Arrest Yourself for Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma

On June 19, 2010, Aung San Suu Kyi will be spending her 65th birthday under house arrest. She has been locked up for 15 of the past 21 years because of her pivotal role in one of the world's most inspiring freedom struggles.

Every year for Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday, we ask our supporters to give up 24 hours in solidarity with her and the people of Burma. We call this event: Arrest Yourself, honoring Aung San Suu Kyi's unparalleled courage and determination.

Now more than ever, Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burma movement need your help putting Burma at the top of the international agenda. The pending sham elections, mounting government tension with cease fire groups, and growing international concerns over human rights violations make this year an especially critical one in Burma's history.

In the international community, there is growing momentum toward ending Burma's war crimes. Earlier this month, the International Tribunal on Crimes Against Women in Burma called on the United Nations to hold the military junta accountable for its commission of rape and torture as weapons of war. A few weeks ago, the UN Special Rapporteur to Burma, Mr. Quintana, joined this call by urging the UN to initiate a Commission of Inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma.

In the coming months we must move quickly to capitalize on the energy generated by these recent developments. With this year's Arrest Yourself, we will inspire more people to get involved in this growing movement as well as raise critical funds for advocacy.

Aung San Suu Kyi once said, "Sometimes, 24 hours can bring a total revolutionary change." And that's all it takes to Arrest Yourself and make your mark on Burma's freedom movement.

Waste no time. Sign up now to Arrest Yourself in solidarity with Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma!  Visit the links of the organizations listed on this site for more info.

And learn more about how to Arrest Yourself.

With all the "Arrest-Yourself" Events going on around the world, below is the flyer for the event happening in Chiang Mai.  (ref: thebestfriend.org)

Annual Burma Human Rights Day Event 2010 in San Francisco Bay Area

The San Francisco-based non-profit organization, Burmese American Democratic Alliance (BADA) is holding its tenth annual event to commemorate the struggle for democracy in Burma on Saturday March 13, 2010 at the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Hall in Berkeley from 6 pm to 10 pm.

Ever since Ko Phone Maw, a Rangoon Institute Technology student, was brutally killed by the military junta on 13th March 1988, the day has been marked by activists all across the world.

The evening will start with Burmese food, films and talks by notable guest speakers. Dr. Sein Win, Prime Minister of National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) will talk about the current situation of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her party. Toe Lwin, a former political prisoner, who was with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi when she escaped from an assassination attempt coordinated by the junta in 2003 will talk about his life in Burma as an activist and his personal experience from the De-peyin Massacre and inside the Khantee prison.

“We need to raise the awareness about the brutal dictatorship and the suffering of the people of Burma, BADA continues to hold Burma Human Rights Day event each year in honor of brave men and women who have lost their lives or given up so much fighting for democracy in Burma, ” said Nyunt Than, President of BADA.

Place: the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Hall, 1924 Cedar in Berkeley
$15 Suggested Donation (dinner included) to benefit BADA

For more information, visit http://wwww. badasf.org

Burma Human Rights Day Event....

Each year, the people from Burma around the world commemorate March 13 as the Burma Human Rights Day to make the death of the engineering student Ko Phone Maw as he was murdered by the Burma's military in his school campus. The killing set off the historic 1988 nation-wide pro-democracy uprising in Burma after 26 years of oppression. However, the regime brutally cracked down the peaceful protests and continued hold on to power for decades.

In September, 2007, yet another historic and massive, but peaceful protests for democracy led by the students and monks took place; but, as always, the regime brutally murdered the innocent protesters and monks. The Peoples' endless and painful struggle for freedom, for over four decades, continues to this day.
The world has yet again witnessed the brutality of the regime when the Cyclone Nargis devastated the lower delta region of Burma on May 2nd, 2008. Hundreds of thousands left for dead by starvations denying much needed urgent help despite international appeals and pressure.

To continue to raise the awareness about the brutal dictatorship and the people's suffering in Burma, and to discuss planning actions, this year again, BADA will hold its ninth Annual  Burma Human Rights Day event on Saturday March 13, 2010 at the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists hall, 1924 Cedar (@Bonita) in Berkeley from 6 pm to 10 pm. 
  
2010 is the most important year yet for the people of Burma and their beloved leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all prodemocracy forces in Burma. Our speakers will discuss the current political situation in Burma as well as human rights issues and, most importantly, how you can help. Therefore, please join us for a dinner, film and outstanding speakers on Burma and human rights issues. 

Free Burma; Free Aung San Suu Kyi

10th Annual Burma Human Rights Day Benefit Held
(A public outreach and awareness activity in support of Burma's people!)

Saturday, March 13, 2010; 6:00pm-10:00pm
Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Hall,
1924 Cedar (at Bonita), Berkeley, CA 94709-2022, USA

KO TOE LWIN, former Political Prisoner
and NLD Youth Leader Speaking at March 13, 2010 event

DINNER * SPEAKERS * FILM

FILM: Orphans of Burma's Cyclone ( Undercover, award-winning documentary that Burma's military regime doesn't want you to see )
Filmed covertly over the course of a year by two Burmese cameramen, who risked an instant 30-year jail sentence if caught, Orphans of Burma's Cyclone exposes the official intransigence of one of the world's most brutal and secretive regimes and, for the first time, reveals what day-to-day life is like for the ordinary people of Burma.

Dr. Sein Win: Burma's Elected MP and Prime Minister of NCGUB, Government in Exile
Title: The current political situation in Burma and the position of National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB)

Toe Lwin: Burma’s former political prisoner and Youth Leader of NLD
Title:  My Experiences from Depayin Massacre and Khantee (Prison) Hell

Chivy Sok: International Human Rights Advocate
Title: Beyond Survival: Transformative Journey in International Human Rights Advocacy
$15 Suggested Donation (dinner included) to benefit BADA
Draft Program: Dinner (6-7 pm), Speakers (7-9 pm), Film (9:00-9:30), Q&A (9:30-10:00)
Dinner is vegetarian friendly; Talks will be in English; Contents are OK for children

Organized by: 
Burmese American Democratic Alliance (BADA)
Co-sponsored by:
 Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Social Justice Committee,  
Buddhist Peace Fellowship (BPF),  
Burmese American Women's Alliance (BAWA),
Clear View Project,  
Amnesty International (USA),
 Ginetta Sagan Fund Organization
and Free Burma Project
Contact: Anil Verma: 510 485 3751
Email: badaonline@badasf.org; Website: www.badasf.org

The event will feature a Burmese style dinner and a Burma documentary film along with three outstanding Speakers on Burma.