New Year Rose Parade for New Burma (Jan 1st, 2008, 9am, Sierra Madre Ave, Los Angeles)

New Year Celebration, "Rose Parade" is on January 1st 2008 (Tuesday) and it will be broad casted on TV stations and will be aired in more than 150 internationally. It's time we let the World know that China has got to stop playing bloody game in Burma.

Please help us spread the word to your families, friends and as well as the news media. Free Burma is definitely possible, only when people do their part to set her free.
Date: January 1st, 2008 (Tuesday)
Time: 9am
Place: Sierra Madre Ave (Between Colorado Blvd and Walnut Blvd), Los Angeles County, California

We hope to see you there!

Human Rights Photo/Video Contest for Burma

Visual Artists Guild announces Human Rights Photo/Video Contest
"TURN YOUR BACK to the Beijing Olympic float". This Photo/Video Competition is to raise more global awareness about Human Rights Crisis that People in Burma are facing now.

Grand Prize - $1000
Second Prize - $500
3rd Prize - $250
Honorable mention $50 (20 winners!!)

WHAT:
The Visual Artists Guild is sponsoring a TURN YOUR BACK to the Beijing Olympic Photo/Video Contest for the best photos and videos that capture the true human rights sentiment as the 2008 Rose Parade’s Beijing Olympics Float of Shame passes by.

WHEN:
City of Pasadena Rose Parade Tuesday, January 1, 2008
All entries must be received no later than January 11, 2008

WHERE:
Please submit your name, address, phone number and email address along with your photos or videos identifying the location or locations where they are taken. Submissions may also be posted on Google video or YouTube and mailed to:
Visual Artists Guild,
PO Box 861132, Los Angeles, CA. 90086.
All submissions become property of Visual Artists Guild and will be returned if it includes a self addressed stamped envelope.

Background:
The Visual Artists Guild is dedicated to promoting human rights internationally. We are encouraged by all of the support we have received from community leaders and residents of California to oppose the propaganda tool that Beijing is using in the great City of Pasadena through the use of a parade float to kick off the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing .

Beijing has broken its promise to improve human rights in China that it made before receiving the bid to host the 2008 Olympics. We encourage all spectators at the Rose Parade to TURN YOUR BACK to the Beijing Olympic Float, and for all photographers and videographers to capture the spirit of those human rights activists.

The Visual Artists Guild directors, officers, and representatives disclaim any and all liability whatsoever for any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with this Contest or with the acceptance, possession or use of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries and losses related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light).

Except where prohibited by law, by accepting a prize, the winner releases the Visual Artists Guild directors, officers, and representatives from any and all such liability.

All Contest submissions except where prohibited by law, constitutes permission to be used by the Visual Artists Guild without limitation, for promotional purposes without further permission or compensation. Only one entry person, Duplicate entries will be disqualified.

The Award Ceremony will be held in February, 2008; winners will be notified by email. All decisions by the judges are final. No submissions will be returned untess a self addressed stamped envelope is included.

For further information, please contact alau@visual-artists-guild.org

January 4th, 60th Burma Independence Day Protest

Join January 4th, 60th Burma Independence Day Protest in front of Chinese Consulate (11:30 am - 1 pm)


January 4th, 2008 is the 60th anniversary of Burma’s Independence Day, and we will mark it with a protest in front of Chinese consulate. India has recently frozen its arms sales to Burma for six months. We need China to do more, and a lot more. The time is from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. The consulate office (where many visa applicants usually are) is closed between 12 pm to 1 pm; but it opens some days when there are many applicants. Beginning at 11:30 and ending at 1:00 will cover it in either case. And many who work in the City will be able to join us at lunch time.

When: Friday January 4, 2008; 11:30 am to 1:30 pm (Stand up protests and meditation protests)

Where: Consulate General-China; 1450 Laguna St; San Francisco, CA 94115; (415) 674-2900; Get directions

How: Activists to protest with song and visuals while Buddhist monks and lay persons do a sitting Vipassana meditation. There could be rain, so bring your umbrella and rain coat. Please wear red and bring signs and banners.

Why: China is the primary and biggest enabler of Burma's regime. We demand China reverse its irresponsible policies towards Burma. China must stop its military, diplomatic and economic support of the junta which is bringing ruin and death to Burma. We demand that China NOT veto UN measures designed to pressure the regime. Until China takes such strong and effective measures, we call upon the international community to highlight bringing shame and humiliation upon the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Contact: 510 220 1323; 415-806-7425; 510 795 0405

BADA praises US Congress for honoring Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

News Release,
Dec 28, 2007



The Burmese American Democratic Alliance (BADA) today praised the US House of Representatives for voting to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and urged the US Senate to quickly approve a similar measure, which would provide strong American support and recognition for the struggle for democracy in Burma.

The House of Representatives unanimously voted to award Daw Aung San Suu Kyi the Congressional Gold Medal on the 17th of December, 2007. In the Senate, a similar bill is being introduced by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is Burma's democracy icon, and her people's beloved leader. She has been under house arrest most of the last 19 years, and in virtual isolation for the last four and a half years since a brutal attack on her entourage on the 30th of May 2003.

In mid-2007, after learning that the Gold Medal had been awarded to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, BADA engaged with Congressional Representatives and Burmese activist groups in order to try to secure the award for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. "We believe this is a much-deserved recognition of her sacrifice and devotion to non-violence and democracy, and a much-needed moral support for the people's struggle in Burma. But when we initially approached some members of Congress with the idea six months ago, we were told that it would be a huge undertaking," says Victor Win a BADA Board Member who was instrumental in pushing the bill in through Congress.

The legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal must be co-sponsored by two-thirds of the membership of both the House of Representatives and the Senate before the Congressional Committees can consider it.

"And most importantly, we were also told that all the Burmese groups must work in harmony to make this a reality. We quickly and formally introduced the idea and encouraged all leading activist groups to work on this together. Many were supportive of our effort," he added.

Such an effort usually takes up to three years, and fewer than ten non-Americans have ever been awarded the Congressional Medal. But now, thanks to the recent dramatic protests in Burma, understanding and support for Burma in the US Congress has greatly increased. Our on-going lobbying effort quickly turned into a bill that received the overwhelming support of 280 co-sponsors and passed unanimously, 400-0, in the House. The bill had been introduced by Congressman Crowley ( D-N.Y.), but many other members of Congress were also instrumental in its passage.

"We thank Congressman Crowley and the House of Representatives for giving voice to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma," said George Berticevich, a BADA Board Member who recently attended the ceremony awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Washington, DC. Berticevich, and other BADA members, had also been meeting with some members of Congress and Burmese groups to promote the same award for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

"We urge the US Senate to follow suit, and quickly and unanimously approve the Senate bill, when introduced. The historic and peaceful protests in Burma are still being brutally crushed, and so the US Senate must show that it is behind the people of Burma," Berticevich added.

BADA is a community-based organization in the San Francisco Bay area. BADA has been advocating democracy and freedom for all the people of Burma since its founding in 2001.

BADA Annual Meeting

Dear All BADA (Burmese American Democratic Alliance) Members,

You are invited to attend the BADA annual meeting on January 26, 2008, from 10:30- 4:00 pm at the following address:

34007 Alvarado-Niles Road
Union City, California 94587
Telephone (510) 745-1464

I will post a detailed agenda for this meeting soon.
See you all then.

Senate OKs bill ending import of Myanmar gems

By Paul Eckert, Asia Correspondent
Wed Dec 19 2007
WASHINGTON (Reuters)




The Senate unanimously approved a bill on Wednesday blocking imports of Myanmar rubies and timber, and lawmakers stepped up calls for a U.N. arms embargo on the military-ruled Southeast Asian country.

The Burma Democracy Promotion Act of 2007, the Senate's version of a similar sanctions package that passed the House of Representatives on December 11, was sparked by Myanmar's bloody suppression of pro-democracy protests in September.

"Perhaps the action taken by the Senate today will spur the U.N. Security Council to take action of its own, in the form of an arms embargo against the Burmese regime," said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, a co-sponsor of the bill.

The bill must be signed by President George W. Bush in order to become law.

Co-sponsor Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, a Democratic presidential candidate, said the United States "will work tirelessly with the international community" to press Myanmar's military rulers to begin a transition to democratic rule.

The amendment to U.S. trade sanctions imposed in 2003 bans the import of Myanmar gems and timber into the United States, freezes the assets of the country's leaders and stops the former Burma from using U.S. financial institutions via third countries to launder funds of its leaders or close relatives.

The House version of the bill that passed last week would stop Chevron Corp from taking tax deductions on its investment in Myanmar's Yadana natural gas field. Chevron responded by saying its Myanmar project promotes economic and community development in a poor region.

The Senate version does not include the Chevron measures and the two pieces of legislation will require further negotiations to harmonize them, a Senate staffer said.

The Senate version of the bill also creates a special coordinator at the State Department to coordinate U.S. policy toward the Myanmar junta.

CLOSING KEY LOOPHOLES
Myanmar earns some $300 million a year from sales of rubies and has circumvented American sanctions in the past by routing the precious stones through China, India and Thailand.

"The (Senate) move marks a break from the past because it closes key loopholes in U.S, policy," said Aung Din, executive director of the U.S. Campaign for Burma, a Washington-based democracy advocacy group.

A bipartisan group of 48 Senators wrote Bush this week urging him to push for an international arms embargo against the ruling military junta in Myanmar.

U.S. first lady Laura Bush, an outspoken critic of Myanmar's military rulers, on Tuesday condemned the junta, saying they had failed to take any meaningful steps to address international concerns on human rights.

Moe Thee Zun's Book - "Breaking Through The Darkness"

I just want to share a good book that I read with all the Burmese around the globe. It was written by Ko Moe Thee Zun (one of the most famous Burmese Political Leaders), and it is in Burmese. It is called "Breaking Through the Darkness". It is a very interesting book as it presents a counter-argument about traditional Burmese Political Philosophies.

The selling price for this book is US$10. If you want to buy it and keep it as a book, you can place your order at:

The Irrawaddy Brother
P.O Box – 51
Maesot, Tak – 63110
Thailand

With the author's permission, this book is now converted into pdf file and posted online so that everybody can read it easily. For your easy access, you can download the whole book in pdf format at the following link:
Moe Thee Zun's Book
I hope this book will give you a relatively different idea regarding our current Burmese Political situations.

Burma / Myanmar - A silent crisis

Source: European Commission - Humanitarian Aid Office
Posted Date: 06 Mar 2007

(The following report is prepared and released from the Aid Office of European Commission Humanitarian Department (ECHO) during this year. It includes information about the aids projects for Burma which are being carried out by ECHO.)


Burma/Myanmar is facing a deepening and largely unnoticed humanitarian crisis. Although rich in natural resources the country is one of the poorest countries in Asia due to a lack of respect for fundamental freedoms and persistent inter-ethnic conflict. Since the mid-1990s, aid from the European Commission's Humanitarian department (ECHO) has focused on health care, sanitation, and malaria projects benefiting the most vulnerable victims of the crisis inside Burma/Myanmar as well as refugees along the border in Thailand.

Country background: political deadlock and ethnic conflict
Myanmar has been governed by a military regime since 1962. Of the country's population of 53 million, 40% are from ethnic groups of which there are more than a hundred, mostly in the border regions. Some groups defend their homelands against the government in an on-going, low-level armed conflict. Since the early 1990s, the government has signed ceasefire agreements with a number of these groups but insecurity remains a major problem and hundreds of thousands are displaced having fled from conflict and violence.

The United Nations and organizations such as Amnesty International regularly denounce human rights violations by the government. Since the mid 1990s, the European Union has imposed sanctions on Myanmar and has restricted its support to funding only humanitarian aid programmes. Despite the presence of international aid organizations, and recent international publicity, the Myanmar humanitarian crisis is still largely unknown.

Urgent humanitarian needs
The number of internally displaced people in Myanmar is startling. Hundreds of thousands of the country's population have been forced to flee from their homes or to relocate due to constant conflict between ethnic groups and the army. In January 2007 there were over 150,000 refugees in camps on the border in Thailand.

Low incomes, lack of food, poor infrastructure and inadequate education are pervasive problems crippling people's ability to survive throughout the country, particularly in the border regions. A quarter of the population is estimated to live below the poverty line. 70% of household expenditure is spent on food.

The state of the health sector is particularly alarming. Government expenditure on health per person is the lowest in the world. Many parts of the country, especially in the border areas, have no health service at all. Infant mortality is 7%, almost four times as high as in neighbouring Thailand. Life expectancy is 56 years, 15 years less than in Thailand and 22 years less than in the United Kingdom for example.

An estimated 34% of the rural population has no access to clean water which in turn causes respiratory and water-borne diseases, while adequate sanitation facilities are unavailable to around 43% of them.

ECHO's response
Since 1994 ECHO has funded programmes aimed at helping vulnerable groups in Myanmar itself and along the border in Thailand. In response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation, ECHO has significantly increased its annual funding from €6.5 million in 2001 to €15.5 million in 2006; its latest funding decision implemented from 1 January 2007. In October 2005 an ECHO office was opened in the capital, Yangon, to better facilitate the delivering of humanitarian aid. In Myanmar 22% of ECHO financing is spent on the provision of basic health care in remote areas. Water and sanitation projects make up 20% of funding.

The remainder is allocated to nutrition, food aid and protection programmes. ECHO also supports the International Red Cross in its mandate concerning respect for international humanitarian law. On the Thai border ECHO-funded projects mainly provide basic food and health care to refugees.

Securing basic health care
Basic health care is almost non-existent in many remote regions. In these areas, humanitarian organisations provide a basic, but often life-saving, service to people who seldom have contact with medical professionals.

Mobile clinics are provided which can reach extremely remote areas. ECHO aid also finances the provision of essential drugs and basic medical supplies for rural health centres, as well as medical kits for local volunteers in the villages. Special staff training for rural health clinics and village volunteers also help strengthen local capacity.

Improving access to clean Water
Water and sanitation projects aim to improve access to clean water. Rainwater collectors are installed, village ponds are constructed or renovated, and wells are drilled. These projects are carried out with the participation of beneficiary communities who provide the proper maintenance of the water systems. In addition, latrines are installed in primary schools and villages and hygiene-awareness campaigns are systematically carried out.

Improving nutrition
ECHO's assistance includes support for nutrition programmes for women and children with limited access to food. Special nutrition centres have been set up in the eastern part of the country, providing food supplements and nutritional education to 8,000 malnourished mothers and children, while five mobile Supplementary Feeding Centres (SFC) will soon provide treatment to around 5,400.

Support for protection
ECHO also funds projects to ensure those held in prisons or work camps are protected and that degrading or inhumane treatment is avoid in accordance with international law.

Food aid
Food aid is provided to vulnerable families particularly in Shan state. For poor families who have difficulties sending their children to school, aid is also provided so as ease the financial burden that would otherwise deny their children an education.

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/THOU-7A453L?

EU Special Envoy Urges China to Take Action on Burma

EU Special Envoy Urges China to Take Action on Burma
By Kate Woodsome
Hong Kong
20 December 2007

The European Union special envoy on Burma is urging China to encourage political reconciliation in neighboring Burma, where the military government has violently suppressed dissent. As VOA's Kate Woodsome reports from Hong Kong, the envoy is appealing to China's role as an emerging world power to help the Burmese people.

The EU's Piero Fassino talks to reporters in Beijing on Dec 20 2007, that China should use its position as a leading power in Asia, and as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, to help resolve the crisis in Burma.

Fassino says Chinese intervention in Burma is fundamental to achieve any progress there. He has been discussing the issue with Chinese officials since Tuesday.
Burma's military government stirred international anger last September when security forces opened fire on peaceful pro-democracy protesters.

A recent U.N. report says at least 31 people were killed, but Burmese activists abroad say the number is higher. Burma's government dismisses the claims. Thousands of people, including Buddhist monks, were beaten and arrested. After the crackdown, China blocked proposed sanctions on Burma at the U.N. Security Council, saying they would be counterproductive.

Some analysts say China wants simply to maintain the status quo in neighboring Burma, which is rich in gems, timber and the natural gas China needs for its surging economy. But Fassino says China has been trying to encourage Burma to create an atmosphere more conducive to dialogue.

He praised China for exerting a positive and decisive influence in international negotiations on North Korea's nuclear program, and said he trusts Beijing will do the same with Burma. However, Fassino says Chinese authorities made clear to him that the Burmese must resolve their crisis on their own. Fassino is on the first part of an Asian tour that will take him to India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.

The EU strengthened sanctions against Burma's military government after the bloody crackdown. On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate passed a bill that imposes new financial and travel restrictions on Burma's leaders and their associates. It also blocks the import of Burmese gems and timber.

The Burma Democracy Promotion Act also creates a position of special representative and policy coordinator for Burma. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar bill last week. It must approve the Senate version before the bill is sent to President Bush for his signature.

Military leaders have ruled Burma since 1962, turning the once-prosperous nation into a repressive state mired in economic despair. The current government has kept opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest for more than a decade and ignored her party's overwhelming election victory in 1990.

http://www.voanews. com/english/2007-12-20-voa7.cfm

UN First Meeting with 14 Nations to Solve Burma Issues

UN First Meeting with 14 Nations to Solve Burma Issues
Scoop, Friday, 21 December 2007, 6:25 am
Press Release: United Nations

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today convened the first meeting of a group of 14 nations to assist him in his efforts to spur change in the troubled South-East Asian nation.

The "Group of Friends of the Secretary-General on Myanmar" will be "a consultative forum for developing a shared approach in support of the implementation of the Secretary-General' s good offices mandate," UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

Consisting of Australia, Indonesia, Russia, United States, China, Japan, Singapore, Viet Nam, France, Norway, Thailand, India, Portugal and the United Kingdom, the Group will meet as needed in an informal format, she added.

Also attending today's meeting was the Secretary-General' s Special Adviser Ibrahim Gambari, who has visited Myanmar twice since the Government used force to crack down on peaceful protesters just a few months ago.

Mr. Gambari told reporters yesterday that he expects to return to Myanmar by next month.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0712/S01110.htm

"No progress in Burma" says NLD

"No progress in Burma" says NLD
By Chris Xia
BBC News, 12-18-2007

The Burmese opposition has said that there has been no sign of any dialogue with the military government for the past month. National League for Democracy (NLD) spokesman Nyan Win told the BBC he had not been allowed to speak to detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Mr Win said he knew nothing of any further contact between Ms Suu Kyi and the military government.

The UN has repeatedly called for talks between the government and Ms Suu Kyi. UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari has made two visits to Burma since tens of thousands of people joined massive street demonstrations led by monks, in Rangoon and other cities, in an outpouring of anger at the military government. After his second visit early in November he read out a statement from Ms Suu Kyi in which she offered to take part in a dialogue with the military.

Government minister Aung Kyi was appointed to liaise with Ms Suu Kyi. Ms Suu Kyi is under house arrest and this was the first time her words had been made public in years. "I am committed to pursue the path of dialogue constructively, and invite the government and all relevant parties to join me in this spirit," she said.
While she insisted she would only take part in a serious and time-limited process, Mr Gambari presented this as an opening for talks to begin.

The generals had offered talks, but under conditions which the NLD felt were unacceptable, including renouncing support for sanctions against the Burmese government. The fact that Ms Suu Kyi felt able to engage in talks suggested to some optimists that perhaps these terms had been relaxed. But it seems these hopes have been dashed.

Only one meeting took place between Ms Suu Kyi and the government minister appointed negotiate with her, Aung Kyi. That was a month ago. Mr Win told the BBC's Burmese service that he had not been allowed to speak to Ms Suu Kyi since before that meeting. Meanwhile, the outside world continues to try to put moral pressure on the Burmese government.

On Monday the American House of Representatives voted unanimously to award Ms Suu Kyi a Congressional Gold Medal. The award must yet be confirmed by the Senate.
The same award was given to the Dalai Lama earlier this year, much to China's fury.
However, this sort of symbolic action has had little effect on China's policies in Tibet.

Sceptics will say it is hardly likely to have a greater influence on the military government in Burma.

http://news. bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7150488.stm

Burma: Junta Jail Rangoon Abbot

Scoop-Tuesday, 18 December 2007, 4:47 pm
Press Release: Terry Evans

The abbot of Zantila Rama monastery, in Rangoon, has been sentenced to a two year prison term. He was convicted of defamation after complaining about the seizure of money from the monastery during a raid by government security forces in early October.

He was disrobed and given a two-year prison sentence at the end of November.

http://www.scoop. co.nz/stories/WO0712/S00962.htm

UN Envoy on Burma Gives White House Briefing

UN Envoy on Burma Gives White House Briefing
By VOA News
17 December 2007

Ibrahim Gambari (r) meets at the White House with Laura Bush, 16 Dec 2007
The United Nations' special envoy to Burma has made a visit to Washington.
Envoy Ibrahim Gambari met Monday at the White House with First Lady Laura Bush and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley. The United Nations says they discussed ongoing U.N. efforts to promote democratic change in Burma.

Gambari is scheduled to give a briefing on his efforts to a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. In a resolution adopted last Friday, the U.N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva called on Burma's ruling military to lift restraints on peaceful political activity.

The 47-member Council also said it plans to send its special envoy, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, back to Burma to report on what has happened since the September crackdown.
Pinheiro told VOA last week that he was disappointed at the Burmese government's reaction to a report he presented to the UNHRC.

In that report, he said at least 31 people were killed in the Burmese government's crackdown on demonstrators. Burma has rejected Pinheiro's findings and claims that less than half that number of people were killed.

Some information for this report was provided by AP.

http://www.voanews. com/english/2007-12-17-voa67.cfm

US House honours Burma's Suu Kyi

US House honours Burma's Suu Kyi
BBC, 12-18-2007

Ms Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 12 of the past 18 years
The US House of Representatives has voted to award Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi its highest honour - the Congressional Gold Medal. Supporters of the bill, which passed 400-0, said the move was meant to send a message to Burma's military leaders.

"We will continue to pressure the junta to release her and bring freedom... to the people of Burma," said Joseph Crowley, a Democrat. Ms Suu Kyi has been kept under house arrest for 12 of the past 18 years. Her National League for Democracy (NLD) won polls in 1990 but was never allowed to take power.

"For three decades, Aung San Suu Kyi has valiantly led the non-violent movement in Burma for democracy and human rights," Mr Crowley said after the vote on Monday. "Her work and dedication to the cause of freedom and individual liberty has earned her recognition throughout the world, including the Nobel Peace Prize.
"Today, the US House of Representatives showed her and the world that she has also won the hearts and minds of the US Congress."

The bill will now be referred to the US Senate, which must also back the measure.
More than 300 individuals and groups have received the Congressional Gold Medal.
George Washington was awarded the first medal, which originally was given to military heroes but was later expanded to include prominent humanitarians, scientists, explorers, artists and others.

Non-American recipients of the medal include Winston Churchill, Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Mother Theresa.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7149277.stm

Los Angeles Event for this Weekend

This is the schedule of one of the events in Los Angeles for this Christmas Eve Weekend.

Date: December 23, 2007 (Sunday)
Time: 4 PM – 7 PM
Place: Dhamma Joti Temple, 4436 Walnut St, Baldwin Park, CA 91706

"Driving for Burma" Schedule for San Fran

Ko Si Thu, the person who is doing the "Driving for Burma" Campaign will be arriving in San Francisco this week. Here is his schedule.

Monday (Dec 17, 2007): 7 - 9:30 pm (He will be attending the MaSoeYein Sayadaw's talk in Berkeley)
Tuesday (Dec 18, 2007): 12 - 1pm (He will be participating in an hour peaceful protest at Chinese Counsulate in San Fran
Wednesday (Dec 19, 2007): He will be leaving California for Seattle, Washington State

Speaker + Video + Q/A (Monday, Dec 17, 7 to 9:30pm, Berkeley, CA)

Reminder:

Date: Monday Dec 17, 7:00 – 9:30 pm
Place: Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian-Universal ists
1924 Cedar Street (@Bonita), Berkeley, CA 94709
Program: Speaker + Video + Q/A
Speaker: MaSoeYein Sayadaw
Video: "Burma: State of Fear" (25 mins)

Contact: 510 220 1323; 707-360-8452
Organized by:
- Burmese American Democratic Alliance Sponsored (www.badasf.org)
- International Burmese Monk Organization,
- Buddhist Peace Fellowship (www.bpf.org), and
- Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian-Universal Social Justice Committee

University of San Francisco Awarded Burmese Monks an Honorary Doctorate During Commencement (Dec 14 2007)

During the Dec. 14 commencement ceremony, University of San Francisco honored the Buddhist monks of Burma for their courageous, nonviolent demonstrations against their country's repressive military regime, by collectively awarding them with an honorary doctorate.

In September, thousands of Burmese Buddhist monks demonstrated peacefully and nonviolently against their country's repressive military regime, prompting a brutal response from the government. During and after the demonstrations, according to international media, thousands of monks were arrested, and many were beaten and killed.

Sayadaw U Kovida, a distinguished exiled Burmese monk currently living in a New York monastery, accepted the honorary degree on behalf of the Burmese monks of Burma. Sayadaw U Kovida was himself imprisoned by the Burmese military dictatorship for his participation in the 1988 pro-democracy demonstrations against the government.

"We honor the monks of Burma to help keep the Burmese struggle for democracy in the minds and hearts of those of us who enjoy the freedoms they are struggling to achieve," said USF President Stephen A. Privett, S.J. "These are extraordinary, modern-day heroes and persons of faith committed to building a better world, even at the risk of arrest, beatings, and death. We celebrate and support their courageous, nonviolent demonstrations, their continuing struggle for a fair and representative government, and the selfless leadership that is giving an entire nation a taste of freedom. These are the kind of people we hope our graduates will be."

The monks exemplify USF's moral commitment to educate minds and hearts to change the world, according to the honorary degree citation. The citation also draws a comparison to the six Jesuits killed in El Salvador (along with their housekeeper and her daughter) 18 years ago for their outspoken criticisms of an equally repressive government.

"As we have honored our Jesuit brothers, this Jesuit university now honors the Burmese monks of Burma for their courage, compassion, and commitment to seeking to protect the human and democratic rights of the Burmese people in the face of a harshly brutal military dictatorship," the citation states.

According to the citation, the monks serve as role models for USF students, embodying the ideals that guide the university's educational efforts.

Ref:
http://www.usfca.edu/usfnews/news_stories/monks1.html

Jason Carbine: Continuity, Rupture, and Political Change in Myanmar

Jason Carbine is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Whittier College. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 2004, with a dissertation titled, "An Ethic of Continuity: Shwegyin Monks and the Sasana in Contemporary Burma/Myanmar." He is currently working on a book manuscript, Negotiating Continuity and Rupture: Buddhist Thought and Practice in a Burmese Monastic Tradition.

Friday, February 08, 2008
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
243 Royce Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90095

For more information please contact
Robert Buswell
buswell@humnet.ucla.edu
(Or) Visit UCLA, Center of Buddhist Studies website at:
http://www.international.ucla.edu/buddhist/events/showevent.asp?eventid=6011
Sponsor(s): Center for Buddhist Studies, Center for Southeast Asian Studies (UCLA)

Peace and Reconciliation in Burma: The Way Forward in 2008

Date: Dec 22 2007. Saturday
Time: 10:30am
Place : Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium,
Santa Monica Public Library · 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica,
CA 90401 ·
Ph:(310) 458-8600

Driving For Burma Arrival in Los Angeles (Dec 15, 2007)

Ko Si Thu, the person who is doing the "Driving for Burma" campaign, will be arriving Los Angeles on 12/15/07 (Saturday). LA Organizer team will welcome him at one of our Residence. All of you are invited to join with us to greet Ko Si Thu at following schedule.

Date: December 15, 2007 (Saturday)
Time: 6 – 9 PM
Place: 20442 E Walnut Canyon Road, Walnut, CA 91789

President Bush's Statement on UN Special Rapporteur's Findings on Burma

White House Press Release
Dec 11, 2007

This is the President Bush's Statement on UN Special Rapporteur's Findings on Burma.

"I am deeply disturbed by the report that UN Special Rapporteur Paulo Pinheiro released today in Geneva documenting his findings from his trip to Burma last month. It provides further alarming details about the Burmese authorities' crackdown on demonstrations by monks and democracy activists and the severe reprisals that continue today.

He describes how the regime harassed, detained, and killed many peaceful demonstrators. The Special Rapporteur received reports, for example, that a large number of bodies were burned September 27-30 at the Ye Way Crematorium.

I strongly condemn these actions and the junta's refusal to accept the need for real change in Burma. Even while Mr. Pinheiro was in Burma, the regime continued to arrest and harass monks and democracy activists. The regime has also closed down monasteries, including the Maggin Monastery in Rangoon that served as a hospice and treatment center for HIV/AIDS patients.

Mr. Pinheiro's report demonstrates why the world cannot go back to business as usual with General Than Shwe and his junta. I call on all members of the international community to condemn the atrocities detailed in Mr. Pinheiro's report in the strongest possible terms. Last month, I announced new sanctions on the leaders of the regime and their cronies. Should the regime continue to ignore calls for a true democratic transition and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, the United States is prepared to lead international efforts to place more sanctions on the regime.

Laura and I will continue to stand with the Burmese people as they seek the freedom they deserve."

An Evening with Burmese Monk leader and former monk political prisoner + Video

Monday Dec 17, 7:00 – 9:30 pm
Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian-Universalists Hall
1924 Cedar Street (@Bonita), Berkeley, CA 94709

Masoeyein Sayadaw is the head of the International Burmese Monks Organization ((Sassana Moli) ) founded after recent protests in Burma to help the monks and nuns of Burma as well as to save the Buddhism from the destructive Burma’s Junta. He is a well-known Buddhist teacher and author of 50 years in Burma. He was derobed and imprisoned in Burma for three years in 1990 for his monastery participating in the Monk’s boycott of the military. He has been actively advocating against the atrocities and destructions of monks, nuns and Buddhist institutions in Burma.

Come join Masoyein Sayadaw and an excellent Burma Video "Burma: State of Fear" by Frontline/WORLD, 25 MINS, COLOR with introduction and Q&A by the Frontline/WORLD Series Editor Stephen Talbot.

(Ref: www.badasf.org )

Join BAWA

BAWA (Burmese American Women Alliance) is an organization that is made up of people who are dedicated to do something for Burma; eg. raising community awareness, grabbing media attention, and raising funds.

BAWA is also a sister-organization of BADA (Burmese American Democratic Alliance).
Together with BADA, BAWA has been organizing peace rallies in San Francisco.

Although the name says "Burmese American Women", we welcome ALL men and women, Burmese and non-Burmese of any age.

If you are interested, please check out www.badasf.org.

Yesterday Dec 9th Peace Rally in San Francisco was a Great Success

First of all, we would like to thank you all for coming and showing your support yesterday at our Peace Rally in San Francisco.

It was a Great Success and we had a good time together.

We will update you with all the other activities coming up during this month.

Driving For Burma - Update

This is an update of how far the "Driving for Burma" trip has gone as of this week.

DECEMBER 9TH, PEACE RALLY IN SAN FRANCISCO

Reminder:
Come and Mark International Human Right Day with Rally for Peace and Freedom in Burma!!!

Date: Sunday Dec. 9th,
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Place: Civic Center Plaza,
Address: Polk St & McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102
What to Wear: Please Wear Red or Maroon Red

Anti-American Signboards being posted by Burmese Junta

Burmese Government (State Peace and Development Council - SPDC) has started posting the signboards with "Anti-American" slogans around Yangon. In the above picture, you can see the slogan above other commercials, which says:

"Oppose those who have negative views over Burmese Government and those who rely on the United States for Burmese affairs."

Through out the years of its power, Burmese Junta had posted multiple giant signboards with its own slogans all over the country especially at large cities. However, it was not long ago that the Junta specifically mention "the United States" in their news or on their signbords. Before that, the Junta used to use the words "foreign countries", or "external help", with no specific name of a particular country.

They have also started attacking the United States by name in their government newspapers or on national TV.

(www.burmese.dvb.no)

Junta Charges Monks' Leader With Treason

The leader of the All-Burma Monks Alliance (ABMA) has been arrested and charged with treason for his role in the September pro-democracy demonstrations. Treason is a capital crime in Burma. If convicted and executed, 27 year-old U Gambira would be the first monk to be put to death in Burma since the British colonial rulers hanged a monk who lead a rebellion 70 years ago.

U Gambira was instrumental in getting tens of thousands of monks onto the streets in peaceful protests during September. The anti-regime demonstrations, which began over the peoples' agitation against the fuel price hike in mid-August, came to an abrupt end after a brutal crackdown by the junta.

By the end of September the monks' leader went in hiding, and in an attempt to force U Gambira out into the open the generals resorted to hostage taking by arresting several members of his family. This tactic worked and during November the peaceful protest leader was captured.

Since U Gambira's arrest his exact whereabouts remain unconfirmed officially. However reliable reports indicate that he is being kept in Cell Block 1 at Insein Prison in Rangoon. Cell Block 1 is notorious as the junta's main interrogation centre for political prisoners. Just prior to his arrest U Gambira asked for following statement to be released:

"To Buddhists all over the world and activists and supporters of Burmese movement, please help to liberate the Burmese people from this disastrous and wicked system. To the many people of the world who are sympathetic to the suffering of the Burmese people, please help us to be free from this evil system. Good people in Burma are being killed or imprisoned, tortured, and then sent to forced labour camps. I sincerely ask the international community to do something to stop these atrocities. My chances of survival are very slim now. But I have not given up hope, and will try my best."

U Gambira is the pseudonym of a leader of the All-Burma Monks Alliance.

Burmese Muslim Association's Announcement

Burmese Muslim Association has released its opinion over Burmese Government shtting down the Monestries and removing/arresting monks from the Monestries in Burma.

In the statement dated November 30th, 2007, the association calls the act "Shameful" and "Lawless".

It also states that Burmese Muslims have vowed to cooperate with other Burmese Democracy activitits of different religions and will continue to fight against this brutal military regime.

Driving For Burma has Started

"Driving For Burma" has started.
Here is the Road Trip Plan:

Dec 1 - Toronto to Washington DC
Dec 4 - Washington DC to North Carolina
Dec 5 - North Carolina to Georgia
Dec 6 - Georgia to Washington DC
Dec 8 - Washington DC to New York
Dec 9 - New York to Indiana
Dec 11 - Indiana to Chicago to Kansas City
Dec 12 - Kansas City to Denver
Dec 13 - Denver to Grand Canyon
Dec 14 - Grand Canyon to Las Vegas
Dec 15 - Las Vegas to Los Angeles
Dec 17 - Los Angeles to San Francisco
Dec 19 - San Francisco to Grants Pass
Dec 20 - Grants Pass to Seattle
Dec 22 - Seattle to Vancouver
Dec 27 - Vancouver to Calgary
Dec 28 - Calgary to Regina
Dec 29 - Regina to Winnipeg
Dec 30 - Winnipeg to Thunder Bay
Dec 31 - Thunder Bay to Sault Ste. Marie
Jan 1 - Sault Ste. Marie to Toronto

The plant for the road trip could be changed depending on the weather and driving conditions.

Protest for Beijing Rose Float (November 29th, Thursday, 7 to 8 PM, Los Angeles)

We only have a few days left before the Beijing Rose float will float down Colorado Blvd. This means we have only a few days for the media to pay attention to this issue.

Join Us on this Protest for Beijing Rose Float:

Thursday, November 29 - 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
To Do: Distribute flyers to ask people to TURN THEIR BACK ON THE BEIJING FLOAT.
Vice Mayor Steve Haderlein is having a raffle for free Grandstand Rose Parade Tickets at the Pasadena High School Cafeteria located at 2925 East Sierra Madre Boulevard.

Saturday, December 1, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. - first weekend for dry decoration
To Do: Protest - ask people not to volunteer for the Beijing float

We need to identify that it is the Beijing float we are protesting because there is also the Taiwan China Airlines float.

As in the past, all our actions are about getting the information about human rights to the general public.

Please join us!

Fund-Raising For Peace in Burma was a Big SUCCESS Today!!!

First of all, we would like to thank you all for coming to our "Fund-Raising For Peace" Event today at Monterey Park (Los Angeles). It was a big success today. We definitely could raise a good fund for our heroes in Burma.

Thanks for buying our food at different food-stalls, and buying our Free-Burma CDs, DVDS, T-Shirts, Sweaters, etc at our counters.

Without all your supports, this event had not been such a great success.

Thank you everybody who gave your time and cooked food, who came and bought stuff, who came and enjoyed all the songs on stage.

We hope to be doing the same thing soon too.
We will keep you posted in a timely manner.

Thank you all.

Britian Prime Minister and France President Had a Serious Talk about Burma

Time for serious dialogue
By Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy
Friday, November 30, 2007

Just two months ago, the world was shocked and outraged by the violent repression of peaceful demonstrations that took place in Burma. The images may have vanished from our screens, but we cannot and will not forget the plight of the Burmese people.

A country that has the natural resources to be an economic powerhouse is instead the sick man of Southeast Asia. As the rest of the region advances into the digital age, Burma is in danger of retreating to the dark ages.

Cut off from the
outside world and denied access not only to democracy and respect for human rights, but also to proper education and basic economic rights, its society is in a state of disarray.

The huge demonstrations and protests over recent months have shown that the Burmese people have been pushed beyond breaking point by the regime.

Last week a new generation of leaders gathered in Singapore to mark an important milestone: 40 years of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean. We welcomed that celebration: Asean today represents a proud and prosperous region standing at the heart of the global economy, its voice heard and respected across the world.

Asean's leaders faced the twin challenges of enshrining a charter that commits them to respect democratic and human rights and dealing with the ongoing crisis in Burma. The Burmese government was sent a clear message: There is no going back. We agree.

It is obvious now that the country is in a
downward spiral of poverty and unrest. Like the European Union, Asean has always understood that economic growth and open markets cannot be pursued in isolation: Good economics are founded on good politics. But the politics of Burma are poisoned and now need urgently to be transformed for the wider health of the region.

We welcome the positive and conciliatory statement issued on Nov. 9 by Aung San Suu Kyi, holder of the Nobel Peace Prize and figurehead of the Burmese opposition. She signaled her desire to begin soon a meaningful and time-bound dialogue with the Burmese regime. She also emphasized the need for a growing role of the UN in Burma and underlined the need to engage with other political forces including Burma's ethnic nationalities. Those are welcome steps.

It's time the regime engages in a genuine dialogue. In this respect, the regime must remove restraints on Aung San Suu Kyi, give unfettered access to Ibrahim Gambari, the UN secretary general's
special envoy, and heed the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, Paul Sergio Pinheiro. And they must enter wholeheartedly into dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi as well as with other opposition groups and ethnic leaders.

The goal must be genuine reconciliation and political transition. Nobody imagines that this process will be quick or simple. Burma is a complex mixture of ethnicity, religion and culture. The process will need to be broadly-based and inclusive, taking careful account of the need to build a lasting stability that includes Burma's key political and ethnic groups.

The neighboring countries are well placed to support and encourage such a process. And, although the military dictatorship must end, the military itself must continue to play an important role in any future government, as Aung San Suu Kyi herself has acknowledged.

Faced by the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Burma, the international community, and
in particular the EU, has already extended its aid to address the needs of the most vulnerable people. The EU has also decided to reinforce existing sanctions against Burma in order to send a strong political message and has consequently established a new series of targeted sanctions against the military regime.

The EU also made clear that it stands fully ready to review, amend or reinforce existing restrictive measures in the light of developments on the ground and the results of the good-offices mission of Ibrahim Gambari.

We believe that positive change will be best encouraged by following a carrot and stick approach: a combination of restrictive, targeted measures on the one hand and the alleviation of these measures as well as the prospect of a comprehensive economic initiative on the other.

However, this move will become possible if, and only if, there is a clear signal that a genuine transformation leading to a new, democratic government of
Burma is under way.

The prize for Burma's long-suffering people, and for neighbors who have suffered too long from the problems of refugees, narcotics and instability that spill across Burma's borders, is great indeed: a prosperous, stable Burma living up to its economic potential and adding to the region's economic dynamism.

But achieving that prize will require sustained engagement and real mobilization by the international community. We will continue to stand by the Burmese people as they prepare to mark 60 years of independence.

We hope that 2008 will finally bring peace and reconciliation to Burma.

Gordon Brown is prime minister of Britain, and Nicolas Sarkozy is president of France.
(http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/11/30/opinion/edbrown.php)