Western Media Celebrates Faux Progress in MyanmarTony Cartalucci Myanmars recent pivot from China toward the West, and a more open government, came as a surprise to many outsiders. In rapid succession, President Thein Seins government suspended the $3.6-billion Chinese-built Myitsone hydroelectric project, held nominally free elections and released political prisoners, including opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The Times also categorically fails to mention who was really behind the derailment of the Myanmar-Chinese Myitsone hydroelectric project. Of course, each weighed in on the proposed dam, and each portrayed it as having a negative social and environmental impact on Kachin State. US-based International Rivers hailed the halting of construction as a huge success for civil society groups in Burma, China and internationally, while NED-created Irrawaddy solemnly reported in 2008, Irrawaddy Dam Construction Begins, Human Rights Abuses Begin, where the article bemoans Chinas investments in Myanmar before citing a single, anonymous witness who claims soldiers providing security for the construction site are disrupting people as proof of human rights abuses. The Irrawaddy also makes reference to the Kachin Environmental Organization, a founding member of the above mentioned Burma River Network, who in turn has dedicated entire sections of their website to chastising all dam construction within Myanmar. Aung San Suu Kyihas well played a leading role protesting and ultimately halting the construction of the Myitsone Dam. The Western-funded International Rivers reported, Aung San Suu Kyi Joins the Campaign to Save the Irrawaddy, while the NED-created Irrawaddy paper reported, Suu Kyi Attends Save the Irrawaddy Art Event. Open Public Protests (As Long as they are Against China) The LA Times also celebrates what it calls increasingly open, public protests. However, these are only protests against Chinese interests in Myanmar. And while these open public protests take place with the full backing of the West and its media monopolies, with any attempt to crackdown on them decried as an assault on human rights, the Wests own proxies are slaughtering Rohingya refugees by the dozens with little or no serious action taking place. In its article, Suu Kyi demands apology for mine violence, the Bangkok Post reported that: Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has demanded an apology for monks hurt in a violent police crackdown at a Chinese copper mine protest, after she held talks with the two sides. The monks, of course, form the foundation of Suu Kyis so-called pro-democracy movement, as well as theleading front carrying out genocidal violence against Myanmars Rohingya population. Suu Kyis recent demand for an apology stands in stark contrast to her habitual silence over the plight of the Rohingya. The common denominator behind this consistent hypocrisy is the targeting of Chinese interests across the country. In fact, Suu Kyis silent complicity with the genocide of the Rohingya is not mere double standards. The violence her supporters are creating as they exterminate the Rohingya serves to deliberately destabilize yet another epicenter of Chinese interests, its port and logistical hub in Sittwe, Rakine, and pipeline and road it is constructing across Myanmar and into Yunnan province, China. While it may be argued that Chinas relationship with Myanmar falls short on many fronts, it is assured that Myanmars new relationship with the insidious, manipulative interests of Wall Street and London, the heirs of the imperialists who subjugated Myanmar so many years ago will, set new a new standard for exploitation, destitution, disparity, and subjugation especially as the West attempts to array Myanmar along with its other Southeast Asian neighbors against China to fight its proxy war with Beijing well into the 21st century. linkwithin_text=Related Articles: 