Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
CHIEF OFFICER OF MILITARY AFFAIRS SECURITY LT. GEN. YE MYINT
CHIEF OFFICER OF MILITARY AFFAIRS SECURITY LT. GEN. YE MYINT
JOURNEYING TO MEET WITH CEASEFIRE GROUPS FROM NORTHERN SHAN STATE
JOURNEYING TO MEET WITH CEASEFIRE GROUPS FROM NORTHERN SHAN STATE
27 January 2008
According to a news source from ceasefire groups in Northern Shan State, Lt. Gen. Ye Myint, Chief Officer of Military Affairs Security, traveled to the headquarters of these organizations to meet with them.
On 22nd of this month, he visited Hsen Kyawt, headquarters of the Shan State Army (North) (SSA-N) and met with Chairman U Loi Mawng and other leaders. On 23rd, he met with leaders of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) led by Kokang leader Feng Kya-shin at its headquarters in Lautkai Town. On 24th, He met with Ma-htu-naw and other leaders of Kachin National Development and Security Army (KDA) at its headquarters in Kaungkha Town.
It could not be confirmed yet whether MAS Chief Lt. Gen. Ye Myint went to Panghsang to meet with Wa leader Bao Yu-chang of Myanmar National Solidarity Party aka United Wa State Party (MNSP or UWSA), ceasefire group news source said.
The same source believed that he would consecutively meet with other armed ethnic groups like the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) led by Zaung-khra, National Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K) led by Zakhong Teng Yeng and National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) (Akha) located along Sino-Burmese border.
Although no details have come out, MAS Chief Lt. Gen. Ye Myint has also summoned officials from ceasefire groups based in Northern Shan State region such as UWSA (Wa), MNDAA (Kokang), SSA-North (Shan) and KDA (Kachin) separately to meet in Lashio in early December, last year.
Also on December 14, 2007, Minister of Culture Maj. Gen. Khin Aung Myint, deputy leader of SPDC spokes-authority team, met with leaders of ceasefire groups in Northern Shan State like UWSA, MNDAA, SSA-N and KDA, in Lashio, forcing them to announce their views renouncing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's statement publicized through Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Burma.
Monday, January 28, 2008
2007 GENERATION STUDENTS UNION (BURMA)
2007 GENERATION STUDENTS UNION (BURMA)
STATEMENT 1/2008
Dated: 2008 January 24
Today our country, Burma, is facing failures in all aspects like economy, social affairs, education and even religion under the evil military dictatorship. All the citizens are suffering a lot daily from such general hardships as starvation, forced labor, poor health care, substandard educational system and loss of freedom and human rights because of oppression by a handful of bureaucratic military dictators. All democracy-loving Burmese people have the responsibility to break free from these dire troubles.
Like all Burmese people of all walks, we students highly yearn for values of liberty, democracy and human rights that every free people of the world are enjoying. In order to fulfill our hopes, we believe that we students too have as much responsibility as the Burmese people. History has given proof that we students have served in the forefront of all stages in Burma's struggles for liberation and democracy along with other classes, sacrificing blood, sweat and tears. Hence, the duty to work for democracy is the one relayed by history to be borne by us.
To accomplish this historical task to our utmost by risking our lives, we have established the "2007 Generation Students Union" consisting of students all over Burma. We "2007 Generation Students Union" would peacefully fight for fundamental rights and democracy for the entire student mass. Therefore the "2007 Generation Students Union" solemnly urge all students throughout Burma to work together with uniform spirit so that our student strata's stature would be glorious.
"We have responsibility for our history"
ေက်ာင္းသားရွိရင္ ေက်ာင္းသားသမဂၢရွိရမယ္
ေက်ာင္းသားသမဂၢရွိမွ အနာဂတ္လွမယ္
ေက်ာင္းသားရွိရင္ ေက်ာင္းသားသမဂၢရွိရမယ္
ေက်ာင္းသားသမဂၢရွိမွ အနာဂတ္လွမယ္Friday, January 25, 2008
THE VALENTINE CODE:
THE VALENTINE CODE:
A POEM ABOUT LOVE CAUSING THE POET LAND IN JAIL
A POEM ABOUT LOVE CAUSING THE POET LAND IN JAIL
24 January 2008
Poet Saw Wei wrote a poem in January 21st issue of A-chit (Love) journal to commemorate Valentine's Day but authorities accused him of insulting Senior Gen. Than Shwe in code and arrested him.
The poem 'February 14th' is ostensibly about love but is alleged by authorities to display the words 'power crazy Senior Gen. Than Shwe' when only the first letters of the eight lines of verse are read out. Due to the news about coded words, more than 10,000 copies of the journal are sold out in a short time with the remaining copies confiscated from newsstands by authorities.
The A-chit journal is published by Maung Pan Hmwe, a poet and teacher who was granted rights to produce a periodical after turning in his asylum status in Japan and surrendering to the junta in 1998. The journal's chief editor is Myat Khine, a known flunky of the regime. Both of them were summoned by the notorious Press Scrutiny Board to explain the matter. In Burma, all references to Valentine's Day are also banned from display in press.
Earlier this month, editor Ms. Nwe New Aye and chief correspondent Win Kyaw Oo of pro-junta Myanmar Times managed by Australian Ross Dunkley was also forced to resign from job for publishing news about 16,600% increase in license fees for satellite dish.
Poet Saw Wei is also a member of 'White Rainbow' group working for the relief of HIV/AIDS victims' orphaned children.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Burma Update
2007 January
Burma Update 283 - SPDC Intelligence Chief touring in CFG Areas - 28 Jan 2008
Burma Update - 282 - 2007 Generation Students' Union Statement - 28 Jan 2008
Burma Update - 281 - The Valentine Code - 24 Jan 2008
Burma Update 280 - More Chinese Military Truck for SPDC - 16 Jan 2008
Burma Update - 279 - Friendly Fire Among SPDC Troops - 15 Jan 2008
Burma Update 283 - SPDC Intelligence Chief touring in CFG Areas - 28 Jan 2008
Burma Update - 282 - 2007 Generation Students' Union Statement - 28 Jan 2008
Burma Update - 281 - The Valentine Code - 24 Jan 2008
Burma Update 280 - More Chinese Military Truck for SPDC - 16 Jan 2008
Burma Update - 279 - Friendly Fire Among SPDC Troops - 15 Jan 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
CHINESE-MADE MILITARY TRUCKS DESTINED FOR BURMA
CHINESE-MADE MILITARY TRUCKS DESTINED FOR BURMA
ARRIVED AGAIN AT THE BORDER
2008 January 16
Chinese-made FAW brand six-wheeler light trucks for military use has arrived again in Ruili and Jehong on Sino-Burmese border destined to be handed over to Burma.
The trucks arrived in Ruili since yesterday evening and are now undergoing cleansing at car washes around Ruili. There are about 100 vehicles, it is learnt.
FAW Trucks in Ruili (Shwe Li)Also in last December, a total of similar 450 FAW brand six-wheeler military light trucks were delivered to Burma Army authorities on the border at Jehong-Muse.
LIFAN TrucksSince 2001, military vehicles with FAW, Dong Feng, LJC and LIFAN brands along with accessory military equipment were handed over to Burmese military authorities through the border checkpoints. These goods were delivered to Burmese military junta as gifts, sale on credit or barter with teak, jade and agricultural produce. Military analysts supposed that Burma Army is chiefly relying on Chinese made military equipment.
Friendly Fire Among SPDC Troops
Friendly Fire Among SPDC Troops
Resulting in Death of Two Men
Resulting in Death of Two Men
14 January 2008
According to military sources, a friendly fire occurred in Mongnawng Town, Shan State (South), resulting in death of two privates and AWOL of one warrant officer II. The story is as follows: On January 13th at 8:00 PM, a squad led by WO II Kyaw Thein from Mongnawng-based No.2 Military Operations Command (MOC-2) was patrolling inside the town when they met Pvt. Zaw Tun from Laicha-based IB 64 behind the central market. Questioning led to a quarrel in which WO II Kyaw Thein struck Pvt. Zaw Tun and in the ensuing gunfight, two privates were killed instantly, it is learnt. One of the casualties was from WO II Kyaw Thein's squad and another was Pvt. Zaw Tun. Both of them died from gunshots. Though WO II Kyaw Thein was not wounded, he fled from the scene with an MA rifle he bore, it is learnt. Troops under the command of Mongnawng-based MOC-2 are now hunting out WO II Kyaw Thein who has escaped and have been given the order to shoot him if he refuses arrest. Also on October 11, 2007, Pvt. Thiha Aung from IB 246 operating in Homong region killed his Vice-Battalion Commander Maj. Myo Hlaing who had been bullying and torment his subordinates, with his MA-1 rifle. Thiha Aung shot his superior till his magazine was empty.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Ashin Gambira
Ashin GambiraRev. Gambira
Clerical title: U Sandawbartha
Lay name: Nyi Nyi Lwin
U Gambira was born on 19th June, 1979, Tuesday, in Kaing-leh village, Pauk Township, Magwe Division, of parents U Min Lwin and Daw Ye.
A Glimpse of Family Background
U Gamibira's mother Daw Ye is a former school teacher who had served in Tha-boot-su and Kaing-leh villages in Pauk Township for thirteen years. It was only because of her dedication that she was able to serve as a teacher for thirteen years in such a time when BSPP officials and toadying school principals were flaunting their power shamelessly.
Ashin Gambira ( far right) and his family When Daw Ye was working in Tha-boot-su village, all other teachers were provided dwellings but Daw Ye was made to commute from Pauk daily. At that time, she has two children with the younger daughter aged only fifty days. Then, when a niece of BSPP administrative official wished to get her post, Daw Ye was transferred to Kaing-leh village which is eight miles away from Pauk.
At that time, U Gambira's father U Min Lwin was building his business hard by founding rice mills and edible-oil mills, becoming somewhat well-off. He had to single-handedly undertake the tasks of caring for the two children, rice mill and oil mill business and cooking family meals. Daw Ye was still refusing to bow down and quit her job but daily suffering the headmaster's flaunting of abusive power.
And so on she went on till she retired from her job eleven years after she was moved to Kaing-leh village. U Min Lwin was frequently questioned by BSPP authorities who queried him why he got rich. He was often framed up for arrest too. The reason behind BSPP officials' hatred upon him was that his status rose due to his hard work while he was not a local and that he opposed injustice. Due to these circumstances, they moved to Pauk in 1983.
When the 1988 uprising broke out, U Min Lwin became a strike leader of Pauk Township. Next he became an NLD member and got elected as an independent member of parliament. During the '88 uprising, U Min Lwin had been a man of peace guiding oppressed people's rage and sense of revenge and retaliation toward peaceful outlets. If he wished so, he had the power to inflict vengeance upon the BSPP officials but he did not opt for an eye for an eye. During the '88 uprising, all his possessions were used up for the people. Only the oil mill remained in his hands. With the exception of the youngest kid, all his children were students then. The youngest child was four years old. After the uprising, U Gambira's father and his elder brother were convicted respectively for one and a half year and three years in jail. Therefore mother had to go around dealing with their cases and her second daughter Ma Khin Thu Htay had to drop out of matriculation class to undertake housework. Only when all her younger siblings had passed matriculation was she able to sit for matriculation exam, passing it in a single attempt with a flying color.
Childhood
He has seven siblings out of which he was the fifth. At the age of five he started schooling at No.4 Primary School in Aungtagon Ward, Pauk. He always got first in the class in his primary school years, getting the headmistress' admiration.
Child soldier life
Along with breakup of family and slump in business, it seems that political senses started to take hold in his mind since 1988. As schools were closed for two years and parents' guardianship was disrupted, U Gambira became a loafer at early life. In response, his parents imposed stricter controls which made him more rebellious eventually landing him in the living hellhole. Thus at the age of twelve, the fifth standard student became a child soldier.
Beginning of religious life
Parents hotly looked for their son who suddenly disappeared from home. After learning that he was in a military installation in Rangoon, they took him out of it. Regarding the case, authorities came to Pauk for investigation. Fearing arrest and military service or imprisonment despite his under-age if authorities found him, he was novitiated by the abbot of Laythartaung Monastery, Pauk, and then sent to Insein Ywama Monastery in Rangoon. Enjoying religious life, he learnt the scriptures and passed elementary, junior, intermediate and senior religious exams as well as the exam on four nikayas with distinction.
Ashin Gambira ( with fan )
Ashin Gambira alongside the family sponsoring for his monkhoodNatural psyche
U Gambira is a deep lover of his own country and people, devoted to justice and freedom. He abhors oppression and bullying. As an enthusiast for literature, he frequently purchased and collected books on religion, English language and computer technology. He also donated books to libraries throughout Burma. He set up a library in his native Pauk Town and donated books to it. He also made blood donation every year.
Ashin Gambira ( standing in the far left ) Ambition
Changing of course
While studying for Dhammacariya class in 2005, he became particularly aware of people's poor livelihood, education and religion status to which he could not close his eyes and so he started campaigning among the monks. He highly detested Maj. Gen. Soe Win's dressing up of long-term convicts as monks to kill Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and students during the Depayin massacre. Because of junta authorities' such atheism, sacrilege, defamation of clergy by faking monks and looking only for conservation of junta's power hold, he let his ambitions dissolved, abandoned studying and led the September uprising.
His tireless hard work is a wonder. As a consequence, he was able to unify the clergy nationwide leading to the successful launching of 2007 September uprising. However, he has never expected the despotic generals to brutally massacre monks, students and the people as events bore out. He explained afterwards that he has taken to the streets as he did not anticipate such wickedness.
Whenever he recalled the atrocities, he suffered nervous tension and his health weakened. In spite of poor health, he has to keep up the momentum of the uprising while evading and hiding from arrest. Though his colleagues and friends urged him to go into exile, he faithfully upheld the vow among freedom fighters "not to flee abroad until the struggle is won."
Arrested!
Now he has been caught by authorities who were hunting him by leaving no stone unturned. On November 4th, he was arrested in Sintgaing area, Mandalay Division, where he was hiding and is now sojourning solitarily in Room No. 23, Ward No. 2, Insein Jail, Rangoon.
Life in jail
On December 5th, his family got permission to visit him for the first time. With his family's business teetering and distance to travel great, they have to make a great effort to visit him regularly.
Rev. Gambira will be driving out loneliness in jail by meditating and no doubt listening to another call for battle by monks and laypeople remaining outside.
His usual words are, "We monks have no wife or wealth to cling to like the laymen. We came into life for missionary work, for humanity. And for us to be able to do missionary work, humans must be free from livelihood menaces, social perils and tyrants' hazards. We who have no attachment must clear up laymen's troubles. Since we instigate these jobs, we have sacrificed our self and lives. There are only two outcomes: arrest or death."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
