'Happy World: Burma The Dictatorship Of The Absurd'

[Beechwoods]

This short (30 min) documentary is a really interesting insight into what it's like in Burma, made two French film makers who posed as tourists. The 'Making Of' file is just as interesting... how they managed to do what they did without being fingered. All the more impressive as they obviously shot it in both English and French.

Well worth a look if you're interested in how the other half live.

http://www.happy-world.com/en

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xjcr5j_happy-world-s-making-of-english-subtitles_news

[Barry]

Hi Nick,

I viewed those attached clips with interest as I visited Burma in the late ‘90s.

First of all I must say whilst the French documentary highlights the amusing and ridiculous aspects of life today in Burma, it does little to expose the ruthless and brutal aspects of the current regime. One whose human rights record is (along with that of North Korea) the worse in the whole world. Worse than that of China - and that is saying something!

One of the, many, sinister aspects of government activity is the use of rape as a means of control and suppression. The Burmese government are able to man their massive standing army (something like 500,000 strong, second only to that of China in the Far East) by ‘press ganging’ recruits, who if reluctant to join, are threatened with having their women folk (regardless of age) raped in front of them. This sort of obscene, repugnant and reprehensible behaviour goes largely unreported to the West, but is known to human rights organisations such as Amnesty International. The Paduang Karen, a tribe living in the north east of Burma, close to the Thai border, have been particularly brutalised.

I visited Burma in 1999, ostensibly to visit the Buddhist sites at Pagan, but given the appalling human rights record, I have to confess I did a lot of soul searching and wrestled with my conscience whether to go or not. In the end I decided to go: I had already been to many countries whose governments were not ‘squeaky clean’, and if I could visit countries such as China, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe, then I could visit Burma.

In the end I decided to go as a ‘Fully Independent Tourist’, rather than as part of a package tour. That way I would be staying in local accommodation and using public transport as much as I could, so my valuable US dollars would not be going to the government. And yes, on arrival my $2,000 was carefully inspected for used, worn and tatty notes. I would have liked to have visited Burma when their banknotes came in denominations that were a multiple of nine, but alas, even the Burmese government had recognised the economic chaos it had caused, so sensibly returned to units of ten.

Even so my few days in the, then, capital Rangoon required me to use a local guide, who being an official guide, was obliged to spout the government line. One, slightly amusing, aspect of this was she was not allowed to openly mention the name of the dissident Nobel Prize winner: Aung San Suu Kyi. Instead, she referred to her as “the lady of the city”. However when in private and away from ‘eavsedroppers’ (who are everywhere) we were able to talk candidly and openly about the political situation there.

The French film is also right in commenting on the absurd traffic conditions, whereby they drive on the right but the majority of their vehicles are right-hand drive. Being a former British colony, the traffic originally followed the British convention but after independence the Burmese systematically erased all traces of British influence. (One of the quaint anomalies I wanted to see for myself was the use of furlongs as units of distance on signposts, but these had long been replaced by kilometers.) In fact the only vestage of the British presence I saw was the Strand Hotel in Rangoon (next door to the British embassy), that still offers a very acceptable and civilised afternoon tea.

The roadside petrol vendors were there, as they are in Cambodia and Laos, with the petrol on sale in litre bottles.

However despite the insidious, corrupt and brutal regime the Burmese government had imposed, I found the people themselves to be one of the most friendly, helpful, charming and hospitable I have met on my travels. Some of my experiences I had there remain with me as very happy memories. One only hopes that the Burmese people will soon be released of their insufferable burden – but I’m not holding my breath.

Regards

[Thing Fish]

I have visited Burma (Myanmar) many times and whats really strange is that if your US dollars are not in perfect condition they won't accept them! And I mean perfect perfecto. Any stains, creases or rips and its a definite no.

[jmudrick]

I have visited Burma (Myanmar) many times and whats really strange is that if your US dollars are not in perfect condition they won't accept them! And I mean perfect perfecto. Any stains, creases or rips and its a definite no.

In Cambodia, where I live, they discount the damaged notes which I find even stranger. You'd think either a note is good or it's not. Not here. I tried to get inside the logic of this but have long ago given up.

On point I too have found Burma a fascinating place to visit. Very hospitable people.

[Barry]

I have visited Burma (Myanmar) many times ....

Business or pleasure? Presumably you had no qualms.

[Beechwoods]

Is it too much to hope for some kind of North Korean glasnost... The deserve it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/8113817/Inside-North-Korea-exclusive-footage.html

[MartinT]

It will take the current generation to die, a slow process. Far too much indoctrination to change their world view all in one go.