Have we forgotten Burma and Tibet?

In the last few days we have been reading news about Nobel Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's strange misfortunes in Burma (Myanmar). The heroic lady has been in prison for years now - two decades in fact since 1989 - and just as the term seems over, some mystery swimmer puts her back on Square One. What has been happening in Burma and why is the world ignoring it for most part? Is it really an internal issue of the country when someone who is elected to be the Prime Minister is placed out of touch with the world for such a long time? Why are countries like China supporting Burma?

Perhaps that last question is dumb. Why wouldn't China be backing Burma when it has a Tibet in its own backyard. A place that China is making all out efforts to wipe out from the world's memory. The Dalai Lama - another Nobel Peace Prize winner - is one of the best recognized faces in the world and none who recognized that face is unaware that he is in exile from Tibet all these years. Yet, China can pressurise - even threaten - the world into ignoring him and steering away from any official contact with Tibet.

Apparently now, European (British) and Canadian firms are mining in Tibet - obviously with the approval of China. Perhaps these companies are environment-friendly and will ensure that Tibet's natural environment is not spoilt by the mining activity. Perhaps these companies being socially responsible are taking steps to ensure that Tibetian people will derive the benefits of such activity. Yet, we are not sure. People have put up protest pages urging these companies to stop mining in Tibet. Who is right and wrong on these issues? There is surely no way to know unless China loosens its stranglehold on the information flowing out of Tibet. Which is not going to happen anytime soon.

Has the world - have we - forgotten Tibet and Burma? Or are we just acknowledging that if the perpetrators are really powerful it is better to steer clear? Or is it that because these victims are adopting peaceful methods that they are easy to forget? Too many questions - perhaps dumb questions - and no easy answers.

Best Regards
Gautam