Myanmar: “Oh yeah, everything is fine”

Burmese news blog MoeMaKa Media reported on this video footage of Singapore's Straits Times interviewing some Myanmar citizens and others traveling between Yangon and Singapore.

The video footage shows a Myanmar citizen welcoming his family's arrival in Singapore and proclaiming their happiness at being in a stable Singapore, and then shows another Myanmar national exclaiming that even though there are curfews set, they were doing OK and things weren't that bad. “Overall quite ok lah,” claimed one man. “Oh, yeah, everything is fine… The airport, the security and erm, things are functioning fine.. all normal,” said one man who appears to be an airline pilot (not a Myanmar national).

Interview in Singapore Reporter in Singapore airport

After the above comments, you can see the Straits Times reporter saying “talking to some people who were just in Yangon a few hours ago, it seems like the situation is not as bad as what we see on media reports. Other than a curfew, people were free to move around and it was business as usual at the airport.”

Then the Myanmar nationals leaving for Yangon are interviewed. Both women interviewed seem to think that things are not so serious and that they were going to be in safe areas. “Situation is not quite too bad lah.” said one young Myanmar woman.

The reporter then asks: “What are you expecting to see when you get out of the airport?” The young woman then replies: “I think everything is going to be OK.”

MoeMaKa Media has reported this reaction to the video:

“All over the world, Myanmar nationals and others have been showing support for the peaceful protests in Myanmar and the military junta's violent reactions towards it. (Such as the protests in front of Myanmar embassy in Thailand)

Myanmar nationals living in Singapore also showed solidarity and support for those back home by holding prayer sessions at the Burmese monasteries here. However, while everyone is worried about the situation in Burma, the above video from The Straits Times show Myanmar nationals happily stating that they are happy to be in Singapore and how things are “not so bad” back there besides the curfews and how everything seems to be calm, while smiling at the cameras.”

MoeMaKa reports that a Myanmar blogger situated in Singapore sent him photos comparing the real situation in Myanmar and the Myanmar nationals arriving from Yangon and going back to Yangon making light of the situation.

MoeMaKa states that that blogger also posed the question of how Myanmar Nationals living here in Singapore are going to protect and upkeep the nationalism, language (culture) and religion of Myanmar and that it was high time for Myanmar nationals living in Singapore to answer this question in a clear manner.

(I think that the blogger is trying to say that Myanmar nationals all need to unite in solidarity and be clear on the kind of statements they want to make to the world at this difficult time)

14 comments

  • Free Burma!
    International Bloggers’ Day for Burma on the 4th of October

    International bloggers are preparing an action to support the peaceful revolution in Burma. We want to set a sign for freedom and show our sympathy for these people who are fighting their cruel regime without weapons. These Bloggers are planning to refrain from posting to their blogs on October 4 and just put up one Banner then, underlined with the words „Free Burma!“.

    http://www.free-burma.org

  • bookbagwarrior

    CREATIVE COMBAT; TARGET JUNTA FRIENDLY COMPANIES;
    The Burmese Junta can be defiant because friendly “rogue” companies continue to support them. Their answer is “OR ELSE WHAT??” meaning for as long as Chevron, Total of Thailand, French, Indian, Singapore companies continue to support them…it is business as usual folks. When the media coverage dies down..so will the outrage. That is what the junta is banking on and taking to the bank apparently. “UNLESS”…GLOBAL CIVIL SOCIETY…focuses its attention on action that can really hurt them. 1. Picket not the Burmese embassy in India, France, Singapore , and Thailand but the companies that do business with them. 2. Reporters without Borders or instant I citizen Reporters can follow CEOs and billionaires of these companies around paparazzi style to ask them about their support for the junta. I guarantee that getting their faces plastered all over the world as “rogue businessmen supporters of monk killing junta” will not go well in their golf games, country clubs, their daughters’ debutant balls and pretensions or aspirations at high society… 3. Organize “stock sell off” demonstrations in front of the “stock exchange” buildings of junta friendly countries and ask investors to threaten “mass sell off” of stocks unless junta loving companies apply pressure on the junta to stop the killing and restore democracy…that’s just for starters…I’m sure others can think of other “creative combat” strategies to answer their brazen response to world outrage of “or else what?”…that’s what..

  • Dear Book bag warrior, I think that actually questioning the CEOs and government formed companies who have invested in Burma is a great idea. I, too, am sick of statements from country heads who are “saddened by the violence in Burma” and those who repeatedly “ask for restraint”. More needs to be done and we can do it peacefully by actually pointing out thequiet supporters of the Myanmar Regime. Keep those thoughts coming. we sure can use them.

  • Pray for Burma.

    Have you seen the news lately from Burma 10/1/07?

    It seems that the military government has ordered people in the country side to come to support them in meetings. There the military government ordered the mayor and other important people to make speeches about what is happening in Burma since the protest started. There were about 3,000 people or more there sitting and listening to speeches.
    For example: most of the people at the meetings gave speeches on the protests in Yangon, that the protesters are traders. A person giving the speech also implied that the military government has done so much that democracy and protests are nothing but traderous events. The 1988 event was nothing but a waste of time and that in the end the military governments regained peace for the Burmese citizens. Ever since then the military government has controlled Burma. The other topic was that the monks that are supporting and leading the protests are not real monks and that they are spies and traders.
    From what I see, the military governemnt in Burma has done nothing for it’s people. Although they have set up new schools and fixed bulidings and make the country seems like they’re the one doing everything,the Burmese people are still suffering.
    I hope that Burmese people can see through this. The protesters that are protesting against the military government or junta must win. Burmese people all around the world are supporting them and not only that there are other countires and ethinc groups that are supporting them.
    If the military government cares for its people like they say, they will open up the country. By opening up the country’s borders people will be able to travel in and out of the country more easily. Selling and buying will become easier, therefore business can run better. Which will further more benefit the people by making things more affordable.
    Please support the protesters in Burma. Please see through the Burmese military government or junta’s lies. If today’s protests fail, these Burmese military government or junta will not step down for many more years. People that have given up their lives, people that are in jail, people that have put effort to put images of events that is happening and people that are supporting the protester around the world, please don’t let these effort goes to waste.
    Please support the protesters in Burma. Free Burma.

  • buddhist nature

    Here’s a list of “dirty’ companies that do business in Burma

    http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/dirty_list/dirty_list_details.html

    good luck!

  • ko thila

    i STRONGLY THINK THEY,MYANMAR JUNTA DO NOT DESERVE PEACEFUL PROTES.They only deserve violent deserve like killing assissination,kinapping, etc..
    They are cowardly act juntas
    They were pretending all the time like they are a group of good men.Now whole world is seeing how bad they really are

  • […] – Pseudonymity: Oct 6 – Global Demonstrations Against Brutal Burmese Junta – Global Voices Online: Myanmar: “Oh yeah, everything is fine” – SG_Ljers: Myanmar Massacre – sgForums: Petition-signing at Burmese embassy in Singapore – […]

  • Hardy, Switzerland

    I agree with the wish for moderate, respectful and polite coments!
    B U T how can this killing in Burma be stopped?
    How many years are gone since 1988??
    What happened? more brutality..
    Who did help the Burmese?
    How many articles was written in thousands of newspapers?
    What happened? .. talk, talk, talk…
    No matter we are christ, busshist, muslim… force produces force, but there is force with guns, tanks, heavy wapons against force of barefoot monks and voice of women..??!!
    Please answer me, what has happened in a very near neighborcounty in the 70’s?? Why we forgot Polpot??
    Is it really neccessary that the world must wait until the junta kills millions, just the military in Burma does it more quiet hundreds by hundreds or thousands by thousands..?? What did the world do after 1988??
    How can we go to olympic games in China, buy chinese,Russian,Indian goods? How can support Russia,India with human help, countries who supports MURDERERS!! Same China, supporting Killers with weapons and targets!
    I just know in our justical system says those who supports murderers or help them in any way are the same..
    Ohh.. China,Russia,India,Asean States.. they dont do it in bad idea.. no they have good reason, they want to get ALL of the Burmese gems and natural reserves. When there is nothing left the Vote against UN-actions will not anymore be to hear!
    BUT then it will be too late!
    I am sorry that i have no power.. i really would like to personally attack this government, this junta – Sorry
    How is it written Eye by eye or tooth by tooth… but we are in the year 2007 and what changed?
    WHO helps unarmed people to be shot dead about the wish to be just free….??????
    I feel so sorry for all the Burmese prioners in Burma!
    Please keep on going your way, be careful and dont loose your hope, one day the world will wake up
    Hardy

  • C.Kriesland

    Alas, those who have bank accounts in Singapour or who have the means to get out of Myanmar and be accepted by the rich Singapour can well afford to say that all is well – CK

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