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igotthisguitar
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)
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 Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 6:26 am Post subject: |
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Myanmar Democracy Activists Pin Hopes
On 'Panty Power'
Thu Oct 25, 5:48 AM
BANGKOK (AFP) - A campaign is underway to chastise Myanmar's military regime, not through dialogue or sanctions, but by flooding the country's foreign embassies with women's underwear, an activist said Thursday.
A pro-democracy group based in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai is urging people all over the world to "post, deliver or fling" their undergarments to Myanmar's international embassies 
"The Burma military regime is not only brutal but very superstitious. They believe that contact with a woman's panties or sarong can rob them of their power," the Lanna Action for Burma group said on its website.
The generals who rule Myanmar, previously known as Burma, provoked international outcry in September when they violently cracked down on peaceful protesters, killing at least 13 people.
Europe and the United States led the chorus of disapproval, announcing new sanctions against the regime.
Despite the outcry and a United Nations statement deploring the crackdown and urging dialogue, the junta has shown little sign of moving any closer towards democracy or freeing opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Those behind the so-called "Panty Power" campaign hope that lingerie can succeed where international diplomacy has so far failed.
"We want to raise awareness first, and we want to target the Burmese government officials, letting them know we are against them abusing their power," said Tomoko, an activist with Lanna Action for Burma.
Tomoko, who goes by one name only, said she had heard that Myanmar embassies in Thailand, Australia and the United States had been targeted by the Panty Power campaign, which began last week.
"We are sending (the generals) panties as a symbol of putting their power down," she told AFP.
Last edited by igotthisguitar on Fri Nov 02, 2007 8:05 am; edited 1 time in total |
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cbclark4
Joined: 20 Aug 2006
Location: Masan
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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Suu Kyi meets Myanmar official
Aung San Suu Kyi, the Myanmar opposition leader, has had talks with a
government official appointed as a liaison minister.
News agencies quoted unnamed sources as saying the detained
opposition leader was picked up by a convoy of cars on Thursday
afternoon and driven to a government guesthouse for the talks.
There was no immediate word on the purpose of the brief release from
house detention in which she was allowed to talk to Aung Kyi, a retired
general appointed by the military government earlier this month to hold
talks with the opposition.
Footage of the meeting was broadcast on state television.
After an hour, she was returned to her villa in Yangon where she has
been under house arrest for the past 12 years.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D479E1AB-F3E1-4C5E-BCEB-3C763CF874D1.htm |
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cbclark4
Joined: 20 Aug 2006
Location: Masan
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:52 pm Post subject: |
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Show of force on Myanmar streets
Hundreds of riot police have returned to the streets of Yangon, the biggest city in Myanmar, armed with assault rifles and tear gas in a show of force exactly a month after a bloody crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.
The reappearance of heavy security in Yangon comes a day after an apparent reconciliation meeting between Aung San Suu Kyi, the detained pro-democracy leader, and government liaison minister, Aung Kyi.
The move was aimed at preventing new anti-government rallies a month after the biggest ever show of dissent in almost two decades.
The eastern gate of Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda - the city's top religious shrine and a focus of the recent protests - was tightly guarded with barbed wire.
Police and pro-government groups also took up positions near the Sule Pagoda in the heart of the city and other key sites.
Friday also marked the end of the Lent period, an important Buddhist holiday when monks can leave their monasteries to travel.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/56298F32-E9C5-4743-9F95-A3F4841B1045.htm |
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hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
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igotthisguitar
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 5:20 am Post subject: |
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Myanmar Monks March Again
By Aung Hla Tun
YANGON (Reuters) - Buddhist monks in Myanmar staged a protest march on Wednesday, their first since soldiers crushed a pro-democracy uprising a month ago, as U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari prepared a return visit to the former Burma.
A Yangon-based Asian diplomat said Gambari, who first visited shortly after the army crackdown, would arrive on November 3 on a second mission to coax the generals into talks with detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The latest march by monks in the central town of Pakokku, 370 miles northwest of Yangon, suggests the crackdown merely managed to stifle, not eradicate, widespread anger at 45 years of military rule and deepening poverty.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/myanmar_monks_dc
;_ylt=AiznRC9cY7JhPJeB6H8yTi0DW7oF |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:26 am Post subject: |
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NY Times article
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The monks in Pakokku on Wednesday reportedly demanded lower fuel prices and the release of political prisoners.
�We are not afraid of getting arrested or tortured,� one monk was quoted as saying by the Democratic Voice of Burma, a dissident radio station based in Norway. |
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hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
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hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
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| Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 3:57 am Post subject: |
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great article on whats going on with the mustache brothers since the crackdown:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/28/asia/comic.php
i met these guys when i was there in august, there show was a bit so-so but its the only way they can survive |
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Vicissitude
Joined: 27 Feb 2007
Location: Chef School
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| Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 7:00 am Post subject: |
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These accusations by the Myanmar Junta are ludicrous:
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Junta: U.S. a 'loudmouthed bully'
Story Highlights
Myanmar's rulers claim U.S. incited September demonstrations
French suggest package of sanctions and incentives against Asian nation
French, U.N. officials touring Asia to discuss response to crackdown in Myanmar
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- Myanmar's military government stepped up its propaganda campaign against the United States, accusing Washington of inciting last month's pro-democracy demonstrations in hopes of installing a puppet government.
Demonstrations that began August 19 over high prices for fuel and consumer goods grew into a broad-based movement for democratic reform that attracted tens of thousands of people in Yangon, the country's biggest city.
Troops crushed the protests by shooting at demonstrators on September 26-27 and arresting almost 3,000 protesters, including Buddhist monks. The government said 10 people were killed, but dissident groups put the toll at up to 200 and say thousands more people were arrested.
"Recent protests in the country were created by the loudmouthed bully, using the exiled dissidents and traitors together with communists, internal and external anti-government destructionists," said a commentary Sunday in the Myanmar-language Myanma Ahlin daily.
Myanmar state-media commonly uses the phrase "loudmouthed bully" without naming the nation it is referring to, but in a context that clearly points to the United States.
On Monday, meanwhile, the French foreign minister said sanctions against Myanmar's junta for cracking down on democracy protesters should be coupled with incentives to encourage a better response from the regime. The minister suggested an an international fund for development.
The European Union and the United States have pressed for expanded sanctions against Myanmar in recent weeks, after the junta arrested thousands of people following pro-democracy protests, shooting dead at least 10.
"Do we believe that (the sanctions) will be enough? No. Will it be useful? I hope so," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said before meeting with officials in Singapore.
"But we also have to work on the political offer, and on incentives for the Burmese people to be part of." Myanmar is also known as Burma.
As an incentive for the regime to work for national reconciliation in Myanmar, an international trust fund could be set up for development projects, Kouchner said.
Kouchner noted the European Union earlier this month agreed to expand sanctions against Myanmar, banning imports of timber, gemstones and precious metals in response to the junta's crackdown on pro-democracy groups. The EU is holding off applying them to give U.N. mediators more time to sway the military leaders to start talks with pro-democracy groups.
The French minister's Singapore visit coincides with one by the U.N.'s special envoy on Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, at the end of his six-nation Asian tour to drum up international pressure on Myanmar to end its crackdown. Gambari met Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo and they had "a good exchange of views on the Myanmar situation," a Foreign Ministry statement said.
Gambari and Kouchner also met Monday afternoon, but no details of the discussions were immediately available.
Speaking to the Foreign Correspondents Association in Singapore, Kouchner said the international trust fund, which he envisaged as being overseen by the World Bank and the U.N., would provide "micro-credit at the level of the state" to create opportunities for the development of Myanmar's trade and industry, among other projects.
Kouchner cited as an example the World Bank trust fund that was set up in 2000 for war-devastated Kosovo, where he worked as chief U.N. administrator to coordinate reconstruction and peace efforts.
He did not give a target sum for a Myanmar fund, but said British Foreign Minister David Miliband was also in favor of it and they would be seeking the support of the EU, the U.S., Japan, and Southeast Asian countries
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http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/29/myanmar.ap/index.html
I'm not convinced that the UN is doing much of any good in the first place. I don't agree with their failed "diplomacy" talks. Talk is cheap! The people need action. The UN is adding legitimacy to the illegal junta by having these talks. |
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igotthisguitar
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)
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| Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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Members of the Mustache Brothers troupe demonstrate a-nyeint pwe, Myanmar's traditional vaudeville, which includes politically satirical slapstick comedy.
(The New York Times)
Playing the jester in today's Burma especially, likely has them walking the razor's edge
IRAQ, Saudi Arabia or CHINA would be a couple other real choice gigs.
The all have such courage.
The JUNTA looks really bad in the face of genuine nobility, & grace. |
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hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
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| Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Vicissitude wrote: |
These accusations by the Myanmar Junta are ludicrous:
| Quote: |
Junta: U.S. a 'loudmouthed bully'
Story Highlights
Myanmar's rulers claim U.S. incited September demonstrations
French suggest package of sanctions and incentives against Asian nation
French, U.N. officials touring Asia to discuss response to crackdown in Myanmar
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- Myanmar's military government stepped up its propaganda campaign against the United States, accusing Washington of inciting last month's pro-democracy demonstrations in hopes of installing a puppet government.
Demonstrations that began August 19 over high prices for fuel and consumer goods grew into a broad-based movement for democratic reform that attracted tens of thousands of people in Yangon, the country's biggest city.
Troops crushed the protests by shooting at demonstrators on September 26-27 and arresting almost 3,000 protesters, including Buddhist monks. The government said 10 people were killed, but dissident groups put the toll at up to 200 and say thousands more people were arrested.
"Recent protests in the country were created by the loudmouthed bully, using the exiled dissidents and traitors together with communists, internal and external anti-government destructionists," said a commentary Sunday in the Myanmar-language Myanma Ahlin daily.
Myanmar state-media commonly uses the phrase "loudmouthed bully" without naming the nation it is referring to, but in a context that clearly points to the United States.
On Monday, meanwhile, the French foreign minister said sanctions against Myanmar's junta for cracking down on democracy protesters should be coupled with incentives to encourage a better response from the regime. The minister suggested an an international fund for development.
The European Union and the United States have pressed for expanded sanctions against Myanmar in recent weeks, after the junta arrested thousands of people following pro-democracy protests, shooting dead at least 10.
"Do we believe that (the sanctions) will be enough? No. Will it be useful? I hope so," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said before meeting with officials in Singapore.
"But we also have to work on the political offer, and on incentives for the Burmese people to be part of." Myanmar is also known as Burma.
As an incentive for the regime to work for national reconciliation in Myanmar, an international trust fund could be set up for development projects, Kouchner said.
Kouchner noted the European Union earlier this month agreed to expand sanctions against Myanmar, banning imports of timber, gemstones and precious metals in response to the junta's crackdown on pro-democracy groups. The EU is holding off applying them to give U.N. mediators more time to sway the military leaders to start talks with pro-democracy groups.
The French minister's Singapore visit coincides with one by the U.N.'s special envoy on Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, at the end of his six-nation Asian tour to drum up international pressure on Myanmar to end its crackdown. Gambari met Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo and they had "a good exchange of views on the Myanmar situation," a Foreign Ministry statement said.
Gambari and Kouchner also met Monday afternoon, but no details of the discussions were immediately available.
Speaking to the Foreign Correspondents Association in Singapore, Kouchner said the international trust fund, which he envisaged as being overseen by the World Bank and the U.N., would provide "micro-credit at the level of the state" to create opportunities for the development of Myanmar's trade and industry, among other projects.
Kouchner cited as an example the World Bank trust fund that was set up in 2000 for war-devastated Kosovo, where he worked as chief U.N. administrator to coordinate reconstruction and peace efforts.
He did not give a target sum for a Myanmar fund, but said British Foreign Minister David Miliband was also in favor of it and they would be seeking the support of the EU, the U.S., Japan, and Southeast Asian countries
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http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/29/myanmar.ap/index.html
I'm not convinced that the UN is doing much of any good in the first place. I don't agree with their failed "diplomacy" talks. Talk is cheap! The people need action. The UN is adding legitimacy to the illegal junta by having these talks. |
should seen the stuff i was reading in the New Light of Myanmar while there. it made Pravda in its day seem like respectible journalism (heck it made Korean journalism seem like the NY Times). Brought a copy home. |
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Vicissitude
Joined: 27 Feb 2007
Location: Chef School
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| Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:23 am Post subject: |
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There's no doubt that Singapore plays a key role in keeping the Myanmar junta in power.
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Monday, 5 November 2007
U.S. tells Singapore to cut bank ties with Myanmar
BANGKOK, Nov 5 - The United States told Singapore and its banks on Monday to sever financial links with Myanmar's junta, widely believed to use the city-state as its main off-shore banking centre.
"We believe that there are regime officials with accounts in Singapore," senior State Department official Kristen Silverberg told reporters in Thailand during a regional tour to drum up support for a tougher Asian stance against the former Burma. "We hope that they ensure that their financial institutions are not being used as sanctuary for Burmese officials," said Silverberg, who is responsible for U.S. liaison with groups such as the Association of South East Asian nations .
ASEAN is one of the few international organisations to admit Myanmar but its current chairman -- Singapore -- expressed "revulsion" at September's crackdown on monk-led democracy protests in which at least 10 people were killed.
Washington wants Singapore to go one step further and take action in the form of, say, financial sanctions or travel restrictions on members of the regime and their cronies, as the United States and Australia did last month.
Silverberg did not say whether "third party" sanctions, targeting non-U.S. businesses that do business with Myanmar, were among further measures being considered in Washington if the generals fail to embark on an acceptable path to democracy.
"Obviously, we've asked financial institutions and governments worldwide to consider whether their relationships with Burma are helping to facilitate this regime," she said.
"We're glad that both governments and private institutions are taking that request seriously."
Singapore officials have publicly opposed sanctions, but in the last few weeks, its banks appear to have been quietly distancing themselves from Myanmar, analysts and bankers say.
The most concrete example is Air Bagan, a small airline owned by Htoo Trading, a conglomerate which recently appeared on a U.S. blacklist on account of its links to the junta, which is suspending flights to Singapore.
The city state's Today newspaper said the final straw for the airline, which was struggling with declining passenger numbers after the crackdown, was Singapore banks deciding to "stop dealing with" it.
Despite Washington's assertion that Myanmar's generals park their cash in banks in Singapore -- also their favoured destination for shopping and medical treatment -- Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong insists the financial system is clean.
"We don't play dirty money. We don't condone money-laundering," he told CNN.
The Burma Campaign UK, a London-based activist group, list 10 Singapore firms on its "Dirty List" of those with links to Myanmar, including banks DBS Group Holdings , Oversea-Chinese Bangking Corp and United Overseas Bank , and conglomerate Keppel Corp. .
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http://ko-htike.blogspot.com/
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Sunday, November 4, 2007
Singapore is 2nd largest supplier of weapons to Burma
We all know that China is the largest weapon supplier of the Burmese junta. Russia is the main supplier of airforce fighter planes.
We got this pieace of news from some reliable sources in Burma that these 2 are major suppliers of small and medium arms and weapons. Can any of you trace more information on this?
1. Charter Industries of Singapore (CIS)
2. Singapore Technologies Kinetics (ST Kinetics)
http://world.guns.ru/assault/as31-e.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Technologies_Kinetics
http://www.stengg.com/kinetics/
US and EU needs to sanction those 2 companies too.
Free Burma Now |
http://mmedwatch.blogspot.com/ |
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thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:37 am Post subject: |
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Singapore, not China, is the nation with the most Burmese blood on their hands. Check out singabloodypore for references. Singapore technologies (a major arms dealer that was in bed with Pol Pot) exports slightly less arms than China to Burma. The Generals kids and wives live here (and one son dates a pretty young white Canadian girl). They keep their dirty money here. The Singaporean military built the IT infrastructure in such a way that the generals would be able to shut off all outside contact (modeled, of course, after Singapore's own system). Average Singaporeans feel extremely embarrassed and deep shame due to this.
http://singabloodypore.rsfblog.org/
Here is the son on Sentosa beach with the naive white broad.
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igotthisguitar
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
Location: South Korea (Permanent Vacation)
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| Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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Suu Kyi Ready To "Cooperate" With Junta 
Module body
Thu Nov 8, 3:20 PM
By Aung Hla Tun and Jan Dahinten
YANGON/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Thursday she was ready to work with the military junta in proposed talks after a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests.
The statement by Suu Kyi, issued on her behalf by U.N. special envoy Ibrahim Gambari, followed the ruling generals' crushing in September of protests led by Buddhist monks in which at least 10 people -- and probably many more -- were killed.
"In the interest of the nation, I stand ready to cooperate with the government in order to make this process of dialogue a success," said the statement by Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 12 of the last 18 years.
Gambari read the statement in Singapore after ending a six-day trip to Myanmar, where he was refused a meeting with junta supremo Than Shwe.
He said earlier that he had managed to establish a path to "substantive dialogue" between the generals and Suu Kyi, whose party won a 1990 election landslide only to be denied power.
MORE ...
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/071108/world/international_myanmar_dc |
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hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
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| Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:02 am Post subject: |
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i just saw on abc news that the mustache brothers have been released. the correspondent went there undercover and got some interesting stuff
video link to the report here:
http://abcnews.go.com/wn |
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