101 East

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maUGPfwwym0

8888...24th Anniversary

Martyr Spirit

"The martyr spirit is a noble spirit. We should respect the martyr leaders in order to increase the noble spirit of our country," Aung San Suu Kyi

Burma Martyr Day 2012

What Human Rights Watch said

The U.S. formally lifted sanctions against Burma . Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Burmese President Thein Sein also met Friday in Cambodia to discuss the possibility of additional investments. U.S gave the green light and it seems to be the greatest encouragement to improve the relationship between two countries on investment in Burma.  "We want to help you keep going. We are very committed," Hiliary Cliton said. Pro-Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi welcomed the sanctions decision, but called for greater transparency to do business with under the new rules. Human Rights Watch said easing the sanction on Burma will not insist on reforms in governance and human rights.

Parliamentary Debut

Our opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi looks outstanding in a male-dominated parliament.

Human Rights (on youtube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma5vwSJyMGw&feature=player_embedded

Bad Old Habits on Detentions

July 7,2012 was the 50th anniversary of a brutal military crackdown on students. The student political activists organized the commemoration to remember the fallen heroes and let a new generation know the history of the student movement. Authorities temporarily detained more than 20 political activists from commemorating the July 7 event. Although all were freed after about a day without torture, the detentions were proof that the government remains repressive on democarcy movement and some in the government who are still holding their old habits. Student leaders show thier concerns on the detention of public protests even the president has promised on the real reform.

7th July

photo : Irrawaddy

A name of the country

Burma or Myanmar, these two words do mean the same thing. They refer to same country in Southeast Asia that is home to around 50 million people of various ethnic groups, the largest one of which is Burman.  Why many rejected it's change was the repressive regime changed the name from Burma to Myanmar without consulting the people in 1989.  It became a symbol of oppression.  Now , the country is under a series of reforming, its official name is becoming more internationally used and accepted.  The country is often in the international news and it is understandable for the international community when they choose to call a country something other than its official name.    There is no political agenda in using Myanmar to support a repressive regime. Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters have been reminded to stop using the old name .  Referring the country an old name seems disrespect to the government and they are making a big issue out of it.  Changing to new identity won't erase the bad history in the past at once.  The country is still in need of positive changes which prove the real reform. 

Speech Highlight

Here are the highlights from the speech of Nobel Peace Price(Oslo) how she felt as a laureate and how it encouraged to her struggle for democaracy.
"Often during my days of house arrest it felt as though I were no longer a part of the real world. Winning the Nobel Peace Prize "made me real once again. It had drawn me back into the wider human community. And what was more important, the Nobel Prize had drawn the attention of the world to the struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma. We were not going to be forgotten."

The lady received her peace prize in person

Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel prize in 1991 but she was under house arrest by Burma's military junta and could not able to travel to Norway to receive the peace prize.  After 21 years, she is able to travel freely out of the country and received her peace prize in person.  She delivered her long-delayed acceptance speech in Oslo.  This was the most remarkable in the entire history of the Nobel prizes and she made us proud in the international community.

Asia Forum Quote

Reform means improvement to the conditions of our people (Aung San Suu Kyi)

World Economic Forum on East Asia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PubsFbjZCBo&feature=related
 "I'm not here to tell you what to do,........................................."

First oversea trip

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi arrived Bangkok on May 29, as her first oversea trip in 24 years. She will visit Burmese migrant workers in Samut Sakhon province, south of Bangkok, on Wednesday, May 30. Then, Suu Kyi will attend World Economic Forum from May 31 to June 1.

Event Season

The event season is here in NYC as the long winter is over.  I’m very pleased to join up all the events for fundraising for Burma. This is the event, which organized for the Citizen of Burma Award 2012.  Check out some pictures from the event.

Citizen of Burma Award

Citizen of Burma Award is the award for Burmese Volunteer Social Service Works and Workers for their sacrifice and their contribution. Kachin activist and journalist LaFai Naw Main is the winner of Citizen of Burma Award 2012.  Congratulations!!

Read more: http://www.citizenofburma.org/

Candlelit Rally

A candlelit rally in the Burma started Burma's second city Mandalay on 20th May 2012 and spreading to some part of Burma. The public protesting against chronic power shortage. Around three-quarters of Burma's population is facing power outages problem. They are getting only a couple hours of power supply per day and power cuts are a daily problem. Many hours blackouts are unbearable and it get worsening day by day.  Demonstrators hold up candles as they protest against electricity shortages and demanding round-the-clock power supply for everyone. This protest is the second biggest after saffron revolution in 2007. Much of the electricity generated in Burma is sold to China, and less than 20 percent of the population has access to electricity.

How to promote the real reform

Burma had made some progress by releasing some political prisoners, pursuing ceasefire talks with ethnic groups and opening dialogue between President Thein Sein and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Though we are seeing the political opening , we continue to have concerns over the conflict areas which cause serious human rights abuses. The human rights groups say more needs to be done towards the real reform by releasing all remaining political prisoners. Daw Suu warned that she felt sometimes that "people are too optimistic about the scene in Burma. You have to remember that the democratization process is not irreversible." Excessive optimism over a political opening is not promoting the democracy in Burma.

Invitation to Citizen of Burma Award Ceremony

If you are around the area, please join the event.  Hope to see you all.

Maintaining sanction

Despite an abundance of natural resources, Burma's development in all area has lagged far behind its neighboring countries like Singapore.  Burma economic matter is screwed up under the political conflicts, terriable dictatorship over the last 50 years.  The general population has  already missed so many opportunities with no industry, commerce, trade or tourism.  The junta and their cronies monopolize all those contracts on all natural resources-oil and gas, teak and gems,rice and grain.  They are doing business with the rest of Asia and still use the foreign currencies.  All those currencies go into their pocket and none was used on public matters. The reason why  Daw Aung San Suu Kyi recommends maintaining Western sanctions on Burma, sanctions affected the military regime and their cronies and not the general population.   So,it would  not be simple to lift the sanction ,they would only do better if sanctions were dropped.

ENDURANCE

"The Lady" Takes Office in Burma

current issue of Ms. Magazine

For two decades, the struggle for democracy in Burma was deadlocked. No ground was given in the war of wills between the country’s hard-line military rulers and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate they imprisoned after stealing an election from her. But recently there has been a dramatic shift indicating compromise—by both parties.......Read the full story
http://www.msmagazine.com/winter2012/theladytakesofficeinburma.asp

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi joines Parliament

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her elected members of NLD were sworn in as a member of Burma’s Parliament and she’ll have an official voice in the legislative branch for the first time. The opposition party is now working officially in and out of the parliament. We have now our leader who has stood up for us in the parliament and she would not give up the struggle she has waged since 1988.

NOT YET IN PARLIAMENT

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi decided to skip swearing in to be in the first time in parliament because of the oath language has to be changed regarding on 2008 constitution.  She said " We are not boycotting, but we are just waiting for the right time to go.  Discussion is still going on."

VOA news on sanctions

EU suspsends Burma Sanctions
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/EU-Suspends-Sanctions-Against-Burma-148524525.html

Fake changes

The benchmarks set by UK and EU for lifting of sanctions should be reviewed before lifting the sanctions.  The unconditional release of all political prisoners has not happened. Hundreds of political prisoners remain behind the bars.  Attacks against ethnic minority civilians by the Burmese army have continued, resulting in serious human rights violations. And the by-elections were not free and fair, even though the National League for Democracy Daw Aung Suu Kyi win 43 seats out of 45.  If benchmarks are not met, there should be suspension on lifting sanctions to encourage the real reform. The changes that we want is still not happening yet though some changes were taking place.   Are they(the military-backed government) going to make the real reform after  they have got what they want from international community ?  It is very important that a few changes toward the reform must not be the fake changes to try to keep momentum going.

"Peace, development and justice are all connected to each other. We cannot talk about economic development without talking about peace.  How can we expect economic development  in a battlefield?"

Aung San Suu Kyi  Nobel Peace Prize 1991

Benchmarks

The benchmarks set by UK and EU for lifting of sanctions against Burma

-The unconditional release of all political prisoners

-Conflict in ethnic area

-Free and fair by-elections in April 2012

Happy Burmese New Year

                                                photo credit- U Saw Hlaing

ABC news on sanctions

Foreign Minister Bob Carr has announced Australia will lift sanctions against Burma's president and more than 200 other Burmese who are currently under travel and financial bans. "I can announce that we are lifting sanctions considerably," Senator Carr said.

Sanctions issue

Burma has been on economy sanctions by western countries because of human rights concerns . The European Union already lifted some restrictions against the regime after this year by-elections.  Easing of European and US sanctions is crucial for our country's reform. The opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi  called for a suspension of the measures against her country.  She said  "This would strengthen the hands of the reformers -- not just the suspension but the fact that there is always a possibility of sanctions coming back again if the reforms are not allowed to proceed smoothly".

She also said "We still have a long way to go but we believe that we can get there. I believe that Thein Sein is genuine about democratic reform".

Why she called for suspensions was more progress are needed to be done, including the release of remaining political prisoners and finding a political solution to ethnic conflicts.  Genuine reform can not be happened without those areas remain unchanged. 

After By-election

Reported by Linda Ong
http://vimeo.com/39912921

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (Ah May Suu)

A sketch of my hero inspired by her photo.

By-election (III)

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi won a seat in parliament after a historic by-election. This election process was a small step towards a positive step. President Thein Sein said: "It was conducted in a very successful manner." Voting took place under the watch of small team of delegates from the European Union and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), who were given only a few days to prepare inside Burma. They called themselves "visitors" rather than observers. The democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and her party might end up with only a small number of seats, many expect her to exert outsized influence. Fair polls seen as crucial to ease Western economic sanctions. We will be looking forward a general election in 2015 which many Burmese want to be seen the most political reforms.

Hero Generation

 

photo credits...Maung Ni Oo

Burma election not 'free and fair' (BBC news)

Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has spoken of irregularities ahead of Sunday's by-election.

Read the full story :http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17558542

Once serious political dialogue has begun, the international community can assume that we have achieved genuine progress along the road to real democratisation.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

High Demand

Hundreds of innocent political prisoners are still behind the bars.  While most of us are focusing on the by-election , we hold the protest to call for release of all Burma political prisoners  in front of the Congress in Washington DC on March 24th 2012.  We will be still demanding to release all political prisoners regardless of the outcome of this by-election in April.

Free All Burma Political Prisoners

Be the change you want to see in the world -Mahatma Gandhi

By-election (II)

The by-elections in April will be taking place under the 2008 Constitution.  The constitution has been structured to maintain the military’s grip on power and most of the seats in the Parliament are members of the military-backed members.   A small number of seats (48seats) being contested on upcoming election is an issue for those who has been watching closely on country’s reform.   The result of election process should lead to the lifting of economic sanctions which is subject to controversy.  Many have argued whatever result comes out from the by-election do not represents true democracy because it based on 2008 Constitution. 

Award winner

Ma Zin Mar Aung won the International Women Honor Award by the US State Department sets the best role model of great courage.  She served 11years in Burma prison as political prisoners.  Ever since she has been continued her role in political movements and promoting the involvement of women in politics and peace.  We respect a courageous woman like Zin Mar Aung who can say what she thinks and fights for the freedom of Burma and helps to find the peace in the conflict area (Kachin State). Congratulation Ma Zin Mar Aung on your award.

By-election

The fairness of upcoming elections  is still our concern, the reason why is NLD has been facing some problems as getting campaign venues and complaints about voting lists containing names of dead people.  

“We hope that these [elections] will be fair and free and acceptable to all concerned, even if we win only 47 seats, we can still do a lot,”  Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said.  According to the campaign trail before this election, we all can see the public support to her party.  The NLD party is going to win 48 seats out of 644 seats  if the by- election is fair in April 1 ,2012.

“The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves in all cases to which they think themselves competent…, or they may act by representatives, freely and equally chosen; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property, and freedom of the press.” –Thomas Jefferson

Roundtable discussion

These are some photos from roundtable event “Is Burma Really Changing” on the 4^th of March,2012.  The discussion was so productive and talked about how to take to the next level for the people of Burma.  

The first campaign

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KklV_bHJx2M&feature=share

Is Burma Really Changing?

Ashin Gambira

                                           ENIGMA IMAGE

Ashin Gambira at Maggin Monastery, just days after his release from Myaungmya prison where he was serving a 63 year sentence

Burma’s Fearlessness

This is the book ABHAYA: BURMA'S FEARLESSNESS featuring a foreword written by Aung San Suu Kyi and portraits of more than 250 former political prisoners in exile around the world (as well as over 50 from inside Burma, including leaders of the National League for Democracy), ‘Abhaya – Burma’s Fearlessness’ captures a moment in time in Burma’s history, dated October 2011, with more than 2,000 political prisoners incarcerated.

 

“I hope that all who read this book will be encouraged to do everything they can to gain the freedom of political prisoners in Burma and to create a world where there are no political prisoners” Aung San Suu Kyi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oKpmh678R1o 

Caution!!!

several hundred of Burma political prisoners are still remain behind the bar.

Fighting between Kachin Independent Army and the military since last June has displaced 70,000 people and occurred serious human rights violations in Kachin State.

Burma soldier

Interviewed with Burma Soldier (Myo Myint Cho) by APM's Dick Gordon (Audio swap version).  This is the story of Myo Myint, a former soldier turned peace activist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsSiy72JHpQ