The term "Burma" is a British made moniker based on the majority ethnic group, the Bamar. The country was called "Myanmar' by the natives at least as far back as Marco Polo's time and was formally renamed Myanmar by the government in 1989 because it is more inclusive of all the ethnic groups who live there and to distance it from the colonial period. Every one of the several locals (including members of the Bamar ethnic group) to whom I spoke in the three months I was there told me that they did like their country being referred to for these reasons.
I am no defender of any government frankly, but I have travelled extensively in Asia and South America and I have seen and experienced many things which totally changed my perception of a great deal and as a result have formed many conclusions. The world, it seems, is split in to two camps. One is led by America and includes Britain and the rest of the EU and several other countries such as India. This camp is the camp of international capitalism and "freedom of the individual" (what a misnomer).The other camp is led by China and includes North Korea, Cuba, Venezuala, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Syria and the other 'rogue states'. This is the camp of so-called socialism.
The two camps of course loathe each other and this is reflected in the media of the countries concerned.
We are, for example, told by our media all kinds of terrible things about Myanmar, and all kinds of nice things about own experiences (and I have been to India twenty times, each time for several months) don't corroborate what the media tells us India I have seen things which would make some Westerners Rajahstan, for example a group of Untouchables, living among the carcasses of dead camels and buffaloes which they skin for a living. They are not allowed to come into town because their work is 'unclean' and whilst they open their doors onto bloodied fly-infested carcasses, a few miles away, rich Indians develop Western neuroses about being overweight and spoilt rich kids spend a fortune on imported cosmetics. In Bihar, a sixteen year old girl with scars where her nipples once were because one of the sixty men who gang- her bit them off, her crime being to have a romantic dalliance with a boy from another caste. Filth and squallor everywhere, and children with horrible afflictions sleeping on the streets and keeping themselves warm by burning piles of plastic. In Myanmar, on the other hand, I saw schools for the deaf, dumb and blind, and teachers taking children with Downs Syndrome on outings to the beach-none of that in that great democracy India, I can assure you. And I saw no filth and squallor anywhere. But they have forced labour! Our papers scream. Yes, in that villagers have to "beautify' their villages once every so often by painting their houses and keeping them clean, and yes in that convicts have to work. But what's wrong with 'village beautification"? and don't convicts have to work here (or do 'forced labour' in the form of Community Service?
With regard to China, yes, they execute people (and I witnessed the execution there of a convicted murderer and ) but so does the USA. But the difference is that the Chinese don't execute people under 18 whereas the Americans regard to Tianamen Square, we were told that 'the people' were 'rising against communism'. They weren't. Some students were demonstrating because they wanted some reforms, and when someone tipped paint over a bust of Mao the student leaders themselves handed him over to the PSB (the Police). Some students died, as some demonstrators in this country have such as Kevin Gately in 74 and Blair Peach in 79 and I do not condone this,but I can tell you that any traveller in those days would have said that China was the safest country to travel in-especially for women.
Incidentally, the Police in Calcutta take bribes from all the Western paedophiles who work for the Mother Teresa PSB in China shoot paedophiles.
Anyone in Sri Lanka Jan-Feb?
Yes please, we'd like to come!
Look at their tactics on the last couple of demos, the first where they were almost completely absent, the second where they were all riot geared up, and then ponder on whether they are after reducing costs? 
:lol: :lol: