Saving Fish from Drowning - Heal Burma

SAVING FISH FROM DROWNING
named Myanmar by the junta. Coming up next.” A logo sprang up
on the screen: “Democracy Goes to the Jungle.” It was superimposed
on an image of bare-chested natives leading an elephant, the same
image that had appeared on the box of matches delivered to Harry’s
hotel room and countless tour brochures.
When the segment was over, Harry gave silent thanks. “They’ve al­
ways been good-hearted people,” he remarked to the Embassy staff,
“quick to empathize with the disadvantaged. That’s why we came to
Burma, you know, to see for ourselves what the conditions really are,
and to determine if we might help in any small way—not through vi­
olence, of course, but in ways that rely on gentle persuasiveness, a
kind presence. Actually, it is not unlike the techniques we use in
shaping dog behavior....”
Harry remained in the room with the Embassy staff and watched
GNN unfold the next batch of scoops. The updates continued hour
after hour throughout the day. Policymakers in those countries that
had not announced boycotts in previous years were now meeting in
special sessions to discuss doing so. ASEAN was calling an emer­
gency meeting to determine how to handle this situation that was so
damaging to their joint reputation. This was a very delicate matter,
for according to their rotation plan of shared leadership, Myanmar
would take over as the chair of ASEAN in the not too distant future.
Perhaps it was time to apply more forceful guidance on the country.
Trade restraint, a delay in that pipeline construction, no more sales
of arms, the withholding of development aid, even a suspension of
membership in ASEAN. Yes, the other member countries would look
into all these measures as friendly encouragement.
T HE DRUMS AND GOURDS were sounding in No Name Place. The
flutes played like morning birds. The Karen people were performing
a dance, enacting the arrival of the Younger White Brother and the
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