Dear All,
Today the ’88 Generation Students Group submitted a letter to the UN Secretary General to immediately revive the issue of Burma on the formal agenda of the UN Security Council (UNSC). The group requests a resolution that will ensures the protection of Burmese people who express economic and social concerns as well as political opinions without retribution by the Burmese military government, as the letter states. Please see the full text of this letter on APPPB Blogspot at www.apppb.blogspot.com.
Please also find new soliarity statements and letters from various organizations and networks around the world on the Blog. We will continue to post them on it for your information.
Below please find the events that took place inside and outside Burma over the past three days. Please note that my last update could not include all these events and my sincere apology for this.
In Solidarity,
Khin Ohmar
Coordinator, APPPB
I. People’s Movement Growing – More Protest and Arrests:
1) Silent March by Artists in Kyaukse, Hometown of Than Shwe (Sept 3): About 14 artists made a silent march through downtown of Kyaukse on Sept 3 morning to show their wish and support for the call to lower the fuel price and tackle the increase of commodity price. The march ended at the local pagoda with prayer session for the release of arrestees. Kyaw Thu Moe Myint, one of the organizers, was arrested in late evening on that day.
2) Woman Arrested over Prayer Vigil in Myanmar (Sept 4): Ms. Mya Mya San, a leader of a group of about 15 people, was arrested at the famed Shwedagon Pagoda while they were holding
a prayer vigil to urge the military government to free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Supporters of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi usually hold prayers for her release on Tuesdays – the day she was born.
3) NLD Members March in Hakha, Chin State (Sept 4): A group of about 25 NLD party members staged a protest in the Chin State capital of Hakha in the morning of Sept 4. The protestors were reportedly cheered on by bystanders who watched the demonstration. U Ban Lian, a leader of local NLD, called on the government to stop arresting peaceful protestors. No arrest reported.
4) Hunger Strikes in Taunggyi, Shan State (Sept 4): NLD members in Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, reportedly joined the worldwide hunger strikes which simultaneously took place in 21 countries around the world in support of the detained protesters who were staging hunger strike in the detention center in demand of medical treatment for their fellow member who was injured during the Aug 22 protest.
5) Statement by HRDP (Sept 4): Rangoon-based Human Rights Defenders and Promoter (HRDP), a group of human rights educators whose members have been arrested and imprisoned
by the regime issued a public statement condemning the regime and calling on the authorities to
stop committing these human rights violations.
6) One Arrested in Bogalay Protest, Irrawaddy Division (Sept 5): Bogalay, a well known town for hosting the celebrations of international HR days organized by Human Rights Defenders and Promoters – the organization under scrutiny by the regime. Fifteen leaders of local NLD started the march by chanting the slogan in the morning. The protest completed successfully at noon after the leaders made speeches for cheering crowd of about 1000 people and some from the crowd also joined in this speaking. U Aung Khin Bo, chairman of NLD was taken away and is not released yet.
7) Three Monks Arrested in Prayer March in Pakokku, Magwe Division (Sept 5): Soldiers fired warning shots at a group of about 600 monks who staged a protest over high fuel and commodity prices yesterday, before bashing bystanders and making several arrests. Six monks were arrested initially, but three were released last night while 3 are still detained.
8) Monks Set Fire to Authorities Cars (Sept 6): A group of monks from Pakokku’s Central Mahavithutarama monastery set fire to four government vehicles after locking a group of about 20 officials inside their compound who reportedly came to apologize for the bashing, arrest and disrobing of three monks yesterday. Four vehicles have already been completely burnt and there are two left. A crowd of more than 1000 people were standing around the monastery and cheering on the monks, according to the DVB eyewitness.
As of this posting at about midnight Thailand standard time on Sept 6, the monks have already let go of these officials who were kept in the monastery compound since this afternoon as requested by the Abbot.
II: “Toward Free Burma” Actions around the World:
1) Demonstration in Oslo, Norway (Sept 7): Tomorrow, a demonstration will be held in Oslo, Norway, organized by Burmese dissidents group, Campaign Committee for Burma (Norway), and Norwegian Burma Committee (NBC). Many activities are planned.
2) Demonstration in Bangkok, Thailand (Sept 9): Third demonstration is scheduled in front of the SPDC Embassy at 10:00 M on coming Sunday, Sept 9. Those who would like to join are requested to contact to: U Zin Linn (08-78000065 or zinlinn@cscoms.com; May Sie (08-50717457 or thanlwin@cscoms.com
3) Public Forum in Tokyo, Japan (Sept 9): People’s Forum for Burma (PFB) will have a forum where Mr. Kei Nemoto will talk about the latest situation in Burma and try to analyze the fuel price hikes and protests in Burma. A large number of Japanese and Burmese are expected to attend this forum. On August 30, PFB along with Human Rights Now, Alliance of Concerned Individuals about Burma (Japan), and Burma Relief Center-Japan issued a joint statement on the situation.
III. International Responses:
1) UN Position – Not Very Encouraging (Sept 5): The UNSG’s special adviser on Burma, Mr. Gambari accused the Burmese regime for crushing protests. He also said that the recent national convention to draw up a constitution was undemocratic and exclusionary and expressed
his hope that the country's Asian neighbors could put pressure on the regime. Mr. Gambari also said the regime should release political prisoners and those arrested during the recent peaceful demonstrations and that suppression of dissent made it "more difficult to maintain international support for engagement with Myanmar."
Mr. Gambari intends to return to Burma in October. "How do you bring about change in the attitude of a regime?" he asked. “One could either change the regime, which the United Nations was not in a position to do, or speak to those who had influence on the government,” Mr. Gambari said. "And we have decided to take the second option," as Reuters reported. This is definitely not very encouraging, in deed!
2) Hollywood Stars Urge UN Chief to Act for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (Sept 5): Twenty-eight Hollywood celebrities sent a letter to the UNSG Ban Ki-moon yesterday, asking him to personally intervene to secure the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. These celebrities include movie stars Jennifer Aniston, Dustin Hoffman, Owen Wilson, and Robin Williams, organized by Oscar-winning actress Anjelica Huston along with two groups, the Human Rights Action Center and US Campaign for Burma.
3) US President Bush blasts SPDC ahead of APEC (Sept 5): US President Bush accused SPDC yesterday of "tyrannical" behavior in cracking down on protests at a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister John Howard ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. His comments followed the US State Department criticism of the regime’s one-sided national convention that drew up guidelines for a new constitution, and a rare political foray by First Lady Laura Bush who asked for UN condemnation of the crackdown.
IV: Other News:
1) SPDC Choose Candidates for New Elections (Sept 05, IMNA): Desperate to post a victory in the ensuing general elections and legitimize military rule in Burma the junta has subtly begun to choose people as its candidates who are well-known and respected by local people. Seven people in each township from different ministries, senior officers, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), Maternal and Child Welfare Association (MCWA), and Myanmar Women's Affair Federation (MWAF) are among those candidates.
2) Thai Firm Says Attack Won't Stop Salween Dam Project (Sept 5, AFP): Thailand's biggest state-run utility company, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), vowed yesterday to press ahead with its one-billion-dollar dam project on Salween River in eastern Burma, despite an attack allegedly by ethnic armed men that killed a Thai technician last weekend. The EGAT immediately evacuated the remaining 42 workers and announced it was suspending the project, but said yesterday that it would send workers back to the site as soon as security is reinforced.
Today the ’88 Generation Students Group submitted a letter to the UN Secretary General to immediately revive the issue of Burma on the formal agenda of the UN Security Council (UNSC). The group requests a resolution that will ensures the protection of Burmese people who express economic and social concerns as well as political opinions without retribution by the Burmese military government, as the letter states. Please see the full text of this letter on APPPB Blogspot at www.apppb.blogspot.com.
Please also find new soliarity statements and letters from various organizations and networks around the world on the Blog. We will continue to post them on it for your information.
Below please find the events that took place inside and outside Burma over the past three days. Please note that my last update could not include all these events and my sincere apology for this.
In Solidarity,
Khin Ohmar
Coordinator, APPPB
I. People’s Movement Growing – More Protest and Arrests:
1) Silent March by Artists in Kyaukse, Hometown of Than Shwe (Sept 3): About 14 artists made a silent march through downtown of Kyaukse on Sept 3 morning to show their wish and support for the call to lower the fuel price and tackle the increase of commodity price. The march ended at the local pagoda with prayer session for the release of arrestees. Kyaw Thu Moe Myint, one of the organizers, was arrested in late evening on that day.
2) Woman Arrested over Prayer Vigil in Myanmar (Sept 4): Ms. Mya Mya San, a leader of a group of about 15 people, was arrested at the famed Shwedagon Pagoda while they were holding
a prayer vigil to urge the military government to free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Supporters of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi usually hold prayers for her release on Tuesdays – the day she was born.
3) NLD Members March in Hakha, Chin State (Sept 4): A group of about 25 NLD party members staged a protest in the Chin State capital of Hakha in the morning of Sept 4. The protestors were reportedly cheered on by bystanders who watched the demonstration. U Ban Lian, a leader of local NLD, called on the government to stop arresting peaceful protestors. No arrest reported.
4) Hunger Strikes in Taunggyi, Shan State (Sept 4): NLD members in Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, reportedly joined the worldwide hunger strikes which simultaneously took place in 21 countries around the world in support of the detained protesters who were staging hunger strike in the detention center in demand of medical treatment for their fellow member who was injured during the Aug 22 protest.
5) Statement by HRDP (Sept 4): Rangoon-based Human Rights Defenders and Promoter (HRDP), a group of human rights educators whose members have been arrested and imprisoned
by the regime issued a public statement condemning the regime and calling on the authorities to
stop committing these human rights violations.
6) One Arrested in Bogalay Protest, Irrawaddy Division (Sept 5): Bogalay, a well known town for hosting the celebrations of international HR days organized by Human Rights Defenders and Promoters – the organization under scrutiny by the regime. Fifteen leaders of local NLD started the march by chanting the slogan in the morning. The protest completed successfully at noon after the leaders made speeches for cheering crowd of about 1000 people and some from the crowd also joined in this speaking. U Aung Khin Bo, chairman of NLD was taken away and is not released yet.
7) Three Monks Arrested in Prayer March in Pakokku, Magwe Division (Sept 5): Soldiers fired warning shots at a group of about 600 monks who staged a protest over high fuel and commodity prices yesterday, before bashing bystanders and making several arrests. Six monks were arrested initially, but three were released last night while 3 are still detained.
8) Monks Set Fire to Authorities Cars (Sept 6): A group of monks from Pakokku’s Central Mahavithutarama monastery set fire to four government vehicles after locking a group of about 20 officials inside their compound who reportedly came to apologize for the bashing, arrest and disrobing of three monks yesterday. Four vehicles have already been completely burnt and there are two left. A crowd of more than 1000 people were standing around the monastery and cheering on the monks, according to the DVB eyewitness.
As of this posting at about midnight Thailand standard time on Sept 6, the monks have already let go of these officials who were kept in the monastery compound since this afternoon as requested by the Abbot.
II: “Toward Free Burma” Actions around the World:
1) Demonstration in Oslo, Norway (Sept 7): Tomorrow, a demonstration will be held in Oslo, Norway, organized by Burmese dissidents group, Campaign Committee for Burma (Norway), and Norwegian Burma Committee (NBC). Many activities are planned.
2) Demonstration in Bangkok, Thailand (Sept 9): Third demonstration is scheduled in front of the SPDC Embassy at 10:00 M on coming Sunday, Sept 9. Those who would like to join are requested to contact to: U Zin Linn (08-78000065 or zinlinn@cscoms.com; May Sie (08-50717457 or thanlwin@cscoms.com
3) Public Forum in Tokyo, Japan (Sept 9): People’s Forum for Burma (PFB) will have a forum where Mr. Kei Nemoto will talk about the latest situation in Burma and try to analyze the fuel price hikes and protests in Burma. A large number of Japanese and Burmese are expected to attend this forum. On August 30, PFB along with Human Rights Now, Alliance of Concerned Individuals about Burma (Japan), and Burma Relief Center-Japan issued a joint statement on the situation.
III. International Responses:
1) UN Position – Not Very Encouraging (Sept 5): The UNSG’s special adviser on Burma, Mr. Gambari accused the Burmese regime for crushing protests. He also said that the recent national convention to draw up a constitution was undemocratic and exclusionary and expressed
his hope that the country's Asian neighbors could put pressure on the regime. Mr. Gambari also said the regime should release political prisoners and those arrested during the recent peaceful demonstrations and that suppression of dissent made it "more difficult to maintain international support for engagement with Myanmar."
Mr. Gambari intends to return to Burma in October. "How do you bring about change in the attitude of a regime?" he asked. “One could either change the regime, which the United Nations was not in a position to do, or speak to those who had influence on the government,” Mr. Gambari said. "And we have decided to take the second option," as Reuters reported. This is definitely not very encouraging, in deed!
2) Hollywood Stars Urge UN Chief to Act for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (Sept 5): Twenty-eight Hollywood celebrities sent a letter to the UNSG Ban Ki-moon yesterday, asking him to personally intervene to secure the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. These celebrities include movie stars Jennifer Aniston, Dustin Hoffman, Owen Wilson, and Robin Williams, organized by Oscar-winning actress Anjelica Huston along with two groups, the Human Rights Action Center and US Campaign for Burma.
3) US President Bush blasts SPDC ahead of APEC (Sept 5): US President Bush accused SPDC yesterday of "tyrannical" behavior in cracking down on protests at a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister John Howard ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. His comments followed the US State Department criticism of the regime’s one-sided national convention that drew up guidelines for a new constitution, and a rare political foray by First Lady Laura Bush who asked for UN condemnation of the crackdown.
IV: Other News:
1) SPDC Choose Candidates for New Elections (Sept 05, IMNA): Desperate to post a victory in the ensuing general elections and legitimize military rule in Burma the junta has subtly begun to choose people as its candidates who are well-known and respected by local people. Seven people in each township from different ministries, senior officers, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), Maternal and Child Welfare Association (MCWA), and Myanmar Women's Affair Federation (MWAF) are among those candidates.
2) Thai Firm Says Attack Won't Stop Salween Dam Project (Sept 5, AFP): Thailand's biggest state-run utility company, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), vowed yesterday to press ahead with its one-billion-dollar dam project on Salween River in eastern Burma, despite an attack allegedly by ethnic armed men that killed a Thai technician last weekend. The EGAT immediately evacuated the remaining 42 workers and announced it was suspending the project, but said yesterday that it would send workers back to the site as soon as security is reinforced.
No comments:
Post a Comment