Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Once Burmese, always Burmese. But
http://steveevergreen.blogspot.com/2008/09/once-burmese-always-burmese-but.html
Once Burmese, always Burmese. But
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Lately, a friend of mine has tried to claim that I have been away from Burmese things despite the fact that I was born in Burma. Yes, it is true that I was born in Dufferin Hospital, now called Yangon Central Women's Hospital.
I moved to England for some but strong reasons. Basically I like Burma and Burmese people. But there is a proportion of Burmese culture and tradition I can not accept or tolerate. I can not follow unfortunately. I am not happy with some traditions and cultures. The easiest example is too much discrimination against age, sex and social class in Burmese society. Moreover, many people believe that if they donate the best foods and materials to Buddha monks, they would get back similar things in the future while neglecting the starving dogs waiting outside the monastery. So-called holy people might feed dogs only when some rice and bones are left after their meal. I must say today's Buddhism in Burma is not so practical in many ways even though Buddha's philosophy is awesome. I think it happens when people mess up their ego with religion.
Now I have been in Great British. You may ask if I do like western culture. Generally I would say yes. It is more convenient for me. More practical. Less discrimination. But I must say it is not so perfect either. But so far, I am happy with it. OK, on the day, I can not able to tolerate, I might move to another place. Easy and straight forward. Other British people have been living across the world for many reasons. Why not me? In whatever natural disaster or bomb blast happened anywhere, British casualty involved. That means British people are in all places logically.
To be honest, I like to see Burmese . A few days ago, Myanmar bloggers did gathering in Singapore. They also prayed from detainee Nay Phone Latt who is a Buremse blogger. It was nice when I checked the photos. Apparently, people, including me, like party, gathering and celebrations. It is amazing to see loads of Burmese young chaps abroad.
Obviously, nowadays, more and more Burmese people are moving out of their own country. What does that mean? Is that a sort of Brain drain? No, it is just an out-dated philosophy. Now we are in Internet era. We connect. Wherever the brain is, we can use it through networks. That is what I believe. Do you think the brain of newly graduated doctor from Burma is ready to treat patient effectively. That kinds of brains need upgrade at somewhere.
Good to see many Burmese across the world, from New Zealand, Singapore to Norway, Jamaica and Canada. In fact, Burmese migration is late. Other people have already built their strong society for many years or decades. Anyway, I am an optimistic despite today's political and economcail situation in Bumra. I like more Burmese moving out of country. I like this situation. Who made it? Have U Than Shwe and his generals been pushing many youngsters to go abroad ? or Has Daw Aung San Suu Kyi been sacrificing to create this situation. Or Is that the consequence of what Burma has been a victim while USA, Russia and China playing power and opportunist Asean countries taking advantages from Burma?
To conclude, once Burmese, always Burmese, but
Locked in Burma
http://www.morungexpress.com/leftwing/locked-in-burma.html
Locked in Burma
Simon Tisdall September 08, 2008 07:04:00
It is hard to imagine what life must be like for Aung San Suu Kyi, locked up inside her Rangoon home, separated from her children, denied visitors, her phone line cut, her mail intercepted. Burma’s opposition leader, whose 1990 election victory was annulled by the military, is now in her 13th year of detention. She has been held continually since 2003. In June she spent her 63rd birthday alone. Unconfirmed reports suggest Suu Kyi, who has suffered health problems in the past, is unwell again. Her lawyer, Kyi Win, who was allowed to see her last month, quoted her as saying: “I am tired and I need some rest.” Following her refusal of a food delivery, there is also speculation the pro-democracy campaigner and Nobel peace prizewinner has begun a hunger strike. Her lawyer said her weight had fallen below the 7st she was known to weigh in 2003.
While uncertainty surrounds Suu Kyi’s plight, there is nothing at all ambiguous about Burma’s political, social and human rights situation one year after the junta brutally suppressed the Buddhist-monk-led “saffron revolution”. By almost any measure, it is distinctly worse. Last May’s Cyclone Nargis disaster played its part. But most of the deterioration is man-made.
Despite last autumn’s storm of international condemnation and impassioned calls for action, the junta continues to hold more than 2,000 political prisoners, including leaders of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy such as U Win Tin, in jail since 1989. UN attempts to foster political reform have got nowhere. And trade sanctions imposed by the US and EU are being undermined by the generals’ energy deals with China, Thailand and India. Oil and gas sales topped $3.3bn last year.
According to Benjamin Zawacki of Amnesty International, half a million people are internally displaced. He said the army is continuing “systematic” rights violations against Karen and other ethnic minorities including “extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, forced labour, crop destruction [and] restrictions of movement”.
Amid some of the worst poverty, health problems and corruption in the world, many people now have only one wish: escape. Even long-suffering Zimbabweans have an option to flee to neighbouring countries. But the Burmese are locked in, held down by their rulers and not wanted in India, China or Thailand. With an estimated population of more than 50 million, Burma has become the world’s biggest prison camp.
“The UN mission has been a complete failure,” said Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK. Since Ibrahim Gambari, a former Nigerian foreign minister, was appointed special envoy in May 2006, the number of political prisoners had doubled, ethnic cleansing in eastern Burma had intensified, and humanitarian aid for Cyclone Nargis victims was blocked, he said.
“There has been a massive deterioration in the human rights situation. But during Gambari’s last two visits no senior member of the regime bothered to see him,” Farmaner said. “He is seen as biased towards the regime and we think he should resign. He no longer has the respect or confidence of either side.”
Criticism of Gambari was also voiced by the NLD. It said his visits, the last of which ended on August 23, had produced “no positive developments”. The party said the UN envoy’s offer to help the junta organise elections in 2010 under a new constitution that the opposition rejects had undermined his independence. For her part, ill or not, Suu Kyi twice refused to meet Gambari, reportedly leaving him standing on her doorstep.
Farmaner said the time had come for Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, to take personal charge before the country exploded again. He is due to visit Burma in December following talks with Asian leaders. “There have been 37 UN visits in 20 years but things just get worse. Now they need to set timelines and benchmarks which the junta must meet. The first benchmark should be the release of all political prisoners,” he said. It was also essential the UN security council fully back the process, and be ready to pass a punitive resolution if the generals did not comply.
Farmaner praised Gordon Brown who he said was personally committed to ending the impasse and actively raised Burma at the UN and in other forums. But other western leaders, and countries with real leverage such as China, were less concerned now the media spotlight illuminated by last autumn’s revolt had shifted elsewhere. “There is an increasing sense of desperation,” Farmaner said. “People were very depressed after the uprising, very frightened. But there was hope that Gambari would do something. Now that hope has gone and there is even more repression than before. At the moment, the fear is stronger than the anger. But that could change.
Candidate McCain on China
Published September 7th, 2008 China , Taiwan
Senator John McCain has a lengthy article laying out his view of American foreign policy in the November/December 2007 edition of Foreign Affairs. Here’s a part of his section on China:
China could also bolster its claim that it is “peacefully rising” by being more transparent about its significant military buildup. When China builds new submarines, adds hundreds of new jet fighters, modernizes its arsenal of strategic ballistic missiles, and tests antisatellite weapons, the United States legitimately must question the intent of such provocative acts. When China threatens democratic Taiwan with a massive arsenal of missiles and warlike rhetoric, the United States must take note. When China enjoys close economic and diplomatic relations with pariah states such as Burma, Sudan, and Zimbabwe, tension will result. When China proposes regional forums and economic arrangements designed to exclude America from Asia, the United States will react.
China and the United States are not destined to be adversaries. We have numerous overlapping interests. U.S.-Chinese relations can benefit both countries and, in turn, the Asia-Pacific region and the world. But until China moves toward political liberalization, our relationship will be based on periodically shared interests rather than the bedrock of shared values.
“Periodicaly shared interests” sounds about right as a policy towards China, at least as long as Beijing remains a thuggish authoritarian regime.
Senior Buddhist Monk Arrested in Rangoon
Monday, 8 September 2008, 1:01 pm
Press Release: Terry Evans
Press Release: Terry Evans
8 September 2008
A senior Buddhist monk was arrested in Rangoon on Friday after security forces raided his monastery, according to the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners—Burma (AAPP). Military intelligence officers raided the monastery in the early hours of Friday morning and arrested the 58-year-old monk named U Thilawontha.
There is increased vigilance over Buddhist monasteries in Rangoon and several other cities across the country. Sources in central Burma said the authorities have tried to force abbots of monasteries to sign a pledge not to allow its monks from leading any kind of anti-government protests.
Buddhist monks led mass protests in September last year after the government suddenly hiked fuel prices. As the protests gained momentum the military conducted midnight raids in several key monasteries across the country, beating, killing and arresting thousands of monks.
ENDS
Temple Whispers
Temple Whispers
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By WITHAYA HUANOK Monday, September 8, 2008
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RANGOON — “Come to my monastery before you go back home,” whispered U Ottama,* a young monk in his 30s, as I left the Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon. He glanced about nervously as he handed me a scrap of paper, with the name and address of his monastery, written in Burmese.
The monastery was very difficult to find, located on the sprawling outskirts of Rangoon. The taxi, a 30-year-old jalopy, careened across railroad tracks and less-than-fragrant creeks, the driver occasionally slowing down to ask for directions or to slam shut the driver’s door, which had a propensity to fly open after encounters with severe potholes (not infrequent on Rangoon’s streets).
We eventually pulled up in front of a nondescript building, a little higher than its neighbors. A small flight of concrete stairs led to the entrance. A thin, old man, clad only in a faded longyi, was sweeping the front entrance. He looked up in momentary surprise at the taxi, then beamed in excitement, dropped his broom, and scurried inside, calling for U Ottama, who soon emerged from the entrance at the top of the stairs, a broad smile on his face.
“Thank you for coming!” he exclaimed, beckoning me inside.
The interior was as stark as the exterior. Old mats, the monks’ bedding, formed an irregular patchwork over the linoleum-covered floor. The walls were an off-pink beige, a color that accentuated stains accumulated with age.
At the end of the room, on a simple altar, sat an alabaster Buddha, complete with a multi-colored, flashing electric halo. No matter where one stood in the room, one could not escape the serene gaze of the image.
To the side, two older monks were seated cross-legged on the floor, eating from a small table, mixing rice with various dips and curries using their hands; clucking chickens patrolled expectantly for the occasional grains of rice slipping from between their fingers.
U Ottama beckoned me to a mat in the corner of the room. Books were strewn about or stacked in small piles around the mat.
“I’m trying to learn English; I have a tutor but also try to talk to tourists, to practice,” he said sheepishly.
He handed me two faded, tattered paperbacks he was currently reading: The Best of O Henry Short Stories and John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism. Nearby was a thick, hardcover tome, the Oxford English Dictionary.
“My friend, from Australia, gave me this one,” he said proudly, gesturing towards the dictionary. I flipped through the pages of the paperbacks; there was hardly a sentence without at least one word underlined, the margins nearby filled with notes in Burmese.
“It is more difficult to talk to tourists now,” he sighed. “It is dangerous to meet and talk, especially at Shwedagon. There are many spies, detectives. Before September and the Cyclone, we had 20 monks here. Now, there are only 10, many had to leave.
“The military came to the temple, to look for monks [who took part in the September demonstrations]. Many of my friends had to go back to their homes. Some went to jail or to the Thai border. Me too, even though I did not go to the protests. My family is from Arakan State, not from here. I did not go because I know there would be trouble; if I am arrested, there is no family here to help me.”
I pulled out a list of monasteries I had hoped to visit, showing it to the young monk. U Ottama’s brow furrowed when he saw the names, before shaking his head sadly.
“Maggin Monastery is now closed. The authorities arrested the 80 year-old abbot, and everyone was forced to leave. Ngway Kyar Yan Monastery is not too far, very big, but the authorities also closed it now. There are many military [soldiers] there; monks are not allowed to leave and no visitors are allowed. It is like a house arrest.
If you go, it is okay to take a look, but me, I cannot go. It is too dangerous.”
He paused for a moment before adding, “It is very sad. This is a Buddhist country. It is not communist, not China, Tibet.”
*U Ottama’s true name was changed by the author to protect the monk’s identity.
(BY IRRAWADDY)
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