Quote: The regime is finding out that the charade of multi-party elections
and all the expertly spun talk of a “post-election landscape” have not
brought them closer to international acceptability. To be sure, the
generals have found no shortage of “friends,” strategic allies,
co-exploiters of resources, investors and business partners among
Asian rulers, from Beijing and Delhi, to Bangkok and Singapore. But
the regime has been unable to dilute the world’s perception of it as a
despicable pariah, and Washington’s dogged refusal to relax its
opposition against key international lenders and development banks
such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and its Asian
offshoot, the Tokyo-dominated Asian Development Bank. This dampens
even the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) enthusiasm to
let Burma’s not-so-presentable generals chair its overly ambitious,
business-oriented bloc, lest Naypyidaw drives potential investors away
from the ASEAN region, in fierce competition for capital and
investment inflows with China, India and other international rivals.
Last but not least, the generals have been on a mission to militarily
subjugate politically defiant ethnic communities such as the Shan,
Kachin, Karen, Mon and so on. The Burmese military’s zero-sum policy
towards any of its critics, non-violent or armed, has already
backfired, as it has predictably resulted in the complete breakdown of
a 17-year ceasefire with the Kachin. The fact that the regime invited
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi “as an individual observer” to the “poverty
workshop” can only be seen as a cynical public relations ploy, part of
the generals’ “pacification campaign”.
. . .
What the late Swedish Prime Minister Olaf Palme remarked truthfully
about the apartheid in Mandela’s South Africa – that apartheid cannot
be reformed, but it must be dismantled – equally applies to Burma
under half-century of military dictatorship. The generals’ class rule
in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s Burma cannot be reformed through talk of
poverty and talks of ‘the Talk’. The Burmese electorate gave Daw Suu
and her hundreds of NLD colleagues their overwhelming support in the
ballots two decades ago in order to specifically help end the military
dictatorship and usher in a new era of “government of, for and by the
people” – and not simply to play the game of dialogue and engage in
the talk of poverty over fancy meals in Naypyidaw
. . .
Ultimately, politics is about power—power to reform politically
repressive institutions and economically dysfunctional structures, as
well as, and above all, the military which created (it).
My foregone conclusion is that there is absolutely no plan among the generals to
share power with other popular stakeholders of Burma such as Aung San
Suu Kyi and ethnic minority leaders.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyitaw - economic forum with military government
in Burmese, from Moemakha News
http://moemaka.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/u-myint-invited-daw-suu-to-join-the-economic-forum-in-npd/
The other Burmese woman in the photos is Ms. Mary Yin with an MBA from an American university.
But it is doubtful any of the advice will be followed by military - in fact in its patron client relationships, authoritarian structures and corruption as a way of life and buying support, it may be unable to relinquish central control.
Notes - copyright Kyi May Kaung.
http://moemaka.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/u-myint-invited-daw-suu-to-join-the-economic-forum-in-npd/
The other Burmese woman in the photos is Ms. Mary Yin with an MBA from an American university.
But it is doubtful any of the advice will be followed by military - in fact in its patron client relationships, authoritarian structures and corruption as a way of life and buying support, it may be unable to relinquish central control.
Notes - copyright Kyi May Kaung.
The "Myanmar goers" in Burmese from Burmese government affiliated The Voice
http://www.thevoicemyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=531%3A2011-08-19-19-15-12&catid=1%3Anews&Itemid=27
From outside anonymous commentator -
"Why aren't Bob Taylor and (Mary) Callahan there? Maybe in due course."
From outside anonymous commentator -
"Why aren't Bob Taylor and (Mary) Callahan there? Maybe in due course."
Comment by Kyi May Kaung on Rangoon and Burma in the fifties - left on Sitmone blog
Dr. Kyaw Thet was a student of my father, educator Sithu U Kaung, and when they were children, Lin Aung Thet and his 2 sisters often came to visit with their parents.
Yes, the fifties were a time of openess and democracy - even U Nu in the same Ed Morrow program, who was supposed to have better Burmese than English, spoke good English and was able to hold his own with a foreign interviewer.
U Nu wrote and translated several books and his niece Khin Hnin Yu was a famous novelist.
U Nu's great mistake was being naive and "too religious" and giving Ne Win virtual carte blanche after NW quelled the Karen uprising. (This from a close friend of Dr. Kyaw Thet's who was born on the same day and has also passed away).
Kyi May Kaung (Ph.D.)
Yes, the fifties were a time of openess and democracy - even U Nu in the same Ed Morrow program, who was supposed to have better Burmese than English, spoke good English and was able to hold his own with a foreign interviewer.
U Nu wrote and translated several books and his niece Khin Hnin Yu was a famous novelist.
U Nu's great mistake was being naive and "too religious" and giving Ne Win virtual carte blanche after NW quelled the Karen uprising. (This from a close friend of Dr. Kyaw Thet's who was born on the same day and has also passed away).
Kyi May Kaung (Ph.D.)
Burmese Rebel Blog -
http://burmeserebel.blogspot.com/search/label/Resettling%20in%20the%20US
This is from a real life person who has nothing at all to do with my novel of the same name Burmese Rebel (which I started in 2005)
though I recognized some mutual friends in the photos(when they were much younger)
Kyi May Kaung
--
This is from a real life person who has nothing at all to do with my novel of the same name Burmese Rebel (which I started in 2005)
though I recognized some mutual friends in the photos(when they were much younger)
Kyi May Kaung
--
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Re-posting - famous Alaungsithu Sutaung or Pledge -
Thus, in an inscription in the Shwegu Temple, we find this beautiful prayer, written in Pali verse, by King Alaungsithu (1112-1167):
By this my gift, whatever boon I seek,
It is the best of boons to profit all;
By this abundant merit I desire
Here or hereafter no angelic pomp
Of Brahmas, Suras, Maras; nor the state
And splendors of a monarch; nay, not even
To be the pupil of a conqueror.
But I would build a causeway sheer athwart
The river of Samsara, and all folk
Would speed across thereby until they reach
The Blessed City. I myself would cross,
And drag the drowning over. Aye, myself
Tamed, I would tame the willful; comforted,
Comfort the timid; wakened, wake the asleep;
Cool, cool the burning; freed, set free the bound.
And Alaungsithu’s predecessor, the conqueror and builder Kyanzittha (1084-1112), inscribed his edicts on massive pillars in this vein:
O King of Devas, hear thou! . . . The sage Bisnu shall become the king Kyanzittha, and he shall uphold the religion of the Lord Buddha . . . . All vice, which is as a stench, shall the king utterly blot out with true morality, which is as a perfume. . . . The tears of those who have lost their friends shall the king wipe away with the hand of loving-kindness. . . With his right hand shall the king give boiled rice and bread to all the people, and with his left hand ornaments and wearing apparel to all men. . . .He shall soften the hearts of those who intend evil, and exhort those who speak evil to speak good. . . .
From Zawgyi (U Thein Han's) article on early Burmese art in The Atlantic, 1959, under the pseudonym Thaw Ka.
The inscription translations are by the renowned scholar, Gordon H. Luce.
By this my gift, whatever boon I seek,
It is the best of boons to profit all;
By this abundant merit I desire
Here or hereafter no angelic pomp
Of Brahmas, Suras, Maras; nor the state
And splendors of a monarch; nay, not even
To be the pupil of a conqueror.
But I would build a causeway sheer athwart
The river of Samsara, and all folk
Would speed across thereby until they reach
The Blessed City. I myself would cross,
And drag the drowning over. Aye, myself
Tamed, I would tame the willful; comforted,
Comfort the timid; wakened, wake the asleep;
Cool, cool the burning; freed, set free the bound.
And Alaungsithu’s predecessor, the conqueror and builder Kyanzittha (1084-1112), inscribed his edicts on massive pillars in this vein:
O King of Devas, hear thou! . . . The sage Bisnu shall become the king Kyanzittha, and he shall uphold the religion of the Lord Buddha . . . . All vice, which is as a stench, shall the king utterly blot out with true morality, which is as a perfume. . . . The tears of those who have lost their friends shall the king wipe away with the hand of loving-kindness. . . With his right hand shall the king give boiled rice and bread to all the people, and with his left hand ornaments and wearing apparel to all men. . . .He shall soften the hearts of those who intend evil, and exhort those who speak evil to speak good. . . .
From Zawgyi (U Thein Han's) article on early Burmese art in The Atlantic, 1959, under the pseudonym Thaw Ka.
The inscription translations are by the renowned scholar, Gordon H. Luce.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
K.M. Kaung: A Masterpiece from One Whose Life was Too Short - book review of Utz by Bruce Chatwin -
I had "heard about" Bruce Chatwin from an article about him and the fatwah, by Salmon Rushdie who traveled with him in Australia before he died. Rushdie had just heard of the fatwah when he went to Chatwin's funeral.
Around 1994 a friend had recommended Utz to me.
But I did not get to read it till relatively recently.
The inexpensive Amazon price was a real deal, though Chatwin's books have been published, it seems to me, on cheap paper, but that's not Amazon's fault.
Anyway, the book did not disappoint at all.
In fact, it more than lived up to its advance billing.
It's a very satisfying read, though tightly written it does not sound terse at all.
I read about the Meissen Collection and August the Strong in an issue of Architectural Digest.
Utz's obsession was with European china, but the Collection consists mostly of blue and white Kang Xi china, real China china.
Kyi May Kaung
Left on Amazon.com site
8-13-2011
Around 1994 a friend had recommended Utz to me.
But I did not get to read it till relatively recently.
The inexpensive Amazon price was a real deal, though Chatwin's books have been published, it seems to me, on cheap paper, but that's not Amazon's fault.
Anyway, the book did not disappoint at all.
In fact, it more than lived up to its advance billing.
It's a very satisfying read, though tightly written it does not sound terse at all.
I read about the Meissen Collection and August the Strong in an issue of Architectural Digest.
Utz's obsession was with European china, but the Collection consists mostly of blue and white Kang Xi china, real China china.
Kyi May Kaung
Left on Amazon.com site
8-13-2011
Kyi May Kaung's painting - Shan Black Belt Saves the World, or Running Leap, on display at Space 7-10, Silver Spring, MD
Painting and photo copyright Kyi May Kaung.
http://space710atkefa.blogspot.com/2011/08/alumni-potluck-show-august-2011.html
My painting Shan Black Belt Saves the World or Running Leap is on exhibit at Space 7-10, Kefa Cafe, 963 Bonifant St., Silver Spring MD as part of the Alumni Potluck Show.
No opening reception is scheduled, but if you wish to come down there, I may be able to come too.
Check times at the link above.
I am available for interviews via phone or at Kefa.
Please email me or leave message on this blog or at Kefa
with "interview request" in subject line.
We can talk about?
What is Shan?
Is there really a "civilian government" in Burma right now?
Why is the world falling? What does this painting mean?
How to be an artist when stocks are falling in a recession.
How I conceived of this painting -
How to forge your own individual style, etc.
Kyi May Kaung.
Note - images from my previous show in 2009 "Mostly Burmese Monks" is on the Kefa Blog, in the video about Kefa Cafe on the right.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Burying a child, one of 30,000 dead in 3 months - from CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/08/11/somalia.gupta.graves/index.html
Moving report by Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Moving report by Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Computer security - avoid the Wall of Sheep -
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/08/05/def.con.hackers/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
from CNN
Welcome to the world of Lisbeth Salander (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Penelope Garcia, from Criminal Minds.
from CNN
Welcome to the world of Lisbeth Salander (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Penelope Garcia, from Criminal Minds.
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
NPR's Terry Gross interviews author Erik Larsen about his book - In the Garden of Beasts
http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=135922322&m=136064200
About US ambassador to Hitler's Germany, 1933-1937.
About US ambassador to Hitler's Germany, 1933-1937.
Canadian Friends of Burma - Ivanhoe received $103 m from Burmese copper mines in Monywa
--- On Wed, 8/3/11, CFOB wrote:
From: CFOB
Subject: Info Release: Ivanhoe received US $103 million from Burma's copper mines
To: cfob@cfob.org
Date: Wednesday, August 3, 2011, 11:30 AM
Ivanhoe received US $103 million from Burma's copper mines
Information release of Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) – August 3, 2011
OTTAWA - Vancouver-based Ivanhoe Mines has announced early today in its press release that it received US$103 million from Burma asset it held through Monywa Trust.
Ivanhoe owned a 50% operating interest in a joint venture with Burma's state-owned company and transferred its asset to a third party Monywa Trust in 2007. However, Ivanhoe still keeps tight-lip on revealing the name of company that acquired its asset in Burma.
According to the mouthpiece of Burma's regime The New Light of Myanmar, Chinese arm-manufacturing company Norinco reached a "Production Sharing Contract" with the state-owned Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (UMEH) that covers the mining rights for Monywa copper mine.
CFOB is disturbed by reports of Norinco's involvement in the Monywa mine and recently urged Canada to immediately investigate the present status of Ivanhoe's Burmese assets and take punitive action against Ivanhoe if sanctions have been violated. Please see the relevant press release.
-30-
Media contact at 613-279-6835
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) is federally incorporated, national non-governmental organization working for democracy and human rights in Burma. Contact: Suite 206, 145 Spruce St., Ottawa, K1R 6P1; Tel: 613.237.8056; Email: cfob@cfob.org; Web: www.cfob.org
From: CFOB
Subject: Info Release: Ivanhoe received US $103 million from Burma's copper mines
To: cfob@cfob.org
Date: Wednesday, August 3, 2011, 11:30 AM
Ivanhoe received US $103 million from Burma's copper mines
Information release of Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) – August 3, 2011
OTTAWA - Vancouver-based Ivanhoe Mines has announced early today in its press release that it received US$103 million from Burma asset it held through Monywa Trust.
Ivanhoe owned a 50% operating interest in a joint venture with Burma's state-owned company and transferred its asset to a third party Monywa Trust in 2007. However, Ivanhoe still keeps tight-lip on revealing the name of company that acquired its asset in Burma.
According to the mouthpiece of Burma's regime The New Light of Myanmar, Chinese arm-manufacturing company Norinco reached a "Production Sharing Contract" with the state-owned Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (UMEH) that covers the mining rights for Monywa copper mine.
CFOB is disturbed by reports of Norinco's involvement in the Monywa mine and recently urged Canada to immediately investigate the present status of Ivanhoe's Burmese assets and take punitive action against Ivanhoe if sanctions have been violated. Please see the relevant press release.
-30-
Media contact at 613-279-6835
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) is federally incorporated, national non-governmental organization working for democracy and human rights in Burma. Contact: Suite 206, 145 Spruce St., Ottawa, K1R 6P1; Tel: 613.237.8056; Email: cfob@cfob.org; Web: www.cfob.org
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Monday, August 01, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Reading matter - photo blog
Photo Reading matter, copyright Kyi May Kaung
What a rich and happy life I have as a reader and writer/artist.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Political analyst Win Min at Payap Presents -
http://ic.payap.ac.th/pp/index.php
"A POLITICAL UPDATE ON POST-ELECTION BURMA"
Speaker: Win Min, Researcher at Vahu Development Institute and Journalist at Voice of America (Burmese political analyst)
When: Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Time: 5-6:30pm
Place: Room 317, Pentecost Building, Mae Khao main campus
By imposing restrictions on Aung San Suu Kyi’s party in the November 2010 election and rigging the electoral system, the Burmese junta was able to control the outcome. Although Aung San Suu Kyi was released after the election, the post-election government, led by retired generals, has outlawed her party and shown no signs that it will hold a dialogue with her. The new parliament includes a small number of opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), some of whom are ethnic representatives, but they have not been allowed to discuss critical issues like the release of political prisoners, ethnic autonomy or the budget. Nearly 2000 political prisoners remain in prison and fighting against ethnic ceasefire groups has resumed in Karen, Shan and Kachin states. Despite the new president’s inaugural speech promising an improved socio-economic situation and international cooperation, very little progress has been seen so far.
"A POLITICAL UPDATE ON POST-ELECTION BURMA"
Speaker: Win Min, Researcher at Vahu Development Institute and Journalist at Voice of America (Burmese political analyst)
When: Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Time: 5-6:30pm
Place: Room 317, Pentecost Building, Mae Khao main campus
By imposing restrictions on Aung San Suu Kyi’s party in the November 2010 election and rigging the electoral system, the Burmese junta was able to control the outcome. Although Aung San Suu Kyi was released after the election, the post-election government, led by retired generals, has outlawed her party and shown no signs that it will hold a dialogue with her. The new parliament includes a small number of opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), some of whom are ethnic representatives, but they have not been allowed to discuss critical issues like the release of political prisoners, ethnic autonomy or the budget. Nearly 2000 political prisoners remain in prison and fighting against ethnic ceasefire groups has resumed in Karen, Shan and Kachin states. Despite the new president’s inaugural speech promising an improved socio-economic situation and international cooperation, very little progress has been seen so far.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
"Myanmar" is now world's #1 spammer -
great!
--- On Tue, 7/26/11, wrote:
From:
Subject: eSecurity Planet - Myanmar is No.1 Spammer Now
To:
Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2011, 6:03 PM
eSecurity Planet - Myanmar is No.1 Spammer Now
July 26, 2011
By Sean Michael Kerner
Internet attacks can come from any country in the world at any given point in time. Over the course of the first quarter of 2011, Akamai's latest State of the Internet report found one country to be the source of more attack traffic than any other.
Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma, now tops the list, representing 13 percent of all attack traffic observed by Akamai. Myanmar's top billing is particularly suprising given that the small south Asian country did not rank in the top 10 originating countries for attack traffic at the end of 2010.
The U.S. came in second at 10 percent up from 7.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. Taiwan was third at 9.1 percent, Russia fourth at 7.7 percent and China rounds out the top five at 6.4 percent. At the end of 2010, Russia was reported to be in the top spot for attack traffic accounting for 10 percent of all observed global attack traffic.
"It's not clear if that attacks from Myanmar are coming from a specific group or if its some kind of botnet that happened to find some unprotected hosts," David Belson, editor of the Akamai State of the Internet report told InternetNews.com.
Belson noted that it will be interesting to see if the trend on Myanmar leading the list will continue into the second quarter and beyond.
Akamai's data comes from its own points of presence and only looks at the last networking hop before a connection comes in. As such, it is possible that Myanmar is being used as a proxy for attacks as opposed to being the origination point itself.
"It could be the case that someone was bouncing attacks through Myanmar," Belson said. "That would align with some of what we saw with attacks on port 9050."
Port 9050 is often used for the open source Tor onion router, which is an anonymous proxy networking service. Belson noted that Myanmar's top billing could be a case of the attack community doing a better job at hiding their tracks.
In terms of ports that are being targeted, Akamai once again reported that port 445 used for Microsoft directory services was the most attacked port, representing 34 percent of attack traffic. Attacks targeting Port 80 and Port 443, for HTTP and HTTPS were up significantly during the quarter. Port 80 attacks accounted for 11 percent of all attack traffic up from 1.5 percent at the end of 2010. Port 443 attacks were reported at 4.7 percent up from 0.2 percent.
Belson wasn't sure if the Port 443 attacks were directly related to the SSL certificate attack against security vendor Commodo earlier this year.
"I don't know if it was people trying to exploit those certificates or if it was a broader SQL Injection type attack or something else," Belson said.
Sean Michael Kerner is a senior editor at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.
--- On Tue, 7/26/11, wrote:
From:
Subject: eSecurity Planet - Myanmar is No.1 Spammer Now
To:
Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2011, 6:03 PM
eSecurity Planet - Myanmar is No.1 Spammer Now
July 26, 2011
By Sean Michael Kerner
Internet attacks can come from any country in the world at any given point in time. Over the course of the first quarter of 2011, Akamai's latest State of the Internet report found one country to be the source of more attack traffic than any other.
Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma, now tops the list, representing 13 percent of all attack traffic observed by Akamai. Myanmar's top billing is particularly suprising given that the small south Asian country did not rank in the top 10 originating countries for attack traffic at the end of 2010.
The U.S. came in second at 10 percent up from 7.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. Taiwan was third at 9.1 percent, Russia fourth at 7.7 percent and China rounds out the top five at 6.4 percent. At the end of 2010, Russia was reported to be in the top spot for attack traffic accounting for 10 percent of all observed global attack traffic.
"It's not clear if that attacks from Myanmar are coming from a specific group or if its some kind of botnet that happened to find some unprotected hosts," David Belson, editor of the Akamai State of the Internet report told InternetNews.com.
Belson noted that it will be interesting to see if the trend on Myanmar leading the list will continue into the second quarter and beyond.
Akamai's data comes from its own points of presence and only looks at the last networking hop before a connection comes in. As such, it is possible that Myanmar is being used as a proxy for attacks as opposed to being the origination point itself.
"It could be the case that someone was bouncing attacks through Myanmar," Belson said. "That would align with some of what we saw with attacks on port 9050."
Port 9050 is often used for the open source Tor onion router, which is an anonymous proxy networking service. Belson noted that Myanmar's top billing could be a case of the attack community doing a better job at hiding their tracks.
In terms of ports that are being targeted, Akamai once again reported that port 445 used for Microsoft directory services was the most attacked port, representing 34 percent of attack traffic. Attacks targeting Port 80 and Port 443, for HTTP and HTTPS were up significantly during the quarter. Port 80 attacks accounted for 11 percent of all attack traffic up from 1.5 percent at the end of 2010. Port 443 attacks were reported at 4.7 percent up from 0.2 percent.
Belson wasn't sure if the Port 443 attacks were directly related to the SSL certificate attack against security vendor Commodo earlier this year.
"I don't know if it was people trying to exploit those certificates or if it was a broader SQL Injection type attack or something else," Belson said.
Sean Michael Kerner is a senior editor at InternetNews.com, the news service of Internet.com, the network for technology professionals.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Speed artist paints portrait of Federer in 4 colors in 4 minutes -
http://opensource.si.com/2011/07/18/amazing-federer-portrait-created-in-4-minutes/?sct=hp_bf3_a4&eref=sihp&hpt=hp_c2%27%20rel=%27nofollow
Would that we were all that old, that flexible and that free.
Kaung
Would that we were all that old, that flexible and that free.
Kaung
Monday, July 18, 2011
Former Burmese military intelligence, now Australian citizen, confesses to war crimes in Burma -
--- On Mon, 7/18/11, wrote:
From:
Subject: Australian (former Burmese military intelligence officer) admits war crimes in Burma (involvement in over 100 executions and murders of dissidents)
To:
Date: Monday, July 18, 2011, 7:14 AM
Australian admits war crimes in Burma
18 July 2011 | 07:48:05 PM | Source: AAP
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1570945/Australian-admits-war-crimes-in-Burma
An Australian citizen has admitted to executing 24 anti-government
protesters and student leaders as an officer in Burmese military
intelligence.
Htoo Htoo Han, who came to Australia as a refugee in 1996 and has
since been involved in campaigns aimed at highlighting human rights
abuses in Burma, says he also had indirect involvement in at least 100
other murders.
Han says he led a group which infiltrated student organisations,
identifying and targeting leading activists.
"We destroy them ... destroy means kill," Han said.
He said he performed the executions during the 1988 anti-government
uprising that swept Burma, leaving thousands dead.
The father of three young children says he has come forward because he
can no longer live with his guilt.
"I did it, I am a war criminal," Han said.
"For so long I have lived like an animal.
"Now I want to release what I carry inside for 20 years. I want to say
sorry to the mothers and fathers of the people I killed."
He said he killed his victims with a bullet to the back of the head:
"Just bang, very quick. I don't do torture."
He said he was aware of others who were buried alive and their bodies
incinerated.
Han's confession has prompted calls from human rights groups for the
Australian government to press for a United Nations inquiry into
abuses in Burma.
"What makes the situation more urgent is that it's still happening,"
said Debbie Stothard, spokesperson for the Alternative ASEAN Network.
"There is no shortage of evidence even from people who committed those
crimes themselves."
Burmese activist groups based in Thailand said Han, who now lives in
Brisbane, was known to them, one senior figure expressing doubt over
the motives behind Han's admissions.
The secretary of the support group, the Assistance Association for
Political Prisoners, Tate Naing, said Han, had returned to Thailand a
number of times since being granted asylum in Australia.
"He was a very bad man," Naing said.
"I know his history, so I don't want to recommend him."
Han, 44, claims to have posed as a political prisoner while undercover in Burma.
But Naing suggests Han's failure on his recent visits to Thailand to
visit the AAPP base in the border town of Mae Sot is reason to doubt
his allegiances to the group.
Other Burmese sources questioned whether Han had genuinely rejected
the Burmese regime.
Han says he turned his back on his former Burmese masters before
coming to this country, a decision he claims resulted in an attempt on
his own life.
Since arriving here he has campaigned widely against his former
government, speaking in schools and using his artistic skills to focus
on repression and human rights abuses around the world.
He insists he has not engaged in any criminal activity in Australia.
He acknowledges he may never see his children again as a result of his
admissions, but he hopes they will come to understand what he has
done.
"I am prepared for this. I think my wife and kids for sure will cry a
lot," he said.
"But in Burma a thousand mothers cry."
An Australian Federal Police spokesman said it would consider what
action, if any, it would take in the absence of a complaint from the
country in which the alleged crimes were committed.
Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop said Burma's
military regime must be referred immediately to the International
Criminal Court (ICC).
"Mr Han's confession must be taken seriously and referred to relevant
international authorities, including the ICC, for further
investigation," she said.
The government has so far not commented.
=================================================================
Aust citizen admits war crimes in Burma
Mike Hedge, Senior Correspondent
July 18, 2011 - 11:54AM
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/aust-citizen-admits-war-crimes-in-burma-20110718-1hkug.html
AAP
A Burmese refugee living in Australia has confessed to committing 24
executions while working undercover for the Burmese military regime
and says he was involved in at least another 100 murders.
Htoo Htoo Han, now an Australian citizen, says he performed the
executions during the 1988 anti-government uprising that swept Burma,
resulting in thousands of deaths.
"I did it, I am a war criminal," Han said.
Advertisement: Story continues below
"For so long I have lived like an animal.
"Now I want to release what I carry inside for 20 years. I want to say
sorry to the mothers and fathers of the people I killed."
Han said he led a group that infiltrated student groups and
masqueraded as protesters.
He says as leader of the group he was also indirectly involved in at
least 100 other murders.
"We destroy them ... destroy means kill," Han said.
He said he killed his victims with a bullet to the back of the head,
but is aware of others who were buried alive and their bodies
incinerated.
"Just bang, very quick. I don't do torture," Han said.
Han, 44, now a father of three young children, has come forward
because he says he can no longer live with his guilt.
He expects to be dealt with and is ready to turn himself over to
Australian authorities.
Han says he worked as an undercover officer in Burmese military
intelligence from 1987 until 1992, leading a group whose main role was
to identify targets and kill them.
An Australian citizen for more than a decade, Han says he turned his
back on his former Burmese masters before coming to this country, a
decision that he claims resulted in an attempt on his own life.
Since arriving here he has campaigned widely in Australia against his
former government, speaking in schools and using his artistic skills
to focus on repression and human rights abuses around the world.
He insists he has not engaged in any criminal activity in Australia.
In 2003, SBS television made a documentary around a campaign he
conducted in Australia to raise awareness of human rights abuses in
Burma.
Han says he is prepared to face whatever justice he deserves,
including a long jail term.
He also acknowledges he may never see his children again, but he hopes
they will come to understand what he has done.
"I am prepared for this. I think my wife and kids for sure will cry a
lot," he said.
"But in Burma a thousand mothers cry."
Han said he chose to approach the media with his story, fearing it
might not be told if he went directly to authorities.
© 2011 AAP
From:
Subject: Australian (former Burmese military intelligence officer) admits war crimes in Burma (involvement in over 100 executions and murders of dissidents)
To:
Date: Monday, July 18, 2011, 7:14 AM
Australian admits war crimes in Burma
18 July 2011 | 07:48:05 PM | Source: AAP
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1570945/Australian-admits-war-crimes-in-Burma
An Australian citizen has admitted to executing 24 anti-government
protesters and student leaders as an officer in Burmese military
intelligence.
Htoo Htoo Han, who came to Australia as a refugee in 1996 and has
since been involved in campaigns aimed at highlighting human rights
abuses in Burma, says he also had indirect involvement in at least 100
other murders.
Han says he led a group which infiltrated student organisations,
identifying and targeting leading activists.
"We destroy them ... destroy means kill," Han said.
He said he performed the executions during the 1988 anti-government
uprising that swept Burma, leaving thousands dead.
The father of three young children says he has come forward because he
can no longer live with his guilt.
"I did it, I am a war criminal," Han said.
"For so long I have lived like an animal.
"Now I want to release what I carry inside for 20 years. I want to say
sorry to the mothers and fathers of the people I killed."
He said he killed his victims with a bullet to the back of the head:
"Just bang, very quick. I don't do torture."
He said he was aware of others who were buried alive and their bodies
incinerated.
Han's confession has prompted calls from human rights groups for the
Australian government to press for a United Nations inquiry into
abuses in Burma.
"What makes the situation more urgent is that it's still happening,"
said Debbie Stothard, spokesperson for the Alternative ASEAN Network.
"There is no shortage of evidence even from people who committed those
crimes themselves."
Burmese activist groups based in Thailand said Han, who now lives in
Brisbane, was known to them, one senior figure expressing doubt over
the motives behind Han's admissions.
The secretary of the support group, the Assistance Association for
Political Prisoners, Tate Naing, said Han, had returned to Thailand a
number of times since being granted asylum in Australia.
"He was a very bad man," Naing said.
"I know his history, so I don't want to recommend him."
Han, 44, claims to have posed as a political prisoner while undercover in Burma.
But Naing suggests Han's failure on his recent visits to Thailand to
visit the AAPP base in the border town of Mae Sot is reason to doubt
his allegiances to the group.
Other Burmese sources questioned whether Han had genuinely rejected
the Burmese regime.
Han says he turned his back on his former Burmese masters before
coming to this country, a decision he claims resulted in an attempt on
his own life.
Since arriving here he has campaigned widely against his former
government, speaking in schools and using his artistic skills to focus
on repression and human rights abuses around the world.
He insists he has not engaged in any criminal activity in Australia.
He acknowledges he may never see his children again as a result of his
admissions, but he hopes they will come to understand what he has
done.
"I am prepared for this. I think my wife and kids for sure will cry a
lot," he said.
"But in Burma a thousand mothers cry."
An Australian Federal Police spokesman said it would consider what
action, if any, it would take in the absence of a complaint from the
country in which the alleged crimes were committed.
Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Julie Bishop said Burma's
military regime must be referred immediately to the International
Criminal Court (ICC).
"Mr Han's confession must be taken seriously and referred to relevant
international authorities, including the ICC, for further
investigation," she said.
The government has so far not commented.
=================================================================
Aust citizen admits war crimes in Burma
Mike Hedge, Senior Correspondent
July 18, 2011 - 11:54AM
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/aust-citizen-admits-war-crimes-in-burma-20110718-1hkug.html
AAP
A Burmese refugee living in Australia has confessed to committing 24
executions while working undercover for the Burmese military regime
and says he was involved in at least another 100 murders.
Htoo Htoo Han, now an Australian citizen, says he performed the
executions during the 1988 anti-government uprising that swept Burma,
resulting in thousands of deaths.
"I did it, I am a war criminal," Han said.
Advertisement: Story continues below
"For so long I have lived like an animal.
"Now I want to release what I carry inside for 20 years. I want to say
sorry to the mothers and fathers of the people I killed."
Han said he led a group that infiltrated student groups and
masqueraded as protesters.
He says as leader of the group he was also indirectly involved in at
least 100 other murders.
"We destroy them ... destroy means kill," Han said.
He said he killed his victims with a bullet to the back of the head,
but is aware of others who were buried alive and their bodies
incinerated.
"Just bang, very quick. I don't do torture," Han said.
Han, 44, now a father of three young children, has come forward
because he says he can no longer live with his guilt.
He expects to be dealt with and is ready to turn himself over to
Australian authorities.
Han says he worked as an undercover officer in Burmese military
intelligence from 1987 until 1992, leading a group whose main role was
to identify targets and kill them.
An Australian citizen for more than a decade, Han says he turned his
back on his former Burmese masters before coming to this country, a
decision that he claims resulted in an attempt on his own life.
Since arriving here he has campaigned widely in Australia against his
former government, speaking in schools and using his artistic skills
to focus on repression and human rights abuses around the world.
He insists he has not engaged in any criminal activity in Australia.
In 2003, SBS television made a documentary around a campaign he
conducted in Australia to raise awareness of human rights abuses in
Burma.
Han says he is prepared to face whatever justice he deserves,
including a long jail term.
He also acknowledges he may never see his children again, but he hopes
they will come to understand what he has done.
"I am prepared for this. I think my wife and kids for sure will cry a
lot," he said.
"But in Burma a thousand mothers cry."
Han said he chose to approach the media with his story, fearing it
might not be told if he went directly to authorities.
© 2011 AAP
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Aung San Suu Kyi in Bagan -
http://www.signonsandiego.com/photos/2011/jul/05/405478/
This time she traveled by plane and no goons in junta's pay beat up her party and her, but she still needs to be (very) careful.
This time she traveled by plane and no goons in junta's pay beat up her party and her, but she still needs to be (very) careful.
Friday, July 08, 2011
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Friday, July 01, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Comment by Kyi May Kaung, left on Asian Sentinel on "rising kyat"
As Dr. Sean Turnell pointed out, the $ is falling so the kyat "rises".
The $ is falling because of the USA's three trillion dollar and counting war expenditures - and that is only the middle figure of the estimate that Nobel economist Joseph Stiglitz and his co-writer Linda Bilmes made a few years ago.
See my review of Stiglitz and Bilmes' book The Three Trillion Dollar War.
http://www.fpif.org/articles/review_the_three_trillion_dollar_war
Kyi May Kaung
The $ is falling because of the USA's three trillion dollar and counting war expenditures - and that is only the middle figure of the estimate that Nobel economist Joseph Stiglitz and his co-writer Linda Bilmes made a few years ago.
See my review of Stiglitz and Bilmes' book The Three Trillion Dollar War.
http://www.fpif.org/articles/review_the_three_trillion_dollar_war
Kyi May Kaung
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Burmese language radio overseas - BBC will shut down 5 languages for 54 m
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/BBC-to-Shut-Down-5-Language-Services-114608894.html
http://www.mizzima.com/news/world/4338-suu-kyi-concerned-as-bbc-burmese-risks-being-dropped.html
VOA also plans to cut its Chinese service.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=19422
http://www.mizzima.com/news/world/4338-suu-kyi-concerned-as-bbc-burmese-risks-being-dropped.html
VOA also plans to cut its Chinese service.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=19422
Friday, June 17, 2011
re-posting - Kyi May Kaung's article "Out of Burma" on Burmese (prison) literature
hthttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giftp://www.fpif.org/articles/out_of_burma
First published in Foreign Policy in Focus.
First published in Foreign Policy in Focus.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Monday, June 06, 2011
Sunday, June 05, 2011
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Friday, June 03, 2011
Libyan multiple rape victim Eman al-Obeidy deported back from Qater to Benghazi, Libya- may have been beaten before deportation
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/06/03/libya.rape.case/index.html?
Qater seems in cahoots with Libya -
UNHCR has no power to save this woman who deserves peace.
Qater seems in cahoots with Libya -
UNHCR has no power to save this woman who deserves peace.
Dr Death - Jack Kervorkian dies at 83
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/03/report-dr-jack-kevorkian-dead/?hpt=hp_t2
But did not seek assisted suicide himself.
But did not seek assisted suicide himself.
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
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