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To: Member Nations of the United Nations Security Council
H.E. Mohamed Bedjaoui, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Algeria
H.E. Rafel Bielsa, Minister of Foreign Relations, Intl. Trade & Worship, Argentina
H.E. Rogatien Biaou, Minister of Foreign Affairs & African Integration, Benin
H.E. Celso Amorim, Minster of Foreign Affairs, Brazil
H.E. Li Zhaoxing, Minister of Foreign Affairs, China
H.E. Per Stig Moller, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Denmark
H.E. Philippe Douste-Blazy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, France
H.E. Petros Molyviatis, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Greece
H.E. Nobutaka Machimura, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Japan
H.E. Alberto Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Philippines
H.E. Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Romania
H.E. Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Russian Federations
H.E. Jack Straw, Sec. of State for Foreign & Common Wealth Affairs, United Kingdom
H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Intl. Cooperation, Tanzania
H.E. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State, United States of America
Subject: An appeal to the UN Security Council to protect the people of Burma
On the occasion of the 17th Anniversary of the "8888 Democratic Uprising" in Burma, we, the concerned friends of Burma around the world, and the undersigned people of Burma, compelled to live in exile appeal to all members of the UN Security Council to urgently address the rapidly deteriorating situation in Burma and find ways and means to protect the people of Burma from systematic human rights violations and social illnesses, including poverty and deprivation of access to health care and education resulting from the protracted armed conflict and long political stalemate.
Stalled transitional process to democracy and elusive national conciliation process have prompted early warning signs in Burma today that Burma is on the verge of devastation. Therefore, a common course of action should be pursued to immediately address poverty, poor health care, low education standards, environmental degradation, and general feeling of insecurity in the society.
Indicators that have raised our concern are:
Infant Mortality Rate - 76 deaths per every 1,000 live births
Under-five Mortality Rate - 107 deaths per 1,000 live births
Average Maternal Mortality Rate - 360 per 100,000 in the year 2000
Child Soldiers - 70,000
Given the fact that a homegrown national reconciliation process in Burma is unlikely and the ruling Burmese generals have failed to cooperate with the UN Secretary General and his special envoy, who is mandated to facilitate a political dialogue, it is time for the United Nations Security Council to address the situation in Burma.Sincerely,
The An appeal to the UN Security Council to protect the people of Burma Petition to Member Nations of the United Nations Security Council was created by and written by Ko Chan (burmainfo@yahoo.com). This petition is hosted here at http://www.petitiononline.com/petition.html as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form. Send this to a friend
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Friday, January 4, 2008
Incoherent Meaning of Independence and Four Definitions to Practice
Today is Burma's Independence Day. Burma gained her independence from the United Kingdom on January 4th of 1948. This is 60th anniversary.
Sound's great. Isn't it?
The ‘independence' means nothing for the Burmese people. No one has civil rights, civil liberty and freedom. After sixty years after Burma's independence, the country turns into one of the poorest countries in the world and its fifty million people become hostages in their own country by the military governments. People are not only poorer by physically, but also morally. Especially, non-Burman nationalities have been more suffering under the Burmese military rulings.
Let us take a look on some written documents of government and today's incisive realities.
Notes are taken from the Constitution of the Union of Burma (1947). (Red lines are from the constitution.)
Rights of Equality:
All citizens irrespective of birth, religion, sex or race are equal before the law; that is to say, there shall not be any arbitrary discrimination between one citizen or class of citizens and another.
"My son can never be an army officer in Burma because I am a Karen."
Sa San Kyi Htoo
"Last year, a Burmese general got sick. The two ancient temples were totally destroyed by the Burmese military in Mrauk-U, our ancient capital city of Arakan because the astrologists said that to rehabilitate general's health, they need to destroy those two temples. Is that the job of brothers? Is that equality? Is that justice? It is totally brutality on not only Arakan, but also on all mankind."
An Arakanese Youth
"I am just serving in the army because I like fighting but I know myself that I can never be an officer."
A Muslim Soldier in Burmese Army
There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters of public employment and in the exercise or carrying on of any occupation, trade, business or profession.
"Air ticket? No. You cannot get this week. We have the places only for military specials."
(A sense from air ticket counter)
"No. I don't have to give those taxes and any kind of labor costs because my son is a member of USDA."
(A sense from conversation between a tax officer and mother of a soldier)
(USDA means the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) is a government-run social organization.)
Rights of Freedom:
No citizen shall be deprived of his personal liberty, nor his dwelling entered, nor his property confiscated, save in accordance with law.
"They (Burmese military) raped the girls, killed all villagers and fired the village but who cares? No Burmese medias describe, no one reveal those things because we are Shans, not Burmese."
Nan Naw (A Shan woman who fled to Thailand in 2002)
"Last night, our neighbor was disappeared. I don't know what he wrote but sometimes he said that he wanted to write about his opinion on the government."
Daw Ye Ye (Rangoon)
Since then, I am always confused and incoherent about the meanings of these words. There are four definitions we, especially non-Burman nationalities have to read and practice (about the meanings of words) everyday. The definitions are taken from Longman dictionary:
Independence:
1. the freedom and ability to make your own decisions and take care of yourself without having to ask other people for help, money, or permission:
2. Political freedom from control by another country
Freedom:
1. the right to do what you want without being restricted or controlled by someone else:
2. the state of being free and allowed to do what you want
3. the state of not being hurt or affected by something
Civil Liberty: the right of all citizens to be free to do whatever they want while obeying the law and respecting the rights of other people
Civil Rights: the legal rights that every person in a particular country has. In the U.S., these include the right to have the same treatment whatever your race or religion is
Picture:
http://www.cyberschool.oxfam.org.hk/eng/modules/articles/images/hunger_unequal.jpg
http://www.negotiationlawblog.com/pho312x485injustice.jpg
http://a.abcnews.com/images/TheLaw/ap_court_jesus_070730_ms.jpg
Posted by Oo Thein Maung at 4:38 PM 0 comments 
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Public Hearing
"After the Saffron Revolution: Religion, Repression, and the U.S. Policy Options for Burma"
Rayburn House Office Building 2200
December 3, 2007, 2:30-4:30 PM
Testimony of Ven. Ashin Nayaka, Leading Member of International Burmese Monks Organization and Visiting Professor at Columbia University
an2201@columbia.edu
=====================================================================
Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to speak before the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. I am a Burmese Buddhist monk, a visiting professor at Columbia University in New York. I came here to be the voice of my fellow monks and be the voice of the people of Burma, who have long been denied all freedoms, including religious freedom, under one of the most repressive regimes in the world.
People all over the world have witnessed the terrible and wicked system of dictatorship imposed upon us. Through the help of international media, the world was able to see the brutality. The military regime has killed peaceful demonstrators. They have killed monks, who are highly respected by the people, as Buddhism is major religion in Burma. They have emptied monasteries, which are not only places of worship and religious functions, but also for education, maintenance of culture, and caring for HIV/AIDS patients and orphans, duties which the regime has neglected. Burma's military regime have forcibly disrobed monks, beaten them, and assaulted them very badly.
They have committed crimes against humanity and these recent brutalities will stand as a great tragedy in our long history of monastic Buddhism. This wicked regime committed these atrocities in full view of the world. They are shameless, seeking only to systematically oppress us for decades to come.
We are all deeply concerned about the fate of fellow monks, including U Gambira who led the recent protest in Burma, as well as all political prisoners. I hope that international governments and the United Nations pressure the military regime to immediately grant the ICRC access to these detainees and release them immediately.
What I wish to say is: the spiritual authority of Burma resides in the Dhamma (Teachings of Buddha). The Dhamma in Burma is both protected and practiced primarily in the minds and hearts of the monks and nuns in our country. Of course, the lay people practice Dhamma too. But the symbol of hope in our society is the Sanghas (the order of monastic).
The religious order of monks has been the face of Burma since Buddhism was introduced into the nation over a thousand years ago, and its influence can be seen everywhere, from the hillsides dotted with pagodas, the monks in their saffron yellow robes, and the monasteries in almost every village that shape the character of the villagers and their institutions. At present the Sangha is the enemy of the regime. If this continues unaddressed, further bloody confrontation is unavoidable. Our spiritual obligation is to freedom, not to silence or submission.
Today, we know that several leading monks in Burma are still on the run. We do not know with any accuracy how many monks have been killed, how many were forcibly disrobed. We do not know how many are in prison. We do not know how many monks have been taken to secret locations. There is a terrible secrecy and silence over Burma.
We are at a critical moment in history. What we do know is that a number of prominent monasteries have been closed. Others emptied. Serious questions remain: where have all the monks gone? Where has the global outcry gone? This should be of grave concern for all governments worldwide. Strong, effective and timely intervention by the international community is urgently needed. This is a moral crisis that Americans must stand for.
The Saffron Revolution is not a power struggle, but a conflict between peace and moral freedom on one side and the forces of political repression on the other. Participation in this spiritual protest is justifiable in Buddhism. The religious policy of the Saffron Revolution, this Buddhist revolution of the conscience, continues to be one of peace. Throughout the Burmese history when the country was in crisis or when the people faced emergency, the spiritual leaders played a significant role in creating and maintaining peace and stability in society. But monks today are facing great challenges.
The very existence of monastic life is being destroyed by the evil military regime and it will face bloodshed again, if the international community, including UN Security Council, cannot find a collective and effective way to stop this evil regime from killings and arrests. As long as the UN Security Council could not make the regime to engage in a meaningful and time-bound dialogue with democratic opposition, led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, for peaceful transition to democracy, the spiritual revolution of monks and people will continue and another brutal crack down will be unavoidable.
The light of the Dhamma is our guide in this profound expression of spiritual revolution that inspires the hearts of millions around the world. The light of your dignity and your commitment to freedom is our source of strength. Since the non-violent approach is our way, we have concluded that we will remain peaceful under all circumstances. We firmly believe that our commitment to the Dhamma will defeat these unjust rulers in Burma.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to the freedom in our country and the freedom in our own hearts. All these things Americans value and cherish. Freedom for the people of Burma cannot be denied. The cost of that freedom is the only question.
Finally, I would like to thank President Bush and First Lady, the United States Congress and the American people for their support in our struggle and also I would like to ask President Bush to make Burma his legacy of freedom.
Thank you.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Another Kind of Clash of Civilization I.
It was in Thailand. I was working in a factory. One day, our manager sent me to a market where was located about three blocks away from our factory, to buy something. He also gave me his motorcycle to ride to the market. At that time, I did not know how to drive a motorbike. When I said that I did not know how to drive a bike, a little boy, who could be around five years old, told with astonishment that ‘You are human. You don't know how to ride a motorbike?" I felt ashamed a little of it. The boy was right. He was born in Thailand, one of the richest countries in South East Asia where almost every adult has a motorbike or a car. Since he was born, he sees that every human being is driving a motorbike or a car in daily life. So, he probably interpret in his knowledge through his experience that knowing how to drive bikes and cars is one of the natural skills of human beings. I came from very remote area of Burma, one of the poorest countries in the world where to own a bicycle is a golden dream for most of children. In our Arakan, many people have never seen a train because we don't have even one inch of railroad track. Every Burmese government through out history just tries to occupy everything, from natural resources to historical heritages of Arakan, but they never think for the benefit of Arakanese and give anything back to the real owners of the land.
I learned how to ride a bicycle when I was a high school student but yet I did not have a bike. I knew how to ride a motorcycle three years later after I got in Thailand.
During the fall semester of 2006, I took sociology class and our class formulated a survey that was conducted at the College of DuPage. According to the survey, eighty-five percent of students use personal vehicle, which means almost every adult has a car in the United States. I began to learn how to drive a car in 2005 in the United States.
In Longman American English dictionary, the definition for the word, ‘car' is - ‘a vehicle with four wheels and an engine, used by a small number of people for traveling from one place to another.' However, when the people from poor countries interpret the word, ‘car,' - it means ‘luxurious' ‘rich' ‘high standard' ‘elite' and so on, while people from rich countries interpret ‘car' as a shoe, which is just something useful tool in daily life.
If I came here when I was a high school student before I did not know how to ride a bicycle, I could not imagine that how and what question that a five year old American boy could ask me.
Picture: http://www.bridalwave.tv/flower-expert-red-and-pink-roses.jpg
Posted by Oo Thein Maung at 11:57 AM
| | Seize the opportunity. Immigrate to the United States and give your family the life they deserve! | |
Friday, January 4, 2008
Incoherent Meaning of Independence and Four Definitions to Practice
Today is Burma's Independence Day. Burma gained her independence from the United Kingdom on January 4th of 1948. This is 60th anniversary.
Sound's great. Isn't it?
The ‘independence' means nothing for the Burmese people. No one has civil rights, civil liberty and freedom. After sixty years after Burma's independence, the country turns into one of the poorest countries in the world and its fifty million people become hostages in their own country by the military governments. People are not only poorer by physically, but also morally. Especially, non-Burman nationalities have been more suffering under the Burmese military rulings.
Let us take a look on some written documents of government and today's incisive realities.
Notes are taken from the Constitution of the Union of Burma (1947). (Red lines are from the constitution.)
Rights of Equality:
All citizens irrespective of birth, religion, sex or race are equal before the law; that is to say, there shall not be any arbitrary discrimination between one citizen or class of citizens and another.
"My son can never be an army officer in Burma because I am a Karen."
Sa San Kyi Htoo
"Last year, a Burmese general got sick. The two ancient temples were totally destroyed by the Burmese military in Mrauk-U, our ancient capital city of Arakan because the astrologists said that to rehabilitate general's health, they need to destroy those two temples. Is that the job of brothers? Is that equality? Is that justice? It is totally brutality on not only Arakan, but also on all mankind."
An Arakanese Youth
"I am just serving in the army because I like fighting but I know myself that I can never be an officer."
A Muslim Soldier in Burmese Army
There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters of public employment and in the exercise or carrying on of any occupation, trade, business or profession.
"Air ticket? No. You cannot get this week. We have the places only for military specials."
(A sense from air ticket counter)
"No. I don't have to give those taxes and any kind of labor costs because my son is a member of USDA."
(A sense from conversation between a tax officer and mother of a soldier)
(USDA means the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) is a government-run social organization.)
Rights of Freedom:
No citizen shall be deprived of his personal liberty, nor his dwelling entered, nor his property confiscated, save in accordance with law.
"They (Burmese military) raped the girls, killed all villagers and fired the village but who cares? No Burmese medias describe, no one reveal those things because we are Shans, not Burmese."
Nan Naw (A Shan woman who fled to Thailand in 2002)
"Last night, our neighbor was disappeared. I don't know what he wrote but sometimes he said that he wanted to write about his opinion on the government."
Daw Ye Ye (Rangoon)
Since then, I am always confused and incoherent about the meanings of these words. There are four definitions we, especially non-Burman nationalities have to read and practice (about the meanings of words) everyday. The definitions are taken from Longman dictionary:
Independence:
1. the freedom and ability to make your own decisions and take care of yourself without having to ask other people for help, money, or permission:
2. Political freedom from control by another country
Freedom:
1. the right to do what you want without being restricted or controlled by someone else:
2. the state of being free and allowed to do what you want
3. the state of not being hurt or affected by something
Civil Liberty: the right of all citizens to be free to do whatever they want while obeying the law and respecting the rights of other people
Civil Rights: the legal rights that every person in a particular country has. In the U.S., these include the right to have the same treatment whatever your race or religion is
Picture:
http://www.cyberschool.oxfam.org.hk/eng/modules/articles/images/hunger_unequal.jpg
http://www.negotiationlawblog.com/pho312x485injustice.jpg
http://a.abcnews.com/images/TheLaw/ap_court_jesus_070730_ms.jpg
Posted by Oo Thein Maung at 4:38 PM 0 comments
"After the Saffron Revolution: Religion, Repression, and the U.S. Policy Options for Burma"
Rayburn House Office Building 2200
December 3, 2007, 2:30-4:30 PM
Testimony of Ven. Ashin Nayaka, Leading Member of International Burmese Monks Organization and Visiting Professor at Columbia University
an2201@columbia.edu
=====================================================================
Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to speak before the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. I am a Burmese Buddhist monk, a visiting professor at Columbia University in New York. I came here to be the voice of my fellow monks and be the voice of the people of Burma, who have long been denied all freedoms, including religious freedom, under one of the most repressive regimes in the world.
People all over the world have witnessed the terrible and wicked system of dictatorship imposed upon us. Through the help of international media, the world was able to see the brutality. The military regime has killed peaceful demonstrators. They have killed monks, who are highly respected by the people, as Buddhism is major religion in Burma. They have emptied monasteries, which are not only places of worship and religious functions, but also for education, maintenance of culture, and caring for HIV/AIDS patients and orphans, duties which the regime has neglected. Burma's military regime have forcibly disrobed monks, beaten them, and assaulted them very badly.
They have committed crimes against humanity and these recent brutalities will stand as a great tragedy in our long history of monastic Buddhism. This wicked regime committed these atrocities in full view of the world. They are shameless, seeking only to systematically oppress us for decades to come.
We are all deeply concerned about the fate of fellow monks, including U Gambira who led the recent protest in Burma, as well as all political prisoners. I hope that international governments and the United Nations pressure the military regime to immediately grant the ICRC access to these detainees and release them immediately.
What I wish to say is: the spiritual authority of Burma resides in the Dhamma (Teachings of Buddha). The Dhamma in Burma is both protected and practiced primarily in the minds and hearts of the monks and nuns in our country. Of course, the lay people practice Dhamma too. But the symbol of hope in our society is the Sanghas (the order of monastic).
The religious order of monks has been the face of Burma since Buddhism was introduced into the nation over a thousand years ago, and its influence can be seen everywhere, from the hillsides dotted with pagodas, the monks in their saffron yellow robes, and the monasteries in almost every village that shape the character of the villagers and their institutions. At present the Sangha is the enemy of the regime. If this continues unaddressed, further bloody confrontation is unavoidable. Our spiritual obligation is to freedom, not to silence or submission.
Today, we know that several leading monks in Burma are still on the run. We do not know with any accuracy how many monks have been killed, how many were forcibly disrobed. We do not know how many are in prison. We do not know how many monks have been taken to secret locations. There is a terrible secrecy and silence over Burma.
We are at a critical moment in history. What we do know is that a number of prominent monasteries have been closed. Others emptied. Serious questions remain: where have all the monks gone? Where has the global outcry gone? This should be of grave concern for all governments worldwide. Strong, effective and timely intervention by the international community is urgently needed. This is a moral crisis that Americans must stand for.
The Saffron Revolution is not a power struggle, but a conflict between peace and moral freedom on one side and the forces of political repression on the other. Participation in this spiritual protest is justifiable in Buddhism. The religious policy of the Saffron Revolution, this Buddhist revolution of the conscience, continues to be one of peace. Throughout the Burmese history when the country was in crisis or when the people faced emergency, the spiritual leaders played a significant role in creating and maintaining peace and stability in society. But monks today are facing great challenges.
The very existence of monastic life is being destroyed by the evil military regime and it will face bloodshed again, if the international community, including UN Security Council, cannot find a collective and effective way to stop this evil regime from killings and arrests. As long as the UN Security Council could not make the regime to engage in a meaningful and time-bound dialogue with democratic opposition, led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, for peaceful transition to democracy, the spiritual revolution of monks and people will continue and another brutal crack down will be unavoidable.
The light of the Dhamma is our guide in this profound expression of spiritual revolution that inspires the hearts of millions around the world. The light of your dignity and your commitment to freedom is our source of strength. Since the non-violent approach is our way, we have concluded that we will remain peaceful under all circumstances. We firmly believe that our commitment to the Dhamma will defeat these unjust rulers in Burma.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to the freedom in our country and the freedom in our own hearts. All these things Americans value and cherish. Freedom for the people of Burma cannot be denied. The cost of that freedom is the only question.
Finally, I would like to thank President Bush and First Lady, the United States Congress and the American people for their support in our struggle and also I would like to ask President Bush to make Burma his legacy of freedom.
Thank you.
It was in Thailand. I was working in a factory. One day, our manager sent me to a market where was located about three blocks away from our factory, to buy something. He also gave me his motorcycle to ride to the market. At that time, I did not know how to drive a motorbike. When I said that I did not know how to drive a bike, a little boy, who could be around five years old, told with astonishment that ‘You are human. You don't know how to ride a motorbike?" I felt ashamed a little of it. The boy was right. He was born in Thailand, one of the richest countries in South East Asia where almost every adult has a motorbike or a car. Since he was born, he sees that every human being is driving a motorbike or a car in daily life. So, he probably interpret in his knowledge through his experience that knowing how to drive bikes and cars is one of the natural skills of human beings. I came from very remote area of Burma, one of the poorest countries in the world where to own a bicycle is a golden dream for most of children. In our Arakan, many people have never seen a train because we don't have even one inch of railroad track. Every Burmese government through out history just tries to occupy everything, from natural resources to historical heritages of Arakan, but they never think for the benefit of Arakanese and give anything back to the real owners of the land.
I learned how to ride a bicycle when I was a high school student but yet I did not have a bike. I knew how to ride a motorcycle three years later after I got in Thailand.
During the fall semester of 2006, I took sociology class and our class formulated a survey that was conducted at the College of DuPage. According to the survey, eighty-five percent of students use personal vehicle, which means almost every adult has a car in the United States. I began to learn how to drive a car in 2005 in the United States.
In Longman American English dictionary, the definition for the word, ‘car' is - ‘a vehicle with four wheels and an engine, used by a small number of people for traveling from one place to another.' However, when the people from poor countries interpret the word, ‘car,' - it means ‘luxurious' ‘rich' ‘high standard' ‘elite' and so on, while people from rich countries interpret ‘car' as a shoe, which is just something useful tool in daily life.
If I came here when I was a high school student before I did not know how to ride a bicycle, I could not imagine that how and what question that a five year old American boy could ask me.
Picture: http://www.bridalwave.tv/flower-expert-red-and-pink-roses.jpg
Aung Myat Soe
2230 Benson Ave,
Brooklyn, NY-11214
December 14, 2007
Judith Ingram
Communication director
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
Dear Judith Ingram,
I am very concerned about of your support for democratic changing in Burma and freedom of the religious as well as US policy. Thank you very much for supporting of our people in the Burma. By the regarding of Chris Lewa, Arakan project, I oppose her that using for Arakan name project. I don't have anything concern with the freedom of religious for her project but I need to tell her for about of our crisis of nation by the compulsory duty of Arakan nation. We have very dangerous nationality problem for the colonialism. If she makes the mistake again, a lot of people are going to kill each other in the Arakan and Thai-Burma borderline because we believe that will be history record hundred years later. Now, a lot of historians are confusing Arakan and Rohingya by the past century of incompetent and fake projects. According to my revolution and my life experience, our Arakan nationality has two kinds of enemy in the Arakan state at the Burma which are Bengali kular now call Rohingya and Myanmar military Junta. Therefore, if she/anybody will take the Arakan name project, they should know exactly about of the Arakan history. All Arakan people want to get the democracy, human rights, and freedom from the Myanmar military junta and freedom from colonialism Rohingya terrorist group in Burma. Please check out a brief of Arakan history timeline. There has nothing record of Rohingya. Arakan was independent Kingdom throughout more than 5,000 years from 3325 BCE to 1784 ADE according to its chronicles - The first Dhanyawaddy period (3325-1507 BCE) founded by King Marayu
- The second Dhanyawaddy period (1507-580 BCE) founded by King Kanmaraza
- The third Dhanyawaddy period (580 BCE-327 ADE) founded by King Chandra Suriya
- Wethali period (327-818 ADE) founded by Mahataing Chandra
- Lemro period (818-1430 ADE) founded by King Nga Mum Nga Tone
- Mrauk U period (1430-1784 ADE) founded by King Mum Saw Mon
- Burmese fascists colony (1784-1824 ADE) invaded by King Maung Waying
- British colony period (1824-1942 ADE) invaded by General Morrison, East India Company
- Japan fascist period (1942-1945)
- Second British colony period (1945-1948)
- Second Burmese fascists colony period (1948-Up to Date)
Therefore please be careful using for Arakan name project. I will distribute all detail of Arakan history data in the world. If you have the chance, please take this case to the UN. UN also not clears yet right now for about of nationality problem which are Rhoingya and Arakan. I hope that you will seriously consider the impact that Chris Lewa, Arakan project would have on our nationality. Please withdraw your support for Chris Lewa, using the Arakan name project for the future.
Sincerely,
Aung Myat Soe
Arakan Students Association
Co-founder of Arakan League for Democracy in exile
Co-founder of Burmese American Democratic Alliance in the Bay Aera
- The first Dhanyawaddy period (3325-1507 BCE) founded by King Marayu
- The second Dhanyawaddy period (1507-580 BCE) founded by King Kanmaraza
- The third Dhanyawaddy period (580 BCE-327 ADE) founded by King Chandra Suriya
- Wethali period (327-818 ADE) founded by Mahataing Chandra
- Lemro period (818-1430 ADE) founded by King Nga Mum Nga Tone
- Mrauk U period (1430-1784 ADE) founded by King Mum Saw Mon
- Burmese fascists colony (1784-1824 ADE) invaded by King Maung Waying
- British colony period (1824-1942 ADE) invaded by General Morrison, East India Company
- Japan fascist period (1942-1945)
- Second British colony period (1945-1948)
- Second Burmese fascists colony period (1948-Up to Date)
Bali, Indonesia , 15 December 2007 - Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General at the adoption of the decision of the 13th Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC
The Secretary-General strongly welcomes the outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali. At the outset of the Conference he laid out three fundamental benchmarks for success: launching negotiations on a global climate change agreement; agreeing to an agenda for the negotiations; and agreeing to complete them by 2009. The Bali Roadmap that has been adopted achieves all three of these objectives.
He is also greatly encouraged that agreements were reached that will help the international community to begin to address key challenges immediately, particularly with regard to enhanced action on adaptation measures, the dissemination of technology, and combating deforestation. While these will all be long term challenges, he is particularly pleased that work in each of these areas received a boost in Bali and that accelerated work can begin now.
The Secretary-General believes that the Bali Roadmap that has been agreed is a pivotal first step toward an agreement that can address the threat of climate change, the defining challenge of our time.
The Secretary-General would like to thank the Government of Indonesia for hosting the conference and for providing the leadership necessary for its successful conclusion.
The Secretary-General appreciates the spirit of cooperation shown by all parties to achieve an outcome that stands to benefit all humanity.
For My Friend, Tha Maung: Is Arakan That Small
November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
For my friend, Tha Maung: Is Arakan That Small?
I have a friend. He is also an Arakanese and his name is Tha Maung. When we have conversation, sometimes we argue about our Arakanland is very tiny or not. When I say that many countries in the world are smaller than Arakan, he always say that ‘yes it is, but no more than twenty countries.'
Last week, I borrowed a book, ‘PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD,' which was published in 2002. When I look around this book, I found many countries are much smaller than our land, Arakan. I remember Tha Maung and I make this list of the countries those are smaller than Arakan, is for him.
You may amaze, Tha Maung, there are sixty-one countries in the world, smaller than Arakan, which has area of more than 14,000 sq. miles and about 6 millions of population.
Countries of the World, which are smaller than Arakan:
EUROPE
(1)
Country: Albania
Area: 10,600 sq. miles
Population: 3,510,484
(2)
Country: Andora
Area: 174 sq. miles
Population: 67,627
(3)
Country: Belgium
Area: 11,700 sq. miles
Population: 10,258,768
(4)
Country: Liechtenstein
Area: 60 sq. miles
Population: 31,528
(5)
Country: Luxembourg
Area: 100 sq. miles
Population: 442,972
(6)
Country: Macedonia
Area: 9900 sq. miles
Population: 2,046,209
(7)
Country: Malta
Area: 120 sq. miles
Population: 394,583
(8)
Country: Moldova
Area: 13,000 sq. miles
Population: 4,431,570
(9)
Country: Monaco
Area: 0.75 sq. miles
Population: 31,842
(10)
Country: Netherlands
Area: 13100 sq. miles
Population: 15,981,472
(11)
Country: San Marino
Area: 20 sq. miles
Population: 27,336
(12)
Country: Slovenia
Area: 7,800 sq. miles
Population: 1,930,132
(13)
Country: Vatican City
Area: 108.7 acres
Population: 870
NORTH / LATIN AMERICA
(14)
Country: Antigua and Barbuda
Area: 170 sq. miles
Population: 66,970
(15)
Country: Bahamas
Area: 3,900 sq. miles
Population: 297,852
(16)
Country: Barbados
Area: 170 sq. miles
Population: 275,330
(17)
Country: Belize
Area: 8,800 sq. miles
Population: 256,062
(18)
Country: Dominica
Area: 300 sq. miles
Population: 70,786
(19)
Country: El Salvador
Area: 8,000 sq. miles
Population: 6,237,662
(20)
Country: Haiti
Area: 10,600 sq. miles
Population: 6,964,594
(21)
Country: Jamaica
Area: 4,200 sq. miles
Population: 2,665,636
(22)
Country: St. Kitts and Nevis
Area: 104 sq. miles
Population: 38,756
(23)
Country: St. Lucia
Area: 104 sq. miles
Population: 158,178
(24)
Country: St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Area: 130 sq. miles
Population: 115,942
(25)
Country: Trinidad and Tobago
Area: 2,000 sq. miles
Population: 1,169,682
AFRICA
(26)
Country: Burundi
Area: 9,900 sq. miles
Population: 6,223,897
(27)
Country: Cape Verde
Area: 1,600 sq. miles
Population: 405,163
(28)
Country: Comoros
Area: 800 sq. miles
Population: 596,202
(29)
Country: Djibouti
Area: 8,500 sq. miles
Population: 460,700
(30)
Country: Equatorial Guinea
Area: 10,800 sq. miles
Population: 486,060
(31)
Country: The Gambia
Area: 3,900 sq. miles
Population: 1,411,205
(32)
Country: Guinea-Bissau
Area: 10,800 sq. miles
Population: 1,315,833
(33)
Country: Lesotho
Area: 11,700 sq. miles
Population: 2,177,062
(34)
Country: Mauritius
Area: 700 sq. miles
Population: 1,189,825
(35)
Country: Rwanda
Area: 9,600 sq. miles
Population: 7,312,756
(36)
Country: Sao Tome and Principe
Area: 400 sq. miles
Population: 165,034
(37)
Country: Seychelles
Area: 176 sq. miles
Population: 79,715
(38)
Country: Swaziland
Area: 6,600 sq. miles
Population: 1,104,343
ASIA
(39)
Country: Armenia
Area: 11,500
Population: 3,336,100
(40)
Country: Bahrain
Area: 240 sq. miles
Population: 645,361
(41)
Country: Cyprus
Area: 3,600 sq. miles
Population: 762,887
(42)
Country: Israel
Area: 7,800 sq. miles
Population: 5,938,093
(43)
Country: Kuwait
Area: 6,800 sq. miles
Population: 2,041,961
(44)
Country: Lebanon
Area: 3,900 sq. miles
Population: 3,627,774
(45)
Country: Maldives
Area: 100 sq. miles
Population: 310,764
(46)
Country: Qatar
Area: 4,200 sq. miles
Population: 769,152
(47)
Country: Brunei
Area: 2,000 sq. miles
Population: 343,653
(48)
Country: East Timor
Area: 5,641
Population: 920,000
(49)
Country: Singapore
Area: 250 sq. miles
Population: 4,300,419
(50)
Country: Taiwan
Area: 12,400
Population: 22,370,461
AUSTRALIA AND PACIFIC
(51)
Country: Federated States of Micronesia
Area: 271 sq. miles
Population: 134,597
(52)
Country: Fiji
Area: 7,000 sq. miles
Population: 844,330
(53)
Country: Kiribati
Area: 277 sq. miles
Population: 94,149
(54)
Country: Marshall Islands
Area: 70 sq. miles
Population: 70,822
(55)
Country: Nauru
Area: 8 sq. miles
Population: 12,088
(56)
Country: Palau
Area: 177 sq. miles
Population: 19,092
(57)
Country: Samoa
Area: 1,100 sq. miles
Population: 179,058
(58)
Country: Solomon Islands
Area: 10,600 sq. miles
Population: 480,442
(59)
Country: Tonga
Area: 289 sq. miles
Population: 104,227
(60)
Country: Tuvalu
Area: 10 sq. miles
Population: 10,991
(61)
Country: Vanuatu
Area: 5,700 sq. miles
Population: 192,910
Photo:
http://www.arakan.org/web/images/map_of_arakan.gif
http://www.pandaw.com/images/products/landtours/myanmar/Ancient%20Arakan.jpg
http://myanmartravelinformation.com/mti-other-destinations/images/rakhine-map.jpg
Posted by Oo Thein Maung at 2:12 PM 0 comments
Source: http://www.thazonspot.com/
Bangkok Post Editorial
ASEAN DANCES TO JUNTA'S TUNE
In its typical Asean way and for no good reason, leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have decided it is much safer to save the ugly face of the ruling Burmese generals than to offend them in public. Thus, the myopic last-minute decision to cancel the scheduled briefings on Burma by United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari.In defending the about-face, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Burma had emphasised that Mr Gambari, who has visited Burma four times, "should only report to the UN Security Council and not to Asean or the East Asia summit".
The tone this time was a far cry from the tough talk at the United Nations General Assembly by the Singaporean representative and by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont against the junta's brutal crackdown on monk-led demonstrations in Rangoon in September.
Without doubt, Asean has shamelessly vacillated and kowtowed to the junta - as it has done before whenever confronted by the junta's defiance or intransigence. Mr Gambari, who had travelled from New York in order to brief Asean leaders, has every right to feel disappointed.
More importantly, Asean leaders unwittingly lost a good opportunity, which the briefings would have given, to engage Burma in a constructive manner. Sadly in this case, Asean did not even bother to follow its professed mantra of constructive engagement. Instead, it plunged all-out to embrace the other catch-phrase, which is not to interfere in the internal affairs of member countries.
Asean had a brief moment of triumph when the 10 leaders, including Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein, signed the Asean Charter, billed as a milestone for the regional grouping in its 40 years of existence since its inception in 1967. The rules-based document gives Asean a legal entity, sets a goal on democracy, pledges the setting up of a regional human rights body and aims to turn Asean into an economic community similar to the European Union, minus a single currency, by 2015. The endorsement of the Asean Charter represents a major step forward, although much needs doing to realise the charter's goals. The practice of non-interference, for instance, has to be removed if Asean is to be able to push Burma into restoring democracy. The regional human rights body which has yet to be set up would be a sham if it is not given teeth to sanction member countries that violate human rights.
Pitifully however, the moment of triumph and jubilation was spoiled by the very people who enthusiastically endorsed the Asean Charter. The last-minute dumping of Mr Gambari represents a retreat for the grouping. It also constitutes a victory for the Burmese junta: the generals got everything they wanted, including a watered-down charter.
Asean, whose effectiveness and credibility was already in doubt vis-a-vis the Burma issue, now definitely looks worse in the eyes of the international community and civil society. Once again, Asean has missed an opportunity to redeem itself. And, once again, Asean has shown the world that it lacks the dignity and moral obligation to do the right thing.
US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said in Singapore on Tuesday that the current situation in Burma makes a free-trade deal between Asean and the US impossible in the near term. She also said Asean has a special responsibility for the situation in Burma. Whether her statement was meant as a warning for Asean to change its attitude on Burma is debatable. But the message is clear: the United States is not happy with Asean's handling of the Burmese issue.
Asean made a mistake in 1997 by admitting Burma into the group, hoping it would be able to effect a change in the attitude of the Burmese generals. Ten years later, the generals remain as stubborn as ever. Sadly, Asean has not only not learned its lesson but continues to make the same mistake with regard to Burma.
2 November 2007
| |||
| Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York |
Secretary-General disappointed by myanmar's rejection of resident coordinator
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
The Secretary-General is disappointed by the message from the Government of Myanmar stating that it would not want the Resident Coordinator, Charles Petrie, to continue to serve in Myanmar.
The Secretary-General has full confidence in the United Nations country team and its leadership and appreciates their contribution to the improvement of the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions for the people of Myanmar.
The Secretary-General has instructed the Special Adviser, Ibrahim Gambari, to convey his views directly to the authorities when he visits the country beginning tomorrow, 3 November.
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
5th SPECIAL SESSION
Resolution S-5/1: Situation of human rights in Myanmar
The Human Rights Council,
Guided by the principles and objectives of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights and recalling
General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 and Commission on Human Rights
resolution 2005/10 of 14 April 2005,
Deeply concerned at the situation of human rights in Myanmar,
Recalling that everyone has the right to take part in the government of their country,
directly or through freely chosen representatives, the right to freedom of opinion and expression
and the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association,
1. Strongly deplores the continued violent repression of peaceful demonstrations in
Myanmar, including through beatings, killings, arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances,
expresses condolences to the victims and their families, and urges the Government of Myanmar
to exercise utmost restraint and to desist from further violence against peaceful protesters;
2. Urges the Government of Myanmar to ensure full respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms and to investigate and bring to justice perpetrators of human rights
violations, including for the recent violations of the rights of peaceful protesters;
3. Also urges the Government of Myanmar to release without delay those arrested and
detained as a result of the recent repression of peaceful protests, as well as to release all political
detainees in Myanmar, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and to ensure that conditions of
detention meet international standards and include the possibility of visiting any detainee;
4. Further urges the Government of Myanmar to lift all restraints on peaceful political
activity of all persons by, inter alia, guaranteeing freedom of peaceful assembly and association
and freedom of opinion and expression, including for free and independent media, and to ensure
unhindered access to media information for the people of Myanmar;
5. Welcomes the decision of the Government of Myanmar to receive a visit by the
Special Envoy to Myanmar of the Secretary-General, Ibrahim Gambari, and calls upon the
Government of Myanmar to cooperate fully with him to find a peaceful solution;
6. Urges the Government of Myanmar to engage urgently in a reinvigorated national
dialogue with all parties with a view to achieving genuine national reconciliation,
democratization and the establishment of the rule of law;
7. Encourages the Government of Myanmar and the Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights to engage in a dialogue with a view to ensuring full respect for all human
rights and fundamental freedoms;
8. Urges the Government of Myanmar to cooperate fully with humanitarian
organizations, including by ensuring full, safe and unhindered access of humanitarian assistance
to all persons in need throughout the country;
9. Requests the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar to
assess the current human rights situation and to monitor the implementation of this resolution,
including by seeking an urgent visit to Myanmar, and to report to the resumed sixth session of
the Human Rights Council, and in this respect urges the Government of Myanmar to cooperate
with the Special Rapporteur;
10. Also requests the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar to
inform the General Assembly at its sixty-second session on progress in this regard;
11. Decides to remain seized of this matter.
Adopted without a vote
2nd meeting
2 October 2007
| xxxxxxxxxx | "The Human Rights Situation in Myanmar", Fifth Special Session Human Rights Council, 2 October 2007, Geneva, Statement by Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, Mr. Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro | xxxxxxxxxx |
2 October 2007 Mr. President, I welcome and congratulate the members of this Council for the decision to convene this "Special Session on the Human Rights Situation in Myanmar" and for engaging me in the inter-active dialogue on the serious human rights violations currently unfolding in the country. I am shocked and saddened by the growing number of reported deaths and serious injuries suffered by protesters, including monks, and bystanders in Yangon, Mandalay and other major cities in Myanmar. I strongly condemn the use of deadly force by the security forces and call upon the Government of Myanmar to desist from such brutal measures and to cooperate in the efforts launched by the international community designed to prevent the further deterioration of the human rights situation. The recent media black-out and cutting of internet access is a further example of the intolerable and oppressive means used by the authorities. I urge the Human Rights Council to assess the current situation and request from the Government of Myanmar investigations and detailed information on the number of people killed and injured. Impunity should not prevail for flagrant violations of human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I have joined the denunciation of the brutal crack-down in recent public statements with Special Procedures colleagues covering mandates on summary executions; freedom of religion; human rights defenders; freedom of expression; torture; independence of judges and lawyers as well as arbitrary detention. We are deeply concerned by the fate of thousands of peaceful demonstrators who have been arrested since the beginning of the protests over the drastic increase in prices of fuel, on 19 August 2007, and call on the authorities of Myanmar to immediately and unconditionally release the detainees and political prisoners, including the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy, Daw Aung Sang Suu Kyi. The Government must provide the Human Rights Council with full account for its actions during and after the protests, including the number and conditions of detainees. The failure of the international community to prevent the massacre following the 1988 people's uprising causing the death of over 3000 protestors must not be repeated. The world is watching and while the time for mere words has passed, decisive action is now needed. No state can condone such actions. I therefore echo the United Nations Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights' recent press statements and recall that the use of excessive force, killings, arbitrary arrest or ill-treatment of peaceful protesters is strictly prohibited under international law and could invoke individual criminal responsibility. |
PostBag from Bangkokpost
Junta harmful, not lack of tourists
Please allow me to challenge Han Win's logic in pleading for the return of tourists to his beautiful and captivating Burma ("Burmese people need your tourist dollars", Postbag, Oct 10).
First, he says that boycotting Burma does not hurt the junta's pocket, it hurts those poor Burmese involved in tourism. That is definitely correct, since the junta has been pocketing the nation's wealth without giving to the poor.
But I opine that "busloads of tourists" visiting Rangoon and Mandalay now would mean the world is insensitive to the cruelty of the inhuman generals, thereby perpetuating their rule and evil in governing the poor Burmese.
Second, he says it is good if there are more tourist cameras clicking, as these would serve as the eyes and ears for the rest of the world.
Yes, thank you for the advice. One Japanese journalist did just that and got shot by a soldier, point blank.
Third, that savvy travellers can spend their money by funnelling it to needy people, including monasteries. I doubt whether I can even get near to some of the temples to give donations.
The last time I was in Rangoon as a tourist, the guide told me we had just passed Aung San Suu Kyi's house. He did not even allow me to glimpse the outside of the house. He explained his fear, saying those soldiers watching over the house could arrest him for pointing the house out to a tourist; that he could possibly face charges of infringing on the country's security laws.
Fourth, "despite the recent crackdown, Burma remains a very safe country for tourists to visit". That was no crackdown, it was more like bullies murdering the innocent. With that shocking mentality of the rulers in charge, if you were me would you ask your mother to take a tour to "a very safe country" like Burma?
Finally, he says that in not visiting Burma, we would be penalising the Burmese poor. Sir, you should not direct us to visit your country while your country is fraught with fear and cruelty and ruled by bullies with no sense of human decency in oppressing the majority.
Instead, you should direct your attention and those in the tourist business, to get rid of this junta and stop their cronies from plundering your nation's wealth, thereby depriving the poor of their rightful ownership of their country. That is a long-lasting way to help not only the tourist industry, but your whole nation, to return back to your previous glory and prosperity.
SONGDEJ PRADITSMANONT
World Must Stand Up Protest Abused
 |
The civilised world has laws that long disregarded "sanctity of one's home" to save abused children and wives.
The courage of the Burmese people comes from a belief that the international community would do something if only it knew what was happening in the country. So they risk death and torture to get the word out any way possible.
The outside world is our only hope; like abused wives and children we can only scream for help through a crack in the door, and if we are unsuccessful we fully know our painful fate once this door closes again.
Aung San Suu Kyi once said "time is on our side". But time is not on our side when we lose entire generations to our national impoverishment.
How should the international community react? Tightening sanctions and urging restraint are appreciated, but surely they are not enough to make the thuggish generals succumb.
The international community must be prepared to send in peacekeepers authorised to use force to stop abuse. How this would be done in the UN Security Council in the face of China's and Russia's resistance at passing such a resolution depends on the genuine will of world powers to help the Burmese people. The Security Council is not the only source for a peacekeeping force _ and clearly the buck did not stop in the UN in the case of Iraq.
H.W. Manila
Time to threaten Olympic boycott
It's frustrating to watch the world leaders lament the way Burmese people are being clubbed and killed by the military under Than Shwe but no concrete action comes out of it.
Global intervention is needed to solve this problem. The UN, the US, the EU and all world organisations and countries need to join hands and pressure China, India and Russia to stop protecting the Burmese junta and start the process of democracy in that country.
The ultimatum should be a boycott of the 2008 Olympic Games if China, which has the strongest influence over the Burmese junta, fails to cooperate.
The leaders of the great world powers should deliver rather than lament the situation. Stop looking for political points and start doing the right thing.
CHAVALIT VAN
Chiang Mai
Sonthi's heartlessness
General Sonthi is quoted (Bangkok Post, Sept 29) as saying: "Minority groups living along the Thai[-Burmese] border might take this opportunity to smuggle drugs and other contraband items into Thailand."
If the general did in fact utter such a heartless statement, he should take a holiday to reflect on his shallow view of human beings in crisis. Recent reports using satellite imagery have shown the brutal displacement of thousands of ethnic Burmese and this utter brutality of the generals toward the people has be unprecedented in its inhumanity.
Gen Sonthi's perspective on the crisis now unfolding in Burma, displays pathetic myopia and demonstrates he might be happier working for the Burmese junta, crushing all those around him who don't happen to be in his own family or inner circle.
What a shameful, shocking statement to make about the Burmese who are so in need of Thai help.
BRIAN VANDERLIP
Bangkok
Shameful silence
Thailand has blood on its hands. It has argued for non-interference in Burma's affairs when it should have been taking the lead in Asean to push for progress toward democracy. It has put economics ahead of people, ignoring the plight of the people for the sake of political and economic relationships.
Gen Sonthi should be blocked from joining the cabinet after his shameful comments supporting a brutal autocratic regime. The Thai regime and previous administrations should be shamed for their hypocrisy and silence. Their greed and inhumanity is only matched by that of China and Russia.
WATSON
Pathum Thani
Burmese prays to become Japanese
Before I go to bed tonight, I will pray to Lord Buddha that I awake in the morning as a Japanese. All my life I have been Burmese and always thought all human life had an equal value.
It was a rude awakening for me to learn that a Japanese life is worth more than thousands of Burmese lives. That was evident from the reaction of the Japanese government after a Japanese journalist was killed in Rangoon.
The Japanese government has long been aware that Burmese live with abuse at the junta's hands. Summary executions, forced labour, forced relocation, forced conscription of child soldiers and other atrocities. But the Japanese government has been indifferent, engaging with and supporting the junta.
Suddenly the deputy foreign minister is going to Burma to investigate the death of a Japanese journalist.
Please don't misunderstand me _ all Burmese appreciate the efforts of Nagai san to expose the hell they daily must face. Our condolences go to his family.
It is sad that an innocent Japanese life was lost because his government knowingly ignored the facts for decades.
Lord Buddha, please have mercy on us Burmese and let us all wake up tomorrow as Japanese.
ZAW TUN
Media must continue to perform its job
The media is playing into the Burmese junta's hands and confirming that their strategy will work once again. Burma has pulled down the shutters and will be meting out horrific punishment to break the people's will.
Without dramatic images to show the world, the TV news and the press have already begun to focus on other news. The media is the greatest tool against evil and needs to put that responsibility above entertainment. The world's governing bodies will prevaricate and procrastinate unless public opinion demands action.
The media needs to be creative and find other ways to report on the situation.
Without a strong and sustained reaction by the news media, the brave Burmese on the streets will be waiting indefinitely for intervention from a world that doesn't care.
MALCOLM SCHAVERIEN
BURMA UPDATE 212
30 SEPTEMBER 2007
THE 13TH DAY OF SAFFRON REVOLUTION
Saffron Revolution: UN and the Lady
30.9.07
This afternoon, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy Mr. Ibrahim Gambari met with Burma's democratic leader Daw Aung San suu Kyi in Rangoon for more than an hour. He alo met with Acting Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Thein Sein, Information Minister Maj. Gen. Kyaw Hsan, Cultural Minister Brig.Khin Aung Myint and Deputy Foreign Minister U Kyaw Thu in Kyatpyay Naypyidaw, Pyinmana.Yesterday, he met with the ICRC people in Rangoon. He is still waiting for the opportunity to meet with the strongman of Burma but it is not certain he would get the chance or not.
Rangoon
Students and people totaling about 10,000 demonstrated at Thamaing junction and Eighth Mile Mayangone junction. About 20 students demonstrated in Tamwe Township. The army is surrounding the 108-Taung Monastery in Thaketa and is under siege by the people in turn. Also in Sanchaung Township, three army trucks came to raid two monasteries but were repulsed by ward residents. Also at East Gyogonin Insein Township, ward residents repulsed the army that came to raid Shwe-nyaung-bin Monastery last night.
Junta troops raided a monastery in Thaketa last night. As the people were prepared to defend the monks, troops entered the wat not from land route but from the river by three navy boats. More than 70 monks were detained. The ward residents tried to take back the monks from junta's hands but were repelled by gunfire which killed one man.
Detained monks and nuns who are being held at Kyaikkasan grounds and Insein GTI compound and are being forced to disrobe are staging hunger strike.
Reports are coming out about cremating both dead bodies and wounded persons at Ye-way cemetery.
Mandalay Division
In Mandalay, the army is blocking off all exits from monasteries so that monks could not get out. Instead of demonstrating outside, monks incessantly recited Metta Sutta and Mawra Sutta inside the monasteries.
Students riding more than 200 motorcycles staged a lighting demonstration in downtown this afternoon waving fighting peacock flags. The army dispersed them with tear gas. Yesterday's demonstration at Mogok by 60 monks and 50,000 people was violently suppressed by police and army who beat them ruthlessly gravely wounding about five demonstrators.
Arakan State
About 80 monks and 3000 people demonstrated in Akyab despite heavy security by army and police.
Four monks led 800 people in a demonstration in Taungup.
Three monks were forcibly disrobed in Maundaw. Another eleven monks deported from Akyab has been taken into custody. Seven monks from Aungbala Monastery are also being detained.
Kachin State
Sri Lanka-educated Buddhist scholar Rev. U Thilavantha has succumbed to injuries brought about by junta police and thugs in Myitkyina.
Kayah State
Prayer services were performed by various religious orders in Demawso and Phrusoe.
Tenasserim State
The junta is planning to hold a mass rally in support of its National Convention in Mergui, Tavoy and
Kawthaung simultaneously. To fill up the rallies, all households are being ordered to send one member without fail. Each township will be sent four military trucks to fetch the villagers for the rally. However, the villagers are instructed to bring along their own provisions and food.
Also in Karen State, Mon State and Kayah State, pro-junta rallies are being organized forcing all households to send participants without fail.
Date: 26th S eptember,2007
Statement on the 4th conference of "All Arakan Students' and Youths' Congress
(AASYC)"
The fourth conference of the All Arakan Students' and Youths' Congress (AASYC)
has been successfully held from the 22nd to the 26th of September 2007 in Thai-Burma
Border.
25 representatives participated in the conference, and the organizational structure has
been changed from the previous presidential system to the secretarial system,
according to the decision of the conference. Besides the 6 objectives set in the third
conference, another objective "to preserve the ecosystem and cultural heritage of
Arakan" has been added in this conference. Furthermore, we succeeded in reopening
the regional branch office of Bangladesh, which had been forced to be closed under
the then-and-there circumstances, in line with the constitutional amendments.
The seven political objectives of AASYC
1) To promote physical fitness, intelligence, virtue, socio-economical status and
friendship of Arakanese students and youths
2) To preserve the ecosystem and cultural heritage of Arakan
3) To build national solidarity
4) To eliminate any forms of Colonialism , Chauvinism and Dictatorship
5) To liberate the whole oppressed ethnic nationalities
6) To gain democracy and human rights
7) To achieve self-determination and self-identification of Arakan
In order to implement the objectives above, 11 members were appointed to the
Central Executive Committee in accordance with voting regulations.
Advisory Board
1) U Htwan Warm ( MP Elect, Marmbra/ CEC, Arakan League for Democracy)
2) U Aung Hla Phru
3) U Khine Oo Maung
4) U Thiha ( President, Young Monk Union of Arakan- Exile)
Presidium
(1) Comrade Zaw Zaw Aung
Central Executive Committee
1) Comrade Aung Marm Oo (General Secretary)
2) Comrade Htwan Zaw (Secretary 1)
3) Comrade Kyaw Myint (Secretary 2)
4) Comrade Tun Tun (Central Executive Committee member)
5) Comrade Thein Aung (Central Executive Committee member)
6) Comrade Marm Thaik Htwan (Central Executive Committee member)
7) Comrade Myo Marm Htwan (Central Executive Committee member)
8) Comrade Kyaw Htwee (Central Executive Committee Member)
9) Comrade Saw Htwan (Central Executive Committee member)
10) Comrade Khine Mrat Naing (Central Executive Committee Member)
11) Comrade Nyrein Nyrein Lwon (Central Executive Committee member)
1) In harmony with the internal and external revolutionary and political forces,
we shall strive to achieve self-determination and conceive a genuine
democratic political roadmap.
2) We shall prioritize programs to bring up new-generation leadership and
resourcefulness of students and youths.
3) We shall fight for the elimination of military dictatorship and chauvinism in
hands with the revolutionary and political alliance, and domestic and foreign
Arakanese nationalist forces that hold the common goal.
4) We shall protect from and fight the exploitation of the natural resources and
imposition of political, economical, social, and cultural restrictions without
public consent.
5) We shall implement programs to promote the role of the Arakanese women in
and out of Arakan.
6) We shall exert our effort to deepen national solidarity and intensify
cooperation with the Arakan national revolutionary and political forces.
7) We shall strive our utmost for the participation of all Arakanese masses in
Arakan national revolution.
Central Executive Committee
All Arakan Students' and Youths' Congress (AASYC)
GHQ, Thai-Burma Border
Media Contact: Comrade Aung Marm Oo (General Secretary): + 66 (0) 81- 6736326
: Comrade Kyaw Myint (Secretary- 2, BD): + 88 (0) 1817078113
Subject: Prayer for your attention upon our sufferings
Respected our political leaders and colleague,
With all respects and honors from the bottom of our heart we would like to inform you that we are starving like in hell in this country. We need your help as well, which corner you live in this world. Please help us and inquire necessary information from the contact address as http://us.f331.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=bgdda@unhcr.org . The UNHCR in Bangladesh is treating us like we have nobody to stand or voice for us. They have been destroying and violating all our opportunities by relayed officers.
With patient, we pray and hope to read our sufferings mentioned below.
With regards,
Yours truly,
On behalf of Arakanese urban refugee affairs
Head Office: Dhaka, Bangladesh, Email: http://us.f331.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=arac.hq@gmail.com.
Ms. Pia Prytz Phiri
Representative
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
House No# NE (N) 8, Road No# 90
Gulshan-2, Dhaka-1212
Bangladesh.
Date: 15th September 2007.
Subject: Prayer for reviewing upon our sufferings.
Respected Madam,
With all my respects and honors from the bottom of my heart, I would like to inform you that we are urban refugees, have been living in exiles for the unbearable military's cruel activities as they have massacred many of our people in many processions for the movement for democracy in 1988 and we are waiting for the reformation of so called democracy one day in Burma.
We are urban refugees sheltering under the UNHCR mandate. We are living in different parts of Bangladesh. Since our recognition from UNHCR we were given subsistence allowance. But, unfortunately, because of low budget of UNHCR all ID holders were cut off their subsistence allowance and started giving a very small amount of money, called lump sum, to each UNHCR ID holders to stand on own foot as like self-reliance.
More information for your Excellency,
The UNHCR introduced us the lamp sum program ( self-reliance program or micro-credit business project) amid our refusals in1998. According to this program, the UNHCR has stopped our monthly subsistence allowance giving a lump sum average to 2,5000/-Taka or $450 to each of us as a capital and made us earn our livelihoods in the remote rural areas of Bangladesh like local people. Though we knew that it was quite impossible for us to lead our lives like the local Bengoli people, we had to accept it desperately. Because UNHCR themselves had deliberately enforced it by giving notice to us that anyone neither accept nor reject, must be cut off their subsistence allowance'. Despite our hard works on our particular business project arranged by UNHCR, it had come to collapse within a short period of time, due to lack of local language skill, absence of neighbors help, insufficient capital, expansive consumptions as rising day by day in this poor country and for the cruel behaviors of boss and colleagues in jobs.
Besides, we can see that education; health and security sections are weak state. There isn't any security for us, as Bangladesh political movement is not stable. We feel like we are being treated as we have descended from the sky and having nobody to stand near by us . The permission to have two times of meals is even available inside prison.
Also, from Bangladesh government we don't get any understandings and kindnesses.
On the other hand, we would like to mention a little about the present condition of Burma under the misrule of military junta. The people in Burma are surviving like in hell. Blind military juntas are arresting political leaders, student leaders and local people as well. At last, although the country is Buddhism, they are beating monks fastening them in the local lamppost. Hearing this news happening inside Burma, many countries are also pressing and urging them to stop their cruel activities.
And here are some refugees sufferings mentioned below as per we could collect:
We were nearly 120 total members up to May this year. Out of them children and spouses were of 70 and more than 50 for bachelors and chief members of the family. Among those 50s nearly 30 persons were already arrested and beaten severely and freed later. And sometimes after beaten they advise wisely not to reach anybody's ear.
Mr. Khaine Soe UNHCR ID No-01028 surviving with his family in Cox'sBazar town. His condition is worsening day by day, by the annoyance of a police in his area. Here are the some of the quotes as per we could collect, "A police called Go Du Li has been coercing me nearly three months. Whenever he comes to the area where I live, I became afraid. Later he pronounced my spouse the way he behave his wife. Not only that but he followed and disturbed my elder daughter on the way to school. He teased my daughter saying dignity less words. Although she complained me many times about his annoyance, I didn't accept it with great care. On 9 th August 2007, I could strongly believe his behaviors becoming worse than before. Then my whole family became surprised and I could notice that we were nearing to face a great trouble concerning with Mr.Go Du Li . No sooner had I noticed since then I was bound to inform my nearest concern authorities of UNHCR. And within that day, Mr. Rafiq, the assistant protection officer of Cox'sBazar UNHCR, called me and I took my wife and daughter to him. Reaching Mr. Rafiq, he took us to the Superintendent of Police of Cox'sBazar and reported about all the matters, what had happened. And Mr. Rafiq also helped us as possible as he could.
But on the next day, a strange thing occurred which never happened before that, two police cars came and surrounded our area and cheeked each and every house. All in our family got frightened and my children burst into tears. I had to avoid and got out of home for the moment. After three days of that three police informers including Go Du Li, came and one of them inquired about my identity. I also introduced my self to them clearly that I am an urban refugee.
And on the 21st August, 2007, two cars with more than 10 polices including Go Du Li, entered my house at around 4:45 pm. And the operation officer told me to stay always with alarm of myself that "I might arrest you anytime", he said. I am guessing sure of what Mr. Go Du Li might provoke to that operation officer about me in absence. I guess this because that officer along came with Go Du Li that day had never even seen me before. Go Du Li has also been telling some of my neighbors that he would some day put me into trouble by keeping bottles of phensidyl and packets of gunja and heroine at my home.
"As my present condition is becoming worst day by day that I think although if my wife and daughter are raped in front of me, I will not be able to do anything totally."
Mr. San Aung Kyaw, UNHCR ID No- 01125 living in a remote rural area which is restricted area for foreigners to enter in Bangladesh called Bandarban, with his family. He has eight children. Now his family is surviving only with the salary of three children. Few days ago he and his son (Moung Moung) 15, were arrested, by RAB (Rapid Action Battalion) of Chittagong division, few days ago in the middle of last month, and were freed after two days. It was found that he has many wounds in many portions of the body, after investigation. As per we heard from Mr. San Aung Kyaw, after their release, he said, "While I was walking with a well known neighbor, by whom I was going to burrow 3 thousand Taka, as my family had been starving during those days, I was arrested by RAB personals." They were given winsome amount of money and persuaded them to give news about the area where he lives.
Mr. Khaine Win, UNHCR ID No-01117, survives alone tailoring, living in Ragamati Hill Tracts area which is also restricted area for foreigners to enter in Bangladesh. On 06/ 07 2007, while he was on the way to home with many goods bought under the project of UNHCR from Dhaka, by an auto rickshaw, 100 meters away from the departure of Chittagong BRDC bus stand, he was robbed by some four or five masked men. He lost two embriodary machines, a normal sewing machine, a mobile, a Seko 5 watch and the UNHCR IDcard as well. Although he appealed about his lost to the UNHCR after the event, the UNHCR responsed him nothing.
"Mr. Mon Wa, ID No. 01151, an accredited urban refugee of, who was working on his self-relying business project of goat-breeding in the Htwee-Hla-Oung Para Village of Naikanchari Uparzila in Bandarban District, has been arrested by the security personnel of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) of Naikanchari Thana on 25 July, 2005. He was arrested at his dinner table and taken to the Naikanchari BDR Camp where he was subjected to inhuman tortures and later sent to Bandarban Jail claiming that he was arrested with firearms after a short crossfire between them in the jungle on Bangladesh-Myanmar border. Now it is more than seventeen months Mr. Mon Wa has been detained in the Bandarban jail without any trial, suffering infectious diseases and a great depression."
"Mr. San Win, an asylum seeker, who is applying for his status to UNHCR, has been arrested on 3 December 2005, in Yongsa Village in Lama Thana of Bandarban District by the Bangladesh Army and sent to Bandarban Jail on charge of illegal immigration. His case was once brought to trial in Bandarban court on 21 December 2005. Due to his statement that he is a Myanmarese asylum seeker by showing the document issued by the UNHCR during the trial, the court have been pending to decide his case seeking confirmation from the UNHCR.
Mr. Zaw Zaw was a pending unrecognized refugee now living as a monk in Mahrashown hill tract area. He said he already finished filling registration form in the UNHCR but he was not given any answer for his confirmation. At that time he used lived in Cox'sBazar town. He also said unfortunately, he was arrested by RAB (Rapid Action Battilion) personals one day and was investigated and beaten and freed after one month. When he was freed he had many injuries all in his body. While he came out he had nowhere to live, as he was not a recognized UNHCR refugee, now he is spending monk life from a human.
Mr. Pray Thein, UNHCR ID No-01153, living in Bandarban hill tract area. He said, he submitted several appeals to UNHCR to grant SA for his wife and two daughters. But they are not recognized yet. While going on in this way, on 13th April 2007, while he was on the way to home, he was arrested by BDR (Bangladesh Defense Rifle) personals from the camp of battalion (40). He said that he showed his UNHCR ID card to BDR. But BDR personals said it was no use for them. And also said if they wished, they could arrest any body like he who hold this kind of cards and told to go and live in the place where he was provided that card.
Mr. Pray Thein said, for the matter of that he repeatedly informed to the social counselor of Dhaka UNHCR, Mr. Bazlar, but no action was taken about it. And continually neglect. Now, whenever he goes to meet with his family, he has to go secretly so that he would not face BDR personals the way he faced before.
Mr. Aung Aung, UNHCR ID No-01145, living in Dhaka recently finished his car driving training. But after completing the training course he was not provided driving license certificate. As he came to know why, it is known that foreigners are not permitted to provide any kind of certificates. And also we urban refugees have no permission to do works in this country. That's why there are no possibilities for to join works in car owners and companies without certificates.
Mrs. Aye Hling Oo, UNHCR ID No. 01169, survives in Cox'sBazar town with her family. Here are some of the quotes collected from her application on 14 th August, 2007, "In my family there are four members and I am pregnant at the present for eight months. We have to run our family with the amount which my two daughters get subsistence allowance from your office. From which we had to pay half to our landlord . My two daughters allowances only begun since June of this year. Before this we had a lot of debts in nearby shops and in neighbors." Although s he appealed it she is getting any answer till now.
Mr. Moung Aung Than UNHCR ID NO- 01140 and Mrs. Sanda Win UNHCR ID No. 01137, are a marriaged couple, living in Cox'sBazar down town. They have been appealing many letters but most of them are failed but although successes existed, were not provided properly. Their dreams were computer trainings for Mr. Aung Than and Beauty Parloring for Mrs. Sanda Win in the area they reside in Cox's bazar town. Because Mrs. Sanda Win was given only two third of amount for her projet and she was told by UNHCR RCSU that she wouldn't be given her rest amount. Here are some of their appeal subjects and dates. On July 2, 2007 as subjected to (Appication for financial assistance to do the training of Computer course), date June 09, 07 as subjected to (appeal for financial assistance to do the training of Beauty Parlor) and "Date: June 11, 07 Subjected: Application for financial assistance to do the training of Computer course." "March 31, 2007 Subjected: Applealfor protection of our family."
Mr. Pho Hla, UNHCR ID No-01026 has always been sickly under the heart attack and blood pressure disease. Seeing not suitable enough to survive any more in the Dhaka city his family had to shift Cox'sBazar. And his wife got seriously injured last year in the bus accident, on her way to Cox'sBazar from Dhaka, while shifting household articles, in July last year. Luckily she was saved with the help of a Bangladesh Rakhing national of around 35 along came in the same bus. It effected her brain sometimes and she explains that she feel like there are little glass splinters still remaining between skin and skull of forehead portion. Because of they also lost many essential household articles, brought them with her.
No sooner, his wife reach home after the operation of two or three days, Mr. Pho Hla was admitted in the Cox's Bazar Government Hospital under the diseases of heart attack and diarrhea for 15 days. It spent nearly 6 thousands after recover. But when they applied all costs and the vouchers remained with them, to the UNHCR officers they delayed by showing busy and unfulfilled in the letter. In this way, the year 2006 ended. When we asked about our applied letter the UNHCR officers said they couldn't provide last year's costs from this year's budget.
In the end of 2003, his children were cut off their education fund amid their study. Elder daughter new ten, son in class eight and younger daughter class six. To admit them in the Bangla medium schools, they did not have sufficient money even for the daily foods. Because five members in their family had to survive only with three person's salary at the amount of 4500 Taka, they got from the UNHCR. From which they had to pay 3000 Taka to landlord for renting home. Because in Dhaka city there aren't any house rents below 3000 Taka. That's why his family had to shift Cox'sBazar.
Among many of our refugees there are only two members Mr. Khine San Aung and Mr. Khine Mrat Kyaw being good state have ability to cover two times of meal, under their hardship.
We, therefore, would like to hope and pray of your courtesy to save our soul from a place equal to hell with great sympathy under the humanitarian ground.
We will be grateful to you ever after, if your Excellencies had fulfill our wish succeed.
With big hope.
Yours sincerely,
Myanmarese Urban Refugees
BangladeshAttn: We attach the separate sheets bearing our name, identity numbers and signatures, to this letter.
This is an open appeal and we deliver this not only to the UNHCR but also to the international governments, NGOs and individuals in order to draw their kind attentions and considerations to our current sufferings and so that they can contribute their humanitarian assistances or acts to the welfare and betterment of our lives.
The Arakan Refugee Affairs Committee (ARAC) is formed by the Myanmarese urban refugees taking asylums under the mandate of UNHCR in Bangladesh, to raise awareness on their plights and to protect and advocate their rights.
Ancient Arakan - Rakhine
About Ancient Arakan and Arakanese
12 September 2007
Rohingyas or Migrated People in Arakan
Rohingyas or Migrated People in Arakan:
The Rohingyas are not an indigenous ethnic group of Myanmar (Burma).We can confidently say that there has never been such an ethnic group throughout the history of Burma and also her state Rakhine. The people called Rohingyas are direct descendents of immigrants from the Chittagong District of East Bengal (present day Bangladesh). The British colonial officials called them Chittagonians in their administrative records. These Muslim people (Rohingyas) are not Arakan (Rakhine Pyay) origin and also can't be called them as Arakanese (Rakhine thar). They migrated into Arakan after the province was ceded to British India under the terms of Treaty of Yandabo concluded at the end of the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1826. Most of them settled down in the Buthidaung and Maungdaw Districts of Arakan State, the frontier areas near Burma's border with Bangladesh. Their migration in the past usually happened during the agricultural season when Arakan faced the problem of the shortage of agricultural labourers. These Muslims, of mainly Bengali origin, were not culturally integrated and played a part in history of domestic conflicts in Myanmar after 1947. They then claimed an identity of their own and organized themselves in the so-called Rohingya movements. It is obvious that the term "Rohingya" was created in 1950s by the educated Chittagonian descendants from Mayu Frontier area (present day Buthidaung and Maungdaw Districts).
We didn't hear the word rohingyas before 1950 in our region and also didn't find any historical source materials in any language till then. Rohingya name was created by some of the Bengladeshi Muslim Extremist with the aim to occupy Arakan. Bengalis and Rohingyas squatters (people who come to our land to claim it as theirs) are trying to occupy our land. Arakan is our own land and our continent. This is not property of the Bengalis and Rohingyas or their descendants. Bengalis and Rohingyas squatters are today stealing not just our land; they are stealing our farmland, our forests and all of our other resources. They are also stealing our honor, our dignity, and our sense of being one Rakhine nation. And also their aim is to destroy our nation and religion, after that they will try to form Muslim country in our own land.
Posted by Shwe Rakhine at 4:00 PM 0 comments
03 September 2007
Rakhine Traditional Sports
Rakhine Traditional Sports
There were verious traditional sports in Arakan like art of self-defence, kyun ( Arakanese style of wrestling and self-defence),elephat and horse racing, bow racing, sword with sword and spear with spear racing and boat racing. The purpose of all race were produced skilled warriors of the Kingdom for the Royal Army Both major sports of Kyun wrestling and boat racing have remained and popularized amoung the public of Arakan. The several kinds of sport were lost throughout under the colonial rule.
Rakhine Wrestling - Kyun
Rakhine people have a long tradition of holding wrestling competitions during the annual festivals in their towns and villages. It is one of the Rakhine traditional sports which mainly based on physical ability to uplift the happiness and physical prowess. It's a kind of martial art. The skill of wrestling and making one's rival fall on to the ground while avoiding hid attack is called "Kyun".
Kyun - It derives from Kyar-Yun. Kyar" means "tiger" and "yun" means "quick". Therefore, the complete meaning of "Kyun" is the quick tiger. The Rakhine wrestler can be called as a quick tiger because of his ability in wrestling movements and techniques.
"Kyun" the Rakhine wrestling is very different from other wrestling and it has its own rules and disciplines not to get hurt each other. Wrestler first dances jumping and making special styles in the playground. The two wrestlers have to play three rounds. They are defined as an attacker and one defender. After finishing three rounds, the first attacker becomes the defender and also the first defender becomes the attacker. The attacker who can make the back of the defender falls up to the ground wins the playing round. The first prizewinner will be awarded the gold gong, one tickle weight and for the second prizewinner, the silver gong is awarded. The "Kyun" wrestling is usually performed at the pagoda festivals.