Burma

Been following the situation in Burma with dismay...it is difficult stuff to watch. It seems the authorities are very determined to crush the rebellion and they may succeed...this time. But history teaches us that the will of the people will eventually win through, though not without bloodshed and human pain.

Talk of a boycott of Chinese goods met with short thrift this morning from a local shopkeeper who said all the goods in the shop were sourced from China; all the clothes worn by those advocating a boycott were produced in China; and what good would a boycott do except hurt lots of poor Chinese? This will be a question world leaders will ponder. An easier target is probably the Olympic Games and the loss of face to the Chinese Government would be incalculable...but it is hard to see any of the big powers acting with serious intent...which makes me feel powerless...but how much harder for the ordinary Burmese person? Paradoxically their only real hope probably lies not with international governments but with the ordinary man and woman in China. Unless they show political support and so cause problems for the Chinese authorities then it is unlikely anything will change. I imagine, though I do not know, a watchful eye is now being kept on Chinese radicals, just in case.