Wanted Dead or Alive: Than Shwe

Source: Ko Htike

A group of overseas Burmese have started a campaign offering a monetary reward for the assassination (or capture) of junta leader, Than Shwe.

An announcement was put up on the 5th December at Ko Htike’s blog to alert readers to the campaign. A well-known blogger who gained recognition for up-to-date news about the Saffron Revolution, Ko Htike wrote in the post that anyone who wanted to make a contribution should contact him directly.

So far, the visitors to the blog have pledged over USD 12,000. Ko Htike himself has pledged 5,000,000 kyat (~ USD 3865).

He added that an official committee will be founded to keep track of the money collected. Should Than Shwe relinquish power or die of natural causes, the money will be refunded to the contributors, or donated to charity in accordance to the wishes of the contributors.

For the original article in Burmese, please click here.

Campaign: Jan 4 - Free Burma from 45 Years of Military Oppression

Source: Nik Nayman

International Burmese Monks Organisation Inc, on 24^th of November (Full Moon Day of TanSaungMone), released a statement calling Burmese in and outside Burma to act on their desire for a free Burma. In the statement, the organization urged Burmese worldwide to participate in the freedom movement, on the 4^th of January, 2008, Independence Day of Burma, by carrying out the following:

1.       Wearing red to commemorate the September Saffron Revolution

2.       Resuming the Saffron Revolution

3.       Issuing statements to bring the attention of the world to the lack of freedom in Burma

For the original article in Burmese, please follow this link: http://niknayman.blogspot.com/2007/11/blog-post_25.html

Campaign: Amnesty International - Release Peaceful Protesters

Source: Amnesty International

Amnesty International is spearheading a campaign to get Burma's junta to release the imprisoned protesters.

You can copy and paste this sample letter into an e-mail or a document to print out. If you are planning to write your own appeal please read our letter writing guide.

Please send appeals to:

Foreign Minister Nyan Win
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Naypyitaw
Union of Myanmar

Fax: +95 1 222 950 OR +95 1 221 719

E-mail: mofa.aung@mptmail.net.mm

Dear Minister

I am deeply concerned by the reports that thousands of monks and other peaceful protesters, including well-known activists Htay Kywe, Mie Mie, Aung Thu, Aung Gyi and Zaw Htet Ko Ko have been detained.

I strongly urge the Myanmar authorities to release them and those connected to them immediately and unconditionally, unless they are to be charged with recognizably criminal offences. I call on the authorities to ensure that, while they remain in custody, all the detainees are held only in official places of detention, and are given immediate access to lawyers, their families and any medical treatment they may require. I also call on the authorities to ensure that the detainees are not subjected to torture or any other ill-treatment.

I also call on the authorities to release all long-standing prisoners of conscience, including Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the NLD, senior political representatives of the ethnic minorities and members of student activist groups and to reveal the identity and location of all detainees, guarantee their wellbeing and allow immediate access to them.

I call on the authorities to ensure that all people in Myanmar are able to peacefully exercise the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly without fear of harassment, intimidation or arbitrary detention, in line with international human rights standards.

Yours Sincerely

Let Amnesty International know if you have taken this action. Click here.

Petition to the US, UK and French Troops to Save People in Burma

Z. Z. Aung started an online petition to urge troops from the US, UK and France to move into Burma. The petition states that military troops of these nations were preferred over UN peacekeeping troops as UN was losing too much time deciding on the issue. The petition also included several reasons to justify the movement of troops into Burma, including a possible nuclear threat from junta’s collaboration with Russia and Korea. The petition has so far received about 400 signatures.

To read/sign the petition, please follow this link: http://www.petitiononline.com/thanshwe/petition.html

Announcement: Let's Protest Against Burmese Junta - 27th October 2007

27th October marks one month of the violent crackdown on protesters. Supporters of the Saffron Revolution all over the world are urged to unite and protest against the brutal actions of the military junta, and push them towards democratic reforms.

Time: Any time
Location: Burmese and Chinese Embassies Worldwide

Not convinced? Click here to see the latest photos of injured protesters sent from Rangoon's General Hospital.

Note: Link contains disturbing images.

Event: Lights Festival in Singapore's Burmese Buddhist Temple

There will be an event marking the 1 month anniversary of the Saffron Revolution at the Burmese Buddhist Temple in Singapore on the 26th of October, Friday.

Details as follow:

Time: 1700 hrs
Event: Alms offering to monks and nuns

Time: 1900 hrs
Event: Lights festival

This also coincides with the Full Moon Day of Tha Din Kyut (the end of the Buddhist lent) when devotees traditionally offer alms to sangha , and young people pay respect to their elders. This year, the celebrations in Burma will be very much muted as the country and its sangha are still reeling from the crackdown just one month ago.

Campaign: Panties for Peace

In the absence of what they see as effective action by UN and neighbouring countries, people around the world have been thinking up various means to continue condemning the actions of the junta, to show their dissent.

In the latest campaign, Lanna Action for Burma has called for women to send their used underwear to Burmese embassies. This, the group and its supporters, believe is a good tactical move against the superstitious generals.


Related articles:
1. Associated Press: Women Send Panties to Myanmar in Protest
2. Niknayman's Blog: Panty Power

To File a Law Suit against Than Shwe at International Criminal Court

The Blog owner of Burma-Myanmar Genocide, another English news blog covering the Saffron Revolution in Burma, is organizing to file a lawsuit at International Criminal Court against Snr. General Than Shwe , the head of SPDC Regime which implemented, to crush the revolution, the brutal genocide against the participating Mahar Sangha and civilians.

For more information please read the original announcement.

A Petition To Request UN Troops To Move In

Source: http://myochitmyanmar.blogspot.com

A petition has been started to request for UN to send its troops in, instead of urging the junta to hold peaceful negotiations.

The petition reads:
To: UN Security Concil

To: Member Nations of the United Nations Security Council
H.E. Mohamed Bedjaoui, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Algeria
H.E. Rafel Bielsa, Minister of Foreign Relations, Intl. Trade & Worship, Argentina
H.E. Rogatien Biaou, Minister of Foreign Affairs & African Integration, Benin
H.E. Celso Amorim, Minster of Foreign Affairs, Brazil
H.E. Li Zhaoxing, Minister of Foreign Affairs, China
H.E. Per Stig Moller, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Denmark
H.E. Philippe Douste-Blazy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, France
H.E. Petros Molyviatis, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Greece
H.E. Nobutaka Machimura, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Japan
H.E. Alberto Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Philippines
H.E. Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Romania
H.E. Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Russian Federations
H.E. Jack Straw, Sec. of State for Foreign & Common Wealth Affairs, United Kingdom
H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Intl. Cooperation, Tanzania
H.E. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State, United States of America

Subject: Appeal the UN Security Council to send troops for the people of Burma

Many monks,nuns,members of parliament,members of elected Party:NLD,sympathizers are still being killed everyday in Myanmar. UN Envoy did not & will not make much improvement in Myanmar(Burma).UNSC should have the authority to stop the killing on the spot.The delaying process like sending envoy to negotiate by dialogues is not uselful anymore.
Many people were gun-shot,&thrown into rivers, fired alive by government soldiers .

We want UN Security Council to send troops for the people of Burma instead of UN Envoy.It's not the time to talk with SPDC.It's time for UN Troops to take strong action to protect thoese people from Brutal Myanmar Military.

the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC, the official name of the military regime of Burma (Myanmar)) to refrain from taking any actions that:

1. Physically harm the Buddhist monks and nuns participating in the protest marches currently taking place in major cities and towns in Burma
2. Infiltrate the protesting groups by pretending to be monks and nuns (via having the head shaven and dressing in monks' robes) and then instigitating violence from within through such pretension
3. Offer poisoned foods as alms (Dana)
4. Arresting and beating up people or persons who offers food and water (dana) to the monks
5. Arresting the protesting monks and treating them like criminals, such as catching the monks by lariats and ropes, tying them up with wires and strapping them onto electrical poles, slapping their cheeks, kicking them with military boots and hitting their heads with rifle butts.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Click here to sign the petition.

6th October: Global Day of Action for Burma

Today is the Global Day of Action.

Protests are expected across the world at noon local time. They have already been scheduled in key locations including: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, India, Ireland, France, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, the UK and the US. In the UK, the protest is being organized by 25 organizations including Burma Campaign UK, Amnesty International and the TUC.

Source: Trades Union Congress

Here are the list of some of the events planned to show solidarity with the Burmese people in their fight against a repressive regime. This list will be updated as and when we get more information.


Australia

Melbourne
Time: 12 Noon
Venue: Banks of Yarra (near the boat sheds, opposite the Arts Centre - southern river bank)

Sydney
Time: 12.30 pm
Venue: Martin Place (Sydney CBD)

Sydney
Time: 3pm
Venue: Villawood Senior Citizens Centre, Villawood Rd [close to Villawood Station]

Brisbane
Time: 2pm
Venue: Cultural Forecourt, Southbank


New Zealand

Dunedin
Time: From 12 noon
Venue: Upper Octagon, city

Christchurch
Time: 12pm - 3pm
Venue: Victoria Square (cnr Armagh and Colombo Streets)

Palmerston North
Time: From 2pm
Venue: By the Cenotaph, the Square

Wellington
Time: 12 pm - 2pm
Venue: Civic Square Speakers


Thailand

Click here for a picture of the protest in Bangkok.


United Kingdom

Edinburgh
Time: From 3pm
Venue: Princes Street Gardens West (near the floral clock) where a magnolia tree was planted in honour of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, when she was awarded Freedom of the City of Edinburgh in 2005


Scotland

Glasgow
Time: From noon
Venue: George Square

Burma: Don't Let Them Silence Us

Another email from the Avaaz Team. Please let us say that we really appreciate what they are doing for our people.

---------
Dear friends,

Today, our petition to China and the UN Security Council to stop the brutal crackdown on peaceful Burmese protesters is being delivered to the world in a full page ad in the Financial Times worldwide -- but the ad was rejected by other newspapers like the South China Morning Post and the Singapore Straits Times. Our message is an invitation to China to do the right thing in Burma, not an attack -- yet even that seemed too much for media that fear Chinese reprisals.

We won't let our voice be silenced like this. We're taking our message to the streets, in an international day of action on Saturday -- details are on our petition page, and below. And we're redoubling our efforts to make our voice louder: our petition is approaching 600,000 signatures, closing fast on our 1 million goal.The petition link is below - send this email to all your friends and family and help us reach 1 million voices by Saturday!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/w.php

To organize an event for the global day of action, just follow the steps below. To attend an event, scroll down our petition page at the link above for a list of events around the world. Here's some simple steps for organizers:

Choose a public place or landmark in your town, and organize friends to go there all wearing the same maroon red clothing as the Burmese monks. Tell local media about your plans, and email the details and contact information to dayofaction@avaaz.org -- we will try to advertise your event on our petition page. Ask people attending your event to share their feelings on this crisis and the need for action, and then tie a red ribbon or piece of cloth around fences or trees to leave a more lasting sign of your support for the Burmese.

The worldwide outcry to save Burma's peaceful monks and protesters is one more sign of how the world is getting closer, feeling increasingly responsible to each other, and for each other as human beings. We're bringing a voice of humanity to this desperate situation, and we must not be silenced.

With hope and determination,

Ricken, Paul, Graziela, Ben, Sarah, Iain, Galit, Pascal, Milena and the whole Avaaz Team.

5th - 7th October: Prayer Sessions for All Heroes of the Revolution

Burmese Muslims to Join

Source: http://dvb.no

Starting this Friday, 5th of October, prayer sessions for all religions will be held in Burma to honour those who lost their lives during the revolution. The prayer sessions will be held for 3 consecutive days, said Lu Htu Hlote Shar Mhu Kyi Kyat Yay Committee, loosely translated as the Committee for Mass Movement.

Formed on the 27th of September, the Committee is comprised of 9 organisations such as All-Burma's Monks Alliance, 88 Generation Burma of Students, and various other groups representing monks, youths, poets, songwriters, lawyers and journalists.

The Committee made this announcement yesterday in a statement which said that it will hold peaceful prayer sessions and candle light vigils over the weekend at all famous pagodas, mosques, and churches. It also appealed to all Buddhists to raise the Buddhist flag at home and in the monasteries.

In the published statement, the Committee said that it will pray for:
a. a free Burma and the return of peace and prosperity to Burma,
b. the release of unfairly imprisoned monks, students, and civilians,
c. the collapse of its ruthless ruling junta and democratic reforms that the Heroes of the Revolution fought so hard for.

DVB reported today that Burmese Muslim Association has also issued a statement urging its members to support this movement. Ko Kyaw Sua, a spokesmen of the Burmese Muslim Association, said:
"Our religion teaches us the same values. It is our duty to do what we can for our country. Our forefathers have done the same thing."

The statement, issued in Burmese and Urdu, told its members to unite with the rest of the country in body and soul, in order to overthrow a regime that has shown its true grotesque colours by not only burning down mosques and churches, but also launching a ruthless crackdown on the sangha, the guardians of Buddism, their own religion.

For the original articles in Burmese, please follow the 2 links below:
1. http://burmese.dvb.no/news.php?id=2245
2. http://burmese.dvb.no/news.php?id=2263

Free Burma: International Bloggers' Day for Burma on the 4th of October

A message from <a href=”http://www2.free-burma.org/index.php”>Free-Burma.org</a>

International bloggers are preparing an action to support the peaceful revolution in Burma. We want to set a sign for freedom and show our sympathy for these people who are fighting their cruel regime without weapons. These Bloggers are planning to refrain from posting to their blogs on October 4 and just put up one Banner then, underlined with the words, Free Burma!

To date, more than 2800 bloggers all around the world have pledged to participate in this movement. See the list at: http://www2.free-burma.org/subscribers.php

For more information on how you can be part of this movement, visit: http://www2.free-burma.org/index.php

World roars on Burma

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ricken Patel - Avaaz.org <avaaz@avaaz.org >
Date: Oct 3, 2007 12:48 AM
Subject: World roars on Burma - ads tomorrow

Dear friends, Our emergency petition to stop the crackdown on peaceful protesters in Burma is exploding, with nearly 500,000 signers from every nation of the world. But the situation in Burma remains desperate, with reports of hundreds of monks being massacred and tortured. Burma's rulers have also killed and expelled international journalists, cutting off global media coverage of their cruelty. China is still the key - the country with the most power to halt the Burmese generals' reign of terror. We're delivering our message this week with a massive ad campaign in major newspapers, beginning with a full page ad in the Financial Times worldwide tomorrow, and in the South China Morning Post on Thursday. The strength of the ad comes from the number of petition signers listed – can we reach our goal of 1 million signatures this week? The link to sign the petition and view the ad is below, forward this email to all your friends and family! http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/u.php China continues to provide key economic and military support to Burma's dictatorship, but it has been openly critical of the crackdown. Now we need the government to match words with actions. Our ad paints a powerful moment of choice for China in its relationship with the world – will it be a responsible and respected member of the global community, or will it be associated with tyranny and oppression? People power, on the streets of Burma, and around the world, can triumph over tyranny. Our strength is in our numbers, spread the word! With hope and determination, Ricken, Paul, Ben, Graziela, Pascal, Galit and the whole Avaaz team.

Sign a petition for Burma

This is an email we received. The sender, for personal reasons, cannot publicise it, and asked for our help.

---

Hi, have you heard about the crisis in Burma?

Burma is ruled by one of the worst military dictatorships in the world. This week Buddhist monks and nuns began marching and chanting prayers to call for democracy. The protests spread and hundreds of thousands of Burmese people joined in -- they've been brutally attacked by the military regime, but still the protests are spreading.

I just signed a petition calling on Burma's powerful ally China and the UN security council to step in and pressure Burma's rulers to stop the killing. The petition has exploded to over 200,000 signatures in a few days and is being advertised in newspapers around the world, delivered to the UN secretary general, and broadcast to the Burmese people by radio. We're trying to get to 1 million signatures this week, please sign below and tell everyone!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/tf.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

Thank you for your help!

Petition to Australian government to impose sanctions on Burma

Source: http://niknayman.blogspot.com

Niknayman reported that the Australian government is deciding on whether to impose sanctions on the junta. Please help us by voting:

through the news page at (please look at the top right hand corner:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/070930/15/14k1r.html

or the direct polling page at:
http://au.yahoo.com/poll/popup.html?poll=hp

Please help us spread the news!

NewStrategy(SPREADtheWORD)

Here is a new strategy that a burmese woman suggests.

The time Gambari will be in Burma is short. We cannot knowwhere Gambari is going to show up also. The military will make sure not to let people make demonstrations while MrGambari goes around in the town,on the path of his travel. Goverment might say protesters are rebels or fake even.So, we should all say prayers(myitar po) from inside of houses.From each house,at morning 7:00 am, begin prayer
Myitar Thoke + Myitar Po by Minkon sayadw +Buddha Damma Sangha GonDaw + set kyi 13par
please pray thos out loud from inside the house.Use cd players,casetter players too.Use Loud speakers if u have. It would be nice if we can do it every 2 hours untill Gambari goes out of Burma.
Gambari should also be notified of this.
Tell your neighbours in advance.spread the word to everyone you know.
people from outsideof Burma,call to random numbers and inform.This is a safe way for women and girls to participate.
May the revolution be successful.