The car is speeding along and then as it hits the side of the bridge and flips over, the movie slows down. We can see every detail as it turns slowly in the air and then smashes into the ground.
Sometimes, despite the massive crash, Nicholas Cage or Angelina Jolie crawl out of the wreck. Their face might have a few drops of blood and they limp for a few steps. But then they are off to find their next dangerous stunt.
But other times in these movies, the car hits the ground in slow motion and then explodes. And everything just goes up in flames.
Hearing about the Myanmar census recently has been a bit like watching a slow motion car crash.
Officially, UNFPA says that ‘the census information is a useful tool for peace process, reform agenda, fair representation of the various groups, as well as for effective planning and policy making’.
But everyone – including UNFPA and its donors – has known for months about the risks associated with it. There has been commissioned research, special reports and journal articles showing it will likely deepen ethnic and religious divisions rather than reduce them. And this week the Irrawaddy magazine outlined a new round of discontent from various ethnic groups and ‘subgroups’ (see below link). But despite all the warnings, the Ministry of Immigration and Population, UNFPA and its donor partners have decided to push on with their existing plans.
In general, we should give policy makers the benefit of the doubt. We live in a fast changing and unpredictable world and even with the wisest planning things can go wrong.
But this is different. We can all see the car spinning in slow motion. And it will definitely hit the ground. The only question now is whether the passengers can crawl out of that car and keep running? Or whether it all explodes?
Let’s hope for a miracle escape - in which case much of this will soon be forgotten.
But if it goes up in flames, UNFPA and the Ministry will face the awful question of why they watched a slow motion car crash for so long, and did so little.
Irrawaddy article http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/burmas-ethnic-minorities-decry-census-jostle-advantage.html
From: Tamas
Photo: Transit movie
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