Burma's Almost Forgotten (A Must Read on Burma/Myanmar)

On the Burmese side of the Moei River, the reality of the Burma Army attack was there for all to see. Where just a few weeks before had stood a thriving community with a church, school, houses, and clinic, there was now little more than ashes.

The pastor came and sat next to me as we looked at the burned-out ruins of his church: a few charred bamboo pillars and some pews. A beam that once held up the roof now formed a cross, symbol of the people's suffering.

In an operation that plays out regularly in eastern Burma, the troops had set fire to the homes, looted and destroyed the clinic, burned the crops, and set the church ablaze. This particular village had good intelligence systems; the people knew the military was on its way. Villagers crossed the river into Thailand and remained there until it was safe. Not for the first time, they watched their village burn. Had the people not escaped, they would have been killed, raped, or taken for forced labor. They moved a few miles upriver and built a new community, in the knowledge that it too would someday be destroyed.

"We have to leave village after village, house after house," the pastor told me. "But it increases our faith. We are Christians; we know God will help us. But please remember us in your prayers. Please do not forget."

North Americans rarely read about Burma (also called Myanmar) in their newspapers, though the courage of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi garnered a few stories last year. Neither the plight of the 5 million Karen and the few hundred thousand Karenni nor the persecution of Burmese Christians is likely to see much news coverage.

Actually, for whatever reason the regime in Burma has a very bad reputation among leftist news sources—unlike the equally bad regimes in numerous Muslim or leftist countries.

But, of course, that still doesn’t mean that these peaceniks will actually DO anything about it, any more than they have actually done anything about Tibet, other than buy T-shirts.

For the kids I would say tootsie pops, small fruit flavored candies anything that you can bring that is individually wrapped.

For the adults the women would like any kind of barrettes, bobby-pins, combs, colored rubber bands any kind of inexpensive things you can buy at Wal Mart to make them feel special.

Also the kid and adults would love any kind of flip-flops. I found the $0.99 kind at Target and the Dollar Store.

Candles, matches, pencils, post-it notes.

You will see government watchers who are dressed better than the rest of the population. During our stay we had a government escort but they did not follow us around constantly, so we were able to mingle in the market place and hotel.

The Schwedagon Pagoda (Temple) in Rangoon is amazing. Golden spires, jewels and neon right in the middle of some of the worse slums in the world. We didn't get to go to Mandalay, but some friends did and enjoyed it tremendously.

Be careful of the Junta. They do not want you taking pictures of anything, especially the military, government buildings, etc. If you take a camera invest in one of the newer ones that are small but have a zoom lens and high pixel count.

Carry $1 bills, which is the most prize item you can give anyone in Burma. It will buy a family of 5 food for at least a week.

You will also find a black market for money exchanging on the streets, but I would not advise, it could be a junta informant.

Despite what you hear in the MSM, the U.S.Dollar is still King in Burma, and most other places we have travel in the world this year.

You will find that the Burma people will welcome you and you will find subtle dissent against the junta.

You will also find a black market for money exchanging on the streets, but I would not advise, it could be a junta informant.

Pretty unlikely if you stay out of Bogyoke Aung San market. Even if they are, a meager $20 bribe will usually get them to go away. But be sure to give new bills and insist on new-looking currency in return. Lots of shopkeepers don't want to take old beat up notes.

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