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

Favourite photo from her political trip

Is this fair?

                                          photo taken from Reuters
A well-known senior Burmese monk Shwe Nya War Sayardaw has been ordered to leave his monastery because of his speech at  a pro-democracy event in Mandalay for NLD.  It was the order from the monks' governing body and ordered him to leave the Sadhu monastery.  The monks' governing body is backed by the Burmese authorities. This matter was ignored  by the president Thein Sein without hearing our voices.  This is not fair to Sayardaw.  What is wrong with delivering  a speech?

Faith

The faith for freedom, justice and democracy in Burma has been kept in the hearts of  Burmese people.   The poverty has driven them to express their desire and participated in the uprising no matter the brutal crackdown on democracy movements.  We pay our highest respect to the people who risk their lives to confront with the military in Burma.   Even though there was a strong suppression of dictatorship, the public expressed their deep anger to the regime.  The courage of people who against the dictatorship and our faith keep us going to fight for freedom.

Bogyoke Quote

Be with her

                           photo taken from Democracy for Burma

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression;
this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."

-Article 19
Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Censorship Issue

The President Thein Sein has relaxed restrictions on the local press and internet since March.  But it is doubtful that a bill to officially end censorship will be approved in near future.  Some interview with 88’th generation student leaders were still ended with censorship.  The chief editor Soe Myint from Mizzima: the Burmese exile-run News Agency said that "If we have a chance, we want to open our head office in Rangoon.  He would like to set up his own media group if the government allows to do so. The media without being subject to the heavy censorship exercised inside Burma would be benefit to all the citizens.

News from the Nation (Thailand)

Can the Lady be of help?

Read more: http://nationmultimedia.com/life/Can-the-Lady-be-of-help-30175317.html

Greeting to the public

                                   Photo credits: Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters

Press Conference (Mr. Thomas Ojea Quintana )

"I must stress that the credibility of the elections will not be determined solely on the day of the vote, but on the basis of the entire process leading up to and following election day," U.N. Special Rapporteur for human rights in Burma Tomas Ojea Quintana said at a press conference at the end of his six-day fact-finding visit to the country.

Read more.........http://www.rfa.org/english/news/burma/election-02052012162732.html

Burmese Journalists

"If you haven't been in jail, you haven't been a reporter here"  ...those were the words that reflecting Burmese press.  Burmese journalists are still remain behind the bars.  Many had suffered jail time for their work. They risked their freedom just by talking to an international human rights organization and reporting on what happened in the country.   The journalists within Burma are still taking their own risks and manage to report the facts about what's inside Burma.

Struggling Beauty

messages from Shan students

A group of students made this video to explain about issues in Shan state right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kxJAhg8OapY#!

Behind the scenes

The president vowed to bring peace and stability to the Burmese people and all the ethnic groups in his first interview with foreign media.   Is the real power in his hands or in the hands of the army?  The extent of the president’s power has been questioned.  If the military are ruling behind the president, the real reform is not going to happen.    Without a real change to the constitution, those recent reforms can be reversed at any time.  The opposition party, NLD will be allowed to be in Parliament by elections in April, if elections are fair.  Out of 664 seats in Parliament, 48 are vacant. If elections are fair, the NLD can be expected to win all of them.  Elections in April this year are aimed at convincing the world that Burma is moving towards democracy or whether  who is still pulling the strings behind the scenes.