Internet Links for Today – Sakhorn, Burma, HTS, and Hitchens

Tim Sakhorn, the Khmer Buddhist Monk who had been detained, defrocked, and illegally transported across the Vietnamese-Cambodian border and then imprisoned for his activism on behalf of the cause of Khmer Krom (ethnic Khmer in Southern Vietnam) has apparently been released from prison as of June 28th, but as Human Rights Watch notes, no one seems to no where he is. This causes some concern.

“While his release from prison is welcome, as a peaceful activist and human rights defender, Tim Sakhorn should never have been imprisoned in the first place,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Sakhorn should now be able to go where he wants, when he wants, but it is not clear that he is able to do so.” [hrw]

There’s a new passle of stories coming out of Burma, including stories (printed in FEER, even) that claim the entire country has become one big prison. Let’s hope that’s an overstatement, though recent actions by the government don’t inspire confidence. Time magazine chooses an optimistic view of the situation, arguing that the government’s actions have inspired “incremental” rises in opposition to the junta. The Wall Street Journal claims that the cyclone has resulted in an increase of Nat worship. [this would seem to be normal in times of crisis, at least in Cambodia, though we don't call them 'nats' there, and they might be configured differently. I wouldn't jump to the understanding that the Nats were unworshipped previously - they were worshipped - or that a significant long-term change has resulted in the religious sphere as a result of the cyclone]. Danny Fisher and New Mandala continue to aggregate and promote stories of wider interest.

In better news, iluvamaninauniform, the blog of pro-war, pro-Minerva and pro-HTS ‘anthropologist’ McFate, has disappeared, possible as the result of a sudden attack of conscience and humanity inspired by a confrontation between one of McFate’s sock puppets and OpenAnthropology blogger Maximilian Forte on SavageMinds. Good Riddance.

I hesitate to call this last bit ‘good news.’ Although I have often dreamed of doing terrible things to Christopher Hitchens ever since he jumped on the pro-war, American Imperialist, “Islamo-fascist”, pro-torture bandwagon, I would never have wanted to actually torture him. In an article months ago in Salon.com, Hitchens attempted to argue that waterboarding didn’t actually constitute torture. Incensed readers suggested he try it himself. In what was possibly a stunning move of first-hand experiential journalism, a poorly-conceived publicity stunt, an attempt to recover his public soul by enduring a public catharsis, or some odd combination of all three, he did just that. And, in an article in Vanity Fair, complete with photos, and now a video, you can read and watch Hitchens get himself tortured by hooded veterans of U.S. Special Forces. Oh yes, Hitchens changed his mind, “Believe Me, It’s Torture,” he says. Indeed, the thing he seems most upset about is the constant description of waterboarding as simulated drowning. No, he insists, it is drowning.

On watching the video, I was struck by all the (important, necessary, and non-negotiable) safety words, warning signals, and the care and consideration given to Hitchens by his torturers. They were, indeed, very careful with him. And still, Hitchens insists that his extremely brief encounter with waterboarding was torture. He’s right. Now imagine what it’s like without the safety word, the paramedics, and dead man’s bar, or the caring torturers. Let’s hope Hitch has seen the light on other problems as well.