To mark International Bloggers' Day for Burma, I invite you to compare and contrast two news reports.
First, from the BBC website;
Scores of monks are trying to leave Burma's main city, Rangoon, following the military's bloody crackdown on anti-government protests, reports say. Monks were seen at the railway station and bus drivers were reportedly refusing to take them, out of fear they would not be allowed petrol. Curfews and night-time police raids are continuing in Rangoon. Correspondents describe a climate of fear there.
...
Military vehicles patrolled Rangoon's streets before dawn with loudspeakers blaring: "We have photographs. We are going to make arrests."
One correspondent in Rangoon told the BBC that people in the country's former capital were angry and frightened. The correspondent described how a middle-aged man in one of the city's tea shops whispered: "I really want change - but they have guns and we don't, so they'll always win."
Reports from Rangoon said around 25 more monks were arrested by security forces in a raid on a temple overnight.
[more]
And now, from the government-operated myanmar.com;
NAY PYI TAW, 26 Sept The government has been striving day and night together with the people for the emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed discipline-flourishing democratic nation.
As the government has been endeavouring to ensure stability of State, community peace, the rule of law and national development that are the main requirements, the national races in all regions are practically enjoying the fruits of national peace and development.
However, saboteurs from inside and outside the nation and some foreign radio stations, who are jealous of national peace and development, have been making instigative acts through lies to cause internal instability and civil commotion. Hence, some members of the Sangha, anti-government groups and saboteurs were staging protest walks.
Some foreign broadcasting stations and destructionists have been issuing announcements, requests and leaflets as if the entire people were taking part in the protests participated by only some monks and people just to intensify the rowdy demonstrations.
The people who wish to earn their living in peace do not accept or take part in the protests. Thus, some saboteurs of the protest walks forcibly urged families of the homes all along their route, whether they know them or not, to provide alms and other requisites for monks.
Sometimes the only way to get people to love democracy and the rule of law is to seize power, and use force to beat it into them.
Governments across the world must continue to pressurise the Burmese regime to institute reforms and recognise human rights.
