FAREWELL TO U WIN TIN, NO. 1 OPPOSITION LEADER OF BURMA
Farewell to U Win Tin who never bow down to dictators
It was over thirty years ago when I first met U Win Tin in the editorial room of Working People's Daily (Burmese language). Then I was working at Research and Reference Division of News Agency Burma (External news service). The small department where I worked was very close to editorial room of WPD.
I rushed into the editorial room one afternoon as I heard noises of commotion that came out from the street in front of the building where we were working. Once inside the room I saw some editors from WPD, Managing Director of the News and Periodicals Corporation and Chief Editor of WPD. They were watching the protesting people marching on Theinbyu Street (formerly Stockgate Road). When I looked through the window of the editorial room down to the street there was a large group of people who were protesting against the government shouting slogans. They were workers from a certain factory which I do not remember the name of the factory. There right in the room I came across U Win Tin. He was standing beside the MD of NPC. Then U Win Tin was in Rangoon to attend an emergency meeting of chief editors. At the time there were sporadic workers demonstration in Rangoon and the authorities afraid the protest might spread over elsewhere in the country. The chief editors of the newspapers concerned must take the order of the Ministry of Information regarding the way they handle their newspapers in time of workers crisis.
U Win Tin was chief editor of Hanthawaddy Daily, a prestigious paper from Mandalay, second largest city of Burma. Though most editors and chief editors were criticizing the workers strike in favor of the government U Win Tin was silent and just staring at the protesting people on the street. I could read from his face that he was not feeling good at the time. He seemed to be sympathized to the workers on the street. I secretly glanced at his face as I wanted to find out how he feel at that moment.
Previously, I learned about his on going secret anti-government activities and admired him because of his dutiful act of a journalist who loves freedom of press. He and his colleague were holding a talk on every weekends at Hanthawaddy newspaper house in Mandalay. Their purpose to gather weekly was to discuss and criticize the government and its one-Party ruling system which was misleading the people and country.
Then, I was also feeling something pain in my heart as I was on the side of the people who were suffered from social and economic difficulties due to the ruling system of the socialist government. Five years before I joint the NPC I was detained for one and a half years as I was participated in the student movement against the government. At that time we burnt the effigy of General Ne Win in the campus of the Rangoon Arts and Science University. I was released from the notorious Insein Prison on an amnesty program issued by the government. I did not went back to university for my study because I need to appeal the authorities concerned for my readmission to the school. Instead I sought for an employment to support my family members. Finally, I secure a job with the help of my elder brother's assistance. I landed on a research job at News Agency Burma (external service).
Five years later, U Win Tin was ousted from Hanthawaddy and his newspaper was closed down by the authorities as they found out his anti-government movements. Then I was Assistant Editor with the Guardian Daily. When I heard the sad news I felt sorry for U Win Tin to whom I admired much for his courage and his stand. We loss a good journalist who would lead us in the movement of Press freedom.
In 1988 when the entire country participated in protest against the socialist government and demanded Ne Win step down from power we formed a newspaper coordination committee and join the people who took to streets. Editor U Soe Thein (deceased), Editor U Sein Hla Oo and Editor U Ohn Kyaing (now information chief of NLD) of Botataung Daily; Khin Maung Aye of Working People's Daily (English ); Danial Aung (now resided in Australia), Tin Tun Aung (now resided in L.A.), Khin Nwe Aye (Arizona, USA) and Thiha Saw (founder of Myanmar Freedom Daily) of News Agency Burma (External); U Than Aung of Myanma Alin Daily participated in the strike. For 22 days our newspaper which was once controlled by the government went on strike and once again enjoyed the freedom of Press. During 8888 uprising period I was responsible to publish the Guardian Daily as a free paper. Our freedom last only 22 days and the military regime took over power again after General Ne Win officially announced his resignation.
The first reporter who became an exile journalist in the Socialist era was Editor U Soe Min. He fled the country and took refuge in Thailand before he applied for a refugee status at the UNHCR. Later, he was approved by the UNHCR for his resettlement in Federal Republic of Germany. Journalist Soe Min passed away in Germany 25 years ago. Before he fled the country he had written weekly short articles under the name of Reporter Zanya in the Working People's daily (Burmese). His sarcastic articles about the socialist system were welcome by the readers.
I fled Burma in 2006 when my life was threatened by the military intelligence as I gave assistance to a journalist from the United States when he came to Burma in disguise of a tourist. He had met Min Ko Naing ( now 8888 Generation and Open Society leader) with my arrangement. I lived a life of refugee in Cambodia for ten months before I was approved by the States Department to resettle in the U.S. thanks to CPJ (Committee to Protect Journalists), UNHCR (Cambodia) that helped me to get to the America safe and sound.
U Win Tin co-founded the National League for Democracy which later became the opposition party that had incessantly criticized against the military regime of Burma. He was charged with instigating the people to rise up against the government and sentenced to 20 years and was released after serving time for 19 years. He won the Golden Globe Pen of Freedom in 2001 and continue his movement to restore peace and democracy in Burma. With the physical and mental tortures he had received during his prison life his health was not in a good shape after he was released from the prison. Though he was suffering from heart, kidney among other diseases his will to keep on fighting the dictatorship and military regime still going strong until he gave up everything when his ailment does not allow him to survive. He passed away on 22 April 2014 with kidney failure at the age of 84. The hero dies but his name still live and his iron will inspire young freedom fighters to carry on his duty, to annihilate dictatorship and restore peace and democracy in Burma. This is a great loss to our country for having loss a great journalist and leader of freedom fighters who is waging an unfinished war with the military regime as well as the dictator.
(Maung Maung Kyaw Win, exiled journalist)
The level of their mentality
Some people of the world who are very much interested in Burmese politics asked me if any significant development has achieved after civilian government take office, I don't have much answers to reply for their questions since I do not see any significant changes and development in Burma. The puppet government run by the military regime has no big aim for the development of the country. They are contented with the power they have maintained and satisfy with their wealth supported by their cronies. When I was asked that how much the puppet government is smart and how much well versed in politics I answered them I don't see anything to give credit for that to the government so far but you can feel that the puppet government as well as the military regime are mentally unbalanced. The level of their mentality can be easily reckoned by reading the abovementioned short news, reported by AFP.
LETPADAUNG MINE CRISIS, A TEST FOR DEMOCRACY
(By Kanbawza Win | December 4, 2012 | Taunggyitime)
Even though the Chinese and Burmese authorities have a good relationship, public sentiment could grow as people see images of Buddhist monks being brutally beaten and burnt, and could easily become a nationwide issue
Even as the International News headlines were glue to Syria and the Middle East, the Burmese quasi military government initiated by the monk killer Thein Sein steals the limelight by cracking down the peaceful monks and people demonstrating in Letpadoung Mines.
Since it is his bounden duty to defend the vested interests of the
former military regime whose opaque deals continue to enrich the
generals under the smoke screen of the military conglomerate Union of
Myanmar Economic Holdings (UMEH) and the subsidiary of a state-owned
Chinese arms manufacturer Wan Bao Company, he is not all moved by the
tragic incident of the Letpadoung Mines.[1] It is definitely a touchy
issue in Burma, as several senior leaders including Than Shwe, his
former deputy Vice Senior-Gen Maung Aye and many other powerful generals
have allegedly siphoned state money and benefited from military-run
projects, many of which are tied to China’s powerful businessmen,
companies and government leaders.[2]
The crackdown complicated the investment picture of China, which has struggled with the tarnish internationally accepted image of exploiting the peoples of foreign countries at any cost, so much so that the Global Times, a state-owned Chinese newspaper, published an article accusing the West and advocacy groups of instigating the protests against the mine project, and said that shutting it down would be “a lose-lose situation” for the two countries. Anti-Chinese sentiment was a major factor in the cancellation of the Myit Sone dam and now the people of Burma are targeting this mine.[3] Many activists will no doubt begin to raise the issue of the gas pipeline project and other hydropower projects in Burma. China is one of the main investors in all of these projects.[4]
To be candid the story originates in 1981 an American launched a mining venture, a cyanide heap-leach gold project in the state of Colorado. To save expenses, instead of taking necessary precautions, it leached 35 million pounds of cyanide and other toxic tailings into a nearby watershed. When it became known, the Colorado State government stop the operation in 1991 and the US Government launched a $150 million lawsuit against him. He declared his company bankrupts and fled the country to Canada where he already had connections and is now a respectable gentleman of Vancouver. Soon he got his chance with Golden Star Resource at Omai on the Essequibo river in Guyana. Using the same strategy, he leached 3 billion liters of cyanide-laced mine tailings into the river, not only poisoning all life including fish stocks but also ruining Guyana’s farmlands. Knowing this disastrous act would soon be uproar, his company fled after garnering a huge profit. Although labeled as the worst environmental disaster in Latin America, he escaped legal action by cunning.
Then in Labrador (Canada), his company, Diamond Field Resources, struck a huge base nickel deposit in the native territory of Innu and Inuit (the outside world known them as Eskimos) where he become the biggest shareholder in the world’s largest deposit of nickel. Soon he turned his attention to Asia and the Pacific and targeted the authoritarian regimes in Indonesia (under Suharto), Vietnam, China and Burma. This time his financial vehicles were Indochina Goldfields and Ivanhoe Capital Corp (ICC). He was helped by an expatriate Burmese businessman, Reggie T. Maung, now is a Senior Vice President of Ivanhoe Myanmar Holdings second only to him. T Maung connected him with Tay Za, a tycoon who became rich through his connections to the military government via Than Shwe the evil genius and the Junta’s supremo.[5]
During the Junta administration widespread forced labor was routinely used in building of infrastructure in areas around the mines. Open pit, heap leach mining is prone at the best of times to be a dirty business, especially when regulations are weak. Open-pit mining involves clearing standing vegetation and forests, diverting drainage systems, disrupting drainage patterns and destabilizing topography, causing mountains to collapse.[6] That is the sole reason of why the people of Burma together with the monks are protesting and demonstrating.
The heap leach design creates serious problems since waste rock and toxins have to be contained for a long period of time to avoid leaching. There is a serious risk of acid rock drainage, where exposed waste rock will leach sulfur trioxide when it rains. This is especially dangerous when heavy rainstorms and occasional flooding occur during the monsoon period. Mine tailings can contaminate local drinking water supplies, and poison water bodies and aquamarine life. Ivanhoe Mines knew this and by cunning he sold all these Mon Ywa Mines to the Chinese Company Wen Bao.[7] This is the gist of the story of copper mine project, in Letpadaung mountain range in Salingyi Township, Sagaing Division jointly established by China and Burma, which has become the target of growing protests.[8]
The Burmese people are sure that to maximize the profits China will use the same old method. Independent investigation is next to impossible and local enterprises and foreign companies that do not answer publicly to shareholders and do not follow international accepted standards run these mines. Wen Bao was executing a day to day operation while UMEH just take its share of the profit.
In past years an increasing number of people have expressed their faith in the "codes of conduct" but there are growing skepticism about whether such codes are relevant or enforceable in Burma. The authorities did not respond to better environmental, human rights and labour standards, but to the need for foreign investment, which led them to meet, the structural adjustment criteria set by multilateral institutions. Where infrastructure and power supply are poor there is bound to be slave labour, as the ruling authority would prefer to protect its own internal interest rather than the welfare of local communities. That is exactly what is happening in Letpadoung mines.
Last month to be exact on Nov.18th, a group of people protested in front of the Wen Bao Company on the Western Trunk Road bringing the mine operation to a halt and the next day when President Obama spoke at the Rangoon University a group of students protested letting the cat out of the bag.[9] The protest soon spread to Rangoon, Monywa, Mandalay, Pakokku cities prompting the quasi military to charge the six activists including the former political prisoner Naw Ohn Hla and the detention of the well known monk U Gambira and the Home ministry ordered the ending of strikes. But the protests spread like a wild fire as hundreds and thousands of people joined this ecological disaster affecting all the people of the vicinity and the surrounding area and so Thein Sein administration used excessive force to quell the peaceful demonstrators injuring some 70 Buddhist monks some of which got third degree burns.[10]
The crackdown is a setback for Burmese democracy movement especially that focus on the crucial question of land rights, an issue that is likely to become more contentious as economic growth makes villagers’ land more attractive to companies and property developers. After seeing the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters the people of Burma are quite convinced that they have finally seen the true colors of President Thein Sein and his “reformist” government.[11] Thoroughly mocked on social media, with his top peace award bestowed by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group is particularly ripe for ridicule. How can a double monk killer be awarded a peace award? More than 7,800 acres of land from 26 villages under the shadow of the Letpadaung mountain range have been seized to make way for the Chinese-backed project since it began last year. This is but one of the many hush hush controversial project of the former junta which Thein Sein will defend with tooth and nail. Several prominent activists have also visited the area to pledge support, including members of the 88 Generation Students group and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The influence of Beijing in Burma cannot be discounted even though Burma opens its doors to Western investors, with the US relaxing sanctions and normalizing relations with the former pariah state, Beijing becomes more nervous.
Aung Min, a minister attached to the Burmese President’s Office had openly admitted that “We are afraid of China.” [12] This explicitly means that the Thein Sein administration had already made up their minds to stop the protest at any cost. Beijing has long been staunch supporter of Burma’s brutal military regime and served as a lifeline by providing arms and shielding the former junta from international censure, particularly by blocking resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
Even though the Chinese and Burmese authorities have a good relationship, public sentiment could grow as people see images of Buddhist monks being brutally beaten and burnt, and could easily become a nationwide issue. Fierce anti-China sentiment has been on the rise with protesters demanding a complete shutdown of the copper mine citing illegal land confiscations, deforestation and toxic waste seeping onto farmland so much so that China sent Xu Zenhuan, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. The 8888 Generation called for the commission to review and analyze the Letpadaung copper mine project, to postpone all work until the probe’s findings are published and to stop arresting activists as well as release those already detained.[13]
The incident of Letpadoung Mines demonstrated the true colour of the new administration which the international community has been heaping with praises. In other words the international community has seen Burma as “The emperor has new clothes,” but the people of Burma saw it that the emperor has “no clothes at all”. The irony is that the violence occurred just a few hours before Daw Aung San Suu Kyi arrived on a scheduled visit to this area which explicitly demonstrated that the Thein Sein administration have no respect for her and her party at all. The crackdown showed once again that the government, which claims to have turned over a new leaf and to listen to public opinion, is only really protecting the Generals’ interests and those of foreign investors.[14] That is the raison d'être why the riot police suddenly charged into the camps and viciously assaulted unarmed protesters. This action alone clearly proves that Burma’s ongoing political opening is still reversible.
But the greatest lesson is for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters, she has joined the government with the vain hope that it will be more reasonable to join them and to work from inside just as I did when I worked at the Prime Minister’s Office as the Foreign Affairs Secretary.[15] But I regretted as I soon saw the true colour. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has not said anything on Kachin Crisis or Rhakine sectarian strife and now this Letpadoung incident is another classic example. But still the people of Burma has hope on her, how long would she stay quiet is still to be seen. The people of Burma in their epic struggle knows that neighbouring countries are out and out to exploit the country’s natural and human resources for their own benefit and now that Burma is starting to change their companies are still clinging to the old concept of working with the men in uniforms and the Letpadoung incident demonstrated that the government is not on the people’s side. No doubt the clashes underline one of the dilemmas facing the government, whose steps to promote greater freedoms have led to public protests and strike action at factories.[16]
The protesters oppose the environmental and social damage they say is being caused by the mining operation and most people remain suspicious of the military, while China is widely seen as having propped up army rule for years, in addition to being an aggressive investor exploiting the country's many natural resources. Government officials had publicly stated that the protest risked scaring off foreign investment that is key to rebuilding the economy after decades of neglect. But the real reason is that the old generals have pocketed handsomely some say in billions of dollars and if the deal fell off with China, then they will have to give back what they have taken unlawfully and hence is pressuring The Thein Sein administration to stand tough.
In such a clear situation, the people of Burma sees that only the West particularly the US and EU stands by them in time of crisis.[17] Both President Obama and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi knows that real democracy and federalism is still to be achieve and should take much more tougher stand on the side of the people of Burma rather than with the ‘longyi wute’ (လံုခ်ည္၀တ္ ) Burmese sarong wearing ex generals.
The crackdown complicated the investment picture of China, which has struggled with the tarnish internationally accepted image of exploiting the peoples of foreign countries at any cost, so much so that the Global Times, a state-owned Chinese newspaper, published an article accusing the West and advocacy groups of instigating the protests against the mine project, and said that shutting it down would be “a lose-lose situation” for the two countries. Anti-Chinese sentiment was a major factor in the cancellation of the Myit Sone dam and now the people of Burma are targeting this mine.[3] Many activists will no doubt begin to raise the issue of the gas pipeline project and other hydropower projects in Burma. China is one of the main investors in all of these projects.[4]
To be candid the story originates in 1981 an American launched a mining venture, a cyanide heap-leach gold project in the state of Colorado. To save expenses, instead of taking necessary precautions, it leached 35 million pounds of cyanide and other toxic tailings into a nearby watershed. When it became known, the Colorado State government stop the operation in 1991 and the US Government launched a $150 million lawsuit against him. He declared his company bankrupts and fled the country to Canada where he already had connections and is now a respectable gentleman of Vancouver. Soon he got his chance with Golden Star Resource at Omai on the Essequibo river in Guyana. Using the same strategy, he leached 3 billion liters of cyanide-laced mine tailings into the river, not only poisoning all life including fish stocks but also ruining Guyana’s farmlands. Knowing this disastrous act would soon be uproar, his company fled after garnering a huge profit. Although labeled as the worst environmental disaster in Latin America, he escaped legal action by cunning.
Then in Labrador (Canada), his company, Diamond Field Resources, struck a huge base nickel deposit in the native territory of Innu and Inuit (the outside world known them as Eskimos) where he become the biggest shareholder in the world’s largest deposit of nickel. Soon he turned his attention to Asia and the Pacific and targeted the authoritarian regimes in Indonesia (under Suharto), Vietnam, China and Burma. This time his financial vehicles were Indochina Goldfields and Ivanhoe Capital Corp (ICC). He was helped by an expatriate Burmese businessman, Reggie T. Maung, now is a Senior Vice President of Ivanhoe Myanmar Holdings second only to him. T Maung connected him with Tay Za, a tycoon who became rich through his connections to the military government via Than Shwe the evil genius and the Junta’s supremo.[5]
During the Junta administration widespread forced labor was routinely used in building of infrastructure in areas around the mines. Open pit, heap leach mining is prone at the best of times to be a dirty business, especially when regulations are weak. Open-pit mining involves clearing standing vegetation and forests, diverting drainage systems, disrupting drainage patterns and destabilizing topography, causing mountains to collapse.[6] That is the sole reason of why the people of Burma together with the monks are protesting and demonstrating.
The heap leach design creates serious problems since waste rock and toxins have to be contained for a long period of time to avoid leaching. There is a serious risk of acid rock drainage, where exposed waste rock will leach sulfur trioxide when it rains. This is especially dangerous when heavy rainstorms and occasional flooding occur during the monsoon period. Mine tailings can contaminate local drinking water supplies, and poison water bodies and aquamarine life. Ivanhoe Mines knew this and by cunning he sold all these Mon Ywa Mines to the Chinese Company Wen Bao.[7] This is the gist of the story of copper mine project, in Letpadaung mountain range in Salingyi Township, Sagaing Division jointly established by China and Burma, which has become the target of growing protests.[8]
The Burmese people are sure that to maximize the profits China will use the same old method. Independent investigation is next to impossible and local enterprises and foreign companies that do not answer publicly to shareholders and do not follow international accepted standards run these mines. Wen Bao was executing a day to day operation while UMEH just take its share of the profit.
In past years an increasing number of people have expressed their faith in the "codes of conduct" but there are growing skepticism about whether such codes are relevant or enforceable in Burma. The authorities did not respond to better environmental, human rights and labour standards, but to the need for foreign investment, which led them to meet, the structural adjustment criteria set by multilateral institutions. Where infrastructure and power supply are poor there is bound to be slave labour, as the ruling authority would prefer to protect its own internal interest rather than the welfare of local communities. That is exactly what is happening in Letpadoung mines.
Last month to be exact on Nov.18th, a group of people protested in front of the Wen Bao Company on the Western Trunk Road bringing the mine operation to a halt and the next day when President Obama spoke at the Rangoon University a group of students protested letting the cat out of the bag.[9] The protest soon spread to Rangoon, Monywa, Mandalay, Pakokku cities prompting the quasi military to charge the six activists including the former political prisoner Naw Ohn Hla and the detention of the well known monk U Gambira and the Home ministry ordered the ending of strikes. But the protests spread like a wild fire as hundreds and thousands of people joined this ecological disaster affecting all the people of the vicinity and the surrounding area and so Thein Sein administration used excessive force to quell the peaceful demonstrators injuring some 70 Buddhist monks some of which got third degree burns.[10]
The crackdown is a setback for Burmese democracy movement especially that focus on the crucial question of land rights, an issue that is likely to become more contentious as economic growth makes villagers’ land more attractive to companies and property developers. After seeing the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters the people of Burma are quite convinced that they have finally seen the true colors of President Thein Sein and his “reformist” government.[11] Thoroughly mocked on social media, with his top peace award bestowed by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group is particularly ripe for ridicule. How can a double monk killer be awarded a peace award? More than 7,800 acres of land from 26 villages under the shadow of the Letpadaung mountain range have been seized to make way for the Chinese-backed project since it began last year. This is but one of the many hush hush controversial project of the former junta which Thein Sein will defend with tooth and nail. Several prominent activists have also visited the area to pledge support, including members of the 88 Generation Students group and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The influence of Beijing in Burma cannot be discounted even though Burma opens its doors to Western investors, with the US relaxing sanctions and normalizing relations with the former pariah state, Beijing becomes more nervous.
Aung Min, a minister attached to the Burmese President’s Office had openly admitted that “We are afraid of China.” [12] This explicitly means that the Thein Sein administration had already made up their minds to stop the protest at any cost. Beijing has long been staunch supporter of Burma’s brutal military regime and served as a lifeline by providing arms and shielding the former junta from international censure, particularly by blocking resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
Even though the Chinese and Burmese authorities have a good relationship, public sentiment could grow as people see images of Buddhist monks being brutally beaten and burnt, and could easily become a nationwide issue. Fierce anti-China sentiment has been on the rise with protesters demanding a complete shutdown of the copper mine citing illegal land confiscations, deforestation and toxic waste seeping onto farmland so much so that China sent Xu Zenhuan, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. The 8888 Generation called for the commission to review and analyze the Letpadaung copper mine project, to postpone all work until the probe’s findings are published and to stop arresting activists as well as release those already detained.[13]
The incident of Letpadoung Mines demonstrated the true colour of the new administration which the international community has been heaping with praises. In other words the international community has seen Burma as “The emperor has new clothes,” but the people of Burma saw it that the emperor has “no clothes at all”. The irony is that the violence occurred just a few hours before Daw Aung San Suu Kyi arrived on a scheduled visit to this area which explicitly demonstrated that the Thein Sein administration have no respect for her and her party at all. The crackdown showed once again that the government, which claims to have turned over a new leaf and to listen to public opinion, is only really protecting the Generals’ interests and those of foreign investors.[14] That is the raison d'être why the riot police suddenly charged into the camps and viciously assaulted unarmed protesters. This action alone clearly proves that Burma’s ongoing political opening is still reversible.
But the greatest lesson is for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters, she has joined the government with the vain hope that it will be more reasonable to join them and to work from inside just as I did when I worked at the Prime Minister’s Office as the Foreign Affairs Secretary.[15] But I regretted as I soon saw the true colour. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has not said anything on Kachin Crisis or Rhakine sectarian strife and now this Letpadoung incident is another classic example. But still the people of Burma has hope on her, how long would she stay quiet is still to be seen. The people of Burma in their epic struggle knows that neighbouring countries are out and out to exploit the country’s natural and human resources for their own benefit and now that Burma is starting to change their companies are still clinging to the old concept of working with the men in uniforms and the Letpadoung incident demonstrated that the government is not on the people’s side. No doubt the clashes underline one of the dilemmas facing the government, whose steps to promote greater freedoms have led to public protests and strike action at factories.[16]
The protesters oppose the environmental and social damage they say is being caused by the mining operation and most people remain suspicious of the military, while China is widely seen as having propped up army rule for years, in addition to being an aggressive investor exploiting the country's many natural resources. Government officials had publicly stated that the protest risked scaring off foreign investment that is key to rebuilding the economy after decades of neglect. But the real reason is that the old generals have pocketed handsomely some say in billions of dollars and if the deal fell off with China, then they will have to give back what they have taken unlawfully and hence is pressuring The Thein Sein administration to stand tough.
In such a clear situation, the people of Burma sees that only the West particularly the US and EU stands by them in time of crisis.[17] Both President Obama and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi knows that real democracy and federalism is still to be achieve and should take much more tougher stand on the side of the people of Burma rather than with the ‘longyi wute’ (လံုခ်ည္၀တ္ ) Burmese sarong wearing ex generals.
End Note
[1] See WikiLeaks deal in an American Diplomatic Cable
[2]Zaw, Aung Burma’s Copper mines Saga opens old wounds Irrawaddy 3-1-2012
[3] New York Times (Asia Pacific) 29-11-2012
[4] Zaw, Aung. Burma’s Copper mines Saga opens old wounds Irrawaddy 3-1-2012
[5] U T Maung also skillfully used religion to shore up the business when he made himself Chairperson of the Vancouver Buddhist Society, to which Ivan Hoe mines graciously donated $75,000.The Burmese activists in Vancouver were furious when the Surrey Sayadaw sided with the Junta and they founded a new Burmese Monastery in Richmond.
[6] Win, Kanbawza; A Canadian Grave Digger in Burma Mizzima News Group 9-12-2000
[7] The Canada bosses working there even could not properly call the Burmese name of Mon Ywa and instead call it Mo Ney Wa just like Myanmar was call by some as My An Mar which I discover when I secretly attended one of the meetings in Vancouver
[8] Chinese firms facing huge challenges in Myanmar: Daily IANS / Beijing 29-11- 2012
[9] Altsean Report of Nov. 2012
[10] A P News 29-No.2012, and Tha;Kyaw Pyo. Monks suffer with Dignity but shall not forgive, Irrawaddy 3-12-2012
[11] Editorial: Monywa Crackdown—Old Habits Die Hard Irrawaddy 29-11-201
[12] Ibid
[13] Nyein Nyein, 888 Generations leaders refused copper mine probe Irrawaddy 3-12-2012
[14] Phyo Tha;Kyaw Copper Mine Protesters Burned Out in Police Raid in Irrawaddy 29-11-2012
[15] Please refer to the records of Prime Minister Bragadier Sein Win in the 70s
[16] Robinson; Gwen Mines protest exposes Myanmar dilemma 29-11-2012
[17] Not even Australia and New Zealand which recognize the Junta and call the country Myanmar instead of Burma
[1] See WikiLeaks deal in an American Diplomatic Cable
[2]Zaw, Aung Burma’s Copper mines Saga opens old wounds Irrawaddy 3-1-2012
[3] New York Times (Asia Pacific) 29-11-2012
[4] Zaw, Aung. Burma’s Copper mines Saga opens old wounds Irrawaddy 3-1-2012
[5] U T Maung also skillfully used religion to shore up the business when he made himself Chairperson of the Vancouver Buddhist Society, to which Ivan Hoe mines graciously donated $75,000.The Burmese activists in Vancouver were furious when the Surrey Sayadaw sided with the Junta and they founded a new Burmese Monastery in Richmond.
[6] Win, Kanbawza; A Canadian Grave Digger in Burma Mizzima News Group 9-12-2000
[7] The Canada bosses working there even could not properly call the Burmese name of Mon Ywa and instead call it Mo Ney Wa just like Myanmar was call by some as My An Mar which I discover when I secretly attended one of the meetings in Vancouver
[8] Chinese firms facing huge challenges in Myanmar: Daily IANS / Beijing 29-11- 2012
[9] Altsean Report of Nov. 2012
[10] A P News 29-No.2012, and Tha;Kyaw Pyo. Monks suffer with Dignity but shall not forgive, Irrawaddy 3-12-2012
[11] Editorial: Monywa Crackdown—Old Habits Die Hard Irrawaddy 29-11-201
[12] Ibid
[13] Nyein Nyein, 888 Generations leaders refused copper mine probe Irrawaddy 3-12-2012
[14] Phyo Tha;Kyaw Copper Mine Protesters Burned Out in Police Raid in Irrawaddy 29-11-2012
[15] Please refer to the records of Prime Minister Bragadier Sein Win in the 70s
[16] Robinson; Gwen Mines protest exposes Myanmar dilemma 29-11-2012
[17] Not even Australia and New Zealand which recognize the Junta and call the country Myanmar instead of Burma
(Courtesy of Taunggyi Time)
WHO DONE IT? WHO WILL TAKE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SANGAS
An injured monk's face shows the intensity of the
napalm bomb used by the members of police forces
After crackdown on religious monks with napalm bomb at the protest camps in Letpadaung, the injured monks were first hospitalized at Monywa Hospital and receiving treatment at the hospital. However, as the condition of the monks turned from bad to worst they were again sent to Mandalay Hospital where the treatment was better than the former hospital that has less specialists and few medical facilities. But the injuries the monks received from the firebomb seemed to be made of chemical poison the treatment were no effective, possibly the physicians themselves cannot figure out what kind of chemical poison could be. So locals of Mandalay who were much concern about the sangas they are now requesting the authorities or communities outside in order the seriously injured sangas might received a medical attention outside Burma.
CONGRESS RENEWS BURMA SANCTIONS
Dear all comrades who are striving to restore Democracy in Burma,
I have a very good news for you. As we do not believe in the present puppet government, controlled by the military regime of Burma, we are staying abroad and continue our unfinished struggle until we can get rid of the regime. I have just received a message from USCB and it reads:Congress renews Burma Sanctions
Dear Maungmaung,
You did it! Thanks to all your help and efforts, Congress has passed the renewal of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act (BFDA). Because of your phone calls and emails, Congress recognized that much more needs to be done to ensure genuine democracy, national reconciliation and human rights for all in Burma by renewing the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act.
The passing of the renewal of the BFDA shows that Congress agrees with you; that looming problems in Burma still need to be addressed. Even today, there are hundreds of political prisoners still behind bars. The violence and cruel treatment against ethnic minorities, predominantly carried out by the Burmese military, is as prevalent as ever. In anticipation of foreign investments, land confiscation cases are on the rise, leaving many villagers and farmers without land or a home. The passing of the BFDA signifies that Congress recognizes the need to maintain some leverage in Burma in order to ensure genuine democracy, national reconciliation, human rights, justice and accountability for all the people of Burma.
Thank you for helping us to take steps to fight for freedom in Burma and for speaking out for those who cannot speak for themselves.
In solidarity,
USCB Team
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
What they suggest
Copy from Yahoo Page
Profile
- Maung Maung Kyaw Win
- An exiled journalist from Burma, I have taken refuge in the United States with my family thanks to CPJ in New York, UNHCR (Cambodia) and the States Department. I was detained for one and a half year in 1969 for burning effigy of the late dictator Ne Win in the Rangoon University campus during SEA Games Strike. I was also actively participated in 8888 nationwide uprising by taking charge in publishing The Guardian Daily as independent newspaper for 22 days before I resigned from the newspaper as Assistant Editor in September,1988. Fortunately, I was escaped from arresting by the military regime. In 1990, I left for Bangkok where I had an assignment to translate the "Outrage: Burma's Struggle for Democracy". The book was originally written by Bertil Lintner, a Swedish journalist. I fled my country in December 2005 after my life was threatened by the military intelligence service for involving in political movements and had given assistance to foreign journalists who came to Burma. I am still active with the movement for restoring democracy in Burma.