Freed Burma leader on peaceful revolution

U Wynn (Wisdom Quarterly)

League for Democracy supporters with Theravada Buddhist monks demonstrating for the release of the recently freed political leader Aung San Suu Kyi (AFP).

George Orwell wrote the famous book Nineteen Eighty-Four not only to predict what would happen in the UK, Europe, and the US, but to report on what was happening in Burma. He was born, lived, and served in the British military in Burma. He was therefore very intimate with spying, dictatorships, police states, government control tactics, all of which he called "Big Brother."

Dictator Than Shwe ordered murder of monks

Finding George Orwell in Burma
Emma Larkin (NPR)
We were sitting in the baking-hot front room of his house in a sleepy port town in Lower Burma. The air was oppressive and muggy. I could hear mosquitoes whining impatiently around my head, and I was about to give up. The man was a well-known scholar in Burma, and I knew he was familiar with Orwell. But he was elderly; cataracts had turned his eyes an oystery blue, and his hands trembled as he readjusted his sarong. I wondered if he was losing his memory but, after several failed attempts, I made one final stab. "George Orwell," I repeated — "the author of Nineteen Eighty-Four." The old man's eyes suddenly lit up. He looked at me with a brilliant flash of recognition, slapped his forehead gleefully, and said, "You mean the prophet!"

• Help: US Campaign for Burma
• Listen: Who calls it Myanmar?*
• Newly free, Burma's Suu Kyi calls for talks

Nonviolence (ahimsa) is the Way to Freedom
Kirin Pahwa
Aung San Suu Kyi -- the legitimate, democratically-elected leader of Burma, who has been detained since a military coup immediately following her election -- was freed from house arrest after 15 years, and upon release said she will go for peaceful revolution.

While talking to the BBC from her headquarters she confidently said that democracy will be restored in the country (which the junta renamed Myanmar). But, she is not aware as to how long the process will take. Buddhist monks already rose up during 2007's Saffron Revolution. She added that her freedom has given her an opportunity to speak to generals in the dictatorship.

She was released six days after the country saw its first pretense at elections in decades. Even though her party won by a landslide last time and the violent dictatorship is universally reviled, she was not allowed to participate.

The rigged (s)elections ensured that the military-backed party USDP (Union Solidarity and Development Party, formerly SLORC) won. The country is supported by neighboring China. But the results were rejected outright by the West.

During the interview, Aung San Suu Kyi said that she is not being subjected to any kind of restrictions during her release (other than the knowledge that she can immediately be arrested without warning as she has been many times before). She is a Nobel laureate who won her peace prize while in detention.

*"Burma" and "Myanmar," as different as they sound in English, is actually the same in the Burmese language. Burma is a British corruption. Some say MeeYanMa is the adjective and means "Burmese," the name of the majority ethnic group in Burma. No one accepts that the dictator decided to change the country's name. Wisdom Quarterly therefore refers to it as Burma. The word itself may have originally come from a corruption of the Indian word Brahma, the ancient Indian divinity, a word that means "highest" or "supreme," but scholars are not in agreement.

Burma leader warns public about election

Burma leader Than Shwe gives election warning
(BBC) - [Dictator] Than Shwe said his roadmap was "the sole process for transition." Burma's military leader Than Shwe has urged people to make what he called the "correct choices" when elections are held at some point later this year. [Supreme] General Than Shwe made his comments in a message to mark Independence Day. He said his government's seven-stage roadmap was the only way for the country to achieve democracy. A date for the elections has not been set. But they will be the first since 1990, when the military refused to recognize the opposition's [Aung San Suu Kyi's] victory. More>>

• Burmese democracy leader Suu Kyi meets official
  RANGOON, Burma -- Detained Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday held her first meeting this year with the Cabinet official responsible for contact with her, as her party makes preparations for possible participation in elections.

Suu Kyi still a potent force for change

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is back where the ruling generals [and their leader, Senior General Than Shwe, whose stepfather is Chinese] want her: inside a crumbling mansion, lonely and isolated from the world.

But a fleeting emergence into public view showed that Suu Kyi's steely grace and charisma, along with her popularity, are intact. She remains a potentially potent force for change in a country that has seen virtually no deviation from harsh military rule for nearly half a century.

For now, the 64-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate, arguably the world's most famous prisoner, will likely return to her daily meditation, listening to radio news broadcasts and waiting for the occasional censored mail, including letters from two sons she last saw a decade ago.

What continues to keep Suu Kyi tenacious and focused on bringing democracy to Burma are her deep Buddhist faith, rigorous self-discipline and the guiding influence of her parents, those close to her say. The only apparent chink in her armor is a fondness for dark chocolate.

Although set within the teeming city of Yangon, her police-ringed home might just as well be on another continent, removed from a downtrodden populace and a junta that extended her 14-year detention for another 18 months on Tuesday. More>>

"Free Suu Kyi" (Amnesty Int'l campaign)

FREE AUNG SAN SUU KYI!

Burma Rebels Vow to Fight

SLORC, the military dictatorship in Burma, faces resistance from Karen rebels.

MAE SOT, Thailand (Reuters) - Burma's biggest rebel group will soon abandon a stronghold on the Thai-Burma border after weeks of fierce fighting with government and rival Karen forces, a rebel commander said on Thursday.

The Karen National Union (KNU) will adopt guerrilla tactics rather than waste lives trying to defend the base in eastern Burma, KNU Commander Kyaw Ny told reporters by telephone.

"The withdrawal from our 7th Division base does not mean we are defeated. It is a tactical redeployment. We also do not want to kill our fellow Karens in this battle," he said.

Myanmar troops and their allies from the breakaway Karen Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) launched a new offensive against the KNU on June 3, driving some 3,000 Karen refugees into Thailand, the Thai army says.

The KNU has been fighting for independence in the hills of eastern Burma for the last 60 years. The conflict is one of the world's longest running insurgencies. More>>

Burma gets vist from Sri Lankan president

Burmese military dictator, Senior-General Than Shwe (AP)

Official media hail Sri Lankan president's Myanmar visit
(chinaview.cn, Editor Zhang Xiang, 6/16/09)

YANGON, Burma (Xinhua) -- Myanmar official media Tuesday hailed the current visit to Burma of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, saying that the president's visit contributes to the continuous strengthening of the two countries' bilateral cooperation.

Burma and Sri Lanka have maintained relations in the field of religion since time immemorial. Throughout the course of history, the two countries have been able to strengthen friendship and cooperation, said the New Light of Myanmar in its editorial.

"As the diplomatic relations of the two countries have turned 60 years, they have been able to cement friendship and cooperation all the more. And their cooperation in religious, trade economic, education, agriculture, and forest, hotels, and tourism and transport is ever more apparent," the editorial added.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa (sulekha.com)

Rajapaksa arrived in the new capital Nay Pyi Taw on Sunday morning on a state visit to the country, during which he met with Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (formerly "SLORC") Senior-General Than Shwe and had talks with Prime Minister General Thein Sein on the promotion of cooperation in the two countries' bilateral ties, religious affairs, trade, economy, education, agri-culture, forestry, hotels, and tourism and transport as well as regional cooperation and mutual cooperation in international arena.

For the occasion, Myanmar and Sri Lanka signed an agreement on mutual exemption of visas for diplomatic and service passport holders of the two countries and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in tourism.

The Sri Lankan president also visited the former capital Yangon and unveiled a bronze plaque of Mitta Village in cyclone-hit Kungyangon township, Yangon division, which was established and donated by Sri Lanka.

Aimed at further strengthening the two countries bilateral ties, Rajapaksa's Burma visit came on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the nations.

They established diplomatic relations on June 7, 1949 and have enjoyed cultural and religious ties since the 11th century.

Both countries are members of the subregional grouping of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), which also comprises Bangladesh, India, and Thailand. Source

Free Aung San Suu Kyi (NY Times)

Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European affairs of France (NYT, 6/12/09)

Protesters in Japan at the Myanmar embassy agitating for the release of Suu Kyi (AFP).

PARIS — “Freedom from fear.” These words, uttered by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in 1990, resound more than ever as a call for help at a time when the Burmese junta has initiated proceedings against her that are as absurd as they are unjustified. We are not fooled: This is a poor pretext to prevent her from participating in the upcoming elections.

“Freedom from fear.” How can one not cry out for freedom for this great lady, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1991? I met her in Yangon at the end of 2002, just a few months before her endless enforced isolation began. Since her arrest on Thursday, May 14, 2009 the thoughts of all those who admire and support her are with the “Lady of Yangon,” a woman full of dignity and finesse, energy and calm, intelligence and compassion.

“Freedom from fear.” It was the living incarnation of these few words who appeared before an audience both mesmerized and awed by this living legend. Her every word was heard by a silent, respectful public, a public that did not dare to sit while she spoke. Simple, yet firm words. Innocent words. Calm and fearless words. More>>

Burma in the News

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Burma rejects foreign criticism

Jonathan Head (BBC South East Asia correspondent)

(Above) Burma's hardline generals form dictatorship that has put Suu Kyi on trial. (Right) the trial has drawn international condemnation leading to worldwide protests.

• Burmese pythons invade Florida

The Burmese government has rejected foreign criticism of the charges against opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi as interference from abroad.

Speaking at a meeting of EU and South East Asian ministers in Cambodia, the deputy fo-reign minister insisted that her trial was not a human rights issue. US President Obama has called Ms. Suu Kyi's hearing a "show trial."

The regional group ASEAN recently warned Burma that its honor and credibility were at stake. The trial entered its ninth day on Thursday, with more testimony from the American who swam to Ms. Suu Kyi's house. More>>

• Inside Burma's Insein prison
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Interactive map: Life in some of the areas worst-hit by last year's cyclone

American says "God" told him to warn Suu Kyi

Hla Hla Htay

Burmese citizens living in Japan hold portraits of pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi during a rally in Tokyo (AFP/Kazuhiro Nogi).

YANGON (AFP) – A US man told the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi Wednesday that he swam to the Burmese democracy icon's home to warn her of a divine vision about a "terrorist" plot to assassinate her, her party said.

John Yettaw took the stand for the first time in the case against the Nobel Laureate, who faces up to five years in jail on charges of breaching her house arrest, stemming from the American's bizarre visit this month.

• Slideshow: Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi

The 53-year-old said he came to Burma from his home in Missouri because he had a dream that terrorists would try to pin the blame for killing her on the military regime, Aung San Suu Kyi's party spokesman Nyan Win told reporters.

"Yettaw said he came here because God asked him to," said Nyan Win, who is also on her legal team and was in court Wednesday for the closed hearing at the notorious Insein Prison in Yangon.

"He said the reason he came was in his vision he saw that Aung San Suu Kyi was assassinated by terrorists. Because of his vision, he came here to warn Aung San Suu Kyi and also the government," Nyan Win said.

"In his vision, the terrorists assassinated Aung San Suu Kyi and then they put the blame for the assassination on the government, so that's why he came here to warn both of them," he said.

Nyan Win said judges questioned Yettaw for three hours, during which the devout Mormon and former US army veteran repeatedly said he had divine inspiration for his night-time swim on May 4. More>>

Darwin's descendent in Oxford dispute

Great-great-granddaughter of Charles Darwin, Ruth Padel, is Oxford's first female Professor of Poetry since the post was created 300 years ago. She spoke at a press conference in Wales on 5/26/09, where she explained her resignation, acknowledging she publicized charges her rival for the post sexually harassed a former student (AP/Ben Birchall/PA Wire).

LONDON — A fight over who gets to be Oxford University's top poet has set Britain's pens racing — and weakened the careers of two well-known wordsmiths. More>>

Burma: The American

U.S. citizen John Wm. Yettaw in Yangon (Reuters/Myanma News Agency/handout).

Aung Hla Tun Aung Hla Tun (5/22/09)
YANGON (Reuters) – Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi pleaded not guilty on Friday after a prison court formally charged the Nobel laureate for allowing an univited American intruder inside her home.

The court's decision to proceed with the trial of Suu Kyi, her two female housemates, and the U.S. man after five days of hearings had been widely expected, analysts said.

Suu Kyi faces up to five years in jail if found guilty of breaking the terms of her house arrest by allowing the American, John William Yettaw [photo inset], to stay in her home for two days in early May, 2009.

"Are you guilty?" the presiding judge, U Thaung Nyunt, asked as Suu Kyi faced the court inside Yangon's Insein prison.

"No, because I did not commit any crime," she calmly replied, according to her lawyer Nyan Win.

He said the trial could take two weeks and he was confident of an acquittal "if everything goes according to the law."

Myanmar watchers say that is a big "if" in the former Burma, where the military holds sway over a legal system that has put more than 2,000 political prisoners behind bars. More>>

• Books, letter to be used in case against Suu Kyi (AP)
• Lawyer: Myanmar court accepts case against Suu Kyi (AP)
• Suu Kyi proclaims innocence in Myanmar court (AFP)

FREE KYI

Kyi Faces Jail - Burma dissidents in Thailand call for the release of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is due to appear in court on the pretext of breaching the terms of her house arrest.

• VIDEO (Reuters: 1 min 47 sec)

Free Aung San Suu Kyi (Burma)

Free Aung San Suu Kyi immedi-ately as well as 1,400 other Burmese political prisoners. As of today she has been detained for a total of:

13 years and 195 days

The legitimately and democrat-ically elected leader of Burma is now serving her third term of house arrest. She was arrested on 30 May, 2003 after the regime's militia attacked her convoy and killed up to 100 of her supporters.

Democratic Voice of Burma

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Monks protest against banning of ceremony
Mar 27, 2009 (DVB)–Buddhist monks in central Burma have launched a petition to protest against government restrictions that prevent them from freely conducting a traditional Burmese Buddhist ceremony. - more

Burma leader warns on democracy at parade
Mar 27, 2009 (AFP)—Burma junta chief Than Shwe urged political parties to shun foreign ideologies if they want democracy as the military put on a show of might at its annual parade today. - more

One dead in Rangoon blast
Mar 27, 2009 (AFP)–One person was killed and two others injured in a suspected bomb blast in Burma's commercial hub Rangoon today, on the eve of the country's annual military parade, official sources said. - more

Poet Kyi Aung dies
Mar 27, 2009 (DVB)-Renowned poet and active supporter of National League for Democracy, Kyi Aung died of heart disease at Mandalay general hospital today. - more

Doctor warns tuberculosis is a greater threat than HIV/AIDS
Mar 26, 2009 (DVB)–A doctor from a leading medical fund has claimed that an over-emphasis on HIV/AIDS in Burma has ignored the threat posed by tuberculosis. - more

Authorities destroy memorial for deceased opposition member
Mar 26, 2009 (DVB)–A stone monument built in memory of a former National League for Democracy chair was demolished by local government authorities on Tuesday, according to his family. - more

Under military rule, even the internet is behind bars
Htet Aung KyawMar 26, 2009 (DVB)–Earlier this month, the Paris-based media watchdog Reporters without Borders published a report entitled "Enemies of the Internet.’ in which Burma was named. - more

Opposition party hails US direct approach
Mar 26, 2009 (DVB)–The National League for Democracy yesterday spoke of their support for the United States’ direct approach to engaging with the Burmese government during a meeting between NLD members and a senior US official. - more

• MORE>>

US Campaign for Burma .org

Sex Work after Cyclone

Desperation in Myanmar

In the wake of the devastation wrought by global warming (in the form of Cyclone Nargis) and the military junta's threadbare infrastructure, Burma is facing a worsening crisis. CNN reports.

Burma Indicts Dissident Comedian
(AP, 8/7/08) - A popular comedian who became one of the most prominent critics of Burma's military government has been formally charged with several political offenses. Zarganar, who had been leading a citizen effort to aid victims of Cyclone Nargis, has been indicted on five counts, including unlawful association and creating public unrest. More »