The Guardian view on Burma, Myanmar, and faltering steps toward democracy

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Editorial

The Guardian view on Burma, Myanmar, and faltering steps toward democracy

What’s in a name? The Guardian has been until now one of a dwindling number of newspapers and broadcasters using the term Burma rather than Myanmar, the regime’s official name for the country.

What has divided the media on this issue is that the name Burma is associated with the democratic movement there, while the name Myanmar is associated with the army-dominated government which decreed its use in 1989, a year after troops had shot down thousands of demonstrators.

The choice of name was thus a way of indicating, or at least of hinting at, approval or disapproval.

We will from today be using the name Myanmar, partly because it has become almost universal and partly because colonial names should be part of the past, along with the empires that gave rise to them.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/31/the-guardian-view-on-burma-myanmar-and-faltering-steps-toward-democracy

-The Guardian - 2015-08-31

[rebelplatoon]

What's in a name... Meanwhile in spite of promises there is nothing resembling a democracy in Burma/ Myanmar. But they are getting the big bucks in, everyone wants a slice of the pie. Money talks bullsh*t walks.