Burmese Famous Blogger Nay Phone Latt - FREED

Today is such an Emotional day for me!!!!!!

I cried with joy to see a very close friend of mine, Nay Phone Latt (real name: Nay Myo Kyaw), a burmese blogger, who was previously sent to prison for 20years for writing political blogs and being politically active online...

The government quoted "The Electronic Law" for his sentence...., whatever that means....

I still remember the day when I found out that he was arrested....
I still remember the day when my heart pounded and I got short of breath when I found out he got the 20year prison sentence for writing politics on his blog!! 
My heart ached with pain, and I felt very helpless......for not being able to do anything for the injustice at that moment.....

He has always been such an inspiration for me and he has been the reason and the motivation that has kept me continue the job of political blogging that he had started.....

Welcome back, Nay Phone Latt....!!!!!!!

Hundreds of Political Prisoners FREED....

State media reports release of 651 political prisoners, including leader of 1988 pro-democracy uprising and an ex-PM.

Burma's government has begun releasing hundreds of prisoners, including many political detainees, pro-democracy activists say, as the country takes further steps towards political reform and ending its international isolation.

Burmese state radio and television said on Friday that 651 detainees were being freed to take part in "nation-building".

There was no official word on how many political prisoners would be included in the total, but among them was Sai Nyunt Lwin, 60, a prominent ethnic minority Shan politician, and Khin Nyunt, a former prime minister and military intelligence chief, a senior prison official said.

 Daw Aung San Suu Kyi cheered for the released political prisoners......

Min Ko Naing, the leader of a pro-democracy student uprising in 1988, and Shin Gambira, a well-known Buddhist monk who led 2007 street protests, were also reported to have been freed.

Witnesses said the charismatic student leader was greeted by a huge crowd as he left prison in Thayet, 545km north of Yangon.

The release of political prisoners could help pave the way for the lifting of economic sanctions by the European Union and the US following a flurry of reforms since Burma's civilian government was allowed to take power in March after almost half a century of military rule.

Some political prisoners have already been freed, media restrictions eased and the government has initiated a dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi. On Thursday, the government signed a ceasefire with Karen rebels after decades of civil conflict.

Clinton welcomed the ceasefire agreement as a step to reaching national reconciliation.

"It is in that spirit that I urge the government to enter into meaningful dialogue with all ethnic groups to achieve national reconciliation, to allow news media and humanitarian groups access to ethnic areas." she said.

Last month, Clinton became the first US secretary of state to visit Burma in more than 50 years and said Washington stood ready to support reforms in the country and possibly lift sanctions.

The next major step in the reform process will be by-elections already announced by the government and set for April, in which our leader Aung San Suu Kyi and our party NLD will take part.
(Ref: www.aljazeera.com)

Burmese Leaders and Karen Rebels Sign Ceasefire

Government officials and rebel leaders agree on pact aimed to end one of world's longest-running civil conflicts.

Burmese government and one of the country's most prominent ethnic rebel groups, the Karen National Union (KNU), have signed a ceasefire after decades of civil conflict.

A delegation of ministers from the capital Naypyidaw and senior members of the KNU signed the pact in Hpa-an, the capital of eastern Karen state, an AFP news agency reporter witnessed on Thursday.

The military-dominated government, which came to power in March last year after decades of outright army rule, has been trying to reach out to ethnic groups as part of reforms seemingly aimed at ending its isolated status.

Civil war has gripped parts of the country since its independence in 1948, and an end to the conflicts, as well as alleged human rights abuses involving government troops, is a key demand of the international community.

Karen National Union leader Saw Jawni speaks to reporters at a welcome dinner for ceasefire talks [Reuters]

'This time we trust them'

Prior to the negotiations, a leading KNU member known as Brigadier General Johnny expressed optimism over the talks with the government.

"This time they didn't ask us to give up our arms, they just want to work for equal rights for ethnic groups," he told the AFP news agency. "This time we trust them." But he added: "We have been fighting for 60 years and one meeting alone will not end it."
(Ref: www.aljazeera.com)

Help Burma Fundraising food Bazaar for non-profit organizations inside Burma

The Food Bazaar fundraiser will be held on 

Date:   Sunday, Jan 22, 2012 at
            Newark Pavilion,
            6430 Thornton Avenue 
            Newark, CA 94560-3736 
Time:    form 11 am to 3 pm. 
Singer: Yadana Oo, 
            Burmese and Ethnic Cultural dances and more.

Freedom of Expression - Allowed in Burma for the First Time.....!!!!

I am Very excited about this very first ever Freedom Film Festival in Burma....
Freedom of Speech and Expression is one of the most important things in building a true democracy in the country.....

I can't believe that  things are actually chagning in the good directions...

Very Happy and Excited about our country and the people of Burma!!!!
(logos: behance.net)

Very First Freedom Film Festival Ever in Burma!!

The Art of Freedom film festival was a first in Burma, pushing the limits of expression, and screening a wide range of films that were uncensored and critical of the former military regime that ruled the country for decades before recent elections, which created a Parliament.

(Ref: mizzima)

• “Rope” directed by Min Thike won the “Best Short Film” award,  
• “Freedom and Unity,” directed by Zaw Bo Bo Hein won the “Best Animation” award, 
• “Still in the Dark,” directed by 19-year old director Aung Zaw Moe won the “New and Youngest Film Director” award,  
• “Click in Fear,” directed by Sai Kyaw Khaing won the “Best Documentary” award, and Waing’s “Cut this Scene” won the “Audience’s Choice” award.

Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi's Honorary Achievements

 This is just to list the honorary achievements that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has achieved so far from different countries, organizations and universities around the world... (http://www.altsean.org/)

May she live a healthy, long life .....

Year	Award/Honor	Institution/Place
1990	Honorary Fellow	St Hugh's College, Oxford, UK
1990	Rafto Prize	Thorolf Rafto Foundation, Norway
1991	Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought	European Parliament
1991	Nobel Peace Prize	Nobel Foundation, Norway
1991	Honorary Member	International PEN - Norwegian Center
1991	Humanities Human Rights Award	US
1991	Honorary Member	PEN, Canada
1992	Marisa Bellisario Prize	Marisa Bellisario Foundation, Italy
1992	Annual Award	International Human Rights Law Group, US
1992	Honorary President	London School of Economics Students' Union, UK
1992	Honorary Member	PEN, UK
1992	Honorary Life Member	University of London Union, UK
1992	Honorary Professional Fellowship	Law and Society Trust, Sri Lanka
1992	International Simon Bolivar Prize	UNESCO
1992	Prix Litteraire des Droits de l'Homme	Nouveaux Droits de l'Homme, France
1992	Honorary Member	World Commission on Culture and Development - UNESCO
1992	Honorary Doctorate in Political Science	Thammasat University, Thailand
1993	Member	Academie Universelle des Cultures, France
1993	Rose Prize	Labor Movement's International Forum, Denmark
1993	Victor Jara International Human Rights Award	Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, US
1993	Member of the Advisory Board	Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, US
1993	Honorary Doctorate of Law	University of Toronto, Canada
1993	Freedom of the City	City of Giugliano, Italy
1993	Bremen Solidarity Prize	City of Bremen, Germany
1993	Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding	India
1993	Premio Mujer Progresista	Federacion Mujeres Progresistas, Spain
1994	Honorary Doctorate	Free University of Brussels, Belgium
1994	Honorary Advisor	Forum of Democratic Leaders in the Asia-Pacific
1995	Freedom of the City	City of Aversa, Italy
1995	Prize for Freedom	Liberal International
1995	Honorary Doctorate of Laws	Queen's University, Canada
1995	Thakore Visiting Scholar Award	Simon Fraser University, Canada
1995	Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law	University of Oxford, UK
1995	IRC Freedom Award	International Rescue Committee
1996	Order of Australia	Australia
1996	Asia Human Rights Award	Federation of Human Rights of Asia, Japan
1996	W. Averell Harriman Democracy Award	National Democratic Institute, US
1996	Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Award	Art and Culture Foundation, India
1996	Empty Chair Award	Women of the Year Lunch, UK
1997	Honorary Doctorate of Legal Sciences	Charles University, Czech Republic
1997	Honorary Doctorate of Letters	Sydney University of Technology, Australia
1997	Honorary Doctorate of Letters	California Chapman University, US
1997	Honorary Doctorate of Law	University of Natal, South Africa
1997	Honorary Doctorate of Law	American University, US
1997	Distinguished Alumni Award	Delhi University, India
1997	Honorary Citizenship	City of Rome, Italy
1997	Honorary Doctorate of Letters	Glasgow University, UK
1997	Woman of the Year Award	Pearl S. Buck Foundation, US
1997	International Award	St. Angela's Peace and Justice Group, Republic of Ireland
1997	Profiles in Courage Award	Kennedy Society of Denmark, Denmark
1998	Honorary Doctorate of Law	Cambridge University, UK
1998	Freedom of the City	City of Oxford, UK
1998	Honorary Doctorate of Laws	University of Wales, UK
1998	Honorary Doctorate of Laws	University of Bristol, UK
1998	Honorary Doctorate of Laws	University of Melbourne, Australia
1998	Honorary Degree	Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium
1998	Honorary Degree	University of Bath, UK
1999	Honorary Degree	Bucknell University, US
1999	Freedom Award	International Republican Institute, US
1999	Freedom of the City of Dublin	City of Dublin, Republic of Ireland
2000	CAW Nelson Mandela Human Rights Award	Canadian Auto Workers, Canada
2000	Presidential Medal of Freedom	US
2001	Collage United Nations Award	Richard Hillinger, Germany
2001	International Social Welfare Prize	University of Southern California, US
2002	UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence	UNESCO
2002	Al Neuharth Free Spirit of the Year Award	Freedom Forum, US
2003	MTV Humanitarian Award	MTV Europe, UK
2004	Gwangju Human Rights Award	May 18 Memory Foundation, South Korea
2004	Honorary Doctorate of Laws	Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
2004	Honorary Doctorate in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics	Rangsit University, Thailand
2004	TIME's Asia's Hero 2004	TIME Magazine
2004	The Honorary Citizen of Paris	City of Paris, France
2004	The 2004 TIME 100, The most influential people in the world today	TIME Magazine
2005	Outstanding Women in Buddhism Award	Outstanding Women in Buddhism Award Committee
2005	Honorary Doctorate in Political Science	Thammasat University, Thailand
2005	Freedom of the City	City of Edinburgh, UK
2005	Freedom of the City	Galway, Republic of Ireland
2005	Honorary Membership	UNISON, UK
2005	Olof Palme Prize	Olof Palme Foundation, Sweden
2006	Freedom from Fear Award	Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, US
2007	Netaji Subhas Award	Netaji Subhas Foundation, India
2007	Honorary Doctorate of Law	University of Cape Town, South Africa
2007	Freedom of the City	City of Glasgow, UK
2007	Honorary citizenship	Canada
2007	Rome for Peace and Humanitarian Action	City of Rome, Italy
2008	Abogados de Atocha Prize	Abogados de Atocha Foundation, Spain
2008	Honorary Doctorate of Letters	Colgate University, US
2008	Congressional Gold Medal	US
2008	Freedom of Dundee	City of Dundee, UK
2008	Catalonia International Prize	Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain
2008	Honorary Membership	Club of Madrid, Spain
2009	Trumpet of Conscience Award	Realizing the Dream, US
2009	Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation	Gandhi Development Trust, South Africa
2009	Honorary Doctor of Laws	University of Ulster, UK
2009	Ambassador of Conscience Award	Amnesty International
2010	Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Award	Pakistan People's Party
2010	Honorary Membership	Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats
2010	Queen of Burma’s Democracy and Human Rights Award	Manav Ekta Parishad, India
2011	Doctor of Laws honoris causa	Carleton University, Canada
2011	Global Trailblazer Award	Vital Voices Global Partnership, US
2011	Honorary Adult Friend of the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child	World’s Children’s Prize, Sweden
2011	Freedom of Brighton and Hove	City of Brighton and Hove, UK
2011	Freedom of the City	City of Newcastle, UK
2011	Chatham House Prize 2011	Chatham House, UK
2011	Honorary doctoral degree	University of Johannesburg, South Africa
2011	Wallenberg Medal	University of Michigan,US