http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=105126&videoChannel=1http://www.mizzima.com/news/regional/2183-protests-in-thai-burmese-border-town-for-aung-san-suu-kyi.htmlhttp://irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=15724
As some may know Aung San Su Kyi, the noble laureate and democracy icon of Burma, was arrested over a week ago from her home where she had already been kept under house arrest. An American man, for reasons unknown, swam up to her house on Lake Inya in Rangoon and was caught on his way out from her house. The Burmese military government took advantage of this bizarre occurrence to bring charges against Su Kyi in hopes of extending her sentence yet again, thus keeping her imprisoned during the "elections" that are scheduled for next year. Immediately there was outrage from all across the world and the Burmese in Mae Sot where no exception. Yet there was some difference of opinion on what to do. Most of the Burmese pro-democracy groups in town, around 60 of them, wanted to do something more than just call on international pressure and write statements of condemnation, they wanted to take to the streets and voice their 
outrage to the Burmese junta in public view. So, the first political protest of its kind began to be formed in Mae Sot. To appreciate the significance of this one needs to see that there is a unspoken balance and relationship between the Thai authorities and government of Mae Sot (and Thailand in general) and the pro-democracy elements from Burma living in Thailand. The Burmese groups are allowed to carry out their work with a wink-and-a- nod from the authorities to some extent, as long as they do not cause any trouble. (They still take risks with the Burmese miliarty intelligence spying within Thailand). And protesting in front of the Thai-Burma "friendship bridge," would be considered trouble by the authorities, but that is exactly what we did.
Our good friend Aung Khine was one of the lead organizers of the movement and asked Steff and I to help. We were allowed to attend the main planning meeting for the protest with the heads of all of the participating group, including several monks. These monks had taken part in the 2007 uprising in Burma called the Saffron Revolution, in which hundreds of monks were jailed, killed, or driven to exile. The lead monk at the meetings stated that even though the authorities had thought they had stopped them in 2007, they had not and they have been continuing to fight and plan and will continue to fight and plan. He stated that very soon there will be another revolution and that this time the monks are more prepared and will have most of the monks around the country ready (communication is difficult). He will take what ever steps are necessary even if they have to rise against other elder monks who may have become corrupt by the SPDC and at that time they will ask them to leave and all who believe in freedom and human rights will join together. Damn powerful statement.
Our job would be to organize as many Westerners as possible to attend the protest. The idea being, the more foreigners there, the less likely the Thai police or military were to crack down on the protesters and make arrests. While a few of us foreigners participated in the protest, many would just watch and gather around and observe (with cameras) there by giving their support. This is important because nearly all the Burmese who took part in the protests are former political prisoners themselves and risked being arrested and deported back to Burma. For most of the migrant workers in Mae Sot, it is a matter of bribing their way back across the border, but for pro-democracy activ
ists being deported could land them in back in a Burmese prison for a couple decades or worse. So, these guys were risking it all and it was an honor to give our support. Last Sunday we all assembled at the bridge and began our protest., but not before my friend Will and I had contacted some international and local press to cover the event. So, with over 100 people, journalist, cops, soldiers and the Burmese intelligence agents taking our pictures we walked to the bridge and had our protest. I'm happy to say it was (for now anyway) a success because no 
one was arrested and it inspired many others in the area to rally to the cause who had remained silent previously. I even gave a statement to one of the news agencies. Much of the credit has to be given to our great friend Aung Khine who remains in Mae Sot planning more action against the Burmese governments injustices and risking his freedom and possibly his life in doing so. He is a great friend and an inspiring person and it was an honor to stand beside him as he risked all.
As an after note: Since the protest there was much jubilation and excitement and many people have called Aung Khine and asked to be a part of the next protest. It has been very good for building hope for the former political prisoners. The felt like they had stood up for something and made a difference. Thai authorities came looking for Aung Khine Monday night at CDC school. He was ask to not participate in the grand opening of the new school due to his involvement in the protest (he suspects he might be fired from CDC school, but he plans to keep peacefully protesting anyway).
As some may know Aung San Su Kyi, the noble laureate and democracy icon of Burma, was arrested over a week ago from her home where she had already been kept under house arrest. An American man, for reasons unknown, swam up to her house on Lake Inya in Rangoon and was caught on his way out from her house. The Burmese military government took advantage of this bizarre occurrence to bring charges against Su Kyi in hopes of extending her sentence yet again, thus keeping her imprisoned during the "elections" that are scheduled for next year. Immediately there was outrage from all across the world and the Burmese in Mae Sot where no exception. Yet there was some difference of opinion on what to do. Most of the Burmese pro-democracy groups in town, around 60 of them, wanted to do something more than just call on international pressure and write statements of condemnation, they wanted to take to the streets and voice their 
outrage to the Burmese junta in public view. So, the first political protest of its kind began to be formed in Mae Sot. To appreciate the significance of this one needs to see that there is a unspoken balance and relationship between the Thai authorities and government of Mae Sot (and Thailand in general) and the pro-democracy elements from Burma living in Thailand. The Burmese groups are allowed to carry out their work with a wink-and-a- nod from the authorities to some extent, as long as they do not cause any trouble. (They still take risks with the Burmese miliarty intelligence spying within Thailand). And protesting in front of the Thai-Burma "friendship bridge," would be considered trouble by the authorities, but that is exactly what we did.Our good friend Aung Khine was one of the lead organizers of the movement and asked Steff and I to help. We were allowed to attend the main planning meeting for the protest with the heads of all of the participating group, including several monks. These monks had taken part in the 2007 uprising in Burma called the Saffron Revolution, in which hundreds of monks were jailed, killed, or driven to exile. The lead monk at the meetings stated that even though the authorities had thought they had stopped them in 2007, they had not and they have been continuing to fight and plan and will continue to fight and plan. He stated that very soon there will be another revolution and that this time the monks are more prepared and will have most of the monks around the country ready (communication is difficult). He will take what ever steps are necessary even if they have to rise against other elder monks who may have become corrupt by the SPDC and at that time they will ask them to leave and all who believe in freedom and human rights will join together. Damn powerful statement.
Our job would be to organize as many Westerners as possible to attend the protest. The idea being, the more foreigners there, the less likely the Thai police or military were to crack down on the protesters and make arrests. While a few of us foreigners participated in the protest, many would just watch and gather around and observe (with cameras) there by giving their support. This is important because nearly all the Burmese who took part in the protests are former political prisoners themselves and risked being arrested and deported back to Burma. For most of the migrant workers in Mae Sot, it is a matter of bribing their way back across the border, but for pro-democracy activ
ists being deported could land them in back in a Burmese prison for a couple decades or worse. So, these guys were risking it all and it was an honor to give our support. Last Sunday we all assembled at the bridge and began our protest., but not before my friend Will and I had contacted some international and local press to cover the event. So, with over 100 people, journalist, cops, soldiers and the Burmese intelligence agents taking our pictures we walked to the bridge and had our protest. I'm happy to say it was (for now anyway) a success because no 
one was arrested and it inspired many others in the area to rally to the cause who had remained silent previously. I even gave a statement to one of the news agencies. Much of the credit has to be given to our great friend Aung Khine who remains in Mae Sot planning more action against the Burmese governments injustices and risking his freedom and possibly his life in doing so. He is a great friend and an inspiring person and it was an honor to stand beside him as he risked all.
As an after note: Since the protest there was much jubilation and excitement and many people have called Aung Khine and asked to be a part of the next protest. It has been very good for building hope for the former political prisoners. The felt like they had stood up for something and made a difference. Thai authorities came looking for Aung Khine Monday night at CDC school. He was ask to not participate in the grand opening of the new school due to his involvement in the protest (he suspects he might be fired from CDC school, but he plans to keep peacefully protesting anyway). Wednesday afternoon they protested again outside of the UN office in Mae Sot. This time even more people showed up to participate. It went fantastic. The was a well known Thai military general who is not in favor of Burma who suggested Aung Khine contact him in the future if he plans to do anymore protest of this kind and he will be in support and to help! So now we do not have to worry about Aung Khine or the others being arrested anymore and being sent back to Burma. They just have to be careful about Burmese military intelligence. I think this support may go well with Aung Khine being allowed to keep his job as Social Studies and history teacher at CDC school.
P.S. Here is the news feed about Ben's AAPP campaign for 888,888 votes to free Aung San Su Kyi and all political prisoners. They made 600,000, no small feat. Thanks to all of you for signing!
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=15737
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=15737
No comments:
Post a Comment