Want to know a fun/soul-crushing theory/secret? Human rights abuses have been occurring in Myanmar for ages, but it has only now appeared on the American media's radar. Why? Because Myanmar just cut an exclusive oil deal with China, "our number one strategic competitor". Are we simply trying to tarnish China's image on the global scene by publicizing the human rights abuses of their new trade partner? Similar story in Libya, I think. Some days being a world politics major is a major downer.
To be fair, I'm pretty sure the American media covered the similar protests that happened in the late 80's when the Myanmar government ordered police to shoot into crowds. I read that hundreds of people were kill but they still claim today only a few dozen died. But you're right, the news has basically ignored everything since then. I always just interpreted that as the western world thinking that an unpopular military dictatorship is only newsworthy when it kills its people. But that's an interesting point about China. I wonder if the media covered other things the myanmar gov't did up until the 80's though.
Comments 2
Some days being a world politics major is a major downer.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment