Over the past couple of days a few people have written to ensure that George Packer‘s recent article for The New Yorker does not escape the attention of New Mandala readers. With the title “Drowning: Can the Burmese people rescue themselves?”, it is a wandering 12,000-word account of the trials and tribulations of contemporary Burma. Much of the ground it covers will be very familiar to the average New Mandala reader. Nonetheless there are tidbits, particularly about the shape of the September 2007 demonstrations, that I have not seen printed elsewhere. For that reason alone it is certainly worth a close look.

And thanks to those who mentioned the article … I always appreciate tips and recommendations when readers come across things of general (or not-so-general) interest.