If Than Shwe agrees to her request there is a glimmer of hope that true change will occur. If Than Shwe refuses to include her in the process the whole thing will be a sham and all the participants in this process will be nothing more than accomplices to a crime, plain and simple.



    People Power is the only hope for Burma at this juncture. If “We the People of the World” unite and impose People Power Sanctions of our own we will alter the course of Burma’s destiny. If we don’t buy, corporations will die. It is time to arm ourselves with knowledge and seek out all corporate and government interests who are doing business with the junta either directly or indirectly. If it’s all about the money then we must fight fire with fire. We must make it known to all corporate and political interest that dealing with Than Shwe, or any other dictators, will not be tolerated by the “consumers” of the world. Money is the Achilles tendon of both the political and corporate world. Only after hitting them in the pocket book will true change evolve.



    People Power!



    Your Devil’s Advocate



    Buffalohair

    September 17

    Native American Spirit Fair


    **********************************

    Native American

    Spirit Fair

    September 25-26

    United Life Spiritual Center

    3332 N. Meridian, Oklahoma City

    noon – 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25

    11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26

    Free admission and parking

    8 p.m. Friday drumming

    2 p.m. Saturday panel discussion:

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    September 16

    Buffalohair: Burma’s New Sham Democratic Party

    Burma’s New Sham Democratic Party

    Posted in Asia with tags 2010 Elections, Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma, Burma’s New Democratic Party, National League for Democracy, Than Shwe on September 15, 2009 by buffalohair



    2010 VOTE copy

    With Than Shwe’s bogus 2010 election just around the corner credibility has become a major issue. And with good reason since the junta did not like the outcome of the election of 1990 even though they sponsored it. You remember, that’s the election Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy won a landslide victory over Than Shwe’s regime. Sadly the voice of the people was not recognized by Gen. Than Shwe and the world was asleep at the wheel.


    The proposed election of 2010 was designed to give Burma a white wash or sugar frosting and give Than Shwe’s criminal regime a semblance of legitimacy. The other benefit to the election was to give criminally negligent corporations who’ve ignored international sanctions some breathing room from public opinion. Credibility has not been in Than Shwe’s favor and the world knows the election is a sham. But in spite of this fact Than Shwe devised a newer scheme in an effort to give his bogus election the look and feel of a real election. It’s called the Democratic Party and they will place a candidate in the running for the 2010 election. Talk about a rigged election. Why even waste the money on ballots in the first place since Than Shwe has guaranteed his generals will win no matter who runs, except the true opposition. After all, true opposition is either in prison, dead or in hiding so they are effectively out of the running, so far.


    Mya Than Than Nu, the daughter of U Nu; Nay Yee Ba Swe, the daughter of late Prime Minister Ba Swe; and Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein, the daughter of late Deputy Prime Minister Kyaw Nyein are the spearheads of this new attempt to give the bogus election of 2010 a face lift. Did Than Shwe really think he was going to slip this one by the world audience or is he as stupid as many of his generals says he is? I will leave that open to debate. Anyway, these three gals are going to run a staged opposition under the banner of the new *Democratic Party.


    With the children of his cronies running the opposition I truly doubt these gals will want to give up the opulent life they lead or do time for winning the election like Aung San Suu Kyi. The sins of their fathers will not be an issue regardless of their blood soaked histories. Ethnic cleansing as well as wholesale genocide will not be an issue either since the 2010 elections will also provide amnesty to generals for all their heinous acts of brutality. Yes, it will be an election to behold as Than Shwe pushes to legitimize his criminal regime. And there sits the UN’s Ban Ki-moon hiding under the sofa hoping it will all go away and pinheads like U.S. Senator Jim Webb who can’t see past their wallets.


    The fix is already in since the junta forced a new and totally unacceptable Constitution onto the people of Burma in 2008. Through threats of death and starvation Than Shwe coerced people to vote yes as well as fix ballot boxes. Nothing like gun barrel politics to usher in more restrictive and totalitarian rules to keep a nation in bondage. With the Three Stoogettes (Mya, Nay and Cho) at the helm of the new Democratic Party the elections will be the mockery of the century but sadly the joke will be on the people of Burma.


    * http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=16788


    Your Devil’s Advocate


    Buffalohair

    http://buffalohair.wordpress.com/

    September 08

    Buffalohair: Than Shwe’s Ultimatum


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    Than Shwe’s Ultimatum
     
    Posted in Asia with tags 2009, Buddhist Monks, Burma, Oct 2, Than Shwe on September 7, 2009 by buffalohair

    Oct 2

    October 2nd has become the iconic day of reckoning for General Than Shwe of Burma. According to sources within Burma Than Shwe has until 12 noon on October 2, 2009 to make a formal apology for the incarceration, beating and murder of Buddhist monks during a peaceful demonstration. If he refuses he will be excommunicated from the Buddhist faith. In essence Than Shwe will be stripped of his most powerful weapon in keeping a nation divided, religion. If he is no longer a Buddhist he can no longer purport the need to rape and murder Christians under the banner of Buddhism.

    Without Buddhism to hide behind he will have to find a new excuse for his continued campaign of Burmanization and the wholesale slaughter of all ethnic minorities in Burma. It still astounds the imagination how he managed to justify torture, rape and murder then claim to be Buddhist in the first place. But with a woefully inept United Nations and the continued impotent response from the so called free world, Than Shwe continues his exercise in eugenics unabated. Many corporate controlled media groups have also turned a deaf ear on the plight of Burma for the most part as well.

    The October 2nd deadline was proclaimed by the monks yet very little has been mentioned about it in the mainstream press. In the meantime the Burmese military has been beefing up its forces “just in case” of a new and more powerful uprising. Timing is everything since Than Shwe has opened up the battlement lines to the north and has declared war on ceasefire groups who refuse to be border cops. It’s ironic that Senator Jim “One World Order” Webb was making nice with Than Shwe while his goons advanced on Kokang and other ethnic groups. He should have taken a stroll in one of the many under supplied and over filled refugee centers along the border, provided they are not being shelled by the Burmese military.

    With the help of the “liars press” bold faced lies about the meeting circulated around the world as Webb made libelous statements about Daw Aung Suu Kyi. John “the moron” Yettaw made grandiose and thinly veiled lies about his encounter with Aung Suu Kyi then made public his book writing aspirations. I can see the book store now, protesters all around with posters and chants. Then there is John making a hasty retreat out the back door. Daw Aung Suu Kyi has long since decried the false and lascivious statements the dumb duo made. As far as Burma’s democracy was concerned, Jim’s visit was a giant step backward. Yettaw’s visit was catastrophic but “with no regrets”, in his words.

    With Daewoo investing billions in Burma as of this writing it is clear the worldwide corporate agenda quietly moved forward. Burma, locked in the throws of indentured servitude, continues to be raped by outsiders. Than Shwe betrayed Burma sold her to the corporate world, the ultimate money laundering scheme. Globalization is colonization on a planetary scale and Burma is to rich in natural resources to ignore. It is obvious the fate of Burma has been determined by others. Than Shwe is just a pawn and a scapegoat to the ones who bought him years ago. In all reality sanctions have not been honored from the corporate world. Merger after merger internationally has laced a web of unscrupulously divisive criminals who’ve also managed to bypass U.S. monopoly laws.


    Of the top 100 economies of the world at least half are corporations. Imagine corporations with a GDP larger then 80% of the nations of the world. One day you will drive around in a cute Nano by Tata Motors of India. Just don’t forget that Tata Motors is building a facility in Burma for the sole purpose of building medium to heavy trucks for Burma’s Military. The cute little Nano would be soaked in human blood and the suffering of an enslaved nation. The corporate web is all encompassing though.
     Two English institutions, Land Rover and Jaguar, now share the tainted resume’ in epic human carnage for Tata Motors is their parent company. From Mrs. Beasley’s Cookies to that cool Daewoo big screen TV, corporations doing business with Than Shwe stock our shelves. So when people say sanctions have not worked it’s because they were not enforced in earnest in the first place. In our complacency we’ve become unwitting benefactors of tyranny not only in Burma, but around the world. Lusting for the cheapest price we forget the price that is paid in human suffering.


    The world has done nothing to ease Burma’s pain. The cowardly United Nations has exercised selective justice and all but ignored Burma year after year. Feel good speeches, fruitless visits and spineless sanctions have bought the people of Burma nothing but more broken promises. Now the monks of Burma have made their position known as they take destiny into their own hands. Than Shwe must apologies to the Buddhist Monks for the cruel treatment and murder of holy people from a faith he proclaims to be. He has until October 2nd of 2009 at 12 noon Rangoon time. If he ignores this request he will be excommunicated from all of Buddhism. In turn the junta has increased surveillance and security around monasteries and Buddhist enclaves across the country. The fused has been lit as a nation under siege braces for the future. And the world is oblivious.


    Your Devil’s Advocate


    Buffalohair
    August 29

    A Horse lover? Of the Wild Horse Herds?

    Aug 28, 2009
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    Focus: Animal Welfare
    Action Request: Phone Call
    Location: Montana, United States
    A Horse lover? Of the Wild Horse Herds?

    News from Breyer Animal Creations - Help Cloud's Herd

    We have learned recently from our friend Ginger Kathrens, the Emmy-award winning director of the Cloud documentary series that Cloud's herd in the Pryor Mountains of Montana has been targeted for a round-up on or about September 1st by the Bureau of Land Management. This sad news comes just two months before the third installation of Ginger's series is set to air on PBS. Cloud: Challenge of the Stallions, part of PBS' NATURE Series, is slated to air on October 25. By the time the show airs, there is a real chance that his band will no longer be living together or living in the wild.


    We have written to the President, the Secretary of the Interior and to the head of the BLM asking them to stop this round-up and to review the policies that precipitated it.


    If you would like to learn more, we wanted to provide you with the following information to do so.

    Please visit:http://www.thecloudfoundation.org/
    to learn more.


    Thank you.

    Sincerely,

    The Breyer Web Team

    Breyer Animal Creations

    August 20

    Buffalohair:Yettaw Has No Regrets

    Yettaw Has No Regrets


    Posted in Asia with tags Burma, Daw Aung Suu Kyi, John William Yettaw, Senator Jim Webb, Than Shwe on August 19, 2009 by buffalohair

    Myanmar Opposition Leader

    Upon arrival in *Chicago John William Yettaw told reporters that he had no regrets and would do it again, a hundred times to save Daw Aung Suu Kyi’s life. How far beyond stupid is this callous individual? It is known he was working on a book about Burma and there is no doubt his publicity stunt was a blatant act to promote his literary aspirations. Sadly he singlehandedly tossed a monkey wrench in the democratic movement by playing into the regimes grand scheme with this self centered act. Fact is, he committed a crime and was rewarded for his efforts.




    With knowledge of the fact he did this stunt in the past only exemplifies the fact others were involved. There is no way anyone could have committed such an act in such a repressive regime without assistance. Any and all tourists are monitored extensively to make sure they are not spies or agents by this paranoid regime. According to former tourists guides from Burma everyone has a duty to report any movements by all westerners who venture within Burma. United Nations personal and relief agencies are heavily monitored in an effort to conceal the true nature of this criminal regime and that’s the bottom line.




    Daw Aung Suu Kyi’s compound was already heavily guarded including sophisticated surveillance equipment. It was impossible for this buffoon to have made this fateful swim without detection in the first place. Then the revelation this was his second trip was a major red flag to everyone within Burma and the exiled communities around the world. With a taxi driver’s statement that he dropped Yettaw of at Aung Suu Kyi’s day’s before his discovery only raised the scepter of doubt this was a chance encounter. Like they say, timing is everything and it was no coincidence he just happened pick this time in Burma’s history to play out his dubious role in Than Shwe’s game of deception.




    Enter US Senator Jim “Lets Do Business with Criminals” Webb and some of the mainstream press who’ve embraced his lie that Aung Suu Kyi was willing to drop sanctions. On the contrary Aung Suu Kyi vehemently denied saying anything of the kind. In fact she was miffed at Webb’s callous statement about China calling this nation a fearful influence. Webb revealed his true intentions and that’s salivating over Burma’s burgeoning natural resources, oil in particular. Shame on Webb for making such a bold and lascivious statement at the expense of Daw Aung Suu Kyi. And shame on the tabloids for promoting this lie as well. Of course Than Shwe’s trash can press is having a field day with even more lies and propaganda. Thank goodness President Barack Obama was not swayed by the showboating of this misguided senator from Virginia. Sanctions remain. Did Jim really think he could get away with this? Or was he part of an even bigger corporate agenda?




    After talking with Missourians this week it is heartening to note they were not impressed by Yettaw’s self centered act of stupidity. The only good that came from “Webb’s Follies” is knowing exactly where Webb stands with regard to Burma’s democracy and her suffering people. We also know he’s words are not to be trusted, ever. John William Yettaw should have served his sentence like thousands of other American’s who committed crimes in foreign countries. Again I must reiterate, “Thanks for nothing Jim”



    * http://www.ky3.com/news/local/53628302.html



    Your Devil’s Advocate



    Buffalohair

    August 18

    Buffalohair: Obama Reaffirms U.S. Stance on Burma

    Buffalohair: Obama Reaffirms U.S. Stance on Burma

     Obama Reaffirms U.S. Stance on Burma

    Posted in America’s, Asia with tags Barack Obama, Burma, Daw Aung Suu Kyi, Democracy, Senator Jim Webb, Than Shwe on August 18, 2009 by buffalohair

    222px-Official_portrait_of_Barack_Obama Unimpressed by “Webb’s Folly” *US President Barack Obama held firm America’s position on sanctions to the criminal regime of Burma. Though he was pleased that John William Yettaw was released from prison this did not influence US policy with the criminal regime of Burma. Sanctions will remain until the junta actually shows signs of reconciliation which include the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the 2,100 political prisoners.



    The White House has maintained an open door policy with the junta of Burma if Than Shwe was of the mind to do so. Opportunities lay just around the corner if the military junta actually wanted their nation to prosper, there is no question. True reconciliation would be the difference between night and day for the lives of 50,000 people. Than Shwe’s generals would not need false passports to travel around the world. The regime as a whole would not have to live as exiles in the global community. With a wealth of natural resources of a wide variety Burma would be restored to the bustling hub of commerce it once was. Maybe Tay Za would be able to drive one of his fancy sports cars on the Autobahn rather than some dingy parking lot or airport runway.



    But at least it is comforting to know President Barack Obama has not wavered on the US commitment to democracy and human rights in Burma. And for this I am very thankful to America’s president for he showed true leadership on this issue.



    * http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=16586



    Your Devil’s Advocate



    Buffalohair

    Buffalohair: Lady of the Lake Speaks

    Buffalohair: Lady of the Lake Speaks

    August 18, 2009

    Lady of the Lake Speaks

    Posted in Asia with tags 2010 Elections, Burma, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Senator Jim Webb on August 18, 2009 by buffalohair

     Aung San Suu KyiThrough her attorney Nyan Win, Aung San Suu Kyi’s stance on sanctions has not changed since 2007. When poised with remarks in a British newspaper that she was considering lifting the tourism embargo in Burma, she simply said no one has spoken to her about it at all. This quite a contrast to the remarks made by US Senator Jim Webb when he clearly stated;

    “I don’t want to misrepresent her views, but my clear impression is that she is not opposed to the lifting of some sanctions,”

    Further, during Webb’s visit with Daw Aung Suu Kyi it was all too apparent he was more interested in China’s growing “Fearful Influence” in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi found Webb’s “fearful influence offensive and offered a rebuttal to his terminology in reference to China. She wanted good relations with China and the rest of the bordering countries as well as the international community. *Nyan Win quoted;

    “She said China is Burma’s neighbor and wants to be a good friend of Burma. She said she did not see China as a fearful influence.”

    Clearly Senator Webb was referring to China’s pipeline and other vested interests in the region. It should also be noted that Webb has opposed sanctions and promoted commerce with the criminal regime claiming sanctions have failed. The reality is sanctions have not been honored by many nations including the US and UK. India’s Tata Motors, the parent company of UK’s Land Rover and Jaguar, is building a heavy truck plant in Burma to facilitate Than Shwe’s military needs. Tata is also heavily invested in Briton making the UK an unwitting partner in genocide, if you think about it. The list of countries and corporations who are lining the pockets of Than Shwe’s criminal regime is staggering. So the notion sanctions have not worked is ludicrous since true sanctions have not been honored from the very beginning, just lip service.

    Now Webb is going to report to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with his “facts”. The one fact still remains; Daw Aung San Suu Kyi maintains her and the National League for Democracy’s position on all points including sanctions and true reconciliation. She maintained that she has always kept the door open for dialogue with the regime.

    Now, that the junta successfully placed Aung San Suu Kyi out of the running for the sham 2010 election. Reconciliation and the democratic process have been replaced with the bogus roadmap to nowhere by the regime. Than Shwe’s 7 Steps have obviously stepped backwards. The United Nations has proven to be as impotent as ever as they have more meetings and review tons of eye witness accounts of genocide and crimes against humanity. Burma continues to be placed at the back of the line while the world addresses recent acts of genocide and human rights violations in other parts of the globe.

    It was ironic that while Jim Webb was making nice with the regime 10,000 residence in Sham State evacuated to China, thousands of Karen fled with their lives. Rape and murder continue to be the signature of Than Shwe’s Burmanization Program as genocide continues unabridged by the international community. It’s all about the money anyway, why fool ourselves. If it’s not profitable it’s not worth fighting for. Morality and ethnics has no place in current society, only the corporate bottom line. With the edict of Economics over Humanity it is clear help for Burma will not come from the outside world. The cries of the innocent will continue to fall on deaf ears and the world will continue to walk in the shadow of cowards and false hopes. The fate of Burma rests in the hands of the courageous and it is up the people to reawaken the Fighting Peacock for they are truly alone.


    Senator Jim Webb’s visit to Burma has been hailed as a major coup for the criminal regime. The junta’s propaganda machine has hailed Webb’s meeting as a major milestone in renewing relations with Burma. But in all reality it was a major blow to the democratic movement and a big win for the junta. Webb gave the green light to the continued wholesale murder of the ethnic minorities within Burma as well as the continued arrests of all political opposition. And that’s the bottom line.

    * http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=16589

    Your Devil’s Advocate

    Buffalohair

    August 11

    Buffalohair: Outrage over Aung San Suu Kyi’s Conviction

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    Outrage over Aung San Suu Kyi’s Conviction

    Posted in Asia with tags 2010 Elections, Burma, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Than Shwe on August 11, 2009 by buffalohair


    Than Baby The world is outraged over Daw Aung Suu Kyi’s conviction. Here we go again with lofty speeches and more letters of sanction. My question is where was the outrage when Aung Suu Kyi won a landslide victory in the first place? Where was the outrage when she and her cabinet were arrested for winning the election? And where was the outrage when it was discovered ethnic minorities were being systematically raped and murdered? It would appear the world is more concerned with talking points than any actual solution to Burma’s plight.



    Though the trial had a multitude of questionable facts involved it was clear John William Yettaw invaded Aung Suu Kyi’s compound. Whether John was dropped of at the compound in a cab or actually swam does not escape the fact he was there. Revelations on both sides of the ocean also showed he was there once before. We can all speculate all we want to and possibly come up with more heinous conclusions but it’s not going to amount to a hill of beans. I’ve heard this dialogue over and over adnauseum with absolutely no results other than fell good speeches and a push for more cash donations. But I do see a window of opportunity in this verdict though.



    People are missing the boat I fear since Sr. Gen Than Shwe did something rather peculiar. After the verdict was read, Burmese Home Minister Maung Oo entered the fray with a prepared order by Than Shwe reducing the sentence from 3 years to 18 months. Daw Aung Suu Kyi was not remanded to Insein Prison like originally planed. The junta did not sell off Aung Suu Kyi’s compound and she was given TV access and news papers to read. Toss in the option of possible early release and you have a verdict that was much less than expected. It also showed a glimmer of hope in the reconciliation process. So I am very thankful for the results since it was much better than I expected by a long shot.



    For Than Shwe to make such a bold statement about General Aung San and to commute part of the sentence was unheard of according to political exiles. Call it intentional and calculated or simply a change of heart, this could have been a much worse ending and we would still have been powerless to stop it. The United Nations has proven to be just as much talk as the rest of the world when addressing Burma. Ban “I’m a man of action” Ki-moon still has done nothing. The United Nations needs a warehouse to store all the statements and eye witness accounts of genocide and human rights violations within Burma. Yet they will conduct another meeting; propose more fruitless sanctions and fire off another nasty letter of concern to the regime. Politicians will stand on their soap boxes and denounce the verdict while looking good in the press’s eye but they will offer no solutions.

    Politicians will stand on their soap boxes and denounce the verdict while looking good in the press’s eye but they will offer no solutions.


    If ever there was a time Sr. Gen. Than Shwe had an opportunity to show face, it is now. With the verdict in, Than Shwe can make true reconciliation a reality if he chooses to. The lightened sentence also had a provision for early release. Possibly we can squeeze this into the reconciliation process if we look at what we got rather than what we did not.

     

     

    Your Devil’s Advocate
     
    Bufalohair

    Buffalohair: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, GUILTY


    Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, GUILTY

    Posted in Asia with tags , , , on August 11, 2009 by buffalohair

    nldassk

    The trial of Daw Aung Suu Kyi has come to a dramatic conclusion. Predictably Daw Aung San Suu Kyi along with her live in companions was found guilty of allowing John William Yettaw to stay in her home. 3 years was the initial decision then lowered to 18 months in the dramatic final moments of the trial.



    In an unusually open atmosphere, foreign journalists were allowed into the court room for the reading of the verdict. After the 3 year verdict was read Burmese Home Minister Maung Oo entered the courtroom and read a signed order by Snr-Gen Than Shwe. Within the statement Than Shwe made full recognition of Daw Aung Suu Kyi being the daughter of a national hero, General Aung San. He also made reference to Aung San being the architect of Burma’s Independence from British rule. Then the order suggested that the 3 year sentence be commuted to 18 months with provisions she be released even earlier if she shows good moral behavior. The order shared this decision with Aung Suu Kyi’s companions as well. She will be returned to her family compound under house arrest. She will be allowed guests if she goes through the proper channels and given access to TV and daily news papers for the duration of her time under house arrest. The verdict could have been much worse, there is no question.



    On the other hand John William Yettaw, the perpetrator of this whole fiasco, did not fare as well. He got 7 years of hard labor for his intrusion into Aung San Suu Kyi’s compound, 3 years immigration violation, 3 years security violation and 1 year for his casual swim. But if I read my South Asian play book correctly I see John Yettaw as bargaining tool in light of North Korea’s recent behind the scenes jack pot from the negotiations for the two American journalists. Since John Yettaw had a series of medical emergencies in recent days his health is definitely in question. It would appear John’s swim will soon cost more than he bargained for since he will become the subject of future negotiations.



    If he remains in custody there is no doubt he will not survive in the brutal Burmese prison system. When Burmese courts say hard labor, they mean hard labor. His merry little adventure was not appreciated by the Burmese people. With prisons teaming with political prisoners who revere Daw Aung San Suu Kyi he could possibly pay an unexpected price for his folly. Diplomacy and Burmese Law, Criminal Procedure Section 401, are his only options at this juncture. CPS 401 states; “suspend the execution of a sentence or remit the whole or any part of the punishment to which one has been sentenced”. The price for his freedom now rests in the hands of our diplomatic community and ultimately the American taxpayers.



    Whether or not John William Yettaw was purposely allowed to swim to Daw Aung Suu Kyi’s home is of no consequence at this time. This intrusion has cost the pro democracy movement dearly since now Aung Suu Kyi will be under house arrest during the proposed election of 2010. I do give Gen. Than Shwe credit for commuting part of the sentence though. Now the ball is in his court and if he truly wants reconciliation he has a multitude of options at his disposal. He has the power to alter the course of Burma’s history and change his legacy. It will be interesting to see how the course of history unfolds.



    Your Devil’s Advocate



    Bufalohair


    July 23

    Buffalohair: Oh Bummer

    Buffalohair: Oh Bummer

    Oh Bummer

    Posted in America's with tags Healthcare Reform, Obama on July 23, 2009 by buffalohair

    bLAB bLAB bLAB

    Anticipating clarity and substance I gathered with elders to listen to Barack Obama’s pitch for National Healthcare. Quietly I sat as Obama made his much hyped oratory to the American people when an elderly gentleman said; “When is he going to become president?” The room filled with octogenarians burst into laughter. The dialogue then turned from healthcare to a field of jabs and criticisms about the president and his constant use of double talk and fear to move his agenda. Then another senior citizen said flatly; “He’s just another liar”



    Being the youngster in the group I sat quietly as this group of seniors outlined a few key points in this much touted speech. What they said was quite remarkable since this group of people were staunch supporters of Obama, in the beginning. Their main concern was wondering what Obama’s ulterior motivation was for nationalized healthcare in the first place. They found it off point for the president to blame George W. Bush for the economy and were surprised a president would call a police department stupid. Then the issue of rushing this healthcare program came into focus. “What’s the rush to pass this bill when it’s not going to take effect for 5 years? We’ll be dead by then”



    The general consensus was that Obama said a whole lot about nothing and talked in circles. They pointed out the fact Obama has been campaigning ever since he took office and appointed people that we did not elect to do his job. They listed volumes of broken promises, false hope and miles of campaign rhetoric that the media and the general public have forgotten. The issue of healthcare was overshadowed by Obama’s love of the limelight and the notion he was only a mouth piece for the corporations that financed the election.



    A veteran from WWII was not amused by Obama one bit and noted that he lost many friends fighting for democracy in the war. He was not happy that Obama was ignoring the Constitution like George W. Bush did and wished he never voted or campaigned for him. What I got from these elderly American’s about Obama’s speech was not opinions about healthcare but his presidency as a whole. They feel duped and hornswaggled, in their words.



    As for myself I am on the fence on the issue since I’ve seen insurance companies disallow services causing death to patients. I was forced to walk around for months with a broken neck and back before I was allowed care and I was paying a premium price for my healthcare insurance. My sister died waiting for care and my mom lost her right eye from bogus healthcare. If it were not for the Teamsters Union I would be paralyzed or dead by now. And since I lived in Canada I witnessed first hand doctors making house calls with medication in hand after only one phone call to make a request for care.



    It is my personal opinion that healthcare, education and the department of corrections should never have been placed in the public sector for profit in the first place. This was the real reason why healthcare costs skyrocketed as well as the cost of education. Privatized prisons only gave way to lobbyists who demanded long prison terms for relatively minor offences. In turn this caused a boom in prison populations to house American’s for nothing more than smoking a joint. Now that California and other states can no longer foot the bill they are releasing these needlessly jailed prisoners. In the richest country in the world you’d think we the people had a few entitlements such as quality of life and education anyway. But it was the greed factor that has become the axiom that prevails in government. Donald Rumsfeld designed the prescription drug scam that raised the costs of healthcare even further.



    This healthcare debacle has only opened a can of worms I do believe because other issues are coming under the microscope. It’s all about the money and it makes me wonder who is actually going to profit from this healthcare proposal and what is the ulterior motive? After all, the government has done little for America’s loosing their homes and jobs while lining the pockets of corporations and lucrative special interests. Obama pandered for the first bail-out while still a senator using fear and the need for expediency to rush the cash into the hands of criminals. Frankly, I found his speech hopelessly lacking in content, substance and now I wonder what the real agenda is. Maybe he should have used his teleprompter or got a new writer.



    Your Devil’s Advocate



    Buffalohair

    http://buffalohair.wordpress.com/

    Buffalohair: What the World Continues to Forget

    What the World Continues to Forget

    Posted in Asia with tags Burma, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Hillary Clinton, North Korea, United Nations on July 23, 2009 by buffalohair

    Aung San Suu Kyi

    Daw Aung Suu Kyi of Burma is not looking to be rescued and liberated from bondage contrary to the well meaning world. If that were the case she would have been released from incarceration and shipped out of the country, never to return. She is standing for her nation and the thousands of political prisoners. Likened to the woefully misguided John William Yettaw, the world press is filled with rhetoric and inadvertently promoting the sham 2010 election. The notion Burma’s proposed election is anywhere near legal is totally incorrect at the very least and contrary to international law, plain and simple.



    The criminal regime of Gen. Than Shwe’s regime does not fall into any category within the context of legitimate nations by any means. It’s merely a band of thugs who’ve made a mockery of international law in the face of an impotent world. To hear world leaders continue to ask for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release so the bogus election can continue with legitimacy is nothing more than a contradiction. Part and parcel the world has become unwitting participants in human rights violations and genocide. Than Shwe has increased his campaign of Burmanization (rape) and ethnic cleansing as world leaders make lofty speeches. In essence the world has bought the critical time Than Shwe needed to advance his agenda of arrests and murder of the opposition while pushing to legitimizing his criminal regime.



    There is no constitution in Burma. The constitutional referendum of 2008 was coerced and extorted into existence by the regime and was not the will of the people. But so was the election of 1990 where Daw Aung Suu Kyi was duly elected by the people of Burma. That’s when the world should have stepped up to the plate. Now she faces further jail time from trumped up charges and as usual the world does nothing. Murder and rape prevail as human rights violations reach astronomical proportions and the United Nations sends out letters of sanction and dismay. Ban Ki-moon claims to be a man of action yet he does nothing. And to think the US gives tax payer dollars to this organization.



    Hillary Clinton, China’s poster girl, rambles with useless rhetorical speeches to North Korea offering gifts while making feel good gestures to Burma proving how inert she is when faced with China’s criminal friends. Fearful of damaging both her and her husband’s lucrative partnership with China she’s proven beyond a shadow of a doubt how useless she actually is. Her lists of failures are on every continent except Antarctica and Asia tops the list. What is so hard about recognizing the voice of the people and an election that made history? Sadly American politicians have succumbed to deafness from the voice of the people as well.



    We’ve come full circle with debates about the criminality of Burma’s regime and rambled ad nauseum. We’ve read volumes and listened to eye witnesses about atrocities and blatant crimes against humanity. Yet we sit by in another cycle of inaction as we pander to China who is also wrapped up in crimes against humanity with the Falun Gong, the Uyghur People, Tibetans and a myriad of other groups. Guess it’s more important that we continue to purchase substandard goods from China to the joy of international corporations and the World Trade Organization. We’ve compromised our ethics and have turned our backs on staunch allies who’ve saved English and American lives as is the case with Burma, remember WWII?



    It would be poetic justice the world faces a financial disaster of epic proportions if it were not for the fact the perpetrators of this disaster will not be phased. After all they got bail-outs to cushion their fall. With American and international corporations heavily vested in Burma its not hard to see that profits and natural resources are the priority and humanity is nothing more than a word. Guess sanctions only apply to some corporations eh. One day Burma will rise from the ashes of tyranny and the people of Burma will remember the shame the world shares from their ambivalence. What comes around goes around home-boy and our complacent stance with Burma’s democracy will be the death nil of ours as well.



    Your Devils Advocate



    Buffalohair

    http://buffalohair.wordpress.com/
    July 22

    Buffalohair: The Great Lie and Destiny


    The Great Lie and Destiny

    Posted in America's with tags , , , , on July 22, 2009 by buffalohair

    obummer

    As Barack Obama and henchman Rahm Emanuel makes another pitch for the tax payer dollar by convincing us all is well American’s continue to lose jobs and homes. Clearly the people to have benefitted from these bail-outs and give-a-ways were members of the House of Representatives and Congress. Both sides of the isle were enriched and their retirement accounts secured regardless of the rhetoric the Dems and Reps spewed to the public. With the main stream media owned part and parcel by the very corporations pining for a One World Order we got a sugar frosted “crap sandwich” generations in the future will be paying off. Democracy has already past into history since the voice of the people has been placed on ignore as the Constitution becomes nothing more than a piece of paper.



    The one thing both the Democratic and Republican parties have done was systematically divide the people then conquer a nation from within. The reality of how deeply invested our so called politicians were in all these criminally negligent corporations should have been a red flag. In a civil society politicians would have recused themselves from voting or participating in the debates involving the bail-outs and other corporate scams. It would have been the honorable thing to do since they had personal vested interests and stood to gain substantial monetary gain. On the contrary we were convinced that these bail-outs would help mom and pop and the American public by their constant Chicken Little banter and shock doctrine.



    Likened to George Orwell’s novels, 1984 and Animal Farm our political arena has become the greatest con game in world history comparable to Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. Though it is said we are moving towards socialism we must be reminded this is not the case. We are moving towards international corporatism. To quote Benito Mussolini; “Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power” Another term directly associated with this rush for gold is Globalization or the One World Order. These axioms are not to benefit the general public but designed to reap a handsome profit for a hand full of people. It’s all about the corporate bottom line.



    We the people are no longer citizens of our respective nations; we are simply consumers with no voice and resemble cattle to be fattened up for slaughter. Like chickens in a coup we rush from one sweet talking farmer to another seeking crumbs they toss to us. And like the chickens, we fight with one another over the scraps in a desperate need to survive. This is disaster capitalism at its best since now we are desperately in dire need of sustenance and will deal with the devil himself just to stay afloat. By crippling the economy beyond the point of no return our politicians paved the way for a global solution that will “save” America and the free world from financial doom. In the process liberty and the core essence of democracy will disappear into the annals of history. The world population will be relegated to indentured servitude, lock stock and tomahawk.



    Ah but this scenario was predicted thousands of years ago if we bother to pay attention to prophecies from the myriad of dogma’s from around the world. While corporatists greedily anticipate the time we become a one world order, officially, nature and destiny have other plans that will surely put a monkey wrench in their plan. Within all these prophecies it is said that nature will have the final say. Money and material wealth will have no value and humanity will be humbled. It was also said in essence that for those who follow the Pier Piper of false hopes and dreams would parish and the meek shall inherit the Earth. I’ve seen this in my visions since I was a child. I’m not privy to these visions since I believe all people have the ability to see them if they tried. For the most part mankind chooses to live in the here and now, tossing anything within the supernatural in the proverbial dumpster of superstition. This will be the greatest error in human history and will guarantee their untimely demise. This was prophesized as well for many people will not buy into the ancient warnings or the teachings of crusty old Wiseman.



    Oh well, to bad so sad and now mankind is grasping at straws while bogus politician’s guild humanity into the one world order. On the bright side this is not the final outcome but a segway for the real main event. You can run but you can’t hide for destiny is just around the corner. In my eyes civilization has come full circle since economics has become the order of the day. Humanity has been tossed aside for profits and the corporate bottom line. Mankind has become no better than the Neanderthal who’s only concern was what they could take from others in feudal wars over a berry patch or hunting grounds. Civilization has ceased to exist since there is nothing civil about our society. It’s all about the money Paisan, It’s all about the money.



    Your Devil’s Advocate



    Buffalohair

    July 21

    Buffalohair: Hillary Clinton Drinks Tea with Tyranny

    Hillary Clinton Drinks Tea with Tyranny

    Posted in Asia with tags , , , , , on July 21, 2009 by buffalohair

    America's Fault

    China’s premier diplomat Hillary Clinton *likened North Korea to a child in need of attention in yet another sugar coated response to China’s ally. In spite of the fact North Korea threatened nuclear war, aimed rockets at sovereign US soil and holds hostage two American girls she continues to pussy foot and coddles anything China. It is more than obvious she has a second agenda with China and has no business being secretary of anything.

    It should have been more than clear she was useless and failed dismally in Indonesia when she could not muster a meeting with the leadership of the Muslim people, her primary mission. Her statement pitting the concerns for human rights in Asia on the ignore list while placing economics above all else should have been a red flag. Her diplomatic failures far outweigh her usefulness yet the media continues to promote her and anything Obama. Facts are marred with endless lines of rhetoric and bold faced lies proving ‘Big Brother’ and double speak prevail in the one time land of the free.

    It would appear that knowing Burma is using Russian and Chinese technicians to build their **nuclear program, ***secret facilities underground facilities and mining for ****uranium are of no real concern. These hard facts did not even raise a single eye brow within the Obama administration yet we continue to justify the continued war efforts in Iraq. Guess we all forgot how this Iraqi war was based on hearsay and conjecture without a bit of facts to support our invasion. The reality of how there was no weapons of mass destruction should have been real news and the war should have stopped. In essence America was a partner to murder by killing Saddam Hussein and his family.  

    Since it was so profitable and made Dick Cheney’s Halliburton billions the war continued and we bombed this buffer zone nation into the Stone Age. US taxpayer dollars will rebuild this now impoverished nation. On the bight side corporations Saddam Hussein once booted out of the nation was allowed back by both Bush and Obama. The revelation water boarding coerced confessions out of innocent people should have been a major red flag that this was a fraud from the start. Dick Cheney’s smoke screen politics and continued masking the truth from the public’s eye was criminal at best. And we continue to wonder why we are hated by the myriad of former allies in the Mid-East and the world. We’ve become the land of liars.

    So here sits Hillary Clinton, China’s poster girl, and only now she is concerned about a growing partnership between *****Burma and North Korea. With intelligence reports circulating around for years you’d think this so called Secretary of State would have more to say about the clear nuclear threat Burma and North Korea has become. Guess it’s just “provocative” and not warranting a fruitful response. But in all reality I doubt Hillary is capable of addressing real issues when China and her business associates Burma and North Korea are concerned. After all Wal-Mart’s former board member has financial obligations to her former boss and we don’t want to upset the ox cart of profits. After all, Wal-Mart has become China’s factory outlet. Sam Walton founded Wal-Mart on an axiom of selling American Made goods and once proudly displayed this fact on the back of all their trucks, remember? My how times have changed.

    Hillary’s latest failure was with India on talks about ******climate change. To start off the conference this week she blamed the US for most of the environmental damage. Did she really think this would sway India into imposing flawed science on their booming economy? They wholly rejected the proposal but so what. We will continue to shut down American industries and allow them to move to India and China in an effort to bolster their corporate bottom line. Humanity will continue to take a back burner to the needs of corporations, profits and globalization, better known as the “One World Order”.

    Hillary condemns Burma for the treatment of Daw Aung Suu Kyi but failed to address genocide, rape, slave labor, and an election where then nation of Burma voted for democracy in 1990. She is obviously too entangled in China’s purse strings. But what do you expect from the wife of a man who sold American’s core industries to China. After all, it was Bill Clinton who sold his country to China. It is also interesting to note he was embattled in health care debates while secretly selling us down the tubes. Now we face the same situation. The nation is in an uproar about healthcare once again. And it makes me wonder if this debate is nothing more than a smoke screen to mask another sell off of American interests. Is Obama using Bill’s play book? Ah but that’s another story and no one pays attention anyway.

    * http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE56J2FV20090720

    ** http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=11673

     *** http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/06/12/200906120027.asp

    **** http://www.irrawaddy.org/opinion_story.php?art_id=16296   

    ***** http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/21/AR2009072100744.html  

    ****** http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124789530843561651.html   

    Your Devil’s Advocate

    Buffalohair