Free Burma
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International bloggers are in action to support and protest the peaceful revolution in Burma in attempt to set a sign for freedom and show our sympathy for these people who are fighting their cruel regime without weapons. Bloggers were requested to refrain from posting to their blogs today by placing the Free Burma! Banner with one important quote … “Free Burma!“
Rather than remain silent which I feel doesn’t add to the cause, I’ve chosen to bring to light current issues at hand.
Thousands of protesters and monks missing
The crackdown began on Wednesday September 26, for which up to 100,000 protesters had gathered for their march. Photo This is London
Photo This is London
Some protesters shrank back as live rounds were fired. Photo This is London
After cell phone network and internet communication had been shut down and journalists had been banned from entering Burma, several consistent reports have emerged of monks and secular detainees being held at former educational institutes and sports venues around Rangoon after the largest democracy protest in 20 years.
The news agency Agence France Presses quoted an unnamed government official who confirmed that about 1,700 people have been held at the Government Technology Institute campus, including 200 women and one monastic novice aged 10.
Most people have vanished without trace, many of them the Buddhist monks who formed the backbone of the tens of thousands of people who demonstrated last week in Rangoon and Mandalay, reports Times Online.
One missing is Win Zaw, former university teacher now Burmese journalist who works for the Japanese newspaper Tokyo Shimbun. At 12.30am on Friday, 6 strangers knocked on his door dressed in civilian clothing. Two introduced themselves as representatives of the Home Ministry. They told Win Zaw that they wanted him to come with them for questioning.
Despite repeated enquiries to authorities, his family has heard nothing from him and are increasingly concerned for his health. Win Zaw is a diabetic and his supply of insulin will run out in 9 days.
Monk is halted by police and military after attempting to enter Shwedagon Pagoda. Photo Times Online
Many of the monks have been forcibly deprived of their monastic robes. Some have gone on hunger strike as a token of resistance.
Thousands of monks marched at the head of tens of thousands of civilian demonstrators in Yangon Myanmar, cheered on by growing crowds.
Photo Times Online
The Daily Mail reports that UN official Ibrahim Gambari met Myanmar junta supremo Than Shwe in the junta’s remote new capital Naypyitaw on October 2nd, to plead an end to the crackdown.
Curfew is in place from 10 pm to 4 am.
Nonconformist groups claim up to 200 protesters were killed and 6,000 detained in the crackdown, compared to the regime’s report of 10 deaths.
“Normalcy has now returned in Myanmar.” Foreign Minister Nyan Win told the UN General Assembly in New York, adding that security forces acted with restraint for a month but had to “take action to restore the situation.”
Nyan Win made no reference to the deaths, but blamed foreigners for the violence.
A Western journalist described how police baton attacks forced back a 10,000-strong crowd near the Sule Pagoda. Photo Times Online
But Swiss Info reports that there were no indications of how Ibrahim Gambari’s mission and international pressure might change the policies of a junta which seldom heeds outside pressure and rarely permits entry for U.N. officials.
“I don’t expect much to come of this. I think the top leadership is so entrenched in their views that it’s not going to help.” said David Steinberg, a Georgetown University expert on Burma.
One thing of certainty is that large numbers of people are being held in an invisible concentration camp, without charge, without legal recourse and without the ability to communicate.
Burma Soldiers Beating Dissidents
Buddhist Monks Burma Crisis
Monks Praying Soldiers Shooting in Burma
A poorly taken home video but revealing nonetheless of the demonstration as it happened on September 27th in Sule Pagoda. Near the end the military vehicles roll in with soldiers, and shot fire can be heard as the person shooting the film takes flight.
September 26 Demonstration in Rangun
10,0000 March Yangon Myanmar Protest September 24
September 24 Filming of Demonstrations
Pressure mounts after weeks of unrest.
Free Burma!
Tags:Burma demonstration Monks passive peaceful protest
Very thorough. Well done.
Amazing pictures, amazing what goes on in this world that “civilized” societies have no idea about..
Excellent Deborah – well done for such a comprehensive post . There is also a petition that can be signed at http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/u.php – to be sent to the Chinese President and the UN Security Council urging them to push for the cessation of violence against peaceful protesters
Thanks David
Yes, until the media brings it to light, Tom. It’s difficult to fathom what some people have to live through in these kinds of circumstances. We think about it for brief moments and then carry on with our own lives, not having to be subjected to it. These people LIVE it.
Thanks Sue. Well if it has a remote chance of gaining attention to stimulate action, I’m happy to sign it.
Thanks David.
Burma News Ladder:
http://burma.newsladder.net/
Here’s my blog:
http://bourgeoisnievete.blogspot.com/
and here’s the site for the Burmese music on it:
http://www.zorpia.com/masterbay
and here’s the largest (430,000+) of the Facebook Burma Support groups:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24957770200
I love your blog. What a great place you have put together in the fast lane.
Rock on, Noble Mon.
Thanks for the info and your kind words Backhand
What is happening in Burma is terrible, people can be so bad to one another. You are a very good people to raise this issue. My uncle is from Burma and he is very upset.
I feel for anyone living in Burma right now. I hope your uncle isn’t there any longer.
Hi Deborah,
No he moved to the UK about 25 years ago, but he does have friends still in Burma.
Anyone living there right now is likely undergoing difficult times Sean. The blocks on communication make it even more so.
Pretty much the same happened in Belarus. I hope the recent changes would lead to more open and democratic society.
I think Its nice that blogger community is coming togather against what is happening in Burma.
thiis iist sooo.. Worse