Book description
For more than 50 years, Burma has been ruled by a succession of
military regimes which rank among the most oppressive dictatorships in
the world. Accused of crimes against humanity, they have brutally
mistreated their people.
Yet in the last couple of years, and in spite of sham elections, the
pace of change has been breathtaking. Much is now hoped for. However,
Burma is one of the most ethnically diverse nations in Southeast Asia:
there are roughly seven major ethnic groups living along its borders.
They have a long history of conflict with the government and have been
cruelly treated by the current regime. Their future affects the
country as a whole, as Benedict Rogers explains. Drawing heavily on
his many fact-finding visits both inside Burma and along its
frontiers, he gives a unique appraisal of the current ethnic situation
and its implications for the nation as a whole.
Wide-ranging, expertly researched, and full of brand new accounts of
the courage and determination of the Burmese people, Burma: a
nation at the crossroads explains the country's conflicted
history, as well as its contemporary struggle for justice. Burma
stands poised for freedom, or for further repression. No one can be
sure. This fascinating and accessible book describes what is really
happening inside this beautiful, secretive, and potentially prosperous country.
Benedict Rogers is a writer and human rights advocate specialising in
Asia. Based in London, he's a regular contributor to the
Guardian,
Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune
and
The New York Times,
and has given briefings and speeches at Oxford University, the LSE, the
White House, US Congress, European Parliament, and other venues. Focused
on Burma for much of the past 15 years, he has travelled almost 40 times
to the country and all of its borders. Previous books include
Than
Shwe: unmasking Burma's tyrant
and
A Land Without Evil: stopping the genocide of Burma's Karen people.
