Burma Scenery

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I wanted to post images regularly but the mouse over effect I used in my previous template doesn't work with this current one. I was thinking to change this template but since they block access to Blogger.com I was not touch my template at all. Internet connection speed in Yangon these days is very very slow. I mean it's difficult to use web proxy with this speed.

Anyway, here is a photo of a paddy field in Burma my sister took. Since it was raining during the photo was taken, it is a little bit blur. But is looks artistic and looks cool. Isn't it? I used it as wallpaper on my pc for many days. I hope you like it. Clicking on image will open 1993x1463 px size image.

Burma Scenery  

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one step away for them

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Let me just write randomly. (Actually, I always write randomly, huh?) Yesterday was the National day of Burma. In history, it was the day Yangon University students' strike the universities act in 1920 while Burma was British colony. This is also the history of student union in Burma too. Student leader like (Thakhin) Aung San led Burma until she gained her independence. .

This Monday, SPDC held press conference which they presented with full of lies. (You know, the lies they used to make is on every single sentence they said. Amazing liars they are). They think their victory is just one step away for them. Because, the constitution they were writing is about to finish. When that constitution finish, they will hold election again. Whoever wins in that election, majority positions in parliament for them is granted by new constitution. Elected members will be minority and have no power at all there. SPDC will therefore become legalized government. That's the reason they are moving forward without listening anyone.

And… for this week, article I want to recommend is "A Rangoon Diary" written by Thierry Falise. It is a diary of a reporter while he was in Rangoon (Yangon) during September uprising.

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A Japanese photojournalist, who later died, lies wounded, shot by a soldier [Photo: Reuters]

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news article and...

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I don't know why I'm so sick today. I was busy these days and I intended to blog in my weekend holiday. I've many things to write. About arrested leader monk Ashin Gambirha I said in my previous post; SPDC arrested him and his father and siblings too.

Everyday, the SPDC's newspapers headline the announcement of ethnic groups saying they object the statement of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Actually the SPDC forced the ethnic groups to sign these announcements. In fact, the real 12 ethnic parties have already announced their support on DASSK's statement. These party leaders were taken by SPDC saying they needed to ask some questions. Only 2 leaders were freed until now.

And Ma Phyu Phyu Thin was not able to see her ailing father and could not see until he died for authorities were waiting around to arrest her if she comes back. If you want to read more about leading women activists in this uprising, please read news article written Kyaw Zwa Moe from Irrawaddy.

important activists were detained

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I don't want to write any more sad news about Burma. But all news about Burma is sad. Mr. Gambari just went back a few days ago and Mr. Pinheiro is still here. But two important activists were detained yesterday. One activist is a leading monk of September uprising, Ashin Gambirha. And another one is (Ma) Su Su Nwae, a brave lady from NLD party who stood strongly against force laboring and one of the leaders in August walking movement.
 
 As I wrote in my previous post, SPDC's meeting with Mr. Gambari and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was just a façade. They will drag this process slowly and slowly just to reduce the international pressure. If they really want national reconciliation, they should release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners. The National constitution they wrote was without the participation of elected representatives. If their constitution is once approved, about 80 percent of votes at parliament will be from army so that the total power will be in the hands of army, not in people's hands.
 
 By the way, in my previous post, Sophie Lwin left a comment requesting to support their new campaign called dontforgetburma.org. They are the group who created the website www.burma-watch.org after September uprising. To make sure the world doesn't forget get active, submit a photo of support to this site, join the Facebook group and find a local activist organization via http://www.burma-watch.org/ index.php?option=com _glossary&Itemid=113
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Improvement ?

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I think, I should say Mr. Gambari's work was no that bad as I said in my previous post. He could manage to see Daw Aund San Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders in the end. And whit his effort, Daw Aund San Suu Kyi and her NLD party leaders could hold a meeting. Although, their meeting got no privacy since it was held at SPDC's guest house, it was really big improvement I should say.

But, you know, we, Burmese people dare not expect much for we cannot trust in this SPDC. SPDC was never sincere at all. They would use all tricks they have to delay and finally to die out the national reconciliation process.

By the way, there was a small protest happened at Yangon two days ago. The protectors brought posters of Than Shwe's picture wearing woman panties. When the riot police arrived they fled away, according to news.

.Note: I wrote this yesterday. I couldn't post due to phone line problem.

Failure of Gambari

Mr. Gambari's visit is the total failure this time. He requested SPDC for dialogue between SPDC and Daw AungSanSuuKyi with the presence of him. But SPDC rejected his proposal. Moreover, SPDC deceived Gambari by meeting him with some ethnic people who are under control of SPDC. But SPDC didn't let Gambari meet with real ethnic leaders, NLD leaders and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. I cannot understand why Gambari couldn't refuse to meet with useless people who will lie completely. Why can't Gambari insist that he must meet this and that people only?

Hello

Hello everybody!!! Sorry for my long silence. I was extremely busy these days with woks at home at work and so on. But the main reason I couldn't write was that I had no mood to write at all. I even couldn't write to friends these days. With this mood I was just trying out that famous facebook social network and still playing with it. :)

I want to thank everyone who asked me about my absent writing me email and leaving comments here. Thank you for your concern. I will not stop blogging as long as I'm alive and Internet connection is available.

Conditions in Myanmar is as you can hear from news. There is no improvement until now. SPDC met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi once just to show they met her. No actual dialogue happened until now.

Anyway, I'm back to regular blogging. c u:)

SPDC doesn't care UN Security Council!!!!

Despite the pressure of UN Security Council, SPDC shows no move towards reconciliation from their side. They continued to issue announcement saying their policy will never change. In yesterday newspaper, it was even written that "Presidential Statement of UN Security Council has non-binding which means it is not compulsory to comply with this statement." And it continued saying their government will continue their own plans. It shows they do not care UN at all.
 
 They showed they were not paying attention on UN statement by arresting people who participated in recent movement everyday. Total arrested people during these days reached up to four thousand according news sources. The people arrested right from demonstrations and through the siege to the monasteries were kept at a technical school at Innsein, Yangon these days. They put about 150 people per classroom and there was no proper toilet there. The people who were released later said they had to go at the room beside and that room was in terrible condition in 2-3 days. And there was no bathroom too. Each day, some were taken to interrogation center and unimportant ones were freed and many were sent to somewhere they didn't know. One NLD member from Kyauk-pa-down died during interrogation. In these days, they imposed curfew and that night time interval is the time they freely move and siege monasteries and arrest individual people from their home or the place they were hiding. Many monks, many NLD members, many students and activists were arrested. If they could not find the activist they look for at their home they took someone as hostage. And they continued arresting people everyday showing they don't care UN Security Council.
 
 When Gambari went back, they announced they will discuss with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi only if she comply with some restrictions. The restrictions they made said Daw Aung San Suu Kyi must promise she will not make confrontation, utter devastation and so on. Actually Daw Aung San Suu Kyi never performed anything bad like that. So, they announced that just to accuse her. Another fact is that they were trying to deceive UN and delay the true dialogue to happen. I don't think there will be true dialogue without the presence of UN representatives in the meeting.
 http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gFx4KfAYPWupeb4gYEtYgLZcwEZw

Internet open in Burma

Today the government re-open internet access in curfew time only(10:00 pm to 4:00 am local time). So some of the offices and home users can use internet 6 hr/day. But Blogger and blogspot still banned in Myanmar. I hope Eccentric Ghost can online very soon and share his own experience from Burma. Also wishing for him and other bloggers' safe in blogging.
They can kill our people but our spirit still alive.
We won't stop blogging! We wont stop fighting!
Here, I wanna say thanks to all visitors and everyone who pray for us and left comments at blog.

Light a candle for Free Burma

pic credit to fringuellina from Flickr.

Free Burma

International Bloggers' Day for Burma on the 4th of October

Blackout

Internet cafes were closed down. Both MPT ISP and Myanmar Teleport ISP cut down internet access in Yangon and Mandalay since this morning. The Junta try to prevent more videos, photographs and information about their violent crackdown getting out. I got a news from my friends that last night some militray guys searched office computers from Traders and Sakura Tower building. Most of the downtown movement photos were took from office rooms of those high buildings. GSM phone lines and some land lines were also cut out and very diffficult to contact even in local. GSM short message sending service is not working also. Burma is blacked out now!

We need direct actions from UN

I heard Burma issue is being discussed at the UN Security Council meeting today. I got no news about the outcome of the meeting yet.

Throughout the past 15 years or so, UN sent representatives to solve national reconciliation in Myanmar. But all the efforts these representatives made were in vain since the Burmese dictator is not willing to move a step towards national reconciliation. Sanctions were made by US and EU but made no difference for more than a decade.
    
The number of political prisoners is around 1400 and still increasing rapidly these days. National leader Daw Aung San Su Kyi was under house arrest since 2003. Some of elected representatives of 1990 election were in jail or exile.  They restrict all the activities of NLD party and keep arresting party members. And, according to confirmed news, five monks died after yesterday's clashes.

So, what will be next after this UN Security Council meeting? We, the people of Burma, need direct actions from UN. A possibility could be deploying UN peace keeping troops and help establishing interim government.

Ngwe Kyar Yan Monestry Photos

See more photos at MoeMaKha blog.

Arrested

As the peaceful protests spread to all cities and large towns since three days ago, there were no clashes in these towns except MyitKyiNa. I heard, military troops entered the monasteries and beat the monks in Myitkyina Yesterday. When the monks fall down, all monks were arrested. It happened the same thing at Yangon last night. The troops entered the monastery at south OkeKaLar, beat up the monks and arrested them. In yesterday clashes, most of the people arrested were monks too. I wish this movement goes on successfully in all towns and Yangon until SPDC fall down.

By the way, as I cannot access Blogger website anymore and my blog banned here, I added a blogger friend of mine, Ancient Ghost, to my blog as a contributor.

Update news from Ancient Ghost:
This morning, I read news from The Australian News, and BBC that security forces raided several Buddhist monasteries and arrested hundreds of monks. They arrested Up to 500 monks from the Mogaung monastery in Yankin Township and another 150 detained at the Ngwe Kyaryan monastery in South Okkalapa Township. Since curfew has been imposed, I remebered the midnight violence liked 1990's. Now the Conditions are worse than my imagination.

Evidence of Today Violence

Clashes between soldiers and protesters at Shwedagon Pagoda (5:37 min).

Credit to JUVENILEBIRDS

Watch also Violence amid Burma Protests by BBC World News

More clips at Freedom for Fear Group

26 September 2007

Today, Military (SPDC) started to crack down peaceful demonstrations violently.

The parade which reached in front of city hall was surrounded by many army trucks and soldiers fired guns upward to threaten. They fired once into the crowd and one 45 years old lady was wounded severely. According to some sources, two monks died during the clash.

Another parade confronted with troops and trucks full of soldiers at Bo-Gyoke-Aung-San road. When the parade did not stop, the troops had to withdraw back. When the troops were under fly-over (freeway) road, the people watching from there threw slippers and garbage to the troops underneath.

Another parade at Kyi-Myint-dine came across riot polices at the corner of Baho street. When the police forces started to arrest the monks, people around attack the police until police withdraw back.

The parade at Shwedagon Pagoda were surrounded by army at around 3 pm. The troops used tear gas bombs to disperse the parade and the riot police beat the monks. The beat the head, kick with boots and stamp upon the monks when they fell down. But the monks resist saying goodwill prayers. Some sources said there were clashes at Shwe-gon-dine and the polices beat the monks while they bow to request them.

Since today morning, SPDC announced curfew stating the restriction not to go out between 9 pm and 5 am. Famous comedian ZarGanar was arrested last night (25Sept, mid night). Zar-ganar, famous actor Kyaw Thu and many other actors, poets and singers were supporting the protesting monks actively these days. Even though SPDC came and arrest Kyaw Thu and poet Aung Way, there were secure since there were hiding at some other place.

Despite the crack downs, the monks decided not to give up and continue the peaceful strike. As I said in previous post, the people and monks shout no slogans but saying prayers only.  

To the infinite living beings living in infinite universes to the east, west, north and south,
May they be free of danger,
May they be free of anger,
May they be free of sufferings, and
May their hearts be calm and peaceful.

ref: Mizzima and other news.

26th Sept @Sule Pagoda (Downtown)

more photos at Ko Niknayman picasa album

26th Sept @Shwe Dagon Pagoda

Smoke from tear gas rises over Yadeshe Road in downtown Yangon.

At Yay-tar-Shae Street near Shwedagon pagoda, soldiers destroyed the small shops of street vendors and set the wreckage on fire when the rally arrived.

Hi! I'm another Ghost from NyeinChanYar Blog. I'll update more photos later.

Credit to REUTERS, Ko Htike Blog, Soneseayar Blog and Moemakha Blog for all photos.

May the people’s wish fulfilled

I walked with the parade today too. There were student groups holding fighting peacock flag in the parade. I participated for about half an hour only because of the reason I said before. People's participation is immense even though there is rumors that SPDC will crack down the demonstration violently. All we shouted were good will prayers, and "May the people's wish fulfilled" (ျပည္သူ႕ဆႏၵ - ျပည့္ဝပါေစ။). I mean, the parade just make wishes for peace in all around. There is no slogans like protesting movements. From Fox News

Note: They started to block access to Blogger. I have to post through email. They banned my blog too!!!!!!!!!

Update: They banned blogspot.com and people from burma can't access all blogs directly.

24 September 2007

Today, I was overwhelmed with excitement for seeing flood of monks andpeople from all layers marched on the streets. At around 2 pm, about 30thousand of monks passed near the Thein-Gyi market (သိမ္ၾကီးေစ်း).Majority were monks but people walked at the side of monks holding eachothers hands. I joined them walked for a coupe of blocks. Icouldn't walk along all the way because my parents are suchworrisome. On my way back home I met the another marching crowd nearYuZana Plaza (ယုဇန ပလာဇာ). This marching crowd is much much greaterthan previous one. Majority is people this time. I think there must mearound 100 thousand (တစ္သိန္း) of people. Watching people at the sideof road showed their support with applause. And slogans people shout is"May the people's wish fulfilled". According to news whenthat crowd reached Hlel-dan junction (လွည္းတန္း) the number of peoplereached to about two hundred thousand. Along the way they walked, monkscontinuously chanted the goodwill sending prayers. The translation ofit from  dawn_1o9.

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To the uncountable living beings living in uncountable universes to the east,
May they be free of danger,
May they be free of anger,
May they be free of sufferings, and
May their hearts be calm and peaceful.

ကိုဇာဂနာတို႕ ဦး ေက်ာ္သူတို႕ ဦးေဆာင္ျပ႔ီး အႏုပညာရွင္ေတြလည္း အမ်ားၾကီးပါ၀င္လာျပီတဲ့။

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Note: Due to bad connection, I couldn't post what I wrote Yesterday.

blogs with news updates

လူထု အားေပးမႈေတြ တိုးပြားလာတာဟာ အရမ္းကို အားရစရာပါပဲ။ သံဃာေတာ္ရာဂဏန္းကေန စလိုက္တာ ျပည္သူ လူထုေရာအပါအဝင္ ေသာင္းဂဏန္းထိ အင္အားမ်ားလာပါျပီ။ မေန႕ကဆို အန္တီစု အိမ္ေရွ႕ေရာက္တဲ႕အခါ တခါးဝမွာ အန္တီစု ကိုေတြ႕လိုက္ရတာကို ၾကားရတဲ့အခါ တဲ့လူတိုင္း အရမ္း ဝမ္းသာၾကရပါတယ္။ ဓါတ္ပံုေတြေတာ့ ကၽြန္ေတာ့္မွာ ကင္မရာမရွိတဲ့အတြက္ မ႐ိုက္ႏိုင္ဘူးေလ။ ဓါတ္ပံုေတြကို ဒီblog ေတြမွာၾကည့္ႏိုင္ပါတယ္။
http://ko-htike.blogspot.com/
http://seinkhalote.blogspot.com/
http://soneseayar.blogspot.com/
http://mmedwatch.blogspot.com/
http://niknayman.blogspot.com/
http://www.hittaing.org/news/

အေရးေတာ္ပံု ေအာင္ပါေစ

ဒီေန႕ ေန႕လည္ ႏွစ္နာရီေလာက္က ဆူးေလဘုရားလမ္းေပၚက အေဆာက္အဦး တစ္ခုေပၚေရာက္ေနခ်ိန္မို႕ သံဃာေတာ္ေတြ မိုးသည္းထဲမွာ ဆႏၵျပလာၾကတာကို ေတြ႕လိုက္ရတယ္။ ဒီေန႕ေတာ့ အင္အားအမ်ားဆံုးလို႕ထင္တယ္။ သံဃာ တစ္ေထာင္ေက်ာ္ေလာက္ ရွိမယ္။ လူထုဖက္ကလည္း ေဘးက လက္တြဲ ဝန္းရံျပီး လိုက္ပါၾကတယ္။ လက္တြဲ တဲ့လူေတြလည္း လူငယ္လူၾကီးအစံု မိန္းကေလးငယ္ေတြကအစ ပါတယ္။ သံဃာေတြလည္း ဒီေန႕ သံုးေယာက္တတြဲ ေလွ်ာက္ၾကတယ္။ ဒီေန႕ထိေတာ့ ပတ္ဝန္းက်င္မွာ စစ္/ရဲ/လံုထိန္း မေတြ႕ရဘူး။ ေကာလာဟလ ေျပာေနၾကတာေတာ့ နအဖက အၾကမ္းဖက္ တိုက္ခိုက္ဖို႕ စီစဥ္ေနတယ္တဲ့။
ျငိမ္းခ်မ္းစြာ ဆႏၵျပသူအေပါင္း ေဘးကင္းၾကပါေစ။
အေရးေတာ္ပံု ေအာင္ပါေစ။

Yesterday @ shwe gon dine

Photos of peaceful demonstration of monks at Yangon II

My friend just emailed me high resolution images of monks demonstrating today, September 18, 2007, at Yangon downtown. The photos were taken when the monks were heading towards Sule Pagoda. Initially, they tried to enter Shwedagon Pagoda. But they couldn't enter since the doors of pagoda where shut not to let them in.

[Thanks mh for email and image uploads.]
[And thanks to someone who took these photos and emailed.]

Photos of peaceful demonstration of monks at Yangon

Today, hundreds of monks strike peacefully at Yangon. Over one thousand people gathered around the monks showing their support. Ko moezack posted the very fresh photos of today events at his blog, http://www.moezack.blogspot.com/. [Note: there are about two pages of photos.]

image credit to moezack

image credit to moezack

Visit http://www.moezack.blogspot.com/ now.

Thanks mh for sending me link.