STRADA PLACIDO: Burma

Pakistan Aids Burma

Tue, 13 May 2008 16:35:00 GMT

Pakistan to send two planeloads of relief to Burma

May 12, 2008 (AFP)—Pakistan decided to send two plane loads of emergency aid to Burma for survivors of last week's cyclone, the foreign office said.

The relief includes tents, mosquito nets and medicines, it said in a statement. "The aircraft are expected to leave on Sunday," the statement said, without giving further details. Burma was hit by Cyclone Nargis last Saturday, leaving 60,000 people dead or missing and as many as two million more short of food, water and supplies. The military regime has refused to allow in foreign aid experts to direct the relief effort and said that, although it will accept money and aid, it must distribute all supplies itself.

THE WORLD HAS OPENED HER HANDS FOR BURMA, NOW, IT JUST LEAVES THE GENERALS TO OPEN THEIRS.

Myanmar's military regime still refuses foreign aid workers, despite the scale of the disaster and the lack of experience of the Myanmar Army in dealing with such situation.

YA ALLAH MADAD!

Cyclone Nargis Devastates Burma

Wed, 07 May 2008 09:20:19 GMT

Salaamaleykum,

As all of you might have read, Cyclone Nargis has hit Burma last weekend and left the Delta region of the country in ruins.

22'300 plus people has been confirmed dead, and estimated 42'000 a re still missing. Hundreds of thousands are left homeless. Basically everyone in the effected regions are struggling with the insane increase of price of commodity and lack of clean water.

The mainly effected area was the rice plantation feilds, hence, the price for rice, the staple food, is expected to increase multifold. Rice depositories had been effected by the cyclone, hence further scarcity is expected.

Its also worth to mention that the areas hit by the cyclone are fishing and farming areas (except Rangoon). They are generally poor and had to struggle to make ends meet, even before the cyclone.

Therefore, I appeal to each and everyone of you to please donate as much as you can for the victims of the disaster. If you can, please donate some money...if it is inconvenient, then please, spare a moment or two of your time to pray for the victims.

To donate-

http://www.google.com/myanmarcyclone/

https://www.islamic-relief.com

FREE BURMA!

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 09:39:00 GMT

4.10.07 International Blogger's Day for Burma

www.FREE-BURMA.org

International blogging community have decided to stand with the Burmese people today by refraining from posting anything except a single clear messaged post -FREE BURMA.

Burma's Saffron Revolution

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 20:20:00 GMT

Salaamualeykum...

If you guy have been keeping watch of the news, you would know whats going on in Burma/Myanmar nowadays.
If you don't, then here's a brief flashback of what happened.
First,in mid-August, the government increased petrol price, causing increase in bus fares and other petrol-consuming services...this in turn caused a massive inflation of consumer goods in general.
This led to public anger (just like how the people were angered in 1988 when the government nullified the 100 kyat currency notes).At first the pro-democracy groups led the protests...they were,however, small and was easily cracked down by the army.Although, I should mention such courage to protest in Burma is a very formidable feat.
Eventually, some Buddhist monks join in the protests, as they too were affected by the price hike.Some even claiming they can't even afford to buy razors to shave their heads anymore.
Just like the pro-democracy activists, the army beat up some monks and jailed a few.This led to an outrage by the Sangha(Buddhist Monk Order).They demanded apology, which they never got.They resulted to boycott the government and people with connections to it.Means they wont perform rituals or accept alms from them(this is a humongous blow to any sane Buddhist).
Before you know it, thousands of Monks hit the streets.

    At first they demanded cheaper commodity, then they turned the economic protest to a political one.They demanded, for what is a taboo word in Burma-democracy.
    This is much to the delight of the public.At first the monks asked the people not to get involved in the protests, but after 6 days of protests, the monks asked the public from all walks of life to join in.
    On Saturday, they achieved what was impossible (even for foreign diplomats)- they met the Iron Lady-Aung San Suu Kyi. Though it was brief, it was very symbolic moment for the nation.It kinda resembles the officiation of fresh efforts to restore freedom in Burma. Suu Kyi is pretty much an idol of many Burmese. Though the government will deny that.
    Sunday, the protests were in its full swing.Down town Rangoon, the capital was flooded by a sea of protesters. Estimated 10'000 Buddhist monks and nuns along with 90'000 civilians marched from to the heart of the city.

    This is very astounding for a nation where even a slightest backbiting of the government (Junta) is punishable by lengthy jail sentences.
   On Monday, the generals broke the silence, and warned of strict actions against the protesters, even the monks. However, the couragous heros of the nation marched on.The next day saw deployment of troops around the city, though they just stood there and didn't act.
    Today, Wednesday, 26th September 2007, the army- the pseudo-Buddhists troops, started getting rough. They cordoned off the focal point of the protests- the Shwe Dagon Pagoda. Men were placed at different points all over the city. Curfew was ordered between 6pm to 6am. Gatherings of more then 5men were forbidden. A jeep went around the townships with the loudspeaker warning of consequences to those involved in the protests.As they put it 'Dont get nosey and meddle with politics'. Perhaps someone should inform the generals that politics ARE people's affair, and its them that should stop being nosey and meddle with politics.
    However,despite all threats, the march went on. Monks were defiant and were willing to put their lives in the stake. Public joined in, of course. In the country where they rather live in torn down shacks while showering the Monks with gifts and coating Pagodas with pure gold leaves, religion is everything. Monks are revered, and they are the main authority. If a senior monk say a black cat is white, the people wont argue that- thats the amount of respect the Monks get in Burma.

Today, as I mentioned, the pseudo-Buddhist troops of Burmese army got aggressive. they fired tear gas, used batons and fired bullets upon the protesters.

    The Junta has shown its true colours...well, not that it was ever hidden.They defied the international pressure..and caused harm to hundred of protesters. Monks were chanting and the people were following the monks- in some cases, forming human chains around them. This would probably the first nation in the world where a Buddhist government,prosecuted Buddhist monks for chanting Buddhist sutras(scripts). So much for the 'hero nation' of Buddhism that hosted the 2004 International Buddhist Conference.
    The end results, 5monks and civilians were confirmed killed.300 monks and civilians were captured,plenty more were injured.
    In the evening when the news of the beatings of the monks reached the general public(who werent participating) they came out of their houses, and joined in the protests.

According to some sources, the army fled the scene as the crowd swelled in number.However the day ended, the tally have started,
Protests Day 9-Violence Day 1 : 5 monks, 3 civilian national martyrs.

    I'm a Muslim, and even I wont have the heart to raise my arms against a monk who chants for peace and freedom. The junta probably brainwashed their men, turned them to heartless beasts that doesn't have any respectable values.I'm sure, that even their parents would be ashamed to admit relationship to such a person.

    As I write this entry, al-Jazeera is broadcasting a in depth coverage of events in Burma. In a few hours, UN Security Council will be holding a meeting in about an hour's time to discuss about Burma. With China and Russia already stating that its an internal affair of Burma, I for one, fear that the meeting will come up with no affective resolution. EU and US are proposing tougher sanctions...which are completely useless. The only thing the sanctions did was to further degrade the livelihood of the citizens. The Junta's not bothered by the 'petty' sanctions. However,if China, India and Thailand impose these sanctions, the world will see, finally, the generals on their knees- at the mercy of their main business partners.

    My hope, as well as hope of the millions of Burmese around the globe, is that, this Saffron Revolution will mark a day as successful as the Bastille day in France.Over 4 decades of military rule has washed down the country. If life is a series of downhills and uphills, we hope, its time to go uphill after so long. Sad to say though, older generations have little faith in this new Revolution. They assume, the junta will rule forever, and their bullets wont finish...the Revolution will be crashed just like in 1988. Well, I'ill keep on hoping and praying. Back in the early 20th century, no one would have expected the British Rajs to leave South Asia, but they did.

    I wonder, perhaps, my generation will be able to go back and live in Burma, and work towards its prosperity.Who knows, perhaps we will gain back the prosperity Burma had back in the 1930-s.

    Before I end this entry, let me say that Strada Placido (thats the name of this Blog) is proud to fly, the Fighting Peacock (symbol of Burma's Struggle)

Everything is with God now-and He answers to the prayers of the oppressed.Pray!

Allah Madad!

useful link:
http://burmadigest.info/
http://www.dvb.no

Burmese Constitution

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:59:00 GMT

Salamualeykum,

    Ok, this time I'ill be writing something,which i predict, will be of little interest to most of you guys.
    This week, the Burmese Military government has approved the Constitution written by over a 1000 strong delegation, hand picked by them.Evidently, the convention for the forming of the constitution is a sham, and is boycotted by the main opposition of the Burmese Government, the National League for Democracy.
    To give you the idea of how the Constitition works, here area few points:-
-25% of parliament is reserved for the Military men
-posts for the Ministry of Defence, Borders,Home Affairs,Security is reserved to Military men, or ex-Military officers
-3 candidates will be field for the post of the President(who is elected by the Parliament).One of them will be an ex-Military General.Bear in mind that he has already got the 25% votes from the Parliament thats reserved by the military.

    Yes, the constitution is just a facade.Sometime in the future, the people of Burma will have to decide weather to vote YES, NO or simply boycott the referendum on the Constitution.
    This constitution was first proposed 14 years ago in 1993.After the opposition party boycotted the convention, all works for the forming of the constitution came to a halt.It was only in 2003 that the convention was reconvened.
    What I'm trying to say is that...the constitution took a LONG time to finally finish.Grab the opportunity, vote YES.
    Vote NO and we'ld end up waiting probably another 10 years or so.
    Even though the constitution is not in the best interest of the Burmese people,its the best chance we got to having a civilian government since the coup in 1962.
    Let the elections come, let the learned men among the Burmese take over the government, and bring the nation to its previous glory, economically and sociologically.
    I'm sure, by the time Burma become a successful economic giant (again), the military will lose its interest in being in the Armed force, their men will quit and join the lucrative Business opportunities.And eventually, what remains of the Armed force will be those who are really caliber and is in the Armed force for the love of the nation, rather then desperation.

LOOK AHEAD, VOTE YES

8888

Sat, 12 Aug 2006 06:21:00 GMT

Assalamualeykum,

Just a few days ago, marked the 18th anniversary of the bloody failed revolution by the Burmese public.

What happened?

Let me first introduce you to Burma (current day Myanmar).
Its a country between Thailand and India.
Burma gained independence from Britain in 1948, after over 60years of the fall of the last Burmese king.
The nation was,until 1964, ruled by democraticly elected government- after which a military coup took place.It has been under military rule since.
After years of economic mismanagement by the generals, 1988 marks the explosion of the people's patience.

The Unfolding of 8888

At about July 1988,the government declared the Kyat 45 and 90 notes as void and useless without compensiation.(the previous Military Secretary General who was very superstitious assumed 45 and 90 as his lucky numbers,hence issuing monetary notes of those values).
This left many poor students unsatisfied,and broke of course.
on the 7th July 1988 (7788) the university students held a mass protest against the government's move. As the protests get heated up, government troops opened fired at the students.About 110 students lost their lives in this protest.A monument was built by the students later on to commemorate the dead students. This is later to be taken down by the government.
The bloody experience of 7th July never faded from the mind of the students and the general public.

8888 Nationwide Uprising

On the 8th August 1988 (8888),massive protests took place in major cities.This slowly spread to all over the nation.The protests were lead by Buddhist monks and student leaders. Each township(villages) were sealed off by the public, to disrupt the movement of government informants. Checkpoints were setup by the public, every soldier or military informant who try to cross it are immediately executed.Normally beheading. Police stations, village/township administrative offices and army recruiting centres were burnt down.

As the protests become nationwide, with every village every citizen, defying the curfew and demanding the return to public rule,orders were given to the soldiers- to shoot anyone at sight.Massive number of soldiers and reserves where deployed, heavily armed.No one was spared- not even the buddhist monks who are very revered in this predominantly buddhist country.

Cracking down the revolution

After sometime, the protests died down, at this time, there has been 3000 deaths, mainly civilians.This however, is not the end to the killing spree by the government. Pictures of rioters taken during the uprising were sought out one by one and killed on the spot.This forced thousands of activists to flee the country or go into hiding.
Government puts the final casualty figure at 2000 deaths.The findings of the Non-government organisation, however disputes this claim.They believe more then 10'000 were killed, including soldiers as well(majority being civilians).About 200-300 monks were also killed.The other monks who supported the uprising were derobed (banished from the Monk order) by the government.

Most Muslims, however, abstained from the riots.This is mainly due to the fact that they've already been victimised- being Muslims in non-Muslim country. Another factor, as I assume, will be the fact that Muslims dont really relate themselves to Burma, rather to their ancestrial hometown-Pakistan/India/Bangladesh.
Some rare images from the uprising

On the footnote, if you dont see me anymore after this day, know that I've been abducted by Burmese Intelligance- either killed or imprisoned indefinately.(inshaAllah, Allah forbid)

Allah Madat!