***Action Call Alert- September 18***
Dear Friends,
September 18th, 2007 will mark the 19th year of the military coup by the military regime since nationwide democracy uprising in 1988. The US Campaign for Burma has called on all Burmese and supporters for democracy and human rights in Burma throughout the world to organize demonstrations at China's embassies and consulates on that day.
Why China?
On diplomatic front, China stands as a shield for the Burmese regime. In January 2007, China vetoed at the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution on Burma, along with Russia and South Africa. Since then, the world has witnessed increased human rights violations and atrocities that the people of Burma suffer at the hand of the Burmese military regime. The number of internally displaced and refugees as well as the number of democracy activists in prisons and detention centers have increased.
Economically, China is exploiting the situation by heavily extracting natural resources of Burma. According to the Shwe Gas Movement, as noted by USCB, China's new gas deal with the military regime is worth a staggering $40 billion dollars. Militarily, China has sold billions in arms to the Burmese regime, including tanks and armored personnel carriers, jet attack aircraft, small arms and light weapons, logistical and transportation equipment, and coastal patrol ships. Now is the time China listens to the voice of Burmese and Burma supporters throughout the world that it must end its support to the SPDC which prolongs and intensifies the suffering of the Burmese.
Please join this Action and hold demonstrations in front of Chinese Embassies and Consulates in your respective countries on September 18 and call on China to:
1) Stop undermining the UN Secretary General and call for the release of Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma
2) Insist publicly that Burmese military regime participate in tri-partite dialogue with Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy and ethnic nationalities.
3) Support peaceful and nonviolent UN Security Council resolution on Burma.
You may download the address of Chinese embassies and consulates around the world from http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zwjg/default.htm. And please send the information to share with other colleagues in the network if you plan to hold demonstrations in your areas.
Thank you.
Below please find another update for you.
In Solidarity,
Khin Ohmar
Coordinator, APPPB
I. Inside Burma – Good Vs Evil:
1) Four in Contact with Media Arrested, Pakkoku, Magwe Division (Sept 7): Four residents of Pakkoku town in Magwe Division were arrested on Sept 7 for allegedly providing foreign media with information on the protest staged last week by monks over poor economic conditions, according to local residents. U Thant Shin, U Nay La, U Sein Linn, and U Thar Aung were arrested on Sept 7 evening and have been held at the police station.
2) Phone Lines of Activists Cut Off (Sept 10): The regime cut off mobile and landline telephone service to several pro-democracy activists’ phones since Monday morning on Sept 10. Authorities gave no reasons for the sudden disconnections, but it is widely believed that it was because of the frequent interviews to and information sharing with foreign and Burmese media groups in exile.
3) Two Ministers Commanded Crackdown on Protesters (Sept 10): The violent suppression of recent peaceful protests in Burma was commanded by at least two ministers, reported by Irrawaddy. Home Minister Maung Oo and Minister of Industry-1 Aung Thaung directed the suppression of the demonstrations. Both are executive members of the USDA as well as high-ranking leaders of the military regime.
4) Solo Protester Immediately Sentenced to 4 Years, Taunggok, Rakhine State (Sept 11):
Yesterday, a solo protester, Soe Win, took a walk of 20 miles from his home in Sar Pyin village to Taunggok town, displaying a placard demanding the excommunication from the Buddhist faith of SPDC No. 1 Senior-General Than Shwe and calling for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other detained opposition leaders. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment hours after he was arrested. He is the first arrested demonstrator to be sentenced since the start of protests.
5) SPDC Calls on the Public to End Protest (Sept 11): The regime calls on the public to end weeks of protests and to instead express their views through a promised referendum on a new constitution, its media reported yesterday.
6) Families of ’88 Generation Group Ask for ICRC Help (Sept 11): After the rumors spread of the death of Jimmy on Sept 8, family Members of the detained ’88 Generation Students leaders put forth an appeal to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Rangoon to help them discover where the '88 leaders are being held. Family members paid a visit to Insein prison on Tuesday and were told by prison authorities that they didn’t know whereabouts of the detained activists and advised to contact those who originally arrested the activists. Family members expressed their worry about the well beings of the activists and are still waiting for a response from the ICRC to their appeal for help in finding out the whereabouts of detainees.
7) Update on Monks Movement (Sept 12): As I reported in previous update, the “Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks” has called on monks to refuse alms offered by members of the military regime unless an apology is issued by September 17, for the violence used against their
fellow monks in recent protests.
The authorities put monasteries under close watch to clamp down on the protests. Senior monks in Pakokku, Magwe Division, were called to a meeting with high-level government officials on Sunday, Sept 9, and offered money as compensation for monks who were beaten and disrobed in last week’s protest. Fifteen senior monks from four monasteries in Pakokku were summoned to the meeting and offered 30,000 Kyat as compensation for each monk who was beaten up and disrobed during the soldiers' crackdown on last week protest. Some senior monks didn’t attend
the meeting to express their disappointment while those attended ended with disappointment for the offer of money but apology.
It’s been reported that authorities have also limited monks to receive alms rounds to one hour and ordered a curfew at some monasteries across Burma including Sittwe in western Rakhine State ordering monks not to leave monasteries from 9 pm to 4 am and also set up more security around several monasteries and some areas in downtown Pegu about 80 km north of Rangoon, according to residents. Yesterday, the authorities in Mandalay, the second largest city, barred people from attending the Dhamma (Buddhist teaching) in fear of gathering of people and monks. Traditionally people observe 'Buddha day' during the three months of Buddhist lent.
8) Posters Protest & Martial Law in Theindi, Shan State (Sept 12): There was a circulation of anti-government posters and letters in Theindi town of northern Shan State on Sept 5 and the local authorities have tightened up security and issued martial law since Sept 6 ordering people not to go out from 8 pm to dawn. The authorities also ordered local karaoke and video bars to close and banned the gathering of six or more people. The order also stated those who did not follow orders would be apprehended. Monks have also been barred from going out to receive alms from people early in the morning, the Buddhist tradition. Security has also been tightened up in other cities and towns like Taunggyi and Lasho.
II. “Toward Free Burma” Actions:
1) Sit–in Protest Seeks UN Security Council Action (Sept 10): Burmese expatriates staged a sit-in protest outside United Nations headquarters in New York on Monday to urge the UN Security Council to take up the issue of Burma's crack down on pro-democracy demonstrations and to initiate action against the military regime.
Organized by the Mobilization Forces of International Mass Campaign for Burma, the sit-in will continue until September 18, when a larger rally will be held with Burmese from various parts of the US attending.
2) Protest by Monks in Bangkok, Thailand (Sept 12): Today on 12th
in the morning, two Burmese Buddhist monks held a demonstration in front of the SPDC embassy in Bangkok in support of the Buddhist monks inside who are calling for proper apology from the authorities for their brutal crack-down on the peaceful demonstration of the monks in Pakkhoku on 5th September. The two monks were arrested by the Thai police and are currently detained at Yannawa police station (02-233 7148-9).
3) Demonstration in Bangkok, Thailand (Sept 16): Burmese democratic forces led by NCGUB in collaboration with Thai civil society groups is going to have another demonstration on Sept 16 (Sunday) on the eve of the anniversary of military coup in Burma in 1988, you all are cordially invited to come and join showing our solidarity with the Burmese people inside under repression of military regime but dared to stand up and demonstrate peacefully for their basic rights and good governance.
4) Demonstration in Ottawa, Canada (Sept 18): Organized by Canadian Friends of Burma, Burmese expatriates and friends of Burma in Canada will hold a protest from 6:00 to 8:30 pm on Sept 18 by marching from the Human Rights Monument to Burmese Embassy in Ottawa, Canada to denounce the 19th year of the military coup in Burma and to condemn ongoing atrocities and crackdowns on peaceful demonstrations in Burma
III. International Responses:
1) ILO Demand Release of Labor Activists (Sept 12): The International Labour Organization today called for the immediate release of six Burmese labor activists who were sentenced to 20-28 years in prison last week for organizing Labor Day celebration at the US Embassy’s American
Center on May 1, 2007, pointing out that Burma had ratified the Freedom of Association Convention No 87 and had an international legal obligation to respect its citizens’ right to associate freely, Irrawaddy reported.
2) U.S Urges SPDC to Provide Access to Detained Activists (Sept 11): The United States has demanded that the regime provide access to detained activists.
3) UN to Send Envoy to Burma (Sept 10): The UNSG Ban Ki-moon announced that he will send his special adviser on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, in mid-October to hold talks with the military regime, after the UN independent expert on human rights in Burma, Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, disclosed that he had received reports of severe beatings and torture of detainees from this latest sweep of arrests.
September 18th, 2007 will mark the 19th year of the military coup by the military regime since nationwide democracy uprising in 1988. The US Campaign for Burma has called on all Burmese and supporters for democracy and human rights in Burma throughout the world to organize demonstrations at China's embassies and consulates on that day.
Why China?
On diplomatic front, China stands as a shield for the Burmese regime. In January 2007, China vetoed at the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution on Burma, along with Russia and South Africa. Since then, the world has witnessed increased human rights violations and atrocities that the people of Burma suffer at the hand of the Burmese military regime. The number of internally displaced and refugees as well as the number of democracy activists in prisons and detention centers have increased.
Economically, China is exploiting the situation by heavily extracting natural resources of Burma. According to the Shwe Gas Movement, as noted by USCB, China's new gas deal with the military regime is worth a staggering $40 billion dollars. Militarily, China has sold billions in arms to the Burmese regime, including tanks and armored personnel carriers, jet attack aircraft, small arms and light weapons, logistical and transportation equipment, and coastal patrol ships. Now is the time China listens to the voice of Burmese and Burma supporters throughout the world that it must end its support to the SPDC which prolongs and intensifies the suffering of the Burmese.
Please join this Action and hold demonstrations in front of Chinese Embassies and Consulates in your respective countries on September 18 and call on China to:
1) Stop undermining the UN Secretary General and call for the release of Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma
2) Insist publicly that Burmese military regime participate in tri-partite dialogue with Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy and ethnic nationalities.
3) Support peaceful and nonviolent UN Security Council resolution on Burma.
You may download the address of Chinese embassies and consulates around the world from http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zwjg/default.htm. And please send the information to share with other colleagues in the network if you plan to hold demonstrations in your areas.
Thank you.
Below please find another update for you.
In Solidarity,
Khin Ohmar
Coordinator, APPPB
I. Inside Burma – Good Vs Evil:
1) Four in Contact with Media Arrested, Pakkoku, Magwe Division (Sept 7): Four residents of Pakkoku town in Magwe Division were arrested on Sept 7 for allegedly providing foreign media with information on the protest staged last week by monks over poor economic conditions, according to local residents. U Thant Shin, U Nay La, U Sein Linn, and U Thar Aung were arrested on Sept 7 evening and have been held at the police station.
2) Phone Lines of Activists Cut Off (Sept 10): The regime cut off mobile and landline telephone service to several pro-democracy activists’ phones since Monday morning on Sept 10. Authorities gave no reasons for the sudden disconnections, but it is widely believed that it was because of the frequent interviews to and information sharing with foreign and Burmese media groups in exile.
3) Two Ministers Commanded Crackdown on Protesters (Sept 10): The violent suppression of recent peaceful protests in Burma was commanded by at least two ministers, reported by Irrawaddy. Home Minister Maung Oo and Minister of Industry-1 Aung Thaung directed the suppression of the demonstrations. Both are executive members of the USDA as well as high-ranking leaders of the military regime.
4) Solo Protester Immediately Sentenced to 4 Years, Taunggok, Rakhine State (Sept 11):
Yesterday, a solo protester, Soe Win, took a walk of 20 miles from his home in Sar Pyin village to Taunggok town, displaying a placard demanding the excommunication from the Buddhist faith of SPDC No. 1 Senior-General Than Shwe and calling for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other detained opposition leaders. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment hours after he was arrested. He is the first arrested demonstrator to be sentenced since the start of protests.
5) SPDC Calls on the Public to End Protest (Sept 11): The regime calls on the public to end weeks of protests and to instead express their views through a promised referendum on a new constitution, its media reported yesterday.
6) Families of ’88 Generation Group Ask for ICRC Help (Sept 11): After the rumors spread of the death of Jimmy on Sept 8, family Members of the detained ’88 Generation Students leaders put forth an appeal to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Rangoon to help them discover where the '88 leaders are being held. Family members paid a visit to Insein prison on Tuesday and were told by prison authorities that they didn’t know whereabouts of the detained activists and advised to contact those who originally arrested the activists. Family members expressed their worry about the well beings of the activists and are still waiting for a response from the ICRC to their appeal for help in finding out the whereabouts of detainees.
7) Update on Monks Movement (Sept 12): As I reported in previous update, the “Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks” has called on monks to refuse alms offered by members of the military regime unless an apology is issued by September 17, for the violence used against their
fellow monks in recent protests.
The authorities put monasteries under close watch to clamp down on the protests. Senior monks in Pakokku, Magwe Division, were called to a meeting with high-level government officials on Sunday, Sept 9, and offered money as compensation for monks who were beaten and disrobed in last week’s protest. Fifteen senior monks from four monasteries in Pakokku were summoned to the meeting and offered 30,000 Kyat as compensation for each monk who was beaten up and disrobed during the soldiers' crackdown on last week protest. Some senior monks didn’t attend
the meeting to express their disappointment while those attended ended with disappointment for the offer of money but apology.
It’s been reported that authorities have also limited monks to receive alms rounds to one hour and ordered a curfew at some monasteries across Burma including Sittwe in western Rakhine State ordering monks not to leave monasteries from 9 pm to 4 am and also set up more security around several monasteries and some areas in downtown Pegu about 80 km north of Rangoon, according to residents. Yesterday, the authorities in Mandalay, the second largest city, barred people from attending the Dhamma (Buddhist teaching) in fear of gathering of people and monks. Traditionally people observe 'Buddha day' during the three months of Buddhist lent.
8) Posters Protest & Martial Law in Theindi, Shan State (Sept 12): There was a circulation of anti-government posters and letters in Theindi town of northern Shan State on Sept 5 and the local authorities have tightened up security and issued martial law since Sept 6 ordering people not to go out from 8 pm to dawn. The authorities also ordered local karaoke and video bars to close and banned the gathering of six or more people. The order also stated those who did not follow orders would be apprehended. Monks have also been barred from going out to receive alms from people early in the morning, the Buddhist tradition. Security has also been tightened up in other cities and towns like Taunggyi and Lasho.
II. “Toward Free Burma” Actions:
1) Sit–in Protest Seeks UN Security Council Action (Sept 10): Burmese expatriates staged a sit-in protest outside United Nations headquarters in New York on Monday to urge the UN Security Council to take up the issue of Burma's crack down on pro-democracy demonstrations and to initiate action against the military regime.
Organized by the Mobilization Forces of International Mass Campaign for Burma, the sit-in will continue until September 18, when a larger rally will be held with Burmese from various parts of the US attending.
2) Protest by Monks in Bangkok, Thailand (Sept 12): Today on 12th
in the morning, two Burmese Buddhist monks held a demonstration in front of the SPDC embassy in Bangkok in support of the Buddhist monks inside who are calling for proper apology from the authorities for their brutal crack-down on the peaceful demonstration of the monks in Pakkhoku on 5th September. The two monks were arrested by the Thai police and are currently detained at Yannawa police station (02-233 7148-9).
3) Demonstration in Bangkok, Thailand (Sept 16): Burmese democratic forces led by NCGUB in collaboration with Thai civil society groups is going to have another demonstration on Sept 16 (Sunday) on the eve of the anniversary of military coup in Burma in 1988, you all are cordially invited to come and join showing our solidarity with the Burmese people inside under repression of military regime but dared to stand up and demonstrate peacefully for their basic rights and good governance.
4) Demonstration in Ottawa, Canada (Sept 18): Organized by Canadian Friends of Burma, Burmese expatriates and friends of Burma in Canada will hold a protest from 6:00 to 8:30 pm on Sept 18 by marching from the Human Rights Monument to Burmese Embassy in Ottawa, Canada to denounce the 19th year of the military coup in Burma and to condemn ongoing atrocities and crackdowns on peaceful demonstrations in Burma
III. International Responses:
1) ILO Demand Release of Labor Activists (Sept 12): The International Labour Organization today called for the immediate release of six Burmese labor activists who were sentenced to 20-28 years in prison last week for organizing Labor Day celebration at the US Embassy’s American
Center on May 1, 2007, pointing out that Burma had ratified the Freedom of Association Convention No 87 and had an international legal obligation to respect its citizens’ right to associate freely, Irrawaddy reported.
2) U.S Urges SPDC to Provide Access to Detained Activists (Sept 11): The United States has demanded that the regime provide access to detained activists.
3) UN to Send Envoy to Burma (Sept 10): The UNSG Ban Ki-moon announced that he will send his special adviser on Burma, Ibrahim Gambari, in mid-October to hold talks with the military regime, after the UN independent expert on human rights in Burma, Professor Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, disclosed that he had received reports of severe beatings and torture of detainees from this latest sweep of arrests.
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