By Sit Mone
Blogger’s thought...
February 15, 2008 - Military Junta could rule Burma because they have the guns and they have destroyed the Rule of Law.
Burmese people are victimized because they do not have guns and there is No Law and Order to Protect them.
My beloved fellow Burmese, this is the time that each and every one of us should take the role of leadership.
Do not wait for our leaders as most of them are in Jails, serving the never ending sentences. Some of them were killed. Some of them were missing in action. Some of them were in hiding.
However, this is the new era in Burmese politics where the people from all layers of Burmese society, took part on the way to Freedom of Burma.
Naw Ohn Hla, Su Su Nwe, U Ohn Than, they are examples of ordinary Burmese who have decided to rise up against the Evil Regime.
New idea of Starling Theory has been floating in Internet, given example of people of Taung gok.
Starlings are birds with swarm intelligence. That is the ability of animal groups-such as this flock of starlings-to shift shape as one, even when they have no leader, reflects the genius of collective behavior-something scientists are now tapping to solve human problems.
Social and political groups have already adopted crude swarm tactics.
Taung Gok is a very remote and small town in Rakhine State near Than Dwe ( Sandway).
They do not have prominent leaders to lead them but their action of defiance have sustained for several months after Saffron Revolution.
There were news of new Starlings of Burma almost every day. From Nyaung Oo, Rangoon, to Kachin State. It was sporadic however seems to be sustained action by independent people who have decided to take a leading role.
We all Burmese are ThakinMyo, so take a role as a leader. I would like to end my post with General Aung San’s famous speech
“No man, however great, can alone set the wheels of history in motion, unless he has the active support and co-operation of a whole people. No doubt individuals have played brilliant roles in history, but then it is evident that history is not made by a few individuals only.
I have already mentioned to you above how history develops as the cumulative creation of generations of men responding to the demands of ever growing logical events. I am well aware that there is such a great craving in man for heroism and the heroic, and that hero worship forms not a small motif in his complex. I am also aware that, unless man believes in his own heroism and the heroism of others, he cannot achieve much or great things. We must, however, take proper care that we do not make a fetish of this cult of hero-worship, for then we will turn ourselves into votaries of false gods and prophets. And we have had more than enough of such false gods and prophets for this trouble-ridden world.”
Monday, 18 February 2008
Burmese exiled activists complete draft constitution
Reporting by Maung Too - DVB
Feb 15, 2008 – As the Burmese government announces a May referendum on its draft constitution, Burmese democracy activists in exile say that they have completed an alternative constitution.
The Federal Constitution Drafting and Coordination Committee said today that it had adopted the second draft of its constitution for the “Federal Republic of the Union of Burma”.
The committee now intends to put its draft before the people of Burma for discussion and feedback.
Hkun Okker, secretary-general of the National Democratic Front and deputy chairperson of the FCDCC negotiating committee, said that there were important differences between this constitution and the junta’s draft.
“The obvious difference between the SPDC’s policy on the constitution and ours is that the SPDC constitution says the military should control politics in the country, whereas we aim to bring in a system of government that is run by civilians elected in accordance with democratic principles,” Hkun Okker said.
Hkun Okker said that the FCDCC constitution would also give equal status to all states and divisions in Burma.
“In the SPDC constitution, there are distinctions made between states and divisions, but we believe this kind of discrimination is not necessary in a true federal union,” he said.
Hkun Okker said the committee now hoped to raise awareness of the constitution among Burmese people.
“We are going to conduct workshops, forums and educational projects to help Burmese people decide clearly whether the government’s national referendum is right or wrong,” he said.
“Burma’s political problems have been drawn out for decades due to the lack of a strong and balanced constitutional system, which has led to civil wars and people sinking deeper into poverty,” Hkun Okker said.
“So now we are trying to develop a constitutional system that is liked and accepted by the people of Burma.”
The FCDCC was formed on 19 April 2005 and is made up of members of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, the National Council of the Union of Burma, the National Democratic Front, the United Nationalities League for Democracy, the Women’s League of Burma, the Nationalities Youth Forum and the Students and Youth Congress of Burma.
Feb 15, 2008 – As the Burmese government announces a May referendum on its draft constitution, Burmese democracy activists in exile say that they have completed an alternative constitution.
The Federal Constitution Drafting and Coordination Committee said today that it had adopted the second draft of its constitution for the “Federal Republic of the Union of Burma”.
The committee now intends to put its draft before the people of Burma for discussion and feedback.
Hkun Okker, secretary-general of the National Democratic Front and deputy chairperson of the FCDCC negotiating committee, said that there were important differences between this constitution and the junta’s draft.
“The obvious difference between the SPDC’s policy on the constitution and ours is that the SPDC constitution says the military should control politics in the country, whereas we aim to bring in a system of government that is run by civilians elected in accordance with democratic principles,” Hkun Okker said.
Hkun Okker said that the FCDCC constitution would also give equal status to all states and divisions in Burma.
“In the SPDC constitution, there are distinctions made between states and divisions, but we believe this kind of discrimination is not necessary in a true federal union,” he said.
Hkun Okker said the committee now hoped to raise awareness of the constitution among Burmese people.
“We are going to conduct workshops, forums and educational projects to help Burmese people decide clearly whether the government’s national referendum is right or wrong,” he said.
“Burma’s political problems have been drawn out for decades due to the lack of a strong and balanced constitutional system, which has led to civil wars and people sinking deeper into poverty,” Hkun Okker said.
“So now we are trying to develop a constitutional system that is liked and accepted by the people of Burma.”
The FCDCC was formed on 19 April 2005 and is made up of members of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, the National Council of the Union of Burma, the National Democratic Front, the United Nationalities League for Democracy, the Women’s League of Burma, the Nationalities Youth Forum and the Students and Youth Congress of Burma.
Myanmar allows octogenarian prisoner a heart checkup
February 17, 2008 - Yangon - Myanmar's ruling junta on Sunday allowed a heart specialist to make a house call on political prisoner Tin Oo, 81, who has been under detention in his Yangon home for almost four years, sources said. Tin Oo, vice chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD) opposition party, requested a medical checkup shortly after authorities sentenced him to another year under house arrest starting February 13, political activists said.
On Sunday, Doctor San Lwin, a heart specialist, visited Tin Oo at his Yangon home. The diagnosis on Tin Oo's health was not announced.
Tin Oo, a former army officer once involved in a foiled coup against former military strongman Ne Win, is the second most powerful opposition figure in Myanmar, also known as Burma, after Aung San Suu Kyi, who heads the NLD.
Both Suu Kyi and Tin Oo have been under house arrest since May, 2003, after they led an NLD tour of the Myanmar countryside that was ended by an attack on their convoy by army-backed thugs, who beat the two opposition leaders and killed several of their followers.
It is rumoured that Suu Kyi and Tin Oo will remain under house detention until a few months before the next general election, now scheduled for an unknown date in 2010. The NLD won the last general election of 1990 by a landslide.
Suu Kyi, the daughter of Myanmar independence hero Aung San, was under house arrest during the 1990 polls, which she was barred from contesting because of her status then as the wife of a foreigner, her late husband Michael Aris, a British Oxford professor.
Source: Earth Times
On Sunday, Doctor San Lwin, a heart specialist, visited Tin Oo at his Yangon home. The diagnosis on Tin Oo's health was not announced.
Tin Oo, a former army officer once involved in a foiled coup against former military strongman Ne Win, is the second most powerful opposition figure in Myanmar, also known as Burma, after Aung San Suu Kyi, who heads the NLD.
Both Suu Kyi and Tin Oo have been under house arrest since May, 2003, after they led an NLD tour of the Myanmar countryside that was ended by an attack on their convoy by army-backed thugs, who beat the two opposition leaders and killed several of their followers.
It is rumoured that Suu Kyi and Tin Oo will remain under house detention until a few months before the next general election, now scheduled for an unknown date in 2010. The NLD won the last general election of 1990 by a landslide.
Suu Kyi, the daughter of Myanmar independence hero Aung San, was under house arrest during the 1990 polls, which she was barred from contesting because of her status then as the wife of a foreigner, her late husband Michael Aris, a British Oxford professor.
Source: Earth Times
Mizos concerned over influx of Burmese refugees
February 18, 2008 - The influx of Burmese into Mizoram, a northeastern state in India continues unabated. More and more refugees from Burma are likely to come into the state, because of political instability in military ruled Burma, according to the Young Mizo Association (YMA).
YMA in a seminar on "Burmese Refugees Migrants in Mizoram" held on February 16 expressed sympathy and understanding over the plight of unrecognized refugees from Burma living in Mizoram. It plans to discuss the refugee issue in its monthly meeting.
The seminar was jointly organized by YMA and Zo Human Right Global Network (ZHRGN). It was held in the YMA hall in Aizawl, capital of Mizoram state.
"We, YMA, understand the plight of Burmese refugees in the state because of political instability in Burma. We, therefore, are planning to have an agenda on Burmese refugees at the monthly meeting in the future," Lalbiakzuala, Assistant Secretary of Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) said.
At present, there are over 80,000 unrecognized refugees from Burma living in Mizoram.
YMA also said that Burmese people in Mizoram needed to be convinced that by living within the legal framework (without committing any crime), they can live peacefully in the state.
The YMA statement also cited that there are some Burmese who fled to India in fear of Burmese regime's suppression and human rights abuse. Some were also said to have arrived because of food scarcity and economic crisis in Burma.
The YMA in its seminar blamed the Mizoram state government for failing to fully implement the guidelines for regulating entry of Burmese tribals into Mizoram which had increased the influx of refugees from Burma to Mizoram.
The YMA also supported the Indian government's 'Look East' policy which includes Indo-Burma development projects such as the Kaladan project. These projects will benefit the people from both countries.
However, pro-democracy activists from Burma in Mizoram felt that the projects will increase forced labour and human rights abuse in Burma. – Khonumthung.
Source: Khonumthung News
YMA in a seminar on "Burmese Refugees Migrants in Mizoram" held on February 16 expressed sympathy and understanding over the plight of unrecognized refugees from Burma living in Mizoram. It plans to discuss the refugee issue in its monthly meeting.
The seminar was jointly organized by YMA and Zo Human Right Global Network (ZHRGN). It was held in the YMA hall in Aizawl, capital of Mizoram state.
"We, YMA, understand the plight of Burmese refugees in the state because of political instability in Burma. We, therefore, are planning to have an agenda on Burmese refugees at the monthly meeting in the future," Lalbiakzuala, Assistant Secretary of Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) said.
At present, there are over 80,000 unrecognized refugees from Burma living in Mizoram.
YMA also said that Burmese people in Mizoram needed to be convinced that by living within the legal framework (without committing any crime), they can live peacefully in the state.
The YMA statement also cited that there are some Burmese who fled to India in fear of Burmese regime's suppression and human rights abuse. Some were also said to have arrived because of food scarcity and economic crisis in Burma.
The YMA in its seminar blamed the Mizoram state government for failing to fully implement the guidelines for regulating entry of Burmese tribals into Mizoram which had increased the influx of refugees from Burma to Mizoram.
The YMA also supported the Indian government's 'Look East' policy which includes Indo-Burma development projects such as the Kaladan project. These projects will benefit the people from both countries.
However, pro-democracy activists from Burma in Mizoram felt that the projects will increase forced labour and human rights abuse in Burma. – Khonumthung.
Source: Khonumthung News
Sittwe Students Protest Bus Fair Increase
February 18, 2008 - About 50 students in Sittwe staged a demonstration on 13 February after authorities doubled their school bus fare, reports a student from Sittwe.
He said, "We went to the university by foot on that day to show our feelings about the increased bus fare, and about 50 students joined in the demonstration."
During the walk, many streets were blocked after trafficked stopped due to the students' demonstration.
The news of the demonstration spread quickly in the state capital; high authorities came to the students on the street and requested they stop their demonstration. They promised the bus fare would be reduced promptly.
"We stopped our demonstration after the authority promised to reduce the bus fare within a short period of time," the student said.
The school bus fare was reduced suddenly from 100 kyat back to 50 kyat soon after the student demonstration arose in the streets of Sittwe.
The authority also attempted to increase the school bus fare last year but later reduced it back to normal because many students opposing the fare increase staged similar demonstrations in the streets.
Source: Narinjara News
He said, "We went to the university by foot on that day to show our feelings about the increased bus fare, and about 50 students joined in the demonstration."
During the walk, many streets were blocked after trafficked stopped due to the students' demonstration.
The news of the demonstration spread quickly in the state capital; high authorities came to the students on the street and requested they stop their demonstration. They promised the bus fare would be reduced promptly.
"We stopped our demonstration after the authority promised to reduce the bus fare within a short period of time," the student said.
The school bus fare was reduced suddenly from 100 kyat back to 50 kyat soon after the student demonstration arose in the streets of Sittwe.
The authority also attempted to increase the school bus fare last year but later reduced it back to normal because many students opposing the fare increase staged similar demonstrations in the streets.
Source: Narinjara News
Russians arrive in Phakant much before mining agreement
February 18, 2008 - A team of Russian mineral inspectors are in Phakant (Hpakan) in Kachin State, northern Burma since last year much before the two countries signed an agreement last week for exploration of gold and associated minerals in Phakant areas, the state media said.
Eyewitnesses told KNG they have seen several Russian mineral inspectors camping and working in Tarmakhan areas for over a year. Both locals and visitors are strictly forbidden from entering the area.
"I believe Russians arrived in Tarmakhan for Uranium. Uranium exploration started in the Tarmakhan and Hongpa areas during Prime Minister U Nu's tenure. But, the exploration was stopped because of civil war between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and successive Burmese ruling juntas," a local geologist told KNG.
Last year, a Russian mineral inspector in Tarmakhan fell ill and died at the government hospital in Phakant Township, local eyewitnesses and hospital sources said.
Source: KNG
Eyewitnesses told KNG they have seen several Russian mineral inspectors camping and working in Tarmakhan areas for over a year. Both locals and visitors are strictly forbidden from entering the area.
"I believe Russians arrived in Tarmakhan for Uranium. Uranium exploration started in the Tarmakhan and Hongpa areas during Prime Minister U Nu's tenure. But, the exploration was stopped because of civil war between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and successive Burmese ruling juntas," a local geologist told KNG.
Last year, a Russian mineral inspector in Tarmakhan fell ill and died at the government hospital in Phakant Township, local eyewitnesses and hospital sources said.
Source: KNG
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)