Birmania. L'annientamento di una generazione. Come detto era solo l'inizio. Zarganar, attore e attivista, aveva raccolto fondi per aiutare le vittime del Nargis. L'hanno prevelato da casa sua prima dell'estate, se già far ridere è pericoloso, aiutare la povera gente è imperdonabile. La sentenza è un macigno: 45 anni. Ashin Gambira (U Gambira), il monaco che guidò al protesta: condannato a 12 anni tre giorni fa, ha avuto il resto oggi, ne passerà 68 dietro le sbarre, la pena più lunga comminata fino ad ora. Altri trenta tra monaci, membri della Generazione dell'88 e attivisti a vario titolo hanno ricevuto verdetti tra tre e ventinove anni.

One of Zarganar’s associates, Zaw Thet Htwe, who helped him deliver aid to cyclone survivors, received a sentence of 15 years imprisonment. Another associate,
Tin Maung Aye, was sentenced to 29 years imprisonment and a third, Thant Zin Aung, received 15 years imprisonment.
The trials of Zarganar, Zaw Thet Htwe and Thant Zin Aung are still proceeding, and the court is expected to pronounce further sentences on them next week.
Thirteen members of the 88 Generation Students group received prison sentences ranging from three to five years on Friday and they are also expected to face further sentences next week, sources said. 
Five Buddhist monks were among a further eleven regime opponents who were also sentenced to prison terms on Friday, prison sources said. All took part in the September 2007 uprising.

Dallo scorso 10 novembre la macchina delle sentenze è inarrestabile. L'opposizione, quel che ne restava, è annientata dai tribunali segreti allestiti nelle prigioni del paese. Sta succedendo in Birmania qualcosa di spaventoso, anche se il resto del mondo sembra non accorgersene. Un'intera generazione cancellata dalla scena politica e civile, famiglie smembrate:

A court in military-ruled Myanmar sentenced a student activist to 6 1/2 years in jail on Wednesday, a week after his father received a 65-year prison term for his own political activities and a decade after his grandfather died in custody.

Al di là delle solite patetiche dichiarazioni di circostanza delle cancellerie occidentali, questo massacro di diritto e di dignità non sembra davvero smuovere le coscienze di chi potrebbe agire. L'attuale presidente del Consiglio di Sicurezza ONU ha fatto sapere che ad oggi nessun membro ha sollecitato un dibattito sul problema:

"I have not heard any delegation asking for a briefing on [the Burma] issue, but as you know, in the Council very often new initiatives come almost every day," Urbina said.
An Asian diplomat told The Irrawaddy that none of the 15 members, including the US, Britain and France, had officially or unofficially tried to raise the issue inside the Security Council.

Quanto agli altri, sono tutti così preoccupati di perdere anche quel minimo di collaborazione ottenuta dalla giunta sui soccorsi post-Nargis (dopo un mese di blocco criminale degli aiuti) da preferire il silenzio complice alla denuncia. Si è creata una situazione paradossale ma perfettamente in linea con le consuetudini della comunità onusiana e gruppi nongovernativi annessi:

It may be one of the greatest ironies of the Nargis tragedy that it has bestowed upon the junta the very air of legitimacy that the generals have long sought. Simply by ceasing to be as obstructive as they were during the first month after the disaster, they have suddenly been elevated to the status of responsible players on the world stage.
And now, as a further, and even more perverse, irony, it seems that the generals have been emboldened by this “partnership” to believe that it entitles them to treat their opponents any way they please.

Ovviamente aiuta i codardi il fatto che il sangue stavolta non macchi le strade di Rangoon ma solo i muri delle prigioni in cui sono confinate migliaia di vittime innocenti:

Min Zaya was transferred to Lashio Prison in Shan State, Zaw Zaw Min to Toungoo Prison in Pegu Division, Jimmy to Taunggyi Prison in Shan State, Arnt Bwe Kyaw to Katha Prison in Sagaing Division, Than Tin to Sittwe Prison in Arakan State, Panneik Tun to Bahmao Prison in Kachin State, Kyaw Kyaw Htwe to Mergui Prison in Tenasserim Division and That Zaw to Moulmein Prison in Mon State.
Of the convicted women members of the 88 Generation Students group, Mar Mar Oo was transferred to Myingyan Prison in Mandalay Division, Thet Thet Aung to Thayawaddy Prison in Pegu Division, Mie Mie to Bassein Prison in Irrawaddy Division and Sandar Min to Myaung Mya Prison in Irrawaddy Division.
Two members of the Bogalay Township NPD were also transferred to outlying prisons. Thiha Aung was transferred to Lowikaw Prison in Karenni State and Aung Myo Paing to Kawthaung Prison in Tenasserim Division respectively.
One further activist, Min Han, was transferred to Lashio Prison in Shan State.

Che palle questo con 'sta Birmania... no?