Christchurch Shows Solidarity With Burma

Christchurch Shows Solidarity With Burma

Click for big version

Under a glaring Christchurch sun, a quiet but dedicated crowd gathered on Saturday in a show of solidarity for the Burmese people. As part of Global Action Day for Burma, a demonstration was held in Victoria Square at 12 noon.

Click for big version
Green MP Keith Locke (holding sign) and Cabinet Minister Ruth Dyson (center) attend the Christchurch vigil for Burma

Along side speakers from Amnesty International, Green MP Keith Locke and Government Minister Ruth Dyson both spoke about the struggle for democracy in Burma. Dyson came bearing a message to the people of Christchurch from the Prime Minister Helen Clark:

“She has urged the authorities in Burma directly to respect the right of all their citizens and stop using the violence we are witnessing, against their courageous and peaceful protestors.”

Click for big version

Yet despite claims of solidarity with the people of Burma, the government still insists on holding back with regard to economic sanctions. “We haven’t decided sanctions would be the most effective tool at this point,” said Dyson.

Green MP Keith Locke believes this reticence on behalf of the government is rooted in a general culture of conservatism regarding sanctions and ‘old school’ protectionism of the dairy industry. Despite the fact the Green Party and others are calling for a ban on imports only, Locke believes people wrongly fear this will carry over to exports.

“There is a certain kind of conservatism, a feeling that if we have a ban on imports, it could carry over to exports, and that could affect our dairy trade. We want to have open markets for dairy trade anywhere in the world.”

Locke believes this preoccupation with protecting the dairy industry prevents the government from seeing beyond trade and profits, to the interests of the Burmese people and their desire to be free of the Junta’s rule.

Click for big version

Around 1pm a small, group of Buddhist monks arrived dressed in the bright saffron robes which have come to symbolise freedom and democracy in Burma. They quietly led the colourful crowd three times around Victoria Square as a gesture of solidarity for the monks and laypeople of Burma who are walking for peace and democracy despite great personal risk.

Click for big version

The day’s events closed with a traditional Buddhist chant and blessing for Burma, and a moment of silent reflection for those brave Burmese who have died, unarmed and praying, at the hands of a violent and cruel dictatorship.

ENDS

© Scoop Media