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Brutal attacks on peaceful demonstrators

Brutality of Burmese Dictatorship

New York Protests

Protesters boycott China Olympics

China: Stop Burmese Killers!

New School Students–Faculty Initiative

CHINA: STOP BURMESE KILLERS!

China is in a unique position to promote change in Burma. But yesterday China vetoed the U.N. Security Council Resolution condemning Burma’s violent military rulers. What’s more, China continues to provide crucial military, economic, political, and diplomatic support for the Burmese military dictatorship. This failure of leadership betrays the trust the international community has invested in China, demonstrated by the selection of Beijing as the site of the 2008 Olympic Games.

We call on China immediately to:

 Condemn the violent crackdown on Buddhist monks and other peaceful protesters!

 Withdraw its support for the Burmese military government!

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO:

JOIN A PROTEST in front of the United Nations General Assembly to pressure China to stop the military government’s killing, beating, and jailing of monks and other civilians!

WHEN: Friday, September 29, 2007 at 2.45 p.m. RAIN OR SHINE.

WHERE: 1st Avenue and 47th Street, New York City.

WEAR WHITE. BRING SIGNS.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to help make signs and banners! Please meet on Friday September 29 at 10:00 a.m. at 79 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor (Political Science Department of the New School for Social Research).

ORGANIZED by faculty and students of the New School.

For more information contact Khin Phyu Htway at kphtway@yahoo.com
------------
A panel discussion "The Crisis in Burma" will take place on Tuesday, October 2, at 8:00 PM, New School for Social Research, 78 Fifth Avenue, room 1107 ( entrance from 16th street)

Death toll mounts as the junta's troops shoot at protesters

Burmese junta declared curfew on 25th September, then began violent attacks on peaceful demonstrators on the street. More than a hundrend were arrested including monks. State media reports nine killed and 11 injured today. China blocked the UNSC action yesterday at the meeting on Burma. Burmese democracy leader, Daw Aung Suu Kyi is still in her compound, guarded by 300 soldiers. Some news says, the top military guy, Than Shwe's family fled to Singapore, then to Bankok.

Burma regime crack down on peaceful demonstrators

5 monks killed as militry junta troops battle protests

Protests continue and the military junta imposes curfew.

Peaceful protests continue

Peaceful Protests

Thing-gyan

I was at the Silver Spring Burmese Temple for the annual Thing-gyan (water festival) this past weekend. I've been going there since I was twelve. Hundreds of Burmese from DC-MD-VA area come out and celebrate this special occasion each year with food, music, water play and much more. Some even come from farther places to perform or just to socialize with friends. For us who have been away from home for so long, this is such a special treat. Even though most attendees were Burmese, we all came from different backgrounds. There were students, politicians, Buddhists, professionals, activists, children, ethnic minorities, Christians, refugees, and the list goes on. Some were passionate. Some were hypocrites and betrayers. Many were ignorant of the truth. Many more gave lukewarm support to the liberalization of their own country. My point is, despite our differences, we all gathered at this particular place for one reason and one reason only--we want to experience the feeling of being home. No matter who we are, we all long to be home. As that thought came across my mind, I became angry that I was forced to leave home. I also wanted to ask this question: why aren't we all fighting for the right to live in our homeland?

Now I want to share more personal thoughts...

Walking into the festival was like returning home after being away from it for so long. People were talking in Burmese. I can smell mon-hin-gar like it was in my mom's kitchen. The loud Thing-gyan songs were played in the background. It was such a joyous and warm feeling.

Back in Burma, on the morning of thing-gyan day, boys would stop by my house with padauk pan flowers that they personally climbed and picked. Our neighbors would bring mote-lone-yae-paw (a special dish) to us. My friends and I would play water all day for three days. It was my favorite holiday and it still is. Because I long for the day to celebrate Thing-gyan in my home country, I am going to fight for it. What about you?

Chasingfreedom,

~myatnoe

Happy Birthday Daw Suu (June 19)

A group of my activist friends and I co-hosted an arrest yourself birthday party for Daw Suu yesterday. We were one of the 280 parties held across the world this past weekend. My thoughts and prayers go out to her on this special day. Happy birthday! Long live Daw Suu!

~myatnoe

Myat Myat Noe Noe

This is my story.

I was born in Myaung Mya Myo, Burma. My name, Myat Noe, means “precious.” Before I was able to say my first word, both of my parents, who were educators at the time, were arrested and put in jail for simply being Seventh-day Adventists because that was considered a crime in my native country, Burma. I firmly believe no one in this world should be deprived from his/her basic human rights. I feel that it is not only my moral duty but it is also my destiny to help create a world in which every human being enjoys all of the human rights no matter what one’s ethnicity, skin color, demographic location, or religious belief is. Therefore, defending human rights victims and prosecuting the violators are issues that concern me the most. In the process of fulfilling my task, I hope to be a witness for God.

I learned at an early age that it is better to not have been born than to live with fear. But no one needs to live with fear permanently, not if the rest of the world has something to do about it. Through advocacy, awareness, and action, tyranny can be stopped, and it can even be prevented. When tyranny is terminated, many precious lives will be protected and saved. I seek for every opportunity to contribute my knowledge to others about injustice and human rights violations in Burma, because advocacy, awareness, and action are the keys to liberating Burma. After all, injustice in Burma is a threat to all of mankind.

My family and I are far away from the place we call home, and we presently reside here in the United States. No one should be afraid to breathe or to speak, and no one should be forced to leave their homeland. So having been exposed to human rights abuses, I am utterly blessed to be able to exercise my rights, and I am willing to give my best effort and my life for the fundamental rights of others. Life is not worth living if you live only for yourself.

I left Burma when I was eleven. The year was 1998.

I can recall the day in autumn when two Burmese activists came to my history class to share their experiences with human rights violations. That was the first time I was introduced to Burmese politics. My consciousness was wide-awake. They caught my attention. However, it did not last within for I was only twelve at the time. Luckily, I found another opportunity. This time was more vivid than the previous one, for I believe my destiny was revealed and implemented in my heart by my hero, Chaw (Brother in Ka-ren).

I am currently a third year undergrad student majoring in Operations Management at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. Upon my graduation from the University of Maryland, I plan to seek further education. I am undecided at this point. Law school, MBA, or something. There are many possibilities. I am avaricious when it comes to education solely because it is such a blessing to have the privilege to study in the United States. I seek for higher education, and I study hard so that someday I can share what I have learned with those who do not have the chance to go to school.

For the time being, each person that knows me will learn to know about Burma, because I strongly believe that human rights should be the concern of every moral human being. I will keep fighting for the voiceless victims of human rights violations around the world and abolish their perpetrators. I will actively continue to dedicate my life in the struggle for Burma’s freedom. One day soon when Burma gains democracy, I will gladly return to my homeland and be a part of rebuilding the newly freed nation.

My parents say I am a dreamer. I say I want to be an instrument of God. I want to use the gifts I've been blessed with to it's highest potential. This world is not my home for my home is with my Heavenly Father. But there is much work to be done. The Lord has bestowed great responsibilities on mankind and on me, His servant.

Driven by the Truth and His Compassion,
~myatnoe

Youth from Burma

Last Friday, I got a chance to participate in a youth symposium of the American University. Thanks to Myatnoe, who encouraged me to join the symposium. I presented the education of youth from Burma and their potential for Burma's democratic movement by dividing into three classes.
The first one belongs to the families and relatives of the top generals and their cronies. Their children get excellent education at private international schools in Burma and were sent to study in overseas. They simply take over the businesses protected by and interests of their parents. To them, education is a privilege but not a right. Their schools are equipped with modern facilities and supports. This group is not interested in rights and freedom of people.
The second group is so-called a middle class or working class. Children from this group attend public schools those are severely unfunded, shortage of teachers and insufficient facilities. I defined myself as a member of the second group in Burma. We did not have a choice but tried to get whatever education available. We were under strict control and no rights and freedom in our learning. Often, the regime shut down schools for political reasons and suppression. That’s why affordable families find ways to send their children to neighboring countries for further education. As a result, there are lots of young people from Burma studying in Thialand, Singapore and other Asian countries. Those young people know why Burma is poor and how to change it but they are hesitant to take a risk to fight this cruel regime that oppresses ruthlessly to its opponents. Eventually, they do not return to Burma and find jobs in overseas after graduation. If we can find some ways to motivate or lead them to join our democratic movement, they will be very useful.
The last class is poor and underprivileged who cannot afford even basic education. They are the majority. Because of political instability and mismanagement of the regime, economy in Burma is deteriorating with high rate of inflation, unemployment and corruption. In this class, poverty is the greatest barrier to accessing primary and secondary education in Burma. These days, young people drop out of schools and left home and look for jobs in neighboring countries. Today there are lots of young people working as illegal workers in Thailand, India, Malaysia and Indonesia. They cannot live long time outside of the country and often are deported to Burma because of their illegal status. Those people are willing to change the country. Of course, they are the most suffering from the crisis of Burma. If we can provide certain education to them, they will take the knowledge and skill back to Burma.
On the other hand, there are hundreds and thousands of young people living in the refugee camps along Thai Burma border. I met these young refugees when I studied in Bangkok. Very lucky few of us got scholarships and had a chance to study at the international college. However, many potential young people in refugee camps and on the border are losing their future. As scholarships are always limited, we need more educational programs that can effectively help the majority of the young people.

I also mentioned Dr. Thein Lwin, who is the Director of migrant learning center and teacher training programs. I informed the audience to visit his website at http://www.educationburma.net for more information. That's my two cents.
Winmay

Padaukpan

The image of "Faith", Padaukpan blooms at New Year.

Dear Padaukpan,

I have been in Thailand for almost 2 months. I took the blooming Padaukpan, image of " Faith" and " Love", picture on the occasion of New Year festival, April 12 to 16 for you all.

Last week, I visited a Sunday school for Burmese migrant workers in Bangkok. There are around 680 young Burmese women and men studying English, Thai and computer at the school. The school has been running by an NGO, Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB). It has been started with around a hundred students 3 years ago before I left Thailand and I used to help for that program as well. Now it grows up to more than 600 students. Luckily, a Buddhist education foundation let hires three stores school building for that program in downtown Bangkok. Khin Phyu Htway was once teacher in that school.
I talked with some Burmese migrant workers who have been working in garment factories in my last visit. They have to work more than 12 hours a day and they earn only around three thousands Baht (around 100 $ par month). They have to live in a small room and they even cannot have a well sleep under the heat at night.
I am going again to that school tomorrow, Sunday and I will help some students for their application to scholarship program of Australian Open University for Undergraduate studies. Some young students reached college level and some finished high school in Burma. The scholarship program is for Burmese Refugees in Thailand.

I am really happy to see my beloved Burmese, however at the same time I am really sad too. I do not want to see them in that poor situation.

Best,

ZMK.

Total Denial

My boyfriend and I went to see Total Denial screening last Wednesday. It is an award winning documentary film by Milena Kaneva about the human rights lawsuit, Doe vs. Unocal. It was very inspiring to see how human rights violations victims from a remote area of Burma, with the help of legal assistance from EarthRights International, sued a giant oil company and won the case. This victory sends out the message to all the corporations that they should think twice about doing business with the abandoned and dissolute military regime of Burma.

The following day I was sitting in one of my business classes at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, and we were discussing about globalization and how to manage global supply chain management. We talked about factors that a firm needs to consider when outsourcing in foreign countries and partnering with foreign companies/government. There are many barriers like cultural and language differences, political situation, trade policies, laws and regulations. So after class I had a conversation with my professor and I was able to share with him about the movie screening I went to the night before since it was relevant to the topic we discussed that day. I always take every opportunity to share with others about the atrocities and ever-worsening situation in Burma. It is important to me that I inform people I come in contact with about my passion, human rights and Burma.

Doe vs. Unocal was mentioned in my Human Resources Management textbook. I took that class last semester, and I was really excited when I saw that case in my book. In fact I even called the EarthRights International office in DC to tell them about it. Education is available and I like to believe that our generation will produce ethical and responsible businessmen and businesswomen. May be this is a wishful thinking. But I sincerely and truly believe in the goodness of humanity.

chasingfreedom,
~myatnoe

Cherry and Padauk

Hello! Friends,

Last Sunday, I went to Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. When I saw many cherry blossoms, I missed Padauk flowers from Burma. Every year in April, Burma celebrates its new year when the Padauk flowers are blooming. The yellow flowers and green leaves are in everywhere when people play with water in the humidified weather. On every small street, people are having fun by watering each other; some are making traditional food and let the players eat free food. On the main crowded roads, dancers and singers are entertaining the season and its audience. In the monastery, for the religious purpose, some people practice meditation while some make donations to Buddha and his sons, monks. I had never missed the new year festival when I lived in Burma. I hope to get a chance to enjoy the festival in Burma at least once in the rest of my life.

When I was looking at the cherry trees and thinking of Japan and U.S history, I felt the peace of the world. Hiroshima and these cherry trees prove peoples’ ability to forgiveness and love for peace. Even if Japanese people and government can forgive American people and establish a good relationship with the U.S, I have a question why Burmese people cannot forgive and build peace with each other.

Sadly, we cannot see the products of Burma in the U.S stores today due to the U.S trade sanction against Burma military regime. However, one day when freedom and justice are well balanced in Burma, I hope to see not only made-in-Burma products in America but also Padauk trees with beautiful and fragrant flowers given to the American people who supported for the freedom of Burma.
Winmay

Non-Violence Protest

Mingalaba! A family member informed me of a protest that is taking place in front of the Burma's Military Embassy in Washington DC on Monday, April 2 from 11 am to 1:30 pm. Two to three hundred people are expected to be present. I strongly encourage Paduak Pan members to participate because this involves rape and women issues. The organizer of this event asked me if a representative from our group would speak at the rally. I personally cannot go because I have work. Please let me know if you'll be able to go and would like to speak on our behalf. Lets stand up together and fight back the SPDC!

chasingfreedom,
~myatnoe

PROTEST AGAINST SPDC BARBARISM
A gang-rape case in Putao
March 22nd, 2007
On February 2nd 2007, four Rawang school girls aged 14 to 16 were lured to a local Karaoke bar. Then, the
minors were brutally raped at the military base by three officers and four soldiers. Initially, the victims were
frightened to report their case to the police for fear of reprisal. The families later approached Lt. Col Soe Win to
find resolution to the issue but it yielded no progress. In accordance with Kachin law, the local elders requested
the offenders to pay damage in a feasible amount but only hush money was offered merely to silence the story.
When the news reached the media, the four high school girls were arrested and taken to an undisclosed location.
Nearly two months have passed and no one knows the condition of our Rawang sisters.

We condemn the SPDC’s continued acts of terror on its people;

We demand the immediate release of the four girls;

We call for justice, and the arrest and discharge of the offending officers and soldiers;

We call upon all the Kachin people and sympathizers in BURMA to remain at home on
April 2nd, 2007.

We call on everyone in Burma who shares sympathy for these girls to stay home on April 2nd, 2007, to show your support and solidarity. We request those of you who are able to voice your opinion publicly to join us in
demonstrations at Burmese consulates and embassies in Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, India, Japan,
Malaysia, Thailand, and in the United States on April 2nd, 2007, at 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM. Even more atrocities will find their way into our homes if we cannot stop the maniac on our doorstep. It is time for all people of conscience to take a stand!

The Central Committee
Kachin National Council
Kachin National Organization

For more information please visit www.kachinland.org

Silence and Sorrow

One of the usual Monday mornings when Mae Toe Clinic supplied free nutrition supplements and vaccinations to the babies, I was volunteering at the CPPCR registration booth which was closed to the child centre of the clinic. Babies' cry and Mothers' talk were making noises to the surroundings. A suffocated atmosphere filled with medicine smell, odor of human sweat and dusty air gave me a headache.

Often, I was quite puzzling and hard to fill their babies' birth-registration forms based on the answers from the parents and guardians who plainly said ‘don’t know’, ‘approximately, and ‘anonymous’ on the biographical data of their families. During my work there, I was told many genuine heartbreaking stories from these people. It was a bit funny I had no idea how to take the foot-prints of just-born babies.

Meanwhile, a young mother in her mid-thirty and four year old child checked in. She showed up without her birth record from the clinic. I asked her to get her preganancy record from the clinic. She came back later with the record in which I found that she was HIV Positive, and bottle-fed her child.

Then, I looked at them. The mother in her slender shape looked good, clean and healthy instead of being transmitted by deathly threatened HIV disease. Her innocent look showed she didn’t know what record written in English said about her health condition. Her lovely baby girl was enjoying sugary snacks and coughing as normal. Again, I looked through the medical record to prove myself that she is positive. While filling her registration form, I learnt that her child would be registered at a local school next year using the birth certificate that we would provide.

I told her it was a wonderful plan and good for the baby while I was taking the baby’s foot-print. Upon touching very soft feet of the baby, I was shock to see the baby was already contracted HIV infection. It was the first time I encountered and contacted HIV patients. With the knowledge that the clinic had very limited pills for HIV patients, I questioned myself whether she would send her girl to school or not if she knew her child was infected.

Eventually, the woman and her little girl thanked me with smiles and left. The women might be imagining of her child in a classroom and the child might be thinking of playing with other children on the school playgrounds. Staring at their backs, I remained silence and sorrow with a deep sigh.

Winmay

Anderson Cooper's Reports from the Thai-Burma area on Human & Animal Trafficking

This week, Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN has been covering human and animal trafficking in Thailand and Burma, as well as elephants that have been victims of landmines. In this blog entry, the team describes a doctor that has been fixing the legs of elephant landmine victims. He describes how the landmines kill indiscriminately between human and animal. But perhaps even more frustrating was how little attention the crew paid to the humans in the story. By calling the country "Myanmar" and saying that that military government used the landmines "to suppress Karen rebels" doesn't allow the uninformed viewer to learn much more about the situation that the people of Burma are actually facing.

What I have found encouraging in the past few days is that three of my close friends or family mentioned the above story to me, wondering if I'd heard about it. They said that before they would've had no idea what to think of Burma, but because they'd heard me speaking about our trip to the Thai-Burma border, or had read one of my recent emails about it, that they paid attention to the news report. I think this kind of information-spreading is so important. I'd like to think that it's not people choosing to be ignorant about Burma, it's just that Burma is rarely in the mainstream news. I think every little bit of awareness helps, including the upcoming Burma events this week. On Monday, head over to American University's campus to check out a symbolic representation of the 1100 + political prisoners in Burma. Also, be sure to join up at Dupont Circle at 12:30 on Monday to protest the Shwe Gas Project. And Tuesday, April 3rd at 7:30pm at the Tavern at American University, there will be a benefit show raising money for the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). Check back for any date changes or more information!!

**Leslie**

Updated Information

ACTION ALERT - "No More Guns for Gas" Global Day of Action Against Shwe Natural Gas Project in Western Burma

Washington DC Event Details

The plan is to convene at Dupont Circle and march 2 blocks to the Indian Embassy (submit position paper) and then march another 2 blocks down to the South Korean Embassy (and again submit the position paper.) We will be bringing several large posters for folks to carry as we march – as we will probably not have enough for everyone, we encourage you to make and bring your own posters as well. We are also planning on making a large banner for the folks in the front of the procession to carry as we march down Mass. Ave.

Please be aware that we do not plan to use toy guns as suggested in the Call to Action due to heightened security in the DC area and on the DC Metro! Please refrain from bringing these items as we hope this will be a peaceful demonstration without police involvement.

WHEN: Monday, March 26, 12:30 PM

WHERE: Dupont Circle fountain

Please join us and circulate this announcement to your networks!

We are the children...we are the world

“The Bush administration is expected to allow children aged 15 or younger with parental consent to be allowed to cross the borders at land and sea entry points with a certified copy of their birth certificates rather than passports.” AP Feb 22 2007

The above news reminds me of the children who have no birth certificates. Generally, a registered hospital or clinic provides birth certificate as soon as a child was born. However, I wonder how many illegal Burmese migrant women in Thailand have a chance to delivery their offsprings in those Thai hospitals and clinics. Usually, they come to an unregistered clinic known as Dr Cynthia's Mae Toe Clinic which welcomes every human being indiscriminately.

A piece of paper that the clinic provides to the patient is called a birth record which includes a signature of a nurse or mid-wife from the clinic with records such as birth time and date, weight of an infant and name of the mother. The data of those child births were kept on old and low quality papers of the clinic which often has to negotiate with Thai authorities to get a tiny space on the land of Thai people.

On the crowded market streets of Mae Sot, many children in dirty outfits are meandering. Those country-less children were born in Thailand. They are not only neglected by their illegal migrant parents from Burma but also both of the Burmese and Thai governments. No one except child traffickers cares their existence. Often, those children are gazing around the snack bars. Sometimes, they are staring at other children who are in Thai school uniforms and waiting for their school bus coming.

Those pictures generated an idea to a group of people who founded the Committee for Protection and Promotion of Child Right (Burma) or CPPCR. Currently, the committee is providing a birth certificate and child certificate with the approval of Dr. Cynthia Maung who is a head of the Mae Tao Clinic and chair of the committee.

Although the Mae Sot Burmese migrants these days receive the CPPCR approval birth-certificates and can send their children to schools in Mae Sot, the CPPCR is still facing many barriers and ways to overcome their issued birth-certificates to be recognized as legal and be fully used locally and internationally. In this situation, the CPPCR certificates are, meantime, helping to protect chidren from those unscrupulous child traffickers and child sex exploiters in the border town.

One day, I believe that our innocent children will have a chance to become a full citizen of a peaceful country where they can fly as far as they can.

Hopefully,

Winmay

"No More Guns for Gas"

26 March 2007 will be the fourth Global Day of Action against the Shwe
Gas Project in Burma. On that day, we hope that many activists in about
20 countries around the world will stand up for human rights and
environmental protection by protesting the Shwe Gas Project in Burma,
targeting Daewoo International and the Government of India's military
support to the regime in Burma. Human rights and environmental
activists will gather at local South Korean Embassies, Daewoo
International Offices, and/OR Indian Embassies. We will bring with us
toy guns and in a unified, non-violent, symbolic gesture, we will lay
down our guns and ask Korea and India to do the same.

I believe there will be activists at both Indian and Korean Embassies. While you are welcome to go the location most convenient for you, students from the American, University of Maryland, (may be/hopefully, I haven't heard from them yet) George Washington will all be at the Korean Embassy. I encourage all to join and stand up for human rights and the voiceless people of Burma.
chasingfreedom,
~myat

Students' White Campaign

Hi,

I don't really have much thing to share today. You might also hear about some more arrest and release during these days in Burma. Last week, Veteran politician U Win Naing and Ko Htin Kyaw who led the demonstration in Rangoon a few weeks ago were arrested after holding a press conference criticizing poor living condition in Burma. However, the regime released them on Wednesday. Another well-known 88 generation student, Ko Pan Tate was also taken and questioned by the authority on March 10. The military regime is really scared of people movement inside Burma. Despite these arrest and intensive oppression, the 88 generation students started another white campaign this Sunday. It is to encourage the family members of political prisoners. Every Sunday, 88 generation students will go to the family members of the political prisoners to encourage the families and show their support. I really admire those people inside Burma who are fighting very bravely against the brutal regime.
Beside my sharing, I would like to request all of you to mention your name at the end of the post, so that we know who is sharing the information.

xxxKhin

If I won't see them again...

My dear friend,

I am standing here for your people.

In the jungle, there were old men who enjoyed talking with us.
I am afraid I won’t see them again.

In the jungle, there were some women who were ready to feed us.
I am afraid I won’t see them again.

In the jungle, there were children playing around us.
I am afraid I won’t see them again.

I don’t want to lose them.
UN Security Council, please save them …please

I am begging you.
Winmay ( In front of Myanmar Embassy in DC - 2006)

Religion, Politics, Friends, and everything else in between

So many things to share..... Where should I begin?
***********************************************************************************
Today, I had a chance to talk with a very good friend from my previous university. It was such a blessing to have the opportunity to share with him about the topic that is near to my heart, which is Burma. I am going to send him a documentary video recorded by Free Burma Rangers, so that he will be able to host a showing for the students at Andrews University.

When I was at Andrews, I worked with a law professor and a political science professor on starting a human rights related student organization. Since Andrews was a religious institution, I wanted to start a Religious Liberty Chapter. That would allow me to share with them about human rights issues around the world, especially in Burma. Writing the proposal and drafting the club's constitution was as far as I got. I felt very discouraged and disappointed because my peers showed no interest at all in what I was doing. I tried to collect signatures for a petition, and people politely listened to what I had to say and they politely refused to sign the petition. I didn't understand what was going on in their minds. So I concluded that Christians were only concerned with saving souls and that saving lives was secondary. I was dead wrong.

I learned that students at Andrews are currently very involved with human rights and activism. Perhaps I was not the right person and I was not there at the right time to introduce the issues such as international politics, human rights, freedom, and liberty. I felt so content to be asked to send resources so that the club there can grow, be more aware of what's going on in Burma, and take actions.
************************************************************************************
Global Day of Prayer for Burma
Sunday, March 11, 2007

I will be fasting and praying for Burma. Please join me. Burma needs freedom. Burma needs democracy. I believe Burma needs prayers and God's divine intervention.
************************************************************************************
My heroes

Our friends from the American University left today for Thailand. They are my inspiration because they choose to be a part of a movement that needs them. They have no obligations yet they take part and they do it with so much passion. They are my heroes. May God be with each one of you. Have a safe trip.
************************************************************************************
I'll stop here for this time.

Chasingfreedom,
~myat

BBC Series on life in Burma and on the border

BBC Correspondent Kate McGeown has recently done a lengthy series on life both within Burma and in the border town of Mae Sot. Her first article in the series described what life is like in Mae Sot for the Burmese population, including references to the Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association and the surrounding refugee camps. I found this series so fascinating, having been to Mae Sot and seen some of the things she wrote about. The second article focused on the Karen National Liberation Army and the struggle that the Karen people have faced against the Burmese military.

The article that touched me the most was the third article McGeown wrote, which focused on Dr. Cynthia's clinic in Mae Sot. After visiting the clinic and seeing the patients and facilities first hand, there is something so strange about seeing it on the BBC website. I think it's wonderful that Dr. Cynthia's work is being recognized and present on the international stage. When I talked to my friends and family about how emotionally-impactful the trip to the clinic had been, I know that I caught their hearts. But I think reading about the clinic in a news article presents such an important side of the picture as well, by telling the stories of the patients being treated there. For example, I remember that many of the men making prosthetic limbs had lost legs themselves. Reading this article, I get to hear their stories that at the time I could only imagine.

"No Dam... Dam is Damn"

While we were demonstrating in front of Thai Embassy, I remembered a day I took a trip along Salween River. Under a bright sunshine, I was looking at beautiful scenery, touching and breathing fresh air that came through the river and taking pictures of flying birds above the river. Looking at both sides of the river, I noticed the different green colors of the forests in the two lands. On Thai side, as a replacement of the past complete deforestation, there were many young bright green trees artificially planted due to the plan of Thailand Queen’s soil and environmental protection program. On Burma side, the dark green trees, those were quite aging and naturally grown, made me having more affection to the nature and what Burma is.

Suddenly, one of my friends told me to stop taking pictures because our boat was approaching to the area where Burma dictator’s troops were stationing. We disguised as traders to hide the military group who were looking at us through the binoculars. I was encouraging myself that we were safe from their attack because we were traveling in the area of Thai territory. However, no one could certainly tell you that you would not be shot if they, the Burma brutal army, found out that you were from the opposition group. I saw a golden temple near their tents but not any fence. By using the temple as their firing ground, I felt bitterly that they were abusing Buddhism which never supports wars and violence.

Fortunately, we passed their area quietly without any problem. Half an hour later, a cluster of tents on the shore of Burma loomed. I thought there was one more troop of the regime’s army. Then, I saw a man in partial army uniform on the shore holding a gun in his one hand signalled us to stop our boat. We went within reach of him. He got on the boat and talked to the operator that he wanted to go to a place which was on the same direction we were heading. We did not talk to him as we kept ourselves pretending we were villagers or traders. Then, I found he had a peacock figure engraved pendant on his neck, and realized he was one of the ABSDF( All Burma Students' Democratic Front) soldiers.

Minutes after we dropped him, I saw a group of people with two or three boats crossing the river from Burma to Thailand. On their boads, there were several big plastic bages filled with unknown stuff inside. I supposed they were traders. Our boat paused on the shore of Burma for 15 minutes. Meantime, I took some pictures of Karen soldiers who did not respond me with smiles. I felt it was very unusual throughout I did not get warm response when I greeted the villagers in their language that I knew a few words.

Almost a half hour after we departed that place, my friend told me that the village we just visited was burnt down on ground by the regime's soldiers as a strategic plan for building a dam on the Salween river. As soon as I got to know these awful atrocities, I felt shocked and the beautiful scenery I enjoyed along the way disappeared suddenly. I did not have any idea about the recent skirmish and the soldiers' vicious attack until my friend told me. I did not realize when I was in their village because I did not understand what they were talking and nobody explained/translated to me.

I, after all, felt strangely that no one seemed very much frightened of the battle even if they knew it was coming. They are no longer crying not because they have no fear but because they have no tear left.

Then.. I again shouted “ No Dam … Dam is Damn”

Winmay

Yesterday's protest against the Salween Dam

Hi everyone!!

My name's Leslie, and I'm a first year grad student at American University. After traveling to the Thai-Burma border this past winter break, I've become very passionate about the Burmese people and the struggle for democracy in Burma. There is a great deal one can read online or in books, but visiting face-to-face with groups along the border that are working toward their country's freedom is so inspirational.

Yesterday, a bunch of us went to protest the construction and funding by the Thai government of the Salween Dam. Here are just a few reasons why the Salween is destructive to the environment and the people of Burma, courtesy of Earthrights International:

--Civil War is raging in the area around the dam sites and hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced at gunpoint
--Dams are being used as a military strategy against the ethnic peoples of Burma
--Torture, rape, and killings of villagers are continuing as more soldiers are being deployed and more landmines laid
--Dams will provide financial support to the military junta
--Massive corruption is inevitable given the complete lack of transparency
--The dams will permanently degrade Southeast Asia's longest free flowing river's fisheries, floodplains, teak forests and wildlife habitats, and flood villages and fertile agricultural land

They should be uploading pictures of the protest yesterday onto their page soon, but for now you can check out protests from around the world at Salween Watch. I'll be blogging every Wednesday in the future, and posting events sponsored by American University's Student Campaign for Burma.

In peace,
Leslie

We Cannot Remain Silent

Hello,

My name is Tim and although I have already contributed to this blog, I think I should provide a little more information about who I am and why it is that I came to support democracy and human rights in Burma. I grew up knowing very little about Burma. Not once did I study it in school nor had I ever met anyone from Burma before. In fact, by the time I had even become aware of it, Burma had already been renamed Myanmar by its military leadership.

The first time I found out about the situation in Burma was during my final year as an undergraduate. At the time I was very interested in the human rights problems of North Korea but I felt as though I should broaden my understanding of issues in the rest of Asia. So I went online to the Amnesty International website and the very first thing that popped up was a picture of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and a call to action demanding that Burma release her and the rest of its approximately 1300 political prisoners. I was instantly fascinated to find out more so I read on and then participated in the letter-writing campaign being advocated.

I could not believe that as a citizen in a country where the media is purported to be fair, well-rounded and uncensored, that I could not recall the last time or any time that I had ever heard a thing about Burma. I don't even think I could have placed it on the map. And it is not as though I had no awareness of the world around me. I had been involved in Model UN and taken a number of classes in International Relations, but still never any discussion of Burma. I was absolutely shocked that probably at some time during my education, a professor or fellow student had been aware of what was going on in Burma, yet not taken the opportunity to say something. I believe that no one should be at fault for simply not knowing, but to know and to remain silent is to be complicit to the tyranny of the SPDC. I should add that I am not referring to those inside of Burma whose lives might be at risk if they dare criticize or protest the regime. It is truly remarkable what heroic Burmese such as Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Ko Aung Din, Ko Min Ko Naing, Ma Su Su Nway have done to stand up for human rights and democratic freedoms. However, it is unfair to expect all Burmese to make similar sacrifices.

Returning to my main topic, I think that Daw Suu's famous quote, "Please use your liberty to promotes ours" says so much about why I have chosen to be involved. I cannot unlearn what I now know about Burma and so as long as I know there is a call inside of Burma for the establishment of democracy, for the creation of a fair and just judicial system and for the recognition and enjoyment of human rights then I will use my capabilities as a citizen of the US to advocate on behalf of the 52 million Burmese inside of Burma whose voices have been muffled by years of military rule.


Tim

Lets give a hand to those who are unable to speak out

Today I met with one of my friends who I have not been seeing for a while as she lives in Mizoran State of Inida. She comes to the United States to advocate the issue of human rights violation in Chin State by the Burmese military regime. We had a long conversation almost the whole evening and thus, I got to know from her that Chin women organization is preparing a report on the sexual violence against women by the military soldiers in Chin State, and the report will be publicized internationally soon, hopefully in March or April. Like other women in Burma, Chin women have not been able to escape from rapes and other kinds of sexual abuses by the military regime. However, there is not much attention given to the situation of women in Chin State, since the problem in eastern Burma is more obvious and worse than in any other places. I was glad to hear that Chin women are trying to make the issue known among the international communities. At the same time, I also felt sad that this kind of brutal human rights abuses are happening everywhere in Burma. Under the military regime, women; young or old, married or single are targeted to rapes and different forms of sexual abuses by the military. However, not many people in the world know what is happening in Burma. It is very important to let the world know about the brutalities of the Burmese military regime. Burmese people need help and support. Since we are living in a democratic society, I believe that we can do something to help these women who are not able to express their own voices. I believe that unless the humanitarian community or international community insists on minimum-security assurances for the vulnerable, rape and sexual violence against women will continue unabated in Burma. ///// Khin

update news from Burma and DC

Hi Everyone,

Greetings from Ingjin.

Today, I'd like to post update information of recent protest in Rangoon. The Burmese military regime has arrested at least five people, the day after a public protest over living conditions in Burma. One of the protesters had been arrested during the demonstration on Thursday and remained in custody. State media say the protest was illegal and had caused panic among shopkeepers and passers-by.

By the way, it is a good news that Earthrights International is organizing the Washington, DC Thai Embassy Demonstration for the Global Day of Action against the Damming of the Salween River. Please visit a following website to see their flyer for the event.
http://www.earthrights.org/files/Burma%20Project/salween_dams_global_call_to_action_-_dc_28_feb_07.doc

Hope to see you there.

"May Yesterday's Tear be Tomorrow's Rainbow"

It was 1999 when I just saw my grade that was qualified to get an admission from the medical school of Burma. Unfortunately, I was one of them who were in line waiting for the opening day of the universities in Burma. At that time, Brazil was celebrating its World Club Championship but my mom and I were preparing to leave home.

My first step to Thailand made me free from the detection of the military dictators, on the other hand, insecure and fear as an illegal person in the border town called Maesot where plenty of crimes and transmitted diseases were alive.

As soon as I fell in sleep on the floor of factory workers’ dormitory, I dreamt about my dad who was arrested in the military detention centre so called guest house for his boycott to the unfair law of the military tyrant and my mom who was trying to attend the local NLD office regularly.

One morning after I woke up and went to a garment factory for a dollar per day, I found many young faces those I was supposed to see on my school days. I was quite relieved that I was not alone there but indignant that we were getting a wrong place. Some of them were freshers like me who just graduated from high school. Some are senior students with the majors of the economics, history and others.

I was wondering…

Were they learning the economics by working in a garment factory, as an illegal worker, earning low wages?

Were they making Burma history by leaving their homeland for Thailand?

Most people were familiar with Thai Custody but they would never tell anyone in Burma. Some people were teachers in Burma but they said they had left their degrees hanging on the fence of Burma border and underemployed in Thailand.

I cried everyday and felt sorrowful for my hopeless future until I met some people who were pro-democratic activists of Burma.

Nowadays, I am working as a professional in the United States and living with my family but I never forget the days I cried and the tears of my friends on those days.

I wish those tears be rainbow for tomorrow.

Winmay

Love in the mist of tragedy

Hello! My name is Myat Noe. I am a junior at the University of Maryland double-majoring in Operations Management and Logistics. Here is something I would like to share with you all. Please feel free to comment.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is a hero to many people. She is my personal hero. I admire her commitment to work for freedom and democratization. Her charisma, her intelligence, her perseverance, her meekness, her vision, and many more fine qualities make her a great leader. Recently, I have added one more reason to my list as to why she is my inspiration. I truly revere her for the sacrifices she made for Burma. Almost two decades ago she returned to Burma and hope was restored to the people. She was strong enough to make a decision to give up her current life as a mother, and as a wife to take on a great and difficult task. I am sure everyone knows her story well. I have been an activist and I have always supported the pro-democracy movement. I have read her biography and I thought I knew her well too. But I have never placed myself in her situation before until recently.

God has brought the man of my dreams into my life. I have found love and I just cannot image how heartbreaking and tormenting it would be to lose him. How did Daw Suu do it? I wonder how her family felt and how supportive they were of her decision. Would I have done the same thing? I thought I could. I was single; I was independent; I was alone, and I had nothing to lose. I was ready to exchange my life for Burma’s freedom. Would I give up life now? The more appropriate question is: Would I give up love and the chance of happiness with the man I adore to go back to Burma? Conditions in my life have changed. I no longer believe that I am courageous enough to make a sacrifice like that. I have someone special; I am looking forward to sharing a beautiful life with him. I am sure Daw Suu was content and that she had a happy life. Yet she forfeited everything to carry on a heavy burden. For that I respect her so much. I admire Daw Suu for her restless dedication to the people of Burma. I could never be like her.

The good news is I am blessed to have a special someone who does not only support me one hundred percent, but passionately and actively fighting for human rights and democracy along my side. I realized that I am not selfish. The truth of the matter is Daw Suu is profoundly altruistic. The lesson here is that we are all different and we each have a purpose in life and in the cause. As long as we continue to contribute our effort and work together as one I believe Burma will be freed. Long live Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Sharing news on Burma

Hi guys,

It's me, Khin. I know that today is not my day to share a thought but I just want to share you a piece of news about what happen in Burma today. Today, at noon time (Burmese standard time), a group of young Burmese held a protest in the capital of Rangoon, a rare show of defiance to the country's military-ruled leaders. They called for lower consumer prices, 24-hour electricity and better living conditions. They carried placard, shouted slogans, and marched peacefully in the middle of the city. (Look at the picture) They were all together 12 when they started the demonstration but some people joined them later and the number reached to 40-50. However, as usual armed police came and stopped the demonstration. At least two protesters were arrested including the man who led the demonstration. The two local journalists (one woman and one man) who work for foreign media were also taken away by police. Eyewitnesses said that people cheered the protesters and they were very excited since they have not been seeing this kind of scene for many years under the brutal military regime. No further information on what happen to those who were taken away by the police yet.

New Blogger

Hi,

My name is Renee and I have been involved with Padaukpan since its beginning which is about a year now. I think. Well . . at least its not more than a year. Because over a year ago I was living in Park Slope, Brooklyn and now I live in washington dc. In fact everyone who participates (except Khin who goes to school in NYC) lives around DC.

We decided to start this group to help raise awareness for the women from Burma. I have my assumptions about why everyone else is involved in creating and sustaining this group, but I'm just going to tell you my reasons.

In 1999 I saw a guy named Jeremy speak about the situation in Burma. I had never even heard of Burma before that night. But I listened and watched his slideshow and I was moved. Maybe it's incredible voice or his ernest concern or maybe it was just a moment where I thought I can't NOT do something, but I've been doing something ever since. I think more than anything else I was terribly confused about how the world didn't know about what was happening there. I mean in 1988 hundreds of people were murdered in the streets of their very city by their very own government. Why hadn't I ever heard of it? Why wasn't I reading about it in the newspapers? Why wasn't it front page that a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize was under house arrest? (By the way 7 years later I'm still wondering).

Well I don't want to go on and on about why I show up every two weeks for a meeting of Padaukpan but I do want to explain why we have this blog.

We want the world to know why we care. We want the world to know all the things we know about the situation in Burma. We think in some way that if we talk about in every form possible to as many people as possible maybe we can make a difference. Maybe if enough people find out and are as stunned as we are, maybe the violence will stop.

If you don't know about the situation in Burma, then take a look at the Us Campaign For Burma website.

Thanks and I'll talk to you every Monday. (Each day you'll hear from someone in our group).

-- Renee

The human toll of corruption in Burma

Today while I was in a meeting of students preparing to return to the Thai-Burma border next month and record the perspectives of Burmese youth activists studying, living and working in secrecy, avoiding the Thai police or else facing a possible deportation to Burma, I thought about the culture of corruption that exists in Thailand. However, it was only seconds later that my thoughts shifted to Burma, where corruption not only exists, it is ever-present. It is arguable as to how high corruption pervades Thai politics, but it is a certainty that in Burma it pulsates at every layer. I remember when I was in Rangoon last summer I visited Shwedagon Pagoda and was guided by a man of about the same age as me. He had a ripe sense of humor and took a great deal of pride in his work, answering all of my questions thoroughly and often providing his own commentary and not just plainly giving the scripted tour he had probably given many times before. After our time together was over he asked that I walk with him to have a seat underneath a large tree out of the sight of a nearby military guard casually wielding a large machine gun. When we sat down I compensated him for the tour and he kindly explained to me that if we had made the exchange plain view of the guard, then he probably would have had to give the guard half. It occured to me how sadly ironic this situation was that the very man who was supposed to be guarding us was instead our biggest threat. My guide briefly told me in a faint voice that he had grown tired of his life. He said he worked all day long and still could barely make enough money to get by. He also told me about his girlfriend whom he wished to marry and how he could not make enough money to support her so at best his wish could only be a distant dream so long as he stayed in Burma. I listened to his story intently, pretending to not know about the events of 1988, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi or the SPDC's stranglehold on a country that once flourished so proudly. It was difficult for me to sit and feign ignorance because I feared that this man might secretly be a military intelligence operative hoping to expose me as an activist. On the other hand, if this man were telling the truth I felt like I had only confirmed his worst fears, that the outside world was completely blind to what has been happening in Burma. Whether he was genuine or not, his final words were some that I would hear several times more before I left the country. He told me with a trembling in his voice, "Burma is a very good country, but it has a very bad government."

Greeting from Padauk Pan

Hello!

Warmest Greeting from Khin.

For those who are new to our gourp, I would like to introduce you about "Padauk Pan." It's the name that we take it for our group. Do you know what Padauk Pan is? Check the dictionary. NO! I am just kidding. You won't find it in English dictionaries. Well, if you are a Burmese or if you are familiar with Burma, you will know what is Padauk Pan. It's the name of a flower that bloom only once in a year dring the time Burmese people celebrate "Thingyan Festival" (in Burmese) or "Water Festival" (in English). It is Burmese New Year Festival and is celebrated every year on the second week of April (the beginning of a year in Burmese calendar). People throw water to each other and have fun for a week. Well, our traditional belief is that we clean up all the dirtiness with water before entering into a new year. You can also think it logically in another way that April is the hottest period of a year in Burma, so it is a good time to play water and cool ourselves and have fun. Every year in April while we are celebrating New Year Festival, beautiful "Padauk Pan" (picture on the left) blossom everywhere in the country. It is such an amazing season; I always miss that period. Anyway, I hope now you know about "Padauk Pan". This flower is a symbol of faithfulness as it bloom only once in a year and only for one day during Burmese New Year.