Thousands of protesters are dead and the bodies of hundreds of executed monks have been dumped in the jungle, a former intelligence officer for Burma’s ruling junta has revealed.
The most senior official to defect so far, Hla Win, said: ‘Many more people have been killed in recent days than you’ve heard about. The bodies can be counted in several thousand.’ (Link)
Archive for September, 2007
Thousands dead in the massacre of the monks dumped in the jungle
Published by September 30th, 2007 in Burma. 0 CommentsClaims of military unrest and possible coup in Burma unconfirmed
Published by September 30th, 2007 in Burma. 3 CommentsThis has been happening for the last two days, and I have been a little concerned about putting it up.
Meanwhile, military sources in Rangoon are claiming that the regime’s number two, General Maung Aye, has staged a coup against Than Shwe, and that his troops are now guarding Aung San Suu Kyi’s home. A meeting between him and Suu Kyi is expected. Maung Aye is army commander-in-chief and a renowned pragmatist. (Link)
The question about whether there is dissent or the possibility of mutiny was briefly mentioned during a BBC Radio 4 Profile expert analysis of the situation in Burma a few minutes ago (19.15 GMT). The programme is hosted by Evan Williams. (Link)
“Soldiers from the 66th LID (Light Infantry Divison) have turned their weapons against other government troops and possibly police in North Okkalappa township in Rangoon and are defending the protesters. At present unsure how many soldiers involved.” (Link)
China Must Support People of Burma, Not the Military Regime
Hon. Mr. Hu Jintao, President
Hon. Mr. Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister
Hon. Mr. Tan Jiaxuan, State Councilor
Hon. Mr. Yang Jiechi, Foreign Minister
Government of the People’s Republic of ChinaDear Excellencies,
Hundred of thousands of people, under the leadership of Buddhist monks, have joined in national peaceful demonstrations inside Burma, demanding a government that respects the will of the people. We urge you to use your important and influential position to compel the Burmese military regime towards an inclusive and representative national reconciliation process under the guidance of the UN Special Envoy for Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari.
The problems in Burma go beyond more than just the protests over the past month; for decades the military regime has perpetuated a steady strangulation of the country. As a result the military regime’s economic mismanagement, poor governance and suppression of the people, Burma has become a vestige of poverty and disease. Moreover, the regime has maintained a brutal campaign against ethnic minorities, destroying over 3,000 villages, forcing millions from their homes, and conscripting more child soldiers than any country in the world.
Perhaps I was a bit naive about the strategies of oppressive power. The concept of the “fifth column” is nothing new so what stops the military from using similar mole tactics. We are back to politics of subterfuge and illusion. From a rather interesting commentary in the Guardian:
… If the army succeeds in crushing this uprising - which, so far, it seems to be doing - then the regime will set to work purging the monastic order of what it likes to call “destructive elements” and even more monks will be imprisoned and tortured. The regime’s intelligence agents will shave their heads and infiltrate the monasteries, praying among the monks as one of them. What little space for political organisation once existed within the monkhood will be obliterated. Yet another attempt by the people to speak out about their suffering will have been silenced.
Read the rest of the article HERE. Image re-mixed from HERE.
Telephone conversation with a members of public - Ko Htike
Published by September 30th, 2007 in Burma. 0 CommentsEntire audio found here.
Er… they shot… people got killed. Er…but it seems like it wasn’t as
bad as yesterday in terms of number of deaths, however we will know
the accurate picture tomorrow. Er… la another disturbing news is
that er… I would like to know if you would inform BBC and CNN about?
(sob!!!) They burned the injured protesters/civilian people in the
YaeWay Crematorium la la . Er… the staff from crematorium told this,
crying, to the people who went to the funeral service. Please let
this known to CNN and BBC. Thank you!!
Public Minutes of consultation meeting 29/9 and Schedule for coming week.
Published by September 29th, 2007 in Burma and Uncategorized. 0 CommentsMinutes of consultation meeting (29 Sep 2007 ) at Jantar Mantar at 1.00 pm
As a continuation of the meeting at ISI another round of deliberation took place. The need to have an ad hoc umbrella platform for democracy in Burma was discussed and the ‘Burma Solidarity’ is being formed to coordinate the activities and programmes.
Action Schedule for the coming week:
* Solidarity and participation in 30 September demonstration led by the Indian Buddhist Monks and Burmese Buddhist Monks, who are coming from Bodhgaya, against the Junta at 10.00 am Jantar Mantar
* Solidarity and participation in 1 October demonstration organized by Chin Community, Delhi at 11 am - 1 pm, at Jantar Mantar
* Solidarity and participation in 1 October demonstration, by Committee for the restoration of Democracy in Burma, led by former Prime Minister of India I K Gujral, former Defence Minister George Fernandez and others at 1 pm onwards Jantar Mantar
* Public Meeting (& exhibition-cum-campaign) on 2 October in Jawaharlal Nehru University at 09.30 pm (venue and names of speakers will be announced shortly)
* Public Meeting (& exhibition-cum-campaign) on 3 October in Jamia Milia Islamia (venue, time and names of speakers will be announced shortly)
CPI (M) extends support protesting Burma people
Published by September 29th, 2007 in Burma. 3 CommentsHello folks. Please excuse the lack of updates over the past 12 hours. We have been having some online trouble, which has settled down now. The following article comes via here.
September 29, 2007 - The Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has extended its support to the people of Burma, “struggling for long for the restoration of democracy in the country.”
The CPI (M) is probably the first national political party in India to denounce the Burmese military junta over the recent violent crackdown on innocent and peaceful protesters in Burma.
The Politburo, the highest policy making body of the CPI(M) which met late yesterday evening in Kolkata, West Bengal, a Marxist bastion, lambasted the Burmese military junta for its repressive measures on peaceful demonstrators seeking change.
The Politburo also urged India to make use of all “political and diplomatic channels” to seek an end to the violence and persuade the junta to initiate a process of democratic transformation.
We are all Monks now!
Published by September 29th, 2007 in Hacks for Academics, Latest news, Test, Vignettes of Violence and viral. 12 CommentsI was having dinner with friends yesterday and after our meandering discussion about the stagnancy of current political movements and the need to creatively re-invent recycled politics, we ended up talking about the situation in Burma. Whether it was the red wine or something else, I had a rather strange thought which I have not been able to exorcise from my head. Here it is. See the image first.
We have all seen such powerful images of the serene Buddhist monks bravely fighting againts the opressive military machine in Burma. In Burma, the monks hold high respect. The government fears them to the degree that they have to be cut off from the rest of the population so it can shoot civilians in peace as killing monks carries so much more symbolic value that shooting peasants, students or other members of the faceless mass.
So imagine this. We start a political movement to help the people of Burma. The strategy: we supply them with hundreds of thousands of identical red robes such as the Buddhist monks wear. Everybody - women, men, children - shave their heads. They wear identical robes. They imitate the monks. They become simulacra of the monks to the degree that the entire political movement of Burma becomes one giant indistinquishable mass of monks protesting against opression. What would the military do? What could they do? How would they distinquish the “real” from the “copy” - the original from the imposter.
Satellite Images from Burma - Human Rights Abuses
Published by September 29th, 2007 in Burma and technology. 0 CommentsA new analysis of high-resolution satellite images completed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) pinpoints evidence consistent with village destruction, forced relocations, and a growing military presence at 25 sites across eastern Burma where eyewitnesses have reported human rights violations.
See here. There is a large 14+MB PDF on this page containing the entire research report. Please download and read. While this research bears no resemblence to the current situation, it visually archives the consequences of certain politico-ideological orientations.. .
“India’s Burma policy is a disgrace. There is no use boasting about our democracy, if we turn a blind eye to the democratic aspirations of our closest neighbours,†said George Fernandes, former defence minister and convenor of NDA.
Despite international pressure, India has not changed its stand on Myanmar. In fact, New Delhi has failed to sign in for a special session on Burma, to be convened by the UN Human Rights Council.
From here.
Good news is that Ko Htike’s blog is being updated again.
Internet access has been restored in Myanmar today, one day after a blackout was imposed to stop reports and pictures of the major crackdown reaching the outside world. Internet users inside the former Burma are again able to see domestic web pages and email outside the country.
Pictures and video footage relayed over the internet by citizens have played a major role in fuelling worldwide revulsion at the crackdown against 45 years of military rule. State media say nine people have been killed; world leaders including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown say the figure is likely to be far higher.
…
The World Food Programme says the military government is stepping up its crackdown on mass protests. All movements of food from the northern city of Mandalay, where protests began 11 days ago, have stopped. Food deliveries have also slowed from the northwestern port of Sittwe. The hungry are mostly young children and people living with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.
Today @ Jantar Mantar: IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE’S UPRISING IN BURMA
Published by September 28th, 2007 in Burma. 0 CommentsDear Friends,
The Burmese military junta has been brutally cracking down on the non-violent civil protesters for last few weeks.
At least 10 people including monks, school children and a Japanese journalist were killed in military firing on peaceful demonstrators on September 27. Hundreds of students and civilians have been injured, arrested and tortured.
Civil rights groups/organizations and individuals came together and held a meeting this evening at the Indian Social Institute, New Delhi and deliberated on the continuing humanitarian political crisis in Burma.
The participants unanimously called for the restoration of democracy in Burma and the intervention of various civil and state actors towards achieving this.
The people from Burma expressed their disappointment over the silence of the Indian public and also the insensitiveness of the Indian State that struck yet another oil deal amidst the current crisis and appealed for a more proactive intervention of civil groups.
What began as a protest in Burma against hike in fuel prices and worsening economic situation has turned into a full-fledged campaign against the military regime now.
The current crisis in Burma has once again demonstrated the Burmese people’s strong yearning for democracy and resentment against the junta.
British MP condemns India’s ties with Myanmar
Published by September 28th, 2007 in Burma. 0 CommentsFrom here.
‘India’s policy towards Burma is frankly deplorable. Providing arms and military training to one of the most brutal regimes on the planet is inexcusable and it simply won’t do for the government to defend itself by arguing that it does not interfere in the internal affairs of another country,’ said John Bercow, a Conservative Party MP from House of Commons for Buckingham and the co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma.
…
‘The provision of arms and military training (by India) to a brutal and illegal regime which will undoubtedly use those arms to crush its own people is immoral and unwise,’ Benedict Rogers, advocacy officer for South Asia at CSW, told IANS.
…
‘According to one witness, prisoners in Chin State face even more severe torture and living conditions than other prisoners, because it is a more isolated part of the country. Prisoners are shackled and chained, yoked like oxen and forced to plough fields, and if they attempt to escape they are placed on a fire to burn, stabbed with knives, and then forced into a tub of salt water,’ the report said.
After decades of military dictatorship, the people of Burma are rising – and they need our help. Marches begun by monks and nuns have snowballed, bringing hundreds of thousands to the streets. Now the crackdown has begun…
When the Burmese last marched in 1988, the military massacred thousands. But if the world stands up and supports their struggle, this time they could succeed. We’ll send our petition to United Nations Security Council members (including the dictatorship’s main backer China) and to media at the UN, while also alerting the Burmese to our support.
Sign up here. Thanks to
Two articles on Burma - Indian Express, 28th September.
Published by September 28th, 2007 in Burma and Latest news. 0 CommentsIn dealing with its neighbours, India had to constantly juggle between the occasional necessity of intervention to protect its own interests and the persistent temptation to deal with whoever is in power. High moralpolitik has not been the defining feature of India’s neighbourhood policy; it was always about the difficulty of managing competing imperatives and coping with the consequences of political change within the region. From Here
Devout images of the leadership are ubiquitous. Virtually every day in the official newspaper, a senior military official is depicted making some act of homage to the monks and showing respect for the religion. The military has assiduously attempted to demonstrate its unwavering support of Buddhism. There is certainly some element of belief in all this, but also perhaps a concern about the potential ability of the religious leadership to help stir up dissent. From Here
Footage of Japanese photographer being shot
Published by September 28th, 2007 in Burma and video. 0 Comments
Sunday Bloody Sunday - GW Bush, Jr.
Published by September 28th, 2007 in Death and video. 0 CommentsWorth a look. Thanks to Kazu for the link!
More than 1,50,000 monks & civilians protest in Rangoon
Published by September 28th, 2007 in Burma. 0 CommentsBurmese Air Force planes airborne
Military aircrafts from the Matehtilar airbase are airborne. It is not known why the aircrafts have scrambled. On the other hand there is commotion in the Light Infantry Division 33 and 99 of the Burma Army. The exact nature of the commotion cannot be determined as yet.
Troops marching to Rangoon
There is an urgent report that Burmese troops from middle Burma has started to march towards Rangoon. The reported troops are from Central Command based in Taung Oo and South East Command. At this reporting, it is not clear if the troops are marching to reinforce or to challenge the troops in Rangoon for shooting the Buddhist monks.
For updates go to - Mizzima News.
also check - for other updates -Asia-Pacific Peoples’ Partnership on Burma
Networking Knowledge: Journal of the MeCCSA PGN
Published by September 28th, 2007 in Theory. 0 CommentsNew Journal! Find it here.
‘Minding the Gap: Reflections on Media Practice and Theory’, a training day for postgraduate and early career researcher-practitioners jointly organised by MeCCSA Postgraduate Network, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (University of Oxford) and the Stanhope Centre for Communications Policy Research (London), was held at the Reuters Institute on the 12th May 2007. It explored the various ‘gaps’ between practitioners’ experiences of the media industries and academic theories of media institutions and
practices. 24 contributors from around the UK and Europe discussed broadcasting, print, film, and online media across three thematic workshops covering: practice in methodology, theory in practice and personal testimonies recounting the challenges - personal, ethnical, political and practical - facing ‘double practitioners’.MeCCSA Postgraduate Network and the Stanhope Centre present a selection of papers given on the day. They can be downloaded here in PDF format and are grouped together by panel.
This journal features some but not all of the presentations given at the conference as some authors felt it was premature as yet to put their work into the public domain. It should be noted that these are works-in-progress and should be read as such.
APPPB Update: What’s Happening in Rangoon Now!! (4:30 pm Thai Std Time)
Published by September 28th, 2007 in Burma. 0 CommentsDear Friends,
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said, “Fear is a Habit; I am not Afraid.” The people marching on the
streets cry out: “WE CAN’T LOOSE AGAIN!!!!”As of this posting (4:00 Burmese Std Time), people in Burma are continuing with their defiance and gathering on the streets again in downtown Rangoon despite of the extreme use of force and violence by the authorities that they have experienced and witnessed over the past two days – the beating, shooting and killing, and the continuing arrests. There have placed double barricades blocking that no one gets near to Sule Pagoda where shooting and killing took place yesterday.
At least 10,000 or so protesters are gathering around the Theinggyi market area in downtown Rangoon and trying to get into group. But soldiers (Battalion 66 as shown on the badges) are patrolling in the area and when they see people starting gathering they fire guns into the air, chase the people and beat and arrest those who could not run.
An hour ago, this is the update on people arrested: About 10 people, mostly young women, were arrested in front of Ministers Office (Wongyimyar Yone), Ahnawrata Road. About 50 have been arrested in Theingyi market area. There can be more that we don’t have information yet.
Indian MP Criticizes Government over Burma Policy
Published by September 28th, 2007 in Burma. 0 CommentsSeptember 27, 2007
Members of India’s parliament have criticized the ruling government for failing to push Burma’s military government on the path to democracy and national reconciliation.
The Indian government signed a gas contract with Burma’s government earlier this week in the midst of a national uprising that has seen the junta open fire on monks and civilians, killing at least five monks and injuring scores of pro-democracy demonstrators.
Dr. Nirmala Deshpande, a member of the upper Indian parliament group, said the Indian government has not done enough for democracy in Burma.
“They [the government] should have sympathy on the Burmese people and take the initiative to pressure the military government to release political prisoners including Aung San Su Kyi,” said Nirmala Deshpande.
Earlier this week. India’s Minister of Oil and Gas, Murli S Deora, met with military regime leaders in the capital of Naypyidaw.
According to the state-own newspaper, The New Light of Myanmar, the India delegation signed a production sharing contract and discussed energy issues.
Soe Myint, the chief editor of the India-based Burmese newspaper Mizzima, said it was strange for the Indian government to discuss oil and gas investments when there were massive protests in Burma sparked by a doubling of petrol and diesel prices.
India breaks silence, wants “broad-based” reforms in Myanmar
Published by September 28th, 2007 in Burma. 0 Comments(Slightly older news, but important)
New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) As the military junta stepped up its crackdown on the largest pro-democracy protests in Myanmar in nearly two decades, India Wednesday broke its silence and called for “broad-based and inclusive political reform” in that country.
New Delhi also hoped that “all sides will resolve their issues peacefully through dialogue”.
“The government of India is concerned at and is closely monitoring the situation in Myanmar. It is our hope that all sides will resolve their issues peacefully through dialogue,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna said in response to a question on the crisis in Myanamar where thousands of monks have descended on the streets to press demand for a return of democracy in the southeast Asian country.
“India has always believed that Myanmar’s process of political reform and national reconciliation should be more inclusive and broad-based,” he said.
At least four people, including three Buddhist monks, were killed Wednesday near Myanmar’s holiest shrine Shwedagon Pagoda when security forces used weapons and tear-gas to disperse protesters against the military junta.
The monks’ mass protests are reminiscent of pro-democracy fervour in 1988 and poses the most serious challenge to the junta in nearly two decades.
George urges Indian PM to support movement for democracy in Burma
Published by September 28th, 2007 in Burma. 0 CommentsMungpi
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)September 3, 2007 - The Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh has been urged by George Fernandes, former Indian Defence Minister and Member of Parliament, to take a stronger stand in supporting the movement for democracy in Burma.
In a letter to Dr. Singh, a copy of which is with Mizzima, Fernandes said the Burmese people have been looking at India hoping that their neighbouring and friendly nation would help them restore democracy and free them from military dictatorship.
Fernandes, who on August 18 organized a special conference for the release of Burmese veteran journalist U Win Tin, detained by the Burmese military junta for 18 years, urged the Prime Minister to support, recognize and to foster the cause of Burmese democracy movement with other democratic nations.
“My proposal is that all those Burmese who have taken shelter in India be allowed to form a government in exile with India’s support and of all democratic countries of the world,” the former Defence Minister said.
India, once a fervent supporter of the quest for democracy in Burma, however, changed its stance in the early 1990s and since then has warmed-up to the junta to the extent of supplying arms and military hardware.
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