Junta staves off axis of evil

Junta staves off axis of evil 

Human Rights 

Authorities in Shan State had recently issued orders to the populace to make symbolic objects as deterrents against possible disasters "only they have foreseen", according to reports from people coming to Thailand. 

"They didn't explain to us why each household had to make one slingshot and 200 clay pellets," said a resident from Mongton. "But all of us are already used to carrying out their orders without asking for the reason anyway." 

People coming from other townships reported they also received similar instructions from their local Burmese commanders. For instance, in Kengtawng, locals were required to fashion bows and arrows; in Mongpan, lances and in Mongnai, swords. 

Khru Muangdee, a Shan astrologist in Chiangmai, explains: "Burmese officials, as you know, have an obsession with numbers. In this case, I believe it is because the coming year, 2546, has the numeral 6 in it: 6 in Burmese is chauk, that can mean either dry or abyss, thus making slinghshots and so on is, astrologically speaking, a way to frighten off the disasters, both natural and manmade." 

The first day after the period of Songkran that falls on 13 April is traditionally marked as the Burmese new year.