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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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