Burma 'using chemical weapons'

Simon Jeffery
Thursday April 21, 2005

A human rights group today said it had evidence the Burmese army was using chemical weapons against rebel fighters from the Karen ethnic minority.
An incident is alleged to have taken place just inside Burma's border with north-western Thailand in February that left the fighters with injuries consistent with a chemical attack.

The fighters, who have been involved in a long-running war with Burma's military government, claimed that shells fired at their positions emitted a yellow vapour that left them many of them sick, vomiting blood and unable to walk.


more...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/burma/story/0,13373,1465052,00.html

hard to make. yuck!

it seems strange that any country would use something so crude and easily identified unless they are trying desperately to attract worldwide attention to themselves. what is the motivation?

US Media (the pot) calling the kettle "black," while COMPLETELY ignoring charges that the US used depleted uranium, mustard gas, nerve toxins, napalm and other chemical weapons in Fallujah...

...but I don't think Burma/Myanmar has oil

Burma hasn't been the name of the official name of the country since 1989.

What name is correct for DU, Myanmar(sp?) or Burma?

This article, at least, says the opposition prefers the name "Burma".

All the opponents of the junta seem to still call it Burma. From Wikipedia:

"On becoming independent in 1948 the country became known as the "Union of Burma" but in 1989 the ruling military government renamed the state to the "Union of Myanmar". This change of name has been rejected by opponents of the current government, both within and outside of the country, who argue that the government did not have authority to institute it. The title of the Union of Myanmar is recognized by the United Nations, but rejected by some national governments, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. Myanmar is a derivative of the Burmese short-form name Myanmar Naingngandaw."

now I'm thinking of John O'Hurley as Peterman...

Hmmmm...

... simultaneously calling it "strong evidence."

I think the current rulers of Burma suck. But I'll hold off on trying to parse CSW's "strong evidence" until after they get past the "draft report" stage ...


CSW presents evidence for alleged use of chemical weapons against Karenni people of Burma 21/04/2005
EVIDENCE FOR ALLEGED USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS AGAINST KARENNI PEOPLE OF BURMA

Strong evidence has emerged of the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Burma Army against the Karenni people.

A draft report from CSW International President Dr Martin Panter presents evidence of chemical weapons use during an incident which is alleged to have happened near Burma’s north western border with Thailand on February 15. <snip>

http://www.csw.org.uk/latestnews/2005/Burma_21_04_05.htm