Arrestaties monniken in Myanmar gaan door

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Op vrijdag 28 september 2007 12:15 schreef r.liong het volgende:
Weet je ik krijg weer van die Tiananmenplein in Peking visioenen nu China gebruik gemaakt heeft van zijn VN veto-recht. Waarom gaat Amerika nu niet met groots materiaal Myanmar binnenvallen in naam van de democratie om de monikken te redden of heeft dat land geen olie?

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BreakingNewsOn: BREAKING NEWS -- SKY TV: TELEPHONE TEXT MESSAGING INSIDE BURMA HAS NOW BEEN BLOCKED. -- BREAKING NEWS

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11am
The Thai government, which has kept quiet in recent days about the problems in neighbouring Burma, is coming under pressure to take a stance, the Bangkok Post reports.

Laddawan Tantiwittayapitak, of Amnesty International Thailand and the Campaign for Democracy in Burma, called on the Thai government to suspended the construction of a hydropower dam and a gas purchase contract.

12.45pm
Thanks to Chisinthemorning for the comment below linking to the Democratic Voice of Burma account of locals defending monasteries against army raids.

Troops approaching the monasteries backed off after seeing people from the surrounding areas armed with sticks and slingshots preparing to stop them.

2.30pm
Some more translation from Niknaynam, courtesy of Mai Aung:
16:30: In Mandalay there are more than 100, 000 and military stepped back. no gun shot yet.
16:42: According eye witness, there were pools of blood in Pansodan street. The person must be beaten by an iron bar.
16:47: Latest news: ICRC (International Committee of Red Cross) took to the street to help the injured.
17:05: In Mandalay, 30,000 people joined 200 monks that are protesting at 31 street. Soldiers begged the monks to go back to monasteries.
18:22: Police station at South Ukkalapa was burn down.

A woman interviewed by Sky News has suggested the deathtoll among monks is close to 200. That is consistent with the number being given by the Facebook group. It is not yet clear, however, where these reports are coming from or what they are based upon.

2.45pm
Japan's prime minister Yasuo Fukuda today demanded that Burmese authorities give a full explanation of the shooting dead of a Japanese journalist during protests yesterday. I've been looking at a video which appears to show the moment the journalist was shot. Even at slow motion and under zoom, it's not clear cut - to me at any rate - whether the killer is the soldier closest to the journalist or whether the shot is fired from further away. Not that that changes the fact that he was shot dead.

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28 Sep 07, 21:03
Admin: The cadets from Defense Service Academy(DSA), which is located at Pyin-Oo-Lwin ( about 55 miles from Mandalay), are preparing to come down to Mandalay to stand by the side of monks and civilians. Their weapons were also confiscated as the news got thru. Therefore, the headmaster of the DSA is going to address this matter to the cadets tomorrow morning.
28 Sep 07, 21:03
Admin: At Kyaut Pa Daung, the followers of SPDC are forcing people to go against the monks and protestors. However, we heard that the monks and protestors continued protesting in large numbers.
28 Sep 07, 20:19
Admin: At Nyaung-U, the followers of SPDC has been forcing every household to send out at least one family member to protest as set up protest - "protesting against the monks and protesters". The order was out a while ago. SPDC is trying to lure the UN envoy's visit to Myanmar with these kind of set ups. Therefore, Mr.Gambari should know how to differentiate between the real protesters and those who were FORCED to protest against the civil unrest.
28 Sep 07, 20:13
Admin: the Police Station at South-Okkalarpa is being burnt down
28 Sep 07, 19:47
Admin: At entrance of Kyauk Myaung Thidar Lann, there is still shooting and soldiers are even arresting those who try to flee by climbing up the tree
28 Sep 07, 19:06
Admin: CNA News in Singapore : staff of foreign ministry in Jakarta observed 1 min of silence for those Burmese who hav died

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Op vrijdag 28 september 2007 16:03 schreef EricT het volgende:
hmmz

RTL nieuws noemt het land Myanmar
NOS noemt het Birma

Poltiek getint nieuws?

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De naamswijziging is in 1989 doorgevoerd door de huidige militaire Juntaregering maar wordt door veel dissidenten en de Verenigde Staten niet geaccepteerd. De Verenigde Naties hebben de naamsverandering wel geaccepteerd. Op 27 september 2007 annonceerde het NOS-journaal dat het de voorkeur zou geven aan de oude naam Burma.

De naam Myanmar komt van Myanma Naingngandaw, de lokale naam voor het land die reeds in de 12e eeuw werd gebruikt. De aanduiding Burma - die in de VS en door Birmese dissidenten wordt gebruikt - is door de Britten overgenomen van de Portugezen en is een verbastering van Bamar, waarvan de herkomst onduidelijk is. Bamar is ofwel afgeleid uit een van de 16e of 17e eeuwse Indische talen, waarin het land Bama werd genoemd of werd afgeleid van de Indische naam Brahma-desh.

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Op vrijdag 28 september 2007 08:45 schreef _The_General_ het volgende:
Breaking News: At North Okkalar (outskirt of Yangon),burmese army division 66 has joined the protests and are now fighting against another army division.The conflicts within the army is now confirmed
http://ko-htike.blogspot.com/

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Admin: From internal source: It is heard that the junta has set a plot to assassinate the most senior venerable monks (Sanga Maha Naryaka) tonight as if it is done by the monks involved in the protest.
29 Sep 07, 00:46
Admin: URGENT : We implore to everyone to forward that brutal act link. It shows the brain of a young boy who was beaten to death with an iron rod by the soldiers.
29 Sep 07, 00:41
Admin: Check the picture of brutal act by burmese soldiers
29 Sep 07, 00:09
Admin: Phone numbers of American Embassy in Ygn : 379880, 379881, 379883, 370963, 370964, 370965
28 Sep 07, 23:17
Admin: URGENT: Army is currently entering almost all the monastries in Yangon now and shooting the people.
28 Sep 07, 22:54
Admin: I just called UN official 24 hour hotline and they confirmed that people inside the country could report to them. The number is 554597. 554625 has been blocked by the govt, they said.
28 Sep 07, 22:33
nyi nyi: Hundreds of burmese wearing red shirts in the honour of the protestors in burma have gathered at Singapore Topayoh Buddhist Temple and pray for the monks and protestors in myanmar. The event was shown on Channel News Asia recently.

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28 Sep 07, 22:20 - This picture on the top right is part of the human brain of a young boy attacked by Burmese SPDC soldiers at Tarmwe Township, Yangon yesterday. Riot police were not using rubber-coated rods. They were using heavy iron rods instead, which broke the skull, putting the young man to the end on the spot. This photo was taken after the dead body was taken away by the notorious Burmese soldiers.

28 Sep 07, 21:40 - SoneSeaYar: Junta destroying all murder evidences. Tyrant Than Shwe's SPDC soldiers are now destroying their murder evidences like they did in 1988. Eye witnesses reported that Toyota Dyna (number plate: Da-7270) carried many dead bodies, and dropped them in the Yangon River today. After every shooting, they ordered workers, seemed to be prisoners, to collect bullet shells to clean up their mess and evidence. All of this prove to be a "genocide", a systematic extermination of people with democratic beliefs.

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Military sources in Rangoon are claiming that the regime's number two, General Maung Aye (right), has staged a coup against Than Shwe, and that his troops are now guarding Aung San Suu Kyi's home. A meeting between him and Suu Kyi is expected. Maung Aye is army commander-in-chief and a renowned pragmatist.

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Rangoon: ‘army mutiny’ reported

Troops refuse to fire
on crowdsTroops

Reports from Rangoon suggest soldiers are mutinying. It is unclear the numbers involved. Reports cite heavy shooting in the former Burmese capital.

The organisation Helfen ohne Grenzen (Help without Frontiers) is reporting that "Soldiers from the 66th LID (Light Infantry Divison) have turned their weapons against other government troops and possibly police in North Okkalappa township in Rangoon and are defending the protesters. At present unsure how many soldiers involved."

Soldiers in Mandalay, where unrest has spread to as we reported this morning, are also reported to have refused orders to act against protesters.

Some reports claim that many soldiers remained in their barracks. More recent reports now maintain that soldiers from the 99th LID now being sent there to confront them.

Growing numbers of protestors are gathering in Rangoon, with 10,000 reported at the Traders Hotel and 50,000 at the Thein Gyi market. The police are reported to have turned water cannons against crowds at Sule Pagoda.

Many phone lines into the Burmese state have now been cut, mobile networks have been disabled and the national internet service provider has been taken off-line.

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Op zaterdag 29 september 2007 02:14 schreef boyv het volgende:
Geld staat boven mensenrechten dus. Zouden ze vast niet zeggen als ze zelf daar zouden wonen. Als je zelf al goed leeft, is het natuurlijk makkelijk om te zeggen dat je andere belangen hebt die boven de rechten van andere mensen staan...

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29 Sep 07, 15:05
Ko Hla: We hear from Yangon that the military regime will arrange Trader hotel as place to stay for Ibrahim Gambari , the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor, during his visit. Then the regime will show him faked protest by government backed USDA members near that hotel.
29 Sep 07, 14:42
Ko Hla: A peaceful protest in Yangon also starts in ShweBonTha Street in downtown.
29 Sep 07, 14:41
Ko Hla: Today peaceful protest starts in YayNanChaung Township of Magwe Division, and also in TaungGoke and Sittwe Township of Rakkhine State.
29 Sep 07, 14:09
Ko Hla: You can also read Singaporean's email in http://www.ko-htike.blogspot.com/
29 Sep 07, 14:09
Ko Hla: SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said a Singaporean has been injured in Yangon. It appeared that the man, who was not identified, was injured by riot control munitions, commonly known as "rubber bullets". You can view full report here: http://www.channelnewsasi(...)/view/302726/1/.html
29 Sep 07, 14:03
Ko Hla: The UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari will be arriving Myanmar today.
29 Sep 07, 13:58
Ko Hla: That happened yesterday.
29 Sep 07, 13:57
Ko Hla: The military shot down 2 workers, from a government sawmill near SinMaLite in KyiMyinDine Township, who threw gasoline bottles to the troop. We received news from someone who knows well with that military troop.
29 Sep 07, 13:45
Ko Hla: We hear that today the military force will shoot down persons who are seemed to be the leader with sniper. According to reliable source, the military force has already positioned sniper nearly everywhere in the town. The force will crackdown from different sides of protesters and will crackdown completely by today

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Op vrijdag 28 september 2007 19:52 schreef Shaman het volgende:

[..]

Bron: newsdeskspecial

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Op vrijdag 28 september 2007 22:57 schreef _The_General_ het volgende:
Het huwelijk van de dochter van de hoogste Generaal. Wat een smeerlappen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6YPsycc6Lc

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Op zaterdag 29 september 2007 13:01 schreef EricT het volgende:

[..]

deze ontgaat me

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29 Sep 07, 19:31
Ko Hla: Mr. Gambari MUST GO TO Yangon. People are dying and protesting at Yangon. Naypyidaw is a ghost town where only government officials and generals reside. Please… if someone from UN reading this message, contact Mr. Gambri NOW and insist that he must see Yangon. Help us!! Help Myanmar (Burma).
29 Sep 07, 18:50
Ko Hla: There will be a special news about Myanmar Military on DVB (Democratic Voice of Burma) tonight. Not only the people but also military personnel should listen to that news.
29 Sep 07, 18:46
Ko Hla: ** Sorry: Correction: Please read (Gen. Maung Aye gave command the military force to SHOOT to the people )
29 Sep 07, 18:43
Ko Hla: Ngwe-Kyar-Yan monastery, which was raided by SPDC in early morning Thursday, is in immediate cover-up. So that when the envoy from UN comes to check at it, the monastery will look like nothing has happened.
29 Sep 07, 18:42
Ko Hla: From Internal Source: Now, a split within Myanmar’s ruling junta has emerged. Several ministers such as Aung Thaung, Maung Thaung, Kyaw Hsan, Maung Oo and Thein Zaw are on Gen. Than Shwe side. Generals split between those who want to follow General Than Shwe and those who want to follow Gen. Maung Aye. According to a brigadier general, Gen. Maung Aye gave command the military force to short to the people who loot and destroy public’s properties. But Gen. Than Shwe followers do not agree with that command. That BG also suggests the protesters should not shout slogan against the entire military force.
29 Sep 07, 17:36
Ko Hla: Current News: There is protesting going on at Phone-Gyi Road. Most of the protesters are high school students, estimated about 70,000 protesters.
29 Sep 07, 17:10
Ko Hla: From a reliable source: Due to the UN special envoy visiting, the military forces are orderd for only warning shoot and not to crack down brutally as before. The forces only shoot to warn the protesters in Yangon’s Chinatown.
29 Sep 07, 16:42
Ko Hla: Now, more than ten thousands of people are protesting near Iron Market (ThanZay) in downtown Yangon. We can hear slogans shouted by protesters. The military force arrived but there is not shooting until now.
29 Sep 07, 16:11
Ko Hla: We request all government employees, private companies’ employee and all workers not to go to work and participate in General Strike. Everyone is suffering from absolute poverty. This is the time to participate to overthrow Brutal Military Regime. So everyone please participate to show our unity, to get our freedom, to get out from the poverty. THIS IS THE TIME TO ACT.

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"Verzet Myanmar ebt weg"

Door Sebastiaan Gottlieb

02-10-2007

Na vier dagen wachten heeft VN-gezant Ibrahim Gambari dinsdag toch kunnen praten met de eerste man van de militaire junta in Myanmar, generaal Than Shwe. Ook sprak hij opnieuw met oppositieleidster Aung San Suu Kyi. Zonder iets over de gesprekken prijs te geven, heeft Gambari het land weer verlaten. Hij is op weg naar New York om daar te rapporteren over de situatie in Myanmar.

Ongetwijfeld heeft Gambari de schending van mensenrechten door het regime in Myanmar aan de kaak gesteld. Hetzelfde onderwerp werd vorige week in de hoofdstad Nay Pyi Taw al aangesneden door de Nederlandse mensenrechtenambassadeur Arjan Hamburger.

Eigenlijk was Hamburger op weg naar Cambodja, toen hij tot zijn eigen verrassing ineens toestemming kreeg om Myanmar te bezoeken. De Nederlandse mensenrechtenambassadeur kwam daar aan vlak voordat het militaire regime hardhandig de demonstraties van monniken en burgers uit elkaar sloeg. Hij sprak met een vertegenwoordiger van de junta en verzocht hem namens Nederland geen geweld te gebruiken tegen de demonstranten. Verder pleitte Hamburger voor vrijlating van alle politieke gevangenen en een dialoog met de oppositie.

"De regering ziet de opstand vooral als een buitenlands complot en beschuldigt het buitenland ervan de oppositie te steunen", zegt Hamburger. "Het buitenland wordt er ook van beschuldigd de rijkdommen van Myanmar weg te kapen. De militairen zien dat dus blijkbaar niet als een eigen verantwoordelijkheid."

Politieke gevangenen
Hamburger luisterde ook naar de oppositie, die zeer bezorgd is over de nieuwe grondwet die in de maak is. Daarin wordt de overheersende positie van de militairen verder versterkt en hun macht bijna onaantastbaar. Volgens Hamburger zou dat de rechten van de burgers nog meer terugdringen, terwijl de mensenrechten nu al met voeten worden getreden: "Mensen worden willekeurig opgepakt en in de gevangenis gestopt en daar buitengewoon slecht behandeld. Er zijn vele politieke gevangen en er is dwangarbeid. Er zijn gedwongen verhuizingen, waar overigens wel enig overleg met de VN over is om te kijken of daar iets aan verbeterd kan worden. Er zijn kindsoldaten en er zijn vele, vele mensen naar Thailand gevlucht. En er zijn mijnenvegers, om het maar zo te noemen. Dat dorpelingen die met gevaar voor hun leven gedwongen worden om mijnenvelden te ruimen."

Ook de economische en politieke rechten worden in Myanmar stelselmatig geschonden, zegt Hamburger. De regering besteedt minder dan één procent aan onderwijs en gezondheidszorg. De bevolking is straatarm is en heeft geen enkele mogelijkheid om haar situatie te verbeteren.

Hamburger maakte ook een van de massale demonstraties mee. "Het was echt indrukwekkend. We zagen maar een deel van de totale demonstraties, maar dan praat je toch over zo'n duizend monniken, omringd door burgers. Ik geloof ook dat het aan hun kant zeer gewaardeerd werd dat er buitenlanders aanwezig waren die de situatie in de gaten hielden."

Internationale gemeenschap
Volgens Hamburger is de opstand in Myanmar grotendeels voorbij. De monniken die aan de wieg stonden van het verzet, zijn onder druk van het regime weer teruggekeerd naar hun kloosters. Een groot aantal van hen is gearresteerd. Omdat de monniken op dit moment grotendeels buiten beeld zijn geraakt, concentreren de militaire machthebbers zich weer op de politieke oppositie in het land. Hamburger denkt dat het risico groot is dat het openbare verzet wegebt en het regime de macht stevig in handen kan houden. De bal ligt nu volgens hem bij de internationale gemeenschap om de druk op de generaals op te voeren.