[Onthebarricades] Pro-democracy protests, Myanmar/Burma, Apr-Aug 2008
Andy
ldxar1 at tesco.net
Fri Aug 29 16:30:17 PDT 2008
ON THE BARRICADES: Global Resistance Roundup, April-August 2008
https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/onthebarricades
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/globalresistance/
* 48 arrested for commemorating democracy uprising
* Protests in Arakan
* Opposition protesters arrested
* Self-immolated protester dies
* Solo female protester arrested
* Solidarity rally in Malaysia
* Protest by exiles against referendum, scuffles at embassy in Japan
* Protests in Thailand, Singapore, India
* Japan: Journalist's supporters renew campaign
* UK: Series of protests target Total Oil over Burma links
* UK: democracy unrest commemorated
* Monks spread fake blood in Bangladesh
* Overseas Burmese protest constitution
* Burmese monks protest at Cannes film festival
* Burmese protest in Jamaica
http://politicom.moldova.org/stiri/eng/141077/
Myanmar protest ends in arrests
At least 48 people have been arrested in Myanmar for holding a march to mark
the 20th anniversary of a pro-democracy revolt, activists said.
Ko Thein Naing, an official with the League for Democracy, told The
Telegraph that most of those picked up were young men. They were walking in
silence through Taunggok, a town in the northwest of the country formerly
known as Burma, when they were stopped by police, Naing said.
The protesters wore black T-shirts with the date 8-8-88 -- when thousands of
people took to the streets for demonstrations that lasted six weeks before
being put down. Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner who has been
under house arrest for years, emerged as a leader in 1988.
Most of the country has been quiet, the British newspaper reported, with
heavy security around Buddhist monasteries that have been focal points for
dissidents.
http://www.burmanet.org/news/2008/08/08/mizzima-news-protests-in-arakan-states-taungup-20-arrested-%e2%80%93-phanida/
Mizzima News: Protests in Arakan state's Taungup, 20 arrested - Phanida
Fri 8 Aug 2008
Filed under: News, Inside Burma
Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the '8.8.88' uprising today, at least
20 youths in Taungup town in Burma's Arakan state were arrested after they
took to the streets and began marching in protest.
The protesters, mainly youths from Nat Maw village, were whisked away by the
police as they marched across Taungup township police station, sources said.
Thein Naing, Joint Secretary of the Taungup Township National League for
Democracy, Burma's main opposition party, told Mizzima that about 25 people
from Nat Maw village on Friday marched along the streets of Taungup town.
"They begun marching from Chaung Kauk ward and came along Ottama street but
when they arrived in front of the township police station, the road was
blocked with barbed wire barricades. They were taken away by the
authorities," Thein Naing said.
Villagers of Nat Maw, about three miles from Taungup town, on Thursday held
a similar protest march joined by a larger crowd of nearly 200 people.
On Thursday, about 200 villagers of Nat Maw held a commemoration service on
the eve of the 20th anniversary of '8.8.88' protests at two Buddhist
monasteries and held a brief demonstration in front of the monasteries.
"About 200 students, and youths including youth members of the NLD offered
'Swan' to the monks in commemoration of fallen comrades and held a brief
demonstration in front of the monasteries," Thein Naing said.
While it was not clear, how the demonstrations were held on Thursday, so far
there are no reports of any arrest related to the event.
Sources said, authorities had tightened security, with security personnel
seen everywhere in and around Taungup town.
Thein Naing said, Burmese Army LIB 544 based in Taungup had taken charge of
security and police had blocked the road as well as the water way.
"Soldiers in full battle gear are seen every where in the town. I think I
saw at least 60 of them," Thein Naing said.
Taungup town is about 250 miles northwest of Rangoon, Burma's former
capital.
Meanwhile, in Rangoon, sources said heavy security presence is felt, with
soldiers seen everywhere in important street junctions and squares including
Sule Pagoda square in the heart of the city, and Shwe Dagon Pagoda, the
holiest shrine of the country.
Observers believe the heavy security presence is preventive measures by the
junta to stop any movement or protests by activists in commemoration of the
20th anniversary of popular protests in August 8, 2008, which was brutally
suppressed by killing at least 3000 people.
http://www.mizzima.com/news/regional/5-regional/916-arakanese-organisations-call-for-release-of-protesters-
Arakanese organisations call for release of protesters
Phanida
Monday, 18 August 2008 20:14
Chiang Mai - Several Araknese political organizations on Monday roundly
condemned the junta for arresting and imprisonment of five protesters in
Taungup, Arkana State and call on their immediate release.
The Bangladesh based Rakhine Women's Union (RWU) said it is unfair and
unethical to arrest and sentence peaceful protesters - Ni Ni May Myint,
Maung Maung Thet, Chit Maung Maung, Moe Naing Soe and Than Lwin - to two
and-a-half years in prison for marching in a procession on August 8 this
year.
"The peaceful procession does not tantamount to creating unrest and
disturbing public tranquility. They marched in procession peacefully. But
the regime arrested them and sentenced them to prison terms unfairly. We
condemn the action and demand their immediate release," Saw Mra Raza Linn,
RWU Chairwoman said.
The Sandoway District Court sentenced the protesters to imprisonment for
"inducing to commit crime against public tranquility and unlawful assembly".
Similarly the 'Arakan League for Democracy' (ALD) which won 11 seats in the
1990 general elections reiterated its call for a dialogue to resolve the
current political imbroglio.
"They are not doing anything to resolve the political crisis through
dialogue. If they want to resolve the political crisis, they must initiate a
dialogue. Otherwise the number of prison inmates will increase and the
people will keep suffering. Dialogue is unavoidable for national
reconciliation. This is the only way out for a peaceful transition to
democracy from the current political impasse," Thein Hlaing, Joint-Secretary
of Arakan State ALD said.
The arrests are being made by the regime in this politically active Rakhine
State continuously. ALD MP-elect Nyi Pu Lay was arrested on August 12 and
solo protester Myint Thein Chea and his wife Ma Htay Htay were arrested on
August 15.
http://www.3news.co.nz/News/ProdemocracyprotestersinMyanmarbeatenandtakenaway/tabid/209/articleID/60070/Default.aspx?ArticleID=60070
Pro-democracy protesters in Myanmar beaten and taken away
Aung San Suu Kyi
Thu, 19 Jun 2008 9:36p.m.
Witnesses say Myanmar's ruling military junta has detained 12 opposition
party members who called for the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San
Suu Kyi on her 63rd birthday.
Witnesses say the 12 were taken into a truck after dozens of Suu Kyi's
supporters gathered outside National League for Democracy party's
headquarters in Yangon.
They say some of those detained were punched and beaten before being taken
away. The witnesses were speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of
government reprisal.
The protesters shouted slogans calling for the government to immediately
release Suu Kyi "who has been unfairly detained".
Last month, the junta extended the house arrest of the Nobel Peace Prize
laureate for a sixth year, despite international protests.
AP
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080422/NEWS04/772992147/-1/NEWS09
Last updated: April 22, 2008 2:44 p.m.
Burned Myanmar protester dies
Associated Press
Advertisement
YANGON, Myanmar - A man who set himself on fire at Myanmar's most revered
Buddhist temple to protest military rule has died of his injuries, hospital
officials said Tuesday.
Kyaw Zin Naing suffered burns to more than 60 percent of his body in his
March 21 protest at the Shwedagon pagoda in the city of Yangon, the
officials said on condition of anonymity because they could be punished for
revealing information about a politically sensitive matter.
The 26-year-old man died April 17, they said.
Kyaw Zin Naing's protest was the first known case of self-immolation in
Myanmar since the military took power in 1962. According to witnesses, the
man shouted "Down with the military regime," before dousing himself with
gasoline and setting himself ablaze.
His action came at a time of heightened political tension in Myanmar, which
has been preparing for a May 10 referendum on a new military-backed
constitution.
The junta's critics charge that the charter - a stage on the junta's
so-called "roadmap to democracy" - was drafted in an undemocratic way, and
that it would perpetuate military rule.
The National League for Democracy party of detained opposition leader Aung
San Suu Kyi has urged voters to reject the draft constitution, but
long-standing restrictions on freedom of speech and harassment of
pro-democracy activists have made it difficult to mount a campaign against
the proposed charter.
Thousands of pilgrims were at the pagoda for a Buddhist holy day when Kyaw
Zin Naing set himself alight.
The Shwedagon temple has a history as a center for mass political
gatherings, and was a focus for Buddhist monks and pro-democracy protests
last September. At least 31 people were killed and thousands more were
detained when the country's military rulers cracked down on the peaceful
demonstrations.
Myanmar has had no constitution since 1988 when the current junta took power
and scrapped the previous charter after violently quashing mass
pro-democracy demonstrations.
Suu Kyi's party won the last general election in 1990, but the military
refused to hand over power, instead stepping up its repression of
dissidents.
http://www.burmanet.org/news/2008/06/27/mizzima-news-solo-female-protester-arrested-myint-maung/
Mizzima News: Solo female protester arrested - Myint Maung
Fri 27 Jun 2008
Filed under: News, Inside Burma
A Burmese woman was arrested on Wednesday evening after staging a solo
protest at a busy downtown district near the popular Sule Pagoda, in the
country's former capital Rangoon.
The solo protestor, who shouted slogans for the release of detained Burmese
opposition leader and democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other
political prisoners, was taken in by about 30 riot police personnel. She
staged a protest for nearly 15 minutes near the Sule Pagoda on the junction
of 32nd Street and Mahabandula Street.
Nyan Win, spokesperson of Burma's main opposition party - the National
League for Democracy - said while they were aware of the arrest of the solo
protester, she is yet to be identified as to whether she is a member of the
NLD.
"We heard that she staged a solo protest. But we still don't know whether
she is an NLD member or not," Nyan Win said.
A local resident, who witnessed the arrest of the solo protester said, the
police, armed with batons and shields, came in two Dyna light trucks and
took her away.
"She started protesting at about 4 p.m. First 10 riot police personnel
reached the spot and later 20 more joined in. The woman protester was taken
away even as traffic was coming to a halt and many bystanders were watching
the unfolding scene," the local added.
Similarly, Burmese authorities last year arrested another solo protester,
Ohn Than, for staging a protest in front of the US embassy in Rangoon's
downtown Merchant Street.
Ohn Than, who is now imprisoned, shouted slogans like 'Establish people's
representative government', 'Honour the people's true verdict', 'Down with
the military regimes', 'No to China and Russia's veto power'.
Ohn Than was arrested at least six times earlier, for staging similar
protests. But he was released every time after being kept a few months
behind bars. However, after his last arrest on August 23, he was tried by
the West District Court, which heard the case in the notorious Insein prison
premises on April 2. He was sentenced to life imprisonment under charges of
inciting disaffection towards the State.
http://www.burmanet.org/news/2008/08/15/mizzima-news-solo-protestor-arrested-in-arakan-state/
Mizzima News: Solo protestor arrested in Arakan state
Fri 15 Aug 2008
Filed under: News, Inside Burma
A solo protestor in the town of Taungup in western Burma's Arakan state was
arrested by local police on Friday morning while marching the streets with a
placard calling for the release of detained pro-democracy leader Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi, an eyewitness said.
Myint Thein Chea, aged more than 30, on Friday morning marched through the
streets of Taungup with a placard reading "Release Our Mother Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi" and "Release all political prisoners."
But his solo protest was short-lived, as he was arrested by four policemen
who came after him on motorbikes. He was then taken to the Taungup Township
police station, a local eyewitness on condition of anonymity told Mizzima.
"Brandishing his placard, he started marching from Taungup's stone pillar
this morning. But he must have only marched for about 15 minutes when four
policemen came on motorbikes and forcibly took him away," the eyewitness
recounted.
Balagyi, a member of the Taungup Township National League for Democracy who
was closely following the activities of the protestor, told Mizzima that
Myint Thein Chea had on Thursday evening began a solo protest in his
locality, Kan Paing ward, for a brief period of time.
"He was not arrested yesterday because the authorities did not realize his
protest. But this morning when he began marching in the street police
arrested him," Balagyi explained.
While the reasons for Myint Thein Chea's solo protest remain unclear, the
father of three children has since been transferred to the Township Peace
and Development Council office after police briefly interrogated him,
Balagyi added.
"His wife and children are very much worried as they still cannot get
information about him," Balagyi said.
On August 8, authorities arrested 48 people in Taungup for holding a similar
protest in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the popular '8.8.88'
uprising.
While 43 were later released in the evening following brief interrogations
by the police, five key organizers of the protest continue to be held in
custody.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/11/nation/21218314&sec=nation
Sunday May 11, 2008
Myanmar protesters rally in KL
KUALA LUMPUR: Protesters gathered in force near the Myanmar embassy here
yesterday, in a show of defiance against the Myanmar junta's go-ahead with
yesterday's constitutional referendum in spite of the country's current
turmoil.
Chants were shouted, urging for their fellow countrymen back home to vote
"no" against the junta's proposed constitution, which is deemed to be a
watered-down roadmap to democracy.
The protesters represented the coalition of the Burma Ethnic Nationality
Joint Force, which consists of seven ethnic Myanmar groups: KaChin, Karenni,
Arakan, Karen, Chin, Mon and Shan.
Sea of red: Hundreds of Myanmar protesters demonstrating near the Myanmar
embassy in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
They were also unhappy that voting had not been postponed in light of the
aftermath of Cyclone Nargis which hit Myanmar week ago and left tens of
thousands dead.
Curious onlookers caused traffic to come a standstill along Jalan Ampang as
the sea of red-clad demonstrators, holding placards and posters, continued
their chants near the embassy in Jalan Ampang Hilir.
However, police and Federal Reserve Unit personnel barred the protestors
some 100m away from the embassy.
Seven representatives from the group later handed over a memorandum to an
embassy official voicing their discontent.
They also spoke against the embassy's refusal to approve travel visas for
them to return to Myanmar to help provide aid to their people.
The crowd also took part in several minutes of silence and prayer before
dispersing at 11am.
A second group representing various Myanmar political movements later
gathered at the area, sparking off another spate of chanting.
Their memorandum was received by embassy secretary Michael Ayea.
The group dispersed by noon.
http://www.nst.com.my/Sunday/National/2237202/Article/index_html
2008/05/11
2,000 protest against referendum
Myanmar protesters gathering in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Kuala Lumpur
yesterday where they handed over two memoranda to embassy officials.
KUALA LUMPUR: Some 2,000 Myanmar workers gathered in front of the Myanmar
Embassy and handed over two memoranda protesting the referendum on the
country's new constitution.
The two-hour peaceful rally, which began at 9.30am, saw the Myanmars
arriving in two batches from Jalan Ampang before they were stopped by
members of the Federal Reserve Unit.
Police had since early morning cordoned off several roads leading to the
embassy at Jalan Ru, off Jalan Ampang Hilir, and stationed FRU trucks at the
United States Embassy nearby.
Some of the Myanmars wore traditional clothes while others wore red
headbands and T-shirts emblazoned with the word "No".
They co-operated with police throughout the protest and waited patiently at
the blockade before police allowed several representatives to approach the
embassy to hand over the memoranda.
They also said prayers for those who perished when Myanmar was ravaged by
cyclone Nargis.
The first group to hand over a memorandum were members of the Burma Ethnic
Nationality Joint Force, which is a coalition of seven ethnic groups in
Myanmar.
The second group comprised members of four political parties - the
NLD-Liberated Area, the Arakan League for Democracy, Zomi National
Congress-Liberated Area and Democratic Party of New Society.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/27/asia/AS-GEN-Japan-Myanmar.php
Pro-democracy Myanmar residents hold mock referendum outside embassy in
Japan in protest
The Associated Press
Published: April 27, 2008
TOKYO: More than 200 Myanmar citizens living in Japan held a mock vote
Sunday on the southeast Asian country's new draft constitution, criticizing
an official referendum on the charter as a ploy to help the ruling junta
stay in power.
At least 230 Myanmar expatriates took part in the protest "vote" outside the
Myanmar Embassy in Tokyo, organizers said.
The protesters "voted down" the draft charter 224 to six, said one of them,
Than Htut Aung. They placed an envelope containing the mock ballot cards in
the embassy's mailbox, he said.
"That's the voice of the people in our country," he said. "The military
junta's referendum is meaningless and we strongly oppose it."
The Myanmar Embassy had mailed a letter earlier this month to more than
2,000 of its citizens in Japan, inviting them to vote on the proposed
constitution in a two-day advance poll held over the weekend at the embassy,
Japanese police and the Foreign Ministry said.
An estimated 2,300 Myanmar expatriates in Japan received invitations,
according to a count by the protesters.
It was not immediately known if Myanmar was holding similar votes for its
citizens elsewhere.
Myanmar's ruling junta, facing growing domestic and international pressure
to ease its authoritarian rule, recently announced it will hold the
constitutional referendum on May 10 as part of a "road map to democracy."
Critics have said the charter is a sham designed to perpetuate military rule
and to keep pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu
Kyi from running for office.
In Tokyo on Sunday, protesters also denounced Myanmar's government for not
letting all of its citizens living abroad vote in the referendum.
The government has stipulated that only citizens with legitimate government
documents such as exit permits can vote overseas - a rule that excludes most
political exiles and refugees.
"All of us should be allowed to vote," Than said. "The military regime is
excluding us because they only want the yes votes."
Fewer than 100 people had voted officially at the embassy as of Sunday
afternoon, according to a count by protesters. No official count was
available from the embassy, whose telephone operator hang up when The
Associated Press called seeking information.
Critics said they did not believe their ballots would be secret and that the
majority of those invited to vote did not show up for fear of casting votes
against the constitution.
A Myanmar man was arrested and 12 demonstrators were injured Saturday in a
scuffle with Japanese police as about 150 Myanmar citizens and Japanese
supporters demanded all expatriates be allowed to vote. Sunday's protest
ended peacefully.
http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=1484
Burmese protestors lobby Ban in Japan
Jul 1, 2008 (DVB)-More than 200 Burmese nationals living in Japan gathered
in front of the United Nations office in Tokyo yesterday to urge visiting UN
chief Ban Ki-moon to take effective steps to resolve Burma's political
impasse.
Thaung Myint Oo from the Japanese branch of the National League of Democracy
(Liberated Area) told DVB that the rally was part of the celebration to
commemorate the 5th anniversary of the 2003 Depayin Massacre in Burma.
"We want him to realise that more incidents like Depayin could happen in our
country if the international community, such as the UN and the UNSC, doesn't
help and take action against the military regime that uses its utmost
military might to repress its own citizens however it wants," said Thaung
Myint Oo.
On 30 May 2003, junta-back civilians attacked Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's
entourage in Depayin township in Sagaing Division, leaving over 70 of her
supporters dead and dozens injured.
"We want him to know that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National
League for Democracy, need more protection to avoid harm and so we ask him
to take effective measures to ensure their safety," Thaung Myint Oo
continued.
After the rally, protestors sent a letter to the secretary-general through
the Tokyo UN office conveying their dissatisfaction with the lack of
progress in Burma since his visit to the country in May, Maing Kyaw Oo of
United Ethnic Nationalities said.
"We were not satisfied with the developments in the situation in the country
despite the promises Ban was given by the junta's top leader senior general
Than Shwe," he said.
"Even the aid distribution to cyclone survivors has not been as effective as
it should."
Maing Kyaw Oo said that protestors also asked the secretary-general about
the result of the 10 May national referendum in their letter.
"We Burmese nationals in Japan really want to know the UN's position on the
junta's forced adoption of the state constitution," he said.
Reporting by Naw Say Phaw
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,23670526-5003402,00.html?from=public_rss
Scuffles in Burma embassy protest
Article from: AAP
May 09, 2008 02:17pm
PROTESTERS angry at the inaction of Burma's military junta following a
devastating cyclone have scuffled with police outside the country's embassy
in Canberra.
The incident occurred about midday when police arrested a woman for
allegedly throwing a water bottle at a car entering the embassy's compound.
As they moved in, others trying to protect the woman scuffled with police,
the Australian Associated Press reported.
The woman was expected to be charged, an Australian Federal Police
spokeswoman said.
Two men were also detained but were expected to be released, she said.
Mee Oung, a nurse from Melbourne, was one of three women who said they were
hurt in the scuffle.
An emotional Ms Oung, who had a bandaged hand, said about 20 police charged
into the group of about a dozen protesters.
She said police should have shown more understanding as the protesters were
upset about the plight of the Burmese people following Cyclone Nargis.
They were angry Burma's military rulers had refused foreign aid workers full
access to the country in the wake of the cyclone, which it is feared has
killed 100,000 people.
Ms Oung said she hadn't seen her family in Burma for 20 years and had not
been able to get in contact with them since the cyclone struck.
"You can see how we're suffering," she said.
http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2008-04/2008-04-27-voa13.cfm?CFID=23182046&CFTOKEN=66023147
Burma Activists Stage Protests in Thailand, Singapore
By VOA News
27 April 2008
Burmese monks living in Singapore gathered outside their country's embassy
in Singapore, 27 Apr 2008
Burmese activists in Thailand and Singapore demonstrated Sunday against next
month's constitutional referendum.
In Thailand, about 100 activists demonstrated outside Burma's Embassy in
Bangkok.
The demonstrators, organized by the Joint Action Committee for Democracy in
Burma, chanted slogans against the May 10 referendum. Protest organizers
called the vote a ploy to help Burma's ruling generals keep their grip on
power.
In Singapore, hundreds of activists, many wearing t-shirts with the word
"No" printed on them, protested at the Burmese Embassy.
Both protests were peaceful.
In Tokyo Saturday, several demonstrators were injured and one man arrested
during scuffles with police outside the Burmese Embassy there.
About 150 people were protesting at the embassy in Japan, demanding that all
Burmese expatriates be allowed to vote in the referendum.
Expatriates whose government documents - such as visas and exits permits -
are not up to date, are being excluded from the vote. That rule excludes
most political exiles and refugees.
Burmese citizens living outside their home country have begun casting
ballots for the referendum.
Burma's pro-democracy party in Rangoon says intimidation and violence are
being used against opponents of the military-backed constitution ahead of
the referendum.
The government says the new constitution will lead to multi-party elections
in 2010.
Opposition activists have criticized the document, saying it has been
drafted with no real public input, and enshrines the military's role in the
country.
http://story.indiagazette.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/701ee96610c884a6/id/368004/cs/1/
Myanmarese protest in New Delhi, demand Suu Kyi's freedom
India Gazette
Friday 6th June, 2008
(ANI)
New Delhi, June 6 : Scores of Myanmarese landed at the Myanmar embassy in
New Delhi today to protest against the extension of house arrest of their
icon Aung San Suu Kyi by the military junta.
Equipped with paints and brushes, around 35 protesters painted the gates and
walls of the embassy with words 'Free Burma', 'Free Aung San Suu Kyi'.
While demanding the release of Suu Kyi, the protesters also shouted slogans
against the military junta.
The protesters submitted a memorandum to U Khi Thein, the Myanmarese
Ambassador in India, requesting him to convey their demand to the military
led government.
The memorandum said, "The restrictions imposed on international relief aid,
where victims desperately need food, water, medicines and shelter is pushing
Burma's cyclone affected people towards a hellish situation and changing the
natural calamity to a man-made tragedy."
They demanded urgent action to be taken by military government to grant visa
and allow international aid workers and also permit them unrestricted access
into the affected Irrawaddy delta areas hit by the cyclone Nargis.
Later the embassy officials were seen trying to cover the slogans with white
paint as the police rounded off the protesters.
The ruling military junta in Myanmar has extended Suu house arrest by a
year.
Oxford-educated Suu Kyi, 62, has been under house arrest or in prison for
nearly 13 of the last 18 years.
The extension of house arrest of Suu Kyi is likely to dismay Western donor
nations which have pledged tens of millions of dollars in conditional aid
since cyclone Nargis hit on May 2, leaving up to 2.4 million people
destitute.
Several Western governments have also criticised the 10-member of the
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Myanmar is a
member, for failing to pressurize Myanmar's military junta both over Suu
Kyi's detention and more recently for dragging its feet on accepting foreign
help in dealing with the cyclone's devastation.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080625b3.html
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Nagai supporters renew protest
Kyodo News
Family members and supporters of journalist Kenji Nagai, who was killed in
Myanmar last year while covering a protest in Yangon, presented a petition
Tuesday with around 50,000 signatures to the Foreign Ministry and the
Myanmar Embassy in Tokyo to protest anew against his fatal shooting by a
Myanmar soldier.
At the Foreign Ministry, Noriko Ogawa, 48, the slain journalist's younger
sister, reiterated that Japan should demand that Myanmar return Nagai's
video camera, tapes and other belongings he was carrying when he was shot
from close range while filming antigovernment demonstrations in Yangon in
September. Myanmar maintains the shooting was an accident.
The signatures were collected by colleagues and former classmates of Nagai,
50, in Tokyo and his hometown of Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, they said.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/397574.html
Kilburn protest against Total in Burma
Awyame | 26.04.2008 03:38 | Anti-militarism | Repression | Social Struggles
| London
Six protesters demonstrated at Kilburn Total station, 409 Kilburn High Rd on
Wednesday 23rd April. They called on the French oil company to stop funding
the military dictatorship in Burma with 500 million dollars a year, fuelling
the brutal regime's oppression in Burma. The foreign currency provided by
Total enables the regime to buy weapons used to persecute the Burmese people
and ethnic minorities.
Sorry we forgot to take photos this time, though photos of previous protests
at Kilburn can be seen on totaloutofburma.org
The protesters distributed hundreds of leaflets to passers-by, many of whom
were interested to learn more about events in Burma and discuss human rights
in other parts of the world as well as Burma.
Some passing cars also stopped to ask for leaflets, though we intending to
just leaflet the passers-by.
Earlier the protesters demonstrated at 33 Cavendish Square where Total has
the office of Total Holdings UK Ltd.
Total and Burma
A detailed report on Total Oil's involvement in Burma, written by Burma
Campaign UK, can be downloaded at
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total.html
Total is in a joint venture with the dictatorship in the Yadana gas project
in southern Burma. [1]
The gas project funds the junta with hundreds of millions of dollars a year
and represents a major source of foreign currency for the regime to buy
weapons and finance the army.
Burma has the world's worst health care [2], the most corruption [3] and the
most child soldiers [4].
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/403516.html
Kilburn Total Oil Burma Protest 9th July 2008
Awyame | 12.07.2008 21:06 | Anti-militarism | Repression | Social Struggles
| London
Three protesters braved the rain on Wednesday 9th July to protest at
Totalitarian Oil at Kilburn Total station, 409 Kilburn High Rd, Kilburn, NW6
7QG. For many years French Total Oil has been funding the brutal Burmese
junta's oppression of the Burmese people, with hundreds of millions of
dollars a year from the Yadana gas pipeline. The Burmese don't benefit from
the gas exported to Thailand, instead they have suffered from forced labour
and the military camps around the pipeline. The junta spends 50% of Burma's
budget on the army and uses foreign currency it earns to buy weapons.
As well as Kilburn we protested at the Burmese Embassy and 33 Cavendish Sq
where Total has corporate offices.
Despite the bad weather making leafleting difficult, we still found people
interested in the protest and asking for leaflets. We've been protesting
weekly since October, so are well used to the wind and rain, but at least it
is a lot warmer now.
Last Thursday 10th July French Total Oil decided not to invest in the Iran
South par gas field. Chief Executive of Total, Christophe de Margerie gave
the following quote: "Today we would be taking too much political risk to
invest in Iran because people will say: 'Total will do anything for money'"
See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7498902.stm
When Total began its investment in Burma it knew full well it would be
significantly helping to keep one of the world's most horrible regimes in
power and that it would lead to the abuse of the Burmese people. In 1996 one
Total executive was quoted in the Financial Times as saying "unless the area
is pacified, the pipeline won't last". In 1999 a French parliamentary
mission reported: "The link between the military presence, the acts of
violence against the populations and the forced labour is established as a
fact. Total had to be aware of that." Of course Total was aware, many
western companies had already pulled out of Burma for ethical reasons, but
at the time in Burma Total would do anything for money.
It has given the military junta hundreds of millions of dollars a year to
buy weapons and crush democracy in Burma ever since.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/404870.html
Chiswick Free Burma Protest against Total Oil
Awyame | 28.07.2008 22:50 | Anti-militarism | Repression | Social Struggles
| London
Six protesters from www.totaloutofburma.org held a demonstration at Chiswick
West Four Total petrol station, 137 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick W4 2ED on
23rd July. They called for French Total Oil to stop funding the brutal
Burmese junta with hundreds of millions of dollars a year from the French
Total operated Yadana gas pipeline. Burma earns most of its foreign currency
from gas exports and spends 50% of its budget on the military in a war
against its own people. Since the mid 1990s French Total Oil has played a
significant role in keeping the brutal Burmese junta in power, against the
wishes of the Burmese people.
The protesters "BEEP 4 BURMA BOYCOTT TOTAL" banner attracted support from
passing cars, including a passing fire engine that beeped in support with
the firemen on board waving in support. About 400 Total Out of Burma
leaflets and the same again for a leaflet in support of Burma Cyclone
victims were handed out to passers-by.
At the Chiswick protest and earlier at 33 Cavendish Sq (where Total's UK
Holding company is based), passers-by told the protesters they would not buy
petrol from Total again.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/05/399584.html
Southfields Get Total Oil Out of Burma Protest
Awyame | 26.05.2008 20:39 | Anti-militarism | Repression | Social Struggles
| London
Six protesters demonstrated at the Southfields Total Station, 262 Wimbledon
Park Road on 21st May 2008. They were protesting against the French oil and
gas giant's 500 million dollar a year funding for the brutal military regime
in Burma. The money just goes to the evil junta not the poor people of
Burma. The regime has allocated just 5 million dollars to cyclone relief,
whilst it earned 2 billion dollars in gas exports in 2007.
As well as giving out leaflets about French Total Oil's fuelling of
oppression in Burma, the protesters also gave out information on how to
donate to the charities assisting cyclone relief in Burma (see donation
section below). Approximately 140,000 people are estimated to have died in
the recent cyclone and up to 2.4 million people are at continued risk.
The brutal junta has been preoccupied with rigging its military constitution
referendum held on May 10th and on May 24th in the cyclone disaster area,
whilst blocking international attempts to aid the cyclone victims. Now that
the sham referendum has been completed there are hopes that greater access
might be given to aid workers in the disaster hit areas.
Over the weekend UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, travelled to Burma and
was told that aid workers would be allowed into the country. UN officials
are saying that visas for aid workers are becoming more available. On
Sunday, international donors pledged nearly $100m (£50m) to help relief
work. The amount was only a fraction of the $11bn sought by the Burmese
government. Western donors, including Britain have said that the money is
contingent on Burma's generals keeping their promise to give foreign
aid-workers greater access to the delta. Britain is to send in 11 flights to
the region with help for homeless families.
Burma is still unwilling to accept aid from foreign naval vessels waiting
off its coast and is only willing to accept supplies from civilian boats.
The US, UK and France have had ships offshore for over a week with
helicopters and hovercrafts that could have provided massive relief aid to
difficult to reach areas. France said Sunday it would unload the 1,000 tons
of aid on its ship, the Mistral, in Phuket, Thailand, that had been waiting
to unload in Burma. The aid, which amounts to 30 planeloads of supplies,
would then be taken to Myanmar by the World Food Program and distributed by
non-governmental organizations. The French government said it is
"particularly shocked" by the refusal to accept the aid directly, but
believes in the "responsibility to protect" the needy.
The U.N. has estimated that of the 2.4 million people affected by the storm,
about 42 percent had received some kind of emergency assistance. But of the
2 million people living in the 15 worst-affected townships, only 23 percent
had been reached. Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein said last Thursday
that the first phase of bringing relief to the victims of the cyclone had
been completed and the second phase, reconstruction, was now beginning. The
junta has been awarding lucrative reconstruction contracts to its cronies.
Private Burmese donors driving to the disaster area from Rangoon are stopped
at junta checkpoints and are given yellow slips saying the relief effort has
finished and the time has come to work on reconstruction. They also urge
people not to throw any handouts to those waiting beside the roads because
they are "just begging".
Sunday's international donor conference was in sight of the home of Aung San
Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize winning opposition leader kept under house
arrest for 12 years by the military. The opposition National League for
Democracy has renewed calls for her release. Her house arrest is due to
expire this week, although the military rulers have previously extended the
detention period a number of times. Under Myanmar law, no one can be held
longer than five years without being released or put on trial.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/07/402901.html
Wimbledon Southfields Total Oil Burma Protests
Awyame | 07.07.2008 00:19 | Anti-militarism | Repression | Social Struggles
| London
On 25th June and 2nd July the totaloutofburma.org team held a protest at
Southfields Total Oil Station, 262 Wimbledon Park Road, London SW19 6NL.
They leafleted the pedestrians attending the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament
just down the road from the station. French Total Oil funds the brutal Burma
junta with 500 million dollars a year and its gas pipeline in Burma was
built with slave labour (see http://www.totaldenialfilm.com).
Seven protesters attended the 25th June event. We stayed about half an hour
longer than we had originally intended, but were moved on eventually by
police. The crowd from the tournament did surge about 20 minutes later, with
the queue from the underground going past the Total station and police
horses conducting crowd control by the Total station.
Five protestors attended the 2nd July event. We informed the police of our
intention to protest on arrival at the Southfields underground station. The
police did later visit the Total station, but they let us know that they had
told the Total Station staff that we were not committing any offence and had
a right to protest. We packed up on time before the crowd began to surge and
did not get asked to move by the police. On packing up we noticed a Section
32 "Notice of Dispersal of Groups" on a post where we held our protest, so
we were glad not to have had any problem with the protest.
Over the 2 protests we were able to distribute about 1,000 leaflets to the
crowds attending Wimbledon, including many taxis. Some cars did turn away
from the Total station and people were shocked to learn of Total's
involvement in Burma. We even had a Total employee visiting Wimbledon show
us a Total ID card and agree with our protest.
On the 25th June we were also able to join Burma Campaign UK at Waterloo
Station where they were projecting a video of the "The Real Disaster in
Burma', a short animated film narrated by Ricky Gervais, onto the entrance
of Waterloo station. The animation makes the point that despite the
devastating 2nd May Burma cyclone, the real disaster in Burma is the brutal
military government and that they continue to terrorize and oppress the
people of Burma.
The reality of the animation is only too clear in recent reports and photos
from Free Burma Rangers medical teams: see above photos of a Karen home
burnt down by the Burma army on 4th June 2008 during the displacement of
1,000 Karen villagers. The Free Burma Rangers article shows further pictures
of land-mine victims and Karen village school children having to hide from
the Burmese army. The Karen children are in great danger - a previous Free
Burma Ranger article tells of a child they had previously treated being
captured in December 2008, tortured, ankle tendons cut open, disemboweled
and throat cut by the brutal Burma army. Over 3,200 Karen villages have now
been destroyed by the Burmese Army, with 200,000 Karen currently hiding from
the Burmese army in the jungles of Burma. Almost 150,000 Karen refugees have
been living in Thai refugee camps for up to 20 years. As of October 2007, at
least 500,000 people were estimated to be internally displaced in the
country's eastern States. This is, however, a conservative figure as no
information exists for several parts of the country.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/05/398104.html
Hammersmith Goldhawk Road get Total Oil out of Burma protest
Awyame | 03.05.2008 02:17 | Anti-militarism | Repression | Social Struggles
| London
Six protestors demonstrated at the Raven Total station on 372 Goldhawk Road,
Hammersmith, 30th April. They called on the French oil company to stop
funding the military dictatorship with 500 million dollars a year. Total has
long been an accomplice of the corrupt junta's theft of Burma's resources,
funding their brutal oppression of the Burmese people and the genocide of
ethnic minorities. Total's pipeline was built with slave labour.
There were road works causing slow traffic near the station. The weather was
bad but the protesters were in good spirits and held a "Beep 4 Burma.
Boycott Total" banner, to which many passing cars, including buses beeped in
support of the protest.
The police briefly chatted with the protesters after stopping a passing car.
The nice policeman we spoke to was sympathetic with the plight of the people
in Burma and our protest and even suggested larger banners.
Total and Burma
A detailed report on Total Oil's involvement in Burma, written by Burma
Campaign UK, can be downloaded at
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total.html
Total is in a joint venture with the dictatorship in the Yadana gas project
in southern Burma. [1]
The gas project funds the junta with hundreds of millions of dollars a year
and represents a major source of foreign currency for the regime to buy
weapons and finance the army.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/08/406956.html
8-8-88 Burma Protests and Bike for Burma Report
Awyame | 17.08.2008 22:16 | Anti-militarism | Repression | Social Struggles
| London
Friday 8th August marked the 20th Anniversary of the 8-8-88 Burma democracy
uprising in which at least 3,000 unarmed Burmese protesters were murdered by
the Burmese junta. In London the Burmese unveiled a glass memorial at the
peace park near the Imperial War museum, held a protest for political
prisoners at the Burmese Embassy and in the evening had an exhibition on
Burmese political prisoners at the School of Oriental and African Studies.
The following day the new generation of Burmese students and exiled
activists held a Bike for Burma event around London to remember 8-8-88 and
ask people not to forget Burma.
At the Tibetan Peace Park, near the Imperial War Museum the Burmese unveiled
a glass monument to mark the 20th anniversary of the regime's brutal
suppression of pro-democracy demonstrations which took place in 1988.
Thousands of Burmese were murdered by the regime on August 8th in a
pro-democracy crackdown known in Burma as "8-8-88". It had been consecrated
earlier at 8.08am by Buddhist monks at their Colindale Monastery, but the
peace park, together with the display of many Burmese red flags made a
touching and beautiful setting.
The monument was hand-made by Burmese activists, consisting of a glass
display of many photographs from the 8-8-88 uprising, a border representing
the 8's, and three flags of the 88 student movement (grouped into
underground, political and an armed group working with the Karen resistance)
now joined by a flag of the 2007 Buddhist monk uprising.
It will not be kept at the peace park, but is intended to be moved between
the Burmese communities in the UK and eventually to Burma itself once Burma
has thrown off the shackles of the oppressive regime.
At 1pm the Burmese and solidarity groups held a demonstration for political
prisoners to remember 8-8-88 at the Burmese Embassy 19A, Charles St. The
event was organised by the Burmese Democracy Movement Association, with
support from Burma Campaign UK, Amnesty International UK and Christian
Solidarity Worldwide. The street was completely blocked by more than 200
protesters. It was great to see so many supporters with many placards and
red Burmese flags on display and particularly impressive since events were
also going on at the Chinese Embassy marking the start of the Olympics.
One of the Burmese political prisoners demonstrated from a barred cage
during the event.
Mark Farmaner of Burma Campaign UK explained that there had been 36 UN envoy
visits to Burma and that Burma human rights advocacy groups around the world
were not going to accept mere meetings of UN envoys with the Burma junta as
signs of progress by the UN, as has often been reported in the media. Only
real progress, such as the release of political prisoners should be judged
as a success for UN diplomacy. In the past year the number of political
prisoners has risen from 1300 to currently over 2,000 underscoring the great
failure of the UN, that can't even get Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu
Kyi freed despite the widespread international support for her.
In the evening an exhibition on political prisoners in Burma was held at the
School of Oriental and African Studies. The 8-8-88 glass memorial was
brought to the event. There were three rooms showing photos of political
prisoners, the prisons and explaining the torture and stress positions they
had been subjected to. It was especially meaningful as there were 5 former
Burmese political prisoners on hand to explain the pictures, that had served
long prison sentences in Burma, including many years of solitary
confinement.
One of the former political prisoners, Htein Lin an artist had used the
constrained limitations of his cell, where a cup, a plate, scraps of plastic
and a cigarette lighter were recycled as printing materials in lieu of
brushes to make paintings on old cotton rags instead of canvas. He continues
to use these limitations in his art today and his works can be see at The
Coningsby Gallery - see future events below. Even the tiny scraps of
newspaper around prison cigarettes were avidly read by prisoners, desperate
for any reading materials and news of the outside world.
It was also explained how the prisons had faked prisoner visits with
international human rights observers, using impostors to pretend to be known
political prisoners and meeting with the international observers. One of the
former political prisoners had even met the international observer years
later and explained how the visit had been faked. He'd been ill in a prison
hospital, made to sleep all the time on the floor, whilst a hospital bed had
been temporarily produced for the impostor to meet the observer. The
political prisoner neither got to meet the observer or rest in the hospital
bed. Years later when he was freed and exiled from Burma, he met the
observer who remembered his name but of course not his face. Human rights
observers visiting Burmese prisons, should use photographs and take finger
prints of those they meet for verification to deter the usual dirty tricks
by the junta authorities.
Events to remember 8-8-88 were also held in the US in New York, Los Angeles,
Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas and Houston.
Whilst most Burmese political events in London are organised by the older 88
Generation of Burmese students on 9th August, the new generation of Burmese
students and activists organised a Bike for Burma event in London. It was
attended by 40-50 cyclists who cycled around London with "Don't Forget
Burma" tea shirts. The weather was bad towards the end, but it couldn't
dampen the spirits of the new generation of Burmese activists who were
determined to work for a better future for Burma.
After helping with placards and support for the 8th August week's protests,
totaloutofburma.org activists were back in action with the Wednesday
protests at Baker Street French Total oil petrol station on 13th August and
earlier that day at the Burmese Embassy and 33 Cavendish Square (Total
Holdings UK office). There were roadworks at the Total Station making rather
a mess, but the 5 protestors still manage to hold up banners for the passing
vehicles and hand out leaflets to passers-by. Some of whom we were pleased
to learn already supported us and were even on our emailing list. French
Total Oil has collaborated with the brutal military junta since the mid
1990's, sponsoring the oppressive regime with 500 million dollars a year in
payments from the Yadana gas pipeline, that arms and equips the brutal
juntas war against the Burmese people and ethnic minorities.
http://www.burmanet.org/news/2008/05/05/narinjara-news-burmese-monks-stage-bloody-protest-in-dhaka/
Narinjara News: Burmese monks stage bloody protest in Dhaka
Mon 5 May 2008
Filed under: News, Regional
Exiled Burmese monks staged a protest on Sunday in front of the Burmese
embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh, against the upcoming constitutional
referendum, with some monks striking their arms and drawing blood that
sprayed on the white protest banners.
The protest was conducted by the International Burmese Monks Organization,
Bangladesh branch, and was the biggest protest yet staged by Burmese exiles
in Bangladesh.
Ashion Maygiya, president of the monk organization, said, "Our program is
successful and we were able to stage our protest in front of the Burmese
embassy and show our feelings on the referendum to the Burmese military
government."
Many Bangladesh police constables blocked the entrance road to the Burmese
embassy to prevent the demonstrators from marching to the front of the
building, but the monks paid no heed to the road block and marched on to the
embassy while shouting many anti-referendum slogans.
U Thuriya, who is an active monk in the organization, said, "We came here to
protest the Burmese government which is now preparing to hold the referendum
for approving their constitution. The constitution is not useful for our
country and will be dangerous for our people in the future. The constitution
is only for the army to rule Burma continually. How can we accept the
constitution? So we staged a protest by punching our arms for blood to vow
to fight until Burma is a democracy."
U Thuriya and some other monks spread their blood on some of the banners in
the demonstration after striking their own arms, while some staff from the
Burmese embassy watched the scene with interest.
The demonstration was staged for two hours in front of the embassy,
beginning at 11 am and ended at 1 pm on Sunday, 4 May.
Over 60 Burmese people, including monks and women, participated in the
protest, and the diplomatic area near the Burmese embassy was flooded with
the protestors' shouts and slogans.
http://www.burmanet.org/news/2008/04/28/ap-and-irrawaddy-overseas-burmese-protest-constitution/
AP and Irrawaddy: Overseas Burmese protest Constitution
Mon 28 Apr 2008
Filed under: News, International
Thousands of exiled and expatriate Burmese people have been gathering
outside Burmese embassies around the world to express dissatisfaction with
the military government's constitutional referendum.
Voting has already begun in some countries ahead of the May 10 referendum.
While some were allowed into their respective embassies to cast their votes,
others were turned away by officials.
The protests were mostly launched by Burmese nationals-both those who can
vote and those with no voting rights in the referendum-at their respective
embassies in several countries, including Canada, Singapore, Malaysia,
Japan, South Korea and Thailand.
The biggest demonstration was held in Singapore on Sunday where some 2,500
protesters-many wearing red t-shirts with the word "No" emblazoned on the
front-gathered outside the Burmese embassy and protested against the draft
constitution.
Sources in Singapore said that even some Burmese people who were invited to
vote in the national referendum by the embassy were denied the right by
authorities when they went into the embassy to vote.
Burmese nationals hold up their passports as a sign that they have the right
to vote, gathered outside their country's embassy in Singapore to vote in a
referendum on a draft constitution on April 27. (Photo: AP)
More than 40,000 Burmese people are currently living in Singapore, about
10,000 of who were officially invited by authorities to vote in the
referendum, said sources.
The Burmese regime has stipulated that only citizens with legitimate
documents, such as Burmese passports, can vote overseas, a ruling that
excludes most political exiles and refugees.
Meanwhile, some 230 Burmese expatriates living in Japan staged a mock
referendum on Sunday outside the Burmese embassy in Tokyo, criticizing the
draft constitution as a ploy to keep the ruling junta in power.
The Burmese embassy had mailed letters earlier this month to more than 2,000
of its citizens in Japan, inviting them to vote on the proposed constitution
in a two-day advance poll held over the weekend at the embassy, Japanese
police and the foreign ministry said. However, fewer than 100 people had
voted at the embassy as of Sunday afternoon, according to a count by the
protesters.
About 100 Burmese citizens in Malaysia, including political activists,
migrant workers and people from ethnic minorities, gathered in front of the
Burmese embassy on Saturday wearing colorful traditional costumes displaying
the word "No" and demanding the right to vote.
An estimated 500,000 Burmese people are living in Malaysia, about 180,000 of
who possess legal documents. No official count for voters was available from
the embassy.
About 100 protesters, including activists, migrant workers, students and
ethnic minority people, gathered outside the Burmese embassy in Bangkok for
about 30 minutes on Sunday.
The demonstrators, organized by the Joint Action Committee for Democracy in
Burma, chanted slogans against the May 10 referendum. A statement from the
umbrella committee for the dozen dissident organizations said the
constitution was drawn up solely by pro-junta groups and would give the
military great powers in any future government.
An estimated 360,000 registered Burmese migrants and 1.2 million
unregistered migrants in Thailand were denied their voting rights.
Meanwhile, about 60 Burmese people in Seoul, the South Korean capital,
gathered outside the Burmese embassy on Sunday to protest against the
junta-written draft constitution, many wearing white shirts bearing the
words "Vote No" and the logo of a cross. According to Yan Naing Htun, a
Seoul-based Burmese activist, the protesters set up two artificial ballot
boxes and urged people to vote "No" in the referendum.
In the United States, sources estimated that up to 100 people participated
in the referendum in New York. It is estimated that the New York's Permanent
Mission of Burma has some 500 registered voters.
The Burmese embassy in Washington, D.C. was the only other place in the US
where Burmese citizens were able to vote in the referendum. Unlike New York,
the voting process in Washington was opened for three days-Friday, Saturday
and Sunday-from April 25 to 27.
Pro-democracy groups who were holding a protest outside the embassy claimed
the turnout was very low. Out of the 1,500 registered voters, a little more
than 150 people are believed to have cast their votes so far, with one day
remaining.
Meanwhile, Kyaw Zaw Wai, a protester in Canada's capital, Ottawa, said that
more than 100 Burmese citizens from Toronto and Ottawa, including ethnic
Karen, Chin, and Arakanese people, protested against the constitution for
three and half hours in front of the Burmese embassy in Ottawa.
Several supporters from Tibetan, Indonesian and Vietnamese communities in
Ottawa also joined the demonstration to show their solidarity with the
people of Burma, said Kyaw Zaw Wai.
Kyaw Zaw Wai said, "I believe we delivered a very strong message to the
military regime."
(Lalit K Jha contributed to this article from New York.)
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=4888933
Monks From Myanmar March in Cannes Film Festival
Monks From Myanmar Demand Aid For Cyclone Victims
PARIS May 19, 2008 (AP)
The Associated Press
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French actress, singer and activist Jane Birkin, centre, amongst Burmese
monks and other protesters...
French actress, singer and activist Jane Birkin, centre, amongst Burmese
monks and other protesters as they take part in a "peaceful march to save
Burma", during the 61st International film festival in Cannes, southern
France, on Monday, May 19, 2008. The photos held aloft were taken in
September and October 2007 during the Burma crackdown on monks. Burmese
monks are traveling to Europe to share their personal testimony on the
September and October 2007 crackdown in Burma and on the recent Nargis
cyclone which devastated the country. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)
(AP)
Five monks from Myanmar marched through the Cannes Film Festival crowd on
Monday to demand that the Southeast Asian nation's junta allow foreign aid
workers into the country to help cyclone victims.
"This is a humanitarian crisis - we need help," said U Uttara, an exiled
monk among the marchers.
Singer-actress Jane Birkin joined the monks during their awareness-raising
efforts in Cannes. Other activities included speeches and the screening of a
short film shot in Myanmar, called "Freedom from Fear."
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080512/lead/lead10.html
Burmese to stage protest in Jamaica
published: Monday | May 12, 2008
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Burmese expatriates in Jamaica will today stage a peaceful march to show
solidarity with their countrymen who were devastated by a cyclone last week
and have received negligible aid because of tight controls by the military
dictatorship.
The protest will commence outside the United States Embassy in St Andrew at
9 a.m.
Spokesperson for the group, Dr Soe Naung, told The Gleaner the Burmese would
march from the embassy to the offices of the United Nations.
"The march is to express our sympathy and condolences to those who died in
Cyclone Nargis and to show solidarity, concern and care for those who live
and are trying to survive there (in Myanmar)," the medical doctor said.
Showing gratitude
In addition, he said the group wants to show gratitude to two nations - the
United States and France and two organisations, the European Union and the
United Nations.
"Even though the junta is refusing to allow aid workers access into the
country, we are urging these nations and organisations to do even more,"
said Naung.
The death toll in the Asian nation remains uncertain. Up to press time,
media reports claimed the death toll had jumped to 28,000.
British aid group Oxfam was also quoted on Sunday as saying that the death
toll could rise to 1.5 million if people do not get clean water and
sanitation soon.
"Over two million are homeless, and are facing the aftermath of tropical
diseases," said Naung, who still has relatives living there.
Bloody hands
One of the most important issues on the expatriates' agenda is to ensure
that the Jamaican Government and all other countries attending the Law of
the Sea Conference here in June do not welcome or "shake the bloody hands"
of the two military Burmese representatives who are billed to attend the
event.
"We are requesting that those attending the conference will use their own
liberty to promote the need for ours and help us rejoin the family of free
nations," urged the Burmese doctor.
Myanmar (formerly called Burma), which got independence from Britain in
1948, was placed under military rule in 1962 during a staged coup by the
late General Ne Win.
Second-generation military leader, General Than Shwe, has been running the
country since Ne Win's death.
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