The following articles are compiled by:

Rick Allinson

Rick@WatchmenWatching.com

 

 

 

Myanmar imposes curfews after mass protests
Source: AFP  

25 September 2007 – Myanmar's junta slapped dusk-till-dawn curfews on the country's two largest cities late Tuesday after Buddhist monks defied warnings of a crackdown and led 100,000 people in another day of mass protests.

The edict, effective Wednesday in Yangon and Mandalay, came after the ruling generals -- under pressure after eight straight days of peaceful protests led by the monks -- sent truckloads of armed soldiers and riot police into Yangon.

"This order was issued because of the protests. Do not organise groups of more than five people," the announcement said, reiterating a long-time ban on assemblies that has been ignored as the number of demonstrators has swelled.

The show of force, which could spark a showdown with protesters who pledged to take to the streets again Wednesday, came as US President George W. Bush ramped up the pressure by imposing fresh sanctions against the regime.

"Americans are outraged by the situation in Burma, where a military junta has imposed a 19-year reign of fear," he told the UN General Assembly.

"The ruling junta remains unyielding, yet the people's desire for freedom is unmistakable."

The new restrictions, which included the 9:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew and the designation of Yangon as a "restricted area", were announced late Tuesday via loudspeakers mounted on government vehicles riding through Yangon.

The measures were to remain in effect for 60 days, the announcement said.
 

Comments:  Myanmar (Burma) has been under military rule for years and now the people are protesting against this military government. This protest has been led by thousands of Buddhist Monks which has drawn in 10’s of thousands of the regular population. In 1988, widespread protests and demonstrations broke out on August 8 throughout the country. The military responded by firing into the crowds, alleging Communist infiltration. Violence, chaos and anarchy reigned. Civil administration had ceased to exist, and by September of that year, the country was on the verge of a revolution. The armed forces, under the nominal command of General Saw Maung staged a coup on September 18 to restore order. During the 1988 Uprising, as it became known, the military killed thousands. The military swept aside the Constitution of 1974 in favor of martial law under the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) with Saw Maung as chairman and prime minister.  In April 1992 the military replaced Saw Maung with General Than Shwe.

Now, the military is prepared to break up these protests and judging by the past track record of this military rule, armed force is not out of the question. Keep an eye on these demostrations in Myanmar (Burma) they may soon turn violent. 

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Hopes high but agenda vague for US Mideast summit
Source: AFP  

25 September 2007 – Key players in the Middle East peace process are busily voicing high hopes for a US-organized summit, despite a vague agenda and concerns over its outcome because Israeli and Palestinian goals are not the same.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas wants the summit, expected to be held in November, to cover core issues such as the possible borders of a future Palestinian state, the status of the contested holy city of Jerusalem, and the fate of Palestinian migrants.

"We believe that this meeting should deal with the ... issues of substance that would lead to full negotiations on the permanent status" of the Palestinians, Abbas said Monday after talks with US President George W. Bush.

The Palestinian leader is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly session where he hopes to rally support for Palestinian demands through a series of meetings on the sidelines of the UN event.

But Israel has sought to downplay expectations, with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert saying negotiators were working on a "joint declaration" which he wants to see agreed before the actual summit.

Such a declaration would touch on the primary issues of the Middle East conflict but would be more vague than the "accord of principles" promoted by Abbas.

…

Sensitive to those concerns, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana warned: "We have to go beyond the mere stating of the issues and try to put some more meat on every issue.

"Water, borders, security, Jerusalem, refugees -- those are the fundamental issues that have to be resolved at the end of the day, " he said.

"We can not afford a failure," he added. "Without any doubt, it would be going back several years."
 

Comments:  The quartet is keen to get to the peace table but the issues are holding up this peace process are issues that go back to the beginning of the state of Israel and even thousands of years ago. Jerusalem is the core issue and resolving a dispute that goes back to the time of the first and second temple period and even further. Javier Solana knows what the core issues are and is prepared to force a (false) peace treaty and get the job done. But a peace treaty will set the Jews back to a position no better than what they were when they were exiled during the Babylonian empire.

Now that Jerusalem is becoming centre stage, it is time to look at who the players are and what the prize is. Remember what Daniel had to say about the seventy weeks…it’s all about Jerusalem.

 

 

Da 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

 

Da 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

 

 

Ps 137:1 ¶ By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

 4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?

 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

 6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

 7 ¶ Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.

 8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.

 9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

 

 

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Keep watching (Matt 24:42)!

 

Until next time,

Shalom!

 

 

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