Global Voices » Burmese

Myanmar: Freed Blogger's First Post

tan — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:24:14 +0000

Myanmar Blogger Nay Phone Latt, who was released on January 13th along with other prominent political prisoners after being imprisoned for 4 years, wrote his first blog post about his experience in prison.

Myanmar's ‘Beautiful Friday the 13th'

Chan Myae Khine — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:46:51 +0000

Myanmar President Thein Sein proved that the new government is serious in implementing democratic reforms by releasing almost all political prisoners today. According to a news report by a government television channel, a total of 651 dissidents were released from detention.

The release of prominent political prisoners is cited as an important step towards the Myanmar democracy journey. Among those who were freed included 88 generation activists Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Mya Aye, Jimmy, and Ni Lar Thein, monk activist Ashin Gambira, the former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt and his sons, and the blogger Nay Phone Latt. Both local and exile news agencies have interviewed some of these well-known personalities after their release.

Hundreds of Myanmar political prisoners were released on 'Beautiful Friday the 13th'

Khin Nyunt, the former prime minister, agrees [my] with Aung San Suu Kyi, the global democracy icon of Myanmar, that the recent decision of the government is a step in the right direction. Here's the report from the Eleven Media Group:

Current government is great. Because they have met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. And the efforts made by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, efforts made by the president, the efforts made by both of them would lead to the good future of the country, I think.

The Democratic Voice of Burma posted the speeches of Min Ko Naing and Ni Lar Thein. Min Ko Naing was welcomed by more than a thousand people:

Thank you all, I have been in prison for about 20 years. But I am still quite healthy as you can see because of the love of the public. For the democracy that the public is hoping, we promise that we will carry on till we get to the target.

But Ni lar Thein also confirmed she hasn't signed any document for the release.

Many people around the country expressed their elation on social networks after the release was announced. Brownboy commented on the news update of Eleven Media Group :

Now people are happy inside & out. Appraising our Government… This is really tangible result that everyone can see..
Why they didn't do it the first place…?
Anyway, this is the moment we should celebrate…
Long live our People & Country!!!

KHZ1994, another commenter, expressed [my] his happiness :

I couldn't even go out for lunch. Because I am reading this news and the comments. Today is the day for the public with tears of happiness.

Myanmar netizens on Facebook posted status updates such as “Beautiful Friday 13″, “We are free”, “Thanks Mr. President” and “Today is a fairy tale” in reaction to the news. Some netizens even opined that substantial change will define Myanmar's immediate future.

Maung Maung San posted an artwork for the president saying:

That's a really bold move Mr. Thein Sein. I can see removal of sanctions and economic boom in a short future. A good friday the 13th.

TeZa Hlaing posted [my] his belief on facebook:

2012 is not the year the world would end but the year Myanmar would start.

SG_Lion mentioned [my] his thoughts on the country's future:

Let's try for our country to be able to stand proudly in the world by forgetting the past. Sanctions would be removed and Europe, US and international investments will improve in Myanmar. May the day when we can say “I'm Myanmar” proudly arrive very soon.

According to The Myanmar Times, Aung San Suu Kyi commented [my] after meeting with a U.S Congressman :

I have mentioned that they would be released. And now, they are free.

Myanmar: A Year After Suu Kyi's Release

tan — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:47:45 +0000

The Burmese people in Myanmar and the whole world rejoiced after Aung San Suu Kyi's release last year on November 13, 2010. Now it has almost been a year since she had been released.

Maydarwii wrote on her blog as soon as Suu Kyi was released:

I thought that I will blog again only after I finished my exams, but today, I will blog because of a happy occassion. Because of the vague news I've been hearing, my mind was in a limbo since yesterday. For this kind of news is heard all the time, but they sometimes turned out to be false. I wished that this news was correct but not feeling too positive about it. While eating breakfast that morning before going out, my uncle told me that the news I heard yesterday was still unconfirmed so I was feeling a bit let down. After coming back home at 1pm, I was hungry so was preparing lunch when my uncle came into the kitchen happily announcing, “She's been released!” We left our lunches at the table, and came in front of the TV watching the news for a long time. We forgot that we were hungry. After all, we have been waiting to hear this news for many years.

I was feeling so overjoyed to see the joyous crowd in front of Daw Suu's house which made me feel goosebumps and tears were forming in my eyes. I couldn't stop looking at Daw Suu's blurry face on TV. I feel so happy and sad at the same time. Indescribable feelings overwhelmed my heart.

Aung San Suu Kyi, 8 October, 2011. Image by Flickr user Utenriksdept (CC BY-ND 2.0).

Htoo Tayzar was one of the Burmese bloggers who went to NLD Headquarters to listen to her speech to the Burmese people the next day after release. He wrote:

At 10:30am, there was a lot of people already, and many of them was holding “We Love Su” posters. I noticed that there was no uniformed men around there, except for the traffic police. There are also a lot of people at the betel nut shops and tea shops which were directly in front of the headquarters. I saw that many grand dads and grand moms came, holding little kids by the hand. People who came were from different generations

He took many photos at the event, even though “it was too crowded to even stand properly and had to be stand on tip-toe to take these photos.”

Meanwhile, Kyaw Thu, a Burmese actor who has also won many hearts because of his Free Funeral Service Society, gave paintings he drew to Suu Kyi. When asked how he feels about Suu Kyi's release, he said:

We now have a warm light in our lives. I don't want us to lose our goals. I don't want us to have a life that prevents us from working because of fear. Now “Mother” Suu can lead and guide us on our way. We can't just be happy for her release. It is important that we will follow her guidance.

Many local news journals were not allowed to put her release as headline and reporting about her release was heavily censored. However, a local sports journal was reportedly suspended for two weeks due to its headline which read, “Sunderland Freeze Chelsea,” “United Stunned by Villa” & “Arsenal Advance to Grab Their Hope”, but with light-colour letters in the headline can be read out as “Su Free. Unite & Advance to Grab The Hope.”

Furthermore, nine other local journals were suspended for a week for putting Suu Kyi's release news on front page.

However, after the new government has been inaugurated in 2011, there were relaxations of press censorship on news about Aung San Su Kyi. An article written by her, called “My Holidays” was featured on Pyi Thu Khit Journal.

She traveled to Bagan with her son in July 2011. It was her first trip outside Yangon after being released from house arrest. She greeted hundreds of local residents, and many were elated to be able to meet her.

A resident said:

“I'm so happy to see our country's daughter,” said a 70-year old flower seller at the pagoda. “Nobody but Suu Kyi can unite this country.”

She was also against the implementation of Myitsone Dam Project in Kachin State. She also seemed to be catching up with social and cultural events after having been imprisoned for years. She attended several events, such as “Sketch of A River Art Exhibition“, 150th Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore at the Indian Embassy, a football match and the recent opening of Baydar Library. She will also be sponsoring the Art of Freedom Film Festival, where she took financial responsibilities for awarding the entries.

In August 2011, she met with Myanmar's President U Thein Sein for the first time, and said she was “satisfied” with the talks.

She also met with other foreign dignitaries, such as United States Senator John McCain.

Meanwhile, Suu Kyi said that she wil make a decision about re-registering her party National League for Democracy (NLD) after parliament amends the election laws. She said:

Whether we re-register our NLD party depends on the law. That is the reason why we will need to wait until that law has been endorsed to decide about this. When this law has been endorsed, we will hold a meeting according to party laws and decide on this issue. We are very precise. We only do things according to the law. That is why I cannot decide yet because I haven't seen the law.”

On November 13, 2011, she will be holding a press conference in the NLD headquarters in celebration of her one-year freedom.

Myanmar Netizens to BBC: Apologize Now

Chan Myae Khine — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 17:53:03 +0000

Some Myanmar netizens are asking BBC to apologize for publishing an ‘inaccurate' map of Myanmar's ethnic groups. They claim that BBC reporter Anna Jones used an inaccurate map in an article she wrote on November 5, 2010 titled “Bleak outlook for Burma's Ethnic Groups.”

According to them, the map showed that Rakhine (Arakan) State is represented by Rohingya who are identified as a minority group in Myanmar even though the state is inhabited by Rakhine People (Arakanese). Furthermore, they said the map wrongfully depicted the Shan State to be represented not only by “Shan” ethnics but also by “Wa”; and that the Ayeyarwaddy Division and Kayah are represented by Karen and so on which are not in conformity with Myanmar's official ethnic and state definitions.

Myanmar netizens flooded a BBC Burmese Facebook page with comments asking the media network to issue an official apology letter to Myanmar citizens for saying that Rohingya is one of the ethnic groups in Myanmar.

Thein Tun Zan wrote about the relationship between Rakhine People and Rohingyas and requested an apology letter from BBC on behalf of all Myanmar citizens.

The presence of Muslim Bengali immigrants in Arakan State in Myanmar (Burma) is similar to the presence of Christian English people in Hong kong, Macau, South Africa and etc.

It is no different to having Muslim immigrants from Arab world in the Great Britain itself. The presence of Muslim Arabs does not make Britain an Arabic Country or the state of Arab Muslim.

As such, Arakan State is by no mean a state of immigrant Bengali Muslims. Calling them Rohinjas or whatsoever does not make them an indigenous ethnic Arakanese people who has founded Arakan Kingdoms and lived for thousands of years.

Dear BBC, the wrongful presentation and bias representation of ethnic profile in Anna Jones article is a serious mistake and oversight that BBC has done to damage the genuine Arakanese people.

Therefore, I and all those who “like” and support on this wall post, demand you, “BBC”, to immediately correct the Article of Anna Jones and issue an apology for your mistake.

Another netizen, Khaing Minn Nyo posted his comments on the Facebook page

Dear BBC Burmese News, and its Editor Group, your broadcasting center should do something for wrong information about the article of Anna Jones. If your News really wants to change Burma to Democracy, you are not ought to broadcast the wrong information. Good Luck BBC. I am waiting for your response.

Nyan Myint Aung also expressed his disappointment [my].

I don't know their aim. But it's absolutely wrong. I'm totally against it.

Aye Maung, a Rakhine ethnic who studied in University of Aberdeen, Scotland affirms the rights of the Rohingyas although he is worried about the demand of the group to create a new state. Meanwhile, Naing Zaw compared the Rohingyas in Myanmar and the Burmese in Thailand.

There are 4-6 million Burmese who are currently residing in Thailand… That's like 10% of total population of Thailand…. Do BBC dare to flag up Myanmar people on Thailand map so that we can ask for citizenship or recognized ethnicity??? Most of them are denied even the basic human rights and exploited on all accounts, thanks to ajar door policy on immigration…. If your purpose of presenting information is truly genuine to the interest of the people of Myanmar, try to gain insights and report and speak out these terrible and inhumane exploitations on behalf of “Genuine” Myanmar people.

After hundreds of complaints were posted on the BBC Burmese Facebook Page, BBC first removed the map from both articles without announcing anything officially. Then, they put it back after modifying the map by putting Rakhine (Arakanese) together with Rohingya representing Rakhine (Arakan) State. The article in the website was updated with this note

UPDATE 28 October 2011: The map in this article was temporarily removed on 27 October 2011 to make some changes. It has now been replaced with an updated version which includes a section on the Rakhine people.

Some netizens sent a formal complaint to BBC though this has not yet been listed in the “Responses to Complaints”. The BBC Burmese posted on their Facebook page a reply from BBC News Online.

Thank you for your comments. The map was not intended as an exhaustive look at every ethnic group in Burma. Rather it was intended to flag up minority peoples in Burma's border regions who are prominent because they are engaged in either disputes or conflict with the Burmese government. The line linking the Rohingya to Arakan state was not intended to imply ownership of the state or to marginalise the Rakhine people, but simply to show readers the state in which the Rohingya live. The text linked to the image of the Rohingya makes it clear that they are not granted Burmese citizenship. We have now adjusted the line on our map to give a clearer picture of where the Rohingya are to be found. We have also added a section featuring the Rakhine people. On the second page, we have amended our text to make a distinction between minority groups and recognised ethnic groups. Thank you for reading the BBC News website.

About 70 people responded it within an hour and most of them mentioned that BBC still need to apologise for the wrong facts and inaccurate visualisation about Myanmar's ethnic groups. Chan Myae Khine commented that

Though it was not intended to imply ownership of Rakhine (Arakan) State, the readers with less knowledge will surely think Rohingyas were one of important ethnic groups of Myanmar. Plus, if they honestly wish to point out the minority groups of people, they MUST put Le Su, Inn Thar, Myo, Thet and many more 100+ ethnics on the map.

Using such a wrong visualisation is just persuading readers to believe the wrong situation and history of Myanmar. Therefore, BBC and the journalist and whoever sketched this map MUST apologise to all Myanmar citizens!!!

Myanmar: Release of Several Political Prisoners

Chan Myae Khine — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 04:20:02 +0000

Eleven Media reported that several political prisoners in Myanmar like Ko Thu Ya (Famous Comedian), Ko Ko Gyi (San Chaung), Monks from 2007 Saffron Revolution and members of opposition party NLD have been released this morning.

Myanmar: Did Thai Prime Minister Snub Aung San Suu Kyi?

Chan Myae Khine — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:35:26 +0000

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra visited Myanmar last week, intriguing some netizens because she only visited Nay Pyi Taw where Myanmar officials are residing and not Yangon, Myanmar's former capital.

Wai Myo Chit left a comment on the facebook Page of The Irrawaddy (Burmese Version) [my]:

I think she is coming to negotiate the current rice export policy of the Myanmar government. She promised Thai farmers to increase the price of rice - double the current market value - during the election. Maybe to confirm that Myanmar government's rice export policy won't disturb her plan, she offers an ‘exchange policy' to entertain our blind military heroes. Anyway, whether her plan will be successful or not, the price of rice will go up in Myanmar ! I am sorry for the poor people who have to pay the higher price for rice because of this impact! But maybe it seems unavoidable because our country has a lot of great businessmen and policy makers.

Yingluck Shinawatra during a press conference in Bangkok, Thailand. Image by Alexander Widding, copyright Demotix (27/06/2011).

Some are puzzled why Yingluck didn't show any interest to visit Aung San Suu Kyi, the global democracy icon from Myanmar. Nainglwin discussed [my] it in the Eleven Media website.

why did she fail to meet Aung San Suu Kyi? Is our people's leader not important to her? She needs to respect our leader.

Yingluck also visited Mr. Zaw Zaw who is the President of Myanmar Football Federation. An anonymous commenter expressed [my] disappointment over this visit in the Irrawaddy News Blog [my].

Hello,
Is Zaw2[Zaw Zaw], the minister or what post is he holding now? That Pepsi's Thein Htun, son-in-law, has become high authority in this so-called new government? Why did this Thai Prime Minister visit him? Are they friends or what? Why didn't Thai Prime Minister meet with Daw A.S.S.K. [Aung San Suu Kyi]? Is Zaw2 more important than the people's leader? She shouldn't do this,SO BAD.

Global democracy icon, Aung San Suu Kyi

On the other hand, some Myanmar citizens welcomed her visit to Myanmar. Oonayoo gave [my] his opinion on a news saying “Yingluck Shinawatra will visit Myanmar” on Eleven Media [my] and some readers agreed with him.

It's okay. Don't meet with Aunty Suu [Aung San Suu Kyi]. I do not wish to see her busy/involving in every matters without adequate authority. Nevertheless, I'm listening and clapping the new steps by the President these days.

icecoolcandy@gmail.com also expressed his/her feeling on Yingluck's visit there.

Let's welcome the very first female Prime Minister of Thailand. May they discuss and make effort for the benefit of both countries.

MK expressed his feelings on Google Buzz as well.

Why people are so serious about not visiting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi? What is so strange with it? Has a regional leader visited her in Myanmar?

Myanmar: President Suspends Dam Project

Chan Myae Khine — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:43:53 +0000

Construction of the controversial hydroelectric dam project on the Ayeyarwaddy River located in the northern part of Myanmar has been suspended by the government. President Thein Sein sent a letter to Parliament informing them that the dam project will be postponed for the sake of public interest.

The project is one of the infrastructure investments by China in Myanmar. The plan was to export the power generated from this plant to China.

Last month, Minister of Electric Power Zaw Min told reporters that the government will not suspend the project despite the concerns raised by some groups. But public activities like petition signing, workshops and community seminars urging the government to stop the dam construction intensified in the past few weeks. Even media organizations echoed the side of the public including well-known individuals who asked the president to cancel the project.

Ayeyarwaddy River, Myanmar. Photo from Flickr page of DamienHR used under CC license Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Myanmar netizens expressed support to the decision made by the government. HeinHlyan528 commented on the news page of Eleven Media Group, a well-known media outlet in Myanmar:

First of all, I’d like to say thank you to Mr. President who postponed the dam project. Everybody who is interested in Myanmar affairs would know how it would have been difficult to make such decision. I wholeheartedly thank Mr. President for making a courageous decision by fulfilling the public wish despite its impact on the long term energy needs of China which protected Myanmar in the Security Council of the UN; and the legal repercussion of voiding the contracts that have been signed already. It would be a historic act. I, as a Myanmar citizen, wish to know how our beloved China will response to this matter.

Another commenter, babymilo, mentioned:

From postponing till demolishing, we still need to march together.

Eleven Media gathered the reactions of the public. A 60-year old local from Myitkyina expressed her relief over the cancellation of the project

Did the government really postpone it? I’m so glad. It doesn’t need to be mentioned how I have been really worried about this project. Not only me but the whole town, the whole country. That [project] would destroy the nature. All would get in trouble. I’m so glad to hear this news.

Meanwhile, NayOoPeople posted this comment on the Facebook page of the Voice Weekly, another popular journal in Myanmar.

Great!!!! This is a beginning of the successful trust building process between DASSK, Burmese citizens, ethnic groups, and the present government!!

But not all citizens believe that the suspension of the project is a sign of change in the country. An anonymous commenter left this message on the Irrawaddy News blog

They can now announce themselves as so called government of the people. But they didn’t mention if it will be stopped for good. They will make profit out of it. Even if they couldn’t, they will need to wait only five years. It cannot be said that it’s for public. It cannot be said that the situation has changed in Myanmar, too.

Tint Kyaw Naing also cautioned against premature celebration

Does it mean that if it would not continue under the democracy government, it would be implemented under the army government in the future? If so, it has to be continued!

The Irrawaddy News also mentioned that global democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi welcomed the President’s decision during a meeting with Minister Aung Kyi.

Myanmar: Bomb Blasts in Three Cities

tan — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:00:14 +0000

Bombs have exploded almost simultaneously in the capital city Naypyidaw, Mandalay and Pyin Oo Lwin on Friday, June 24, 2011.

A Car Bomb Blast in Mandalay, Myanmar. Source: Eleven Media.

According to Mizzima, the two bomb explosions in Naypyidaw and Mandalay happened almost at the same time. The bomb explosion in Mandalay was planted on a car parked in front of Zaycho Hotel. Eyewitnesses saw two injured people being carried away by ambulances.

The Voice Weekly has posted photos of the bomb explosion at Mandalay on their Facebook page.

Another bomb explosion in Naypyitaw happened at a home on Ngu War St. near Tha Pyay Kone market place. An eyewitness said:

The explosion was very severe and I saw the debris from the explosion landing as far as 80 feet. Officials are now investigating in the area, and I also saw them bring a mine-searching dog.”

The bomb explosion in Pyin Oo Lwin was also at a vacant home. An eyewitness said the bomb explosion caused the whole house to collapse.

Myanmar: Post-Earthquake Stories from Aid Workers

tan — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:57:14 +0000

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the northern Shan State in Myanmar on Thursday, and according to a state-run TV report, the death toll has increased to 74 people, and the number of injured has climbed past 100 people.

According to an updated report from Weekly Eleven, several aftershocks have been recorded in areas near the eastern Shan State spreading fear among the residents. One resident in Oak Kyin village said on March 26, around 12pm:

There was another earthquake last night and one this morning also. I don't dare to stay in my house anymore. The shaking is felt more because my house is ground-based. Nothing can be predicted because it is a nature event. I will let fate decide.

Residents also said that because of the earthquake, the death toll in Tarchileik, Tarle, Nar Yaung village, Mine Lin village, and Mine Koe village is estimated to be more than a hundred, with Mine Lin village having the most number of casualties.

Earthquake damage in Myanmar. Photo from blog of akm-kunta

In the same report by Weekly Eleven, an aid worker described the situation in Tarle:

Wounded people have been sent to Tarchileik Hospital and Mine Phyat Hospital. Aid groups from Tarchileik and Kyaing Tong have based their camps in Tarle. I can say that the situation has calmed down a little. Reconstructions have begun. Rehabilitation camps have been opened in Tarle and Nar Yaung village.

An aid worker who went to Tarle, one of the worst-hit areas, was interviewed by The Irrawaddy:

I arrived in Tarle around 10am. Most of the 3-storey buildings on the side of the road only has 2 stories now. Many 2-storey buildings have also collapsed. Monasteries were also included in those collapsed buildings. Some of these buildings are more than 20 years old, so it made things worse.

Not only residents of Tarle, but also the residents in Tarchileik had to sleep on tarpaulins. When I arrived in Tarle, I saw that some people were clearing the things at their house by themselves. Some were crying in front of relative's houses. I also saw some crying because they lost their relatives. I couldn't ask them anything. I should say some were lucky to be alive.

The government hasn't done anything yet. Some were sent to hospitals. But I didn't go to the hospital so I don't know what's happening there. As far as I see, I see that there are about 60 deaths in Tachileik. There were about 20-30 deaths there (in Tarle). Death toll would be above that.

I donated some materials, instant noodles and water. I gave all of them to residential officials. I don't know what they will do with these things. They have opened temporary shelters. Those who have relatives go and live at their house.

Now, the highway has been closed temporarily. They said that it will be going under maintenance.

Another aid worker from Tarchileik said:

The earthquake happened on March 24, 8:25pm. Some hours after, officials from Tarchileik came and asked me to volunteer so I went with them. I arrived in Tarle at midnight.

On the road to Tarle, there is one big bridge. When we reached that place, our car cannot go forward anymore. So we had to cross the bridge on foot and continue on to Tarle. The road at the edge of the bridge had moved down about 5 feet. There was a great deal of destruction. With some houses, only the roof was visible and the whole house has went down into the ground.

What I had to do there was to send wounded people to Tarchileik hospital. There is a hospital at Tarle, but that hospital had also collapsed. So at first, we had to place the patients at the empty yard in front of the hospital and give them treatment. Afterwards, they were carried by stretchers to the car at the other side of the bridge. The walk there takes about 15 minutes.

When we get to the other side of the bridge, we can't immediately send the patients to the hospital. Because we didn't have many available stretchers, we had to take that stretcher back to the hospital and carry another patient. There wasn't enough cars so we couldn't send one patient to Tarchileik hospital with one car. Therefore, the patient who was sent first to the car had to wait for other patients to arrive.

Another thing is we had to wait for many levels of officials' approval for clearance in order for the car to leave to the hospital. That wastes a lot of valuable time. In the car I had to drive, one patient died when we were about to reach Tarchileik Hospital. There were people who had survived the earthquake, but died when they shouldn't have because they were not treated in time for their sustained injuries. It really makes me sad.

U Win Swe, president of Myanmar Geological Society, said to Weekly Eleven:

In the past, strong earthquakes have occured in areas around Shan State. But it has been awhile since that has happened. Earthquakes usually reoccur in areas that were previously hit before. It was only a matter of how frequent. In areas among the quake fault line, there is a tendency for after shocks to follow after a big earthquake has hit.

He also warned that because the Indian plate keeps pushing into Asia, Myanmar should be on alert for earthquakes in the future.

Japan: Earthquake, “how to protect yourself” in 30 languages

Scilla Alecci — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:43:59 +0000

TUFS students launched a website with advices on risk management translated in more than 30 languages.
The website provides “a basic guide in several languages to what to do when you have to evacuate because of the earthquake.”

Myanmar: Over 3,000 Attend Mandalay Barcamp 2011

tan — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:54:44 +0000

The city of Mandalay in Myanmar held its first Barcamp from February 12 to 13. It took the organizers almost one year to prepare for this event.

According to Weekly Eleven, over 3,100 people attended the two-day event, and on Feb 12, the first day of Mandalay Barcamp, a total of 56 topics were discussed, and on the second day, 52 topics were discussed. A wide range of topics were discussed at the Barcamp, such as information technology, literature, language, society, economics, health and education.

At first, Mandalay Barcamp was supposed to be held at Innwa Hotel, but the location was later changed to Poppa Hotel, on 78th St.

Nyi Min San wrote in his blog about the location change and why it was so difficult to choose a spot in Mandalay:

“… Though we had initially chosen Innwa Hotel, we had to re-think about the location (of Mandalay Barcamp) because of certain problems we faced. We all discussed for a possible solution, and the only solutions we were able to arrive at were to change the location or change the date. Changing the date is a very difficult task for it will not be good for the businesses who have sponsored our event, and also, we have already advertised the dates, and the costs of that are a lot. Therefore, we decided not to change the date, and just thought about changing the location.

Because Mandalay did not have an ICT Park like in Yangon, choosing the location was a really difficult problem for us. I do wish that there was an ICT Park in Mandalay.

For the location, we had to choose within available hotels, and had to find a hotel that meets with the budget we have. The location would also have to be a place with easy access.”

On the 12th, Nyi Min San and Ko Agga held a discussion about CMS Technology. Nyi Min San wrote about the discussions he planned to hold on the 13th:

“Today, MBS (Myanmar Blogger Society) would be holding a Panel Discussion. From Mandalay side, Ko MgHla, Ko Thakhingyi, Ko Ye Myat Thu and I will join. Others who are interested in this topic are also welcomed. …

Another topic that Ko MgHla, Ko Thakhyingyi and I are thinking of having is a discussion on Lightroom. We will all discuss about photo-retouching.”

MgHla, a blogger from Mandalay and PR Team Leader for Mandalay Barcamp, wrote in his blog:

“We were able to successfully hold Mandalay Barcamp 2011, the first barcamp for Mandalay, at Poppa Hotel from February 12-13. It was a barcamp where various topics were discussed, and not only IT-related topics. There were over 3100 attendees for the 2-day event. We were wrong to estimate that only a 1000 people will attend. Because we had to move to another location, the new location does not have big rooms, so that became a weakness. I would like to thank the main organizers Mandalay MCPA and MICA for their organizing efforts.”

Photos of the Barcamp event were also uploaded to Barcamp Mandalay page on Facebook. MandalayBloggers.org also wrote a photo post on Mandalay Barcamp.

Because of the big success of Mandalay Barcamp, there are plans underway to hold a Photo Camp in Mandalay.

Myanmar: Suu Kyi is free at last

tan — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 01:57:38 +0000

She has been in prison for 15 years in the past 21 years, but now she is free at last. Burmese pro-democracy icon and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released from detention by the military-backed government of Myanmar Saturday afternoon, a week after the holding of a nationwide election which was dominated by pro-administration candidates.

The Democratic Voice of Burma was able to document the first few minutes of her release. This video shows Suu Kyi waving to supporters in front of her lakeside house.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI RELEASED from DVBTV English on Vimeo.

News spread out last Thursday that Suu Kyi will be freed this weekend on the date of expiration of her house arrest sentence. It was reported that she has signed the paper for her release around 12pm on that day. Even members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), Suu Kyi's party, started cleaning the headquarter's secretariat office in anticipation of her release. On Friday, there was a crowd of 500 or more people gathering in front of the NLD office in Yangon, all waiting for “Aunty Su's” release. A banner in front of the headquarters reads “Today's the Day of Her Release“.

More than 100 NLD members and supporters also donated blood at a local hospital to draw attention to her release.

Suu Kyi's impending freedom was later doubted when the Burmese top court rejected her final appeal against her house arrest this Friday, making the people anxious whether she will be released or not.

Meanwhile, Kim Aris, Aung San Su Kyi's son reportedly has gotten his visa approved to visit Myanmar.

Now that Suu Kyi is free at last, independent media site The Irrawaddy urges its readers to submit suggestions and other ideas to Suu Kyi

The world rejoiced when Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, was freed from house arrest. Twitter users used the hashtag #aungsansuukyi as they joined the global conversation in celebrating Suu Kyi's freedom.

Myanmar: “Boycott elections” campaign

tan — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 22:17:26 +0000

Although the November 7 elections in Myanmar has been criticized as a sham by many countries around the world, the government is determined to push ahead with it. As the day draws near, there are mixed reactions among the Burmese people within the country and abroad.

The opposition party, National League of Democracy, has boycotted the election citing that it is “unfair and undemocratic”, and is urging the citizens not to vote in the elections. Detained Burmese pro-democracy leader, Aung San Su Kyi, also decided that she will not vote in the election even though she is on the electoral roll.

In Japan, the 2010 Election Boycott Committee has held a protest march in Ebitsu Park, Tokyo.

In Rakhine State, “NO Campaign” posters were posted in several townships, which read,
“Boycott 2008 Constitution and 2010 Election: NO 2010″. One of the people who participated in this campaign said to Arakhan Review:

For Boycott Election Campaign, we have posted around 1000 posters in 12 villages of Taung Kote and Ma Ei Townships one month before the Nov 7 election. We have gone down to these villages so that everyone in these villages can participate in this campaign against the government's election. We have to do this campaign together in both townships of Taung Kote and Ma Ei because these two townships together make up one constituency. Another thing is Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP) and National Unity Party (NUP) will be the only two parties running in this constituency, so we don't need to feel bad towards other parties by this boycotting. We totally opposed the 2008 Constitution, so we cannot accept this 2010 Elections which will legalize this constitution.

In the November 7 elections, about 498 seats in the lower house of Parliament (Pyi Thu Hlut Taw), 224 seats in the upper house (Amyo Thar Hlut Taw) will be contested including the other seats in the States and Divisional Legislatures. Around 25 percnt of these seats will be reserved for defense service personnel.

Myanmar: Advocacy video guide

Mong Palatino — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 02:55:33 +0000

The Witness Blog provides a Burmese version of their training videos that gives human rights activists several tips and techniques on how to document and advance their advocacies.

Myanmar (Burma): The Plight of the Karen

Juliana Rincón Parra — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:07:03 +0000

Image of Karen people in hiding by Burma Matters Now, used with permission

The ethnic minority of the Karen are one of the groups that have been targeted by the Burmese army in its effort to defend the military regime. The threat of the soldiers' arrival is enough to force migrations as the Karen people run from their homes and into hiding, carrying a few of their possessions on their backs. Burma Matters Now brings us a few videos that speak out about the plight of the Karen people.

The Karen had a part in the victory over Japan during the 2nd World War, and two war veterans speak of their experience during the war, and how, for them, the results of victory were never felt:

In this short film, two veterans in their 90s tell their story and how, for them, world war 2 was just the beginning of a drawn out bloody conflict in which their communities have been systematically and brutally devastated by the Burma Army for the last 61 years.

The military's incursions in the area are related to the existance of the Karen National Union and its armed wing the Karen National Liberation Army, however the government's Four Cuts policy of eliminating anything that might provide support to the resistance, including food, information, future recruits and resources means that villagers have to flee for their lives. The Karen villagers attempt normalcy as they hide from the soldiers. Their camps are located in the middle of jungles where it is less likely they will be discovered, and although they lack health facilities, schools, and food, they try to survive. After all, for many, staying in their villages is not an option:

Across northern Karen state, villages are regularly targeted and burnt to the ground, including their clinics, schools, temples and churches. Typically, Burmese troops will fire mortars into the settlement before entering and shooting any remaining civilians, regardless of age or sex. They will seek out stored medicines and food stocks to destroy along with pots, pans, blankets and school materials. Complete disregard for human and civil rights allows almost total impunity to soldiers on the ground, many of which are despicable racists and sadists. Monthly, reports are received of unprovoked torture, extrajudicial killing and rape, few of which gain local media attention let alone the international coverage, due to lack of accountability or communication capacity.

These attacks, are not only towards the Karen. Most minorities in Burma face similar challenges as the military attempts to crack down on different insurgent groups:

Once insurgents in these areas are weak, the Burma Army will move in and force villagers into relocation sites under government control, where they are kept under tight travel restrictions and often forced to do perform labour duties without remuneration.

Meanwhile, areas that are not possible to take due to insurgent strength are kept in a state of chaos, via regular long-distance shelling of farms, villages and markets, the routine shooting villagers, and the blocking of key travel routes. People in these regions are effectively considered insurgents themselves, are not registered as citizens and are unable to access government services of any kind.

Some efforts are being made to bring these stories out to light: some of the footage in these videos was collected by WIN, Worldwide Impact Now, an organization which has been training members of the Karen communities so that they can report their stories in a more efficient manner. Training includes basic journalism, camera work, video editing and strategies for advocacy:

WIN has worked with people in these zones to develop specific shooting plans to document this entire process from the outbreak of conflict through to the documentation of life in hiding. We are also empowering numerous community groups with the knowledge of international human rights mechanisms to collect incident details for the United Nations.