The Olympics and the other 8888

Today, at the auspicious moment of 8/8/08 at 8:08 PM, Beijing time, the Olympics were opened. So spare a thought for the “8888” twenty years ago in another numerology-obsessed country, Burma. On 8 August 1988, the SLORC military junta killed thousands of pro-democracy protestors. The generals’ brutal and inept rule since then has made Burma one of the most benighted spots on the planet. Political support from China, which has huge economic interests in exploiting Burma’s natural riches, has helped keep the generals safe from concerted international action. If China wants to be a responsible global citizen, it has its work cut out for it in Burma.