With growing Burmese community in Singapore, this island city state has become an important place for overseas pro-democracy forces for Burma in recent months. http://www.monywa.org/witmone/images/sgprotest.htm
Most of Burmese living in Singapore are well educated, have new and fresh idea, live in harmony with democratic society, possess high moral and social value . They look at the problems in Burma from all different dimensions and not political point of view alone . There are thousands of Burmese working in Singapore as skill labours at shipyard and constructions sites to professionals as engineers, managers and directors position at IT, semiconductors and other companies. Many young and active Burmese are graduated from polytechnics and universities in Singapore and has made this country as their new home away from home in the past decade. Singapore’s business and social tie with Burma is getting stronger than any other countries of ASEAN in recent years and Singapore has become a key role for socio-economic and political transformation in Burma. There have been many effective protest and actions from Burmese activists in Singapore during recent ASEAN summit. Their movements have achieved significant success of ASEAN and global attention on Burma. Activists are united for their cause, they involved individuals as well as well organized small groups such as OBP(Overseas Burmese Patriot), Oway, LPK Library, Concern for Myanmar, DTASG and etc. Their recent movements during ASEAN summit, news, other information and images and all other on going activities can be found at: http://www.monywa.org/witmone/images/sgprotest.htm They organized a remarkable quiet and peaceful protest in Singapore’s busiest Orchard road for ASEAN’s shamefully weak response on Burma’s regime during ASEAN summit. They signed and distributed an open letter to the soft toned Asean leaders and representatives from EU and other nations at ASEAN summit. They invited British parliamentary under secretary of state, a former minister for women and equality, Meg Munn and French state secretary in charge of foreign affairs and human rights Rama Yade to visit to Burmese Buddhist temple and little Myanmar (Peninsula Plaza) the well known rondevuz for Burmese in Singapore .The British and French ministers spent more than one hour time with Burmese social activists and communities groups in Singapore. Burmese in Singapore did all these effective actions in their best and got their attentions during ASEAN summit. In the past, Thailand was the only key place for pro-democracy activists and forces of many overseas Burmese in Asia. Because of Thailand's own political problems, It is unfortunate that Thailand, also the Buddhists dominated country could only play minor role in supporting pro-democracy cause of Burma and helping the monks and people of its close neighbour in recent months. In near future, Singapore will be more important place for Burmese pro-democracy activists and for Burma. We are seeing that Singapore government is actively involving in recent Burmese issue. Even MP from PAP (People’s Action Party) Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong initiated discussion in the Parliament for Myanmar issue ( we can rarely see any MP discuss for other country’s affair and show their concerns about it in the Singapore parliament ). However Singapore’s existing strict law and acts on public gathering, public speaking and street protests will only be the only major road block for overseas Burmese pro democracy activists in Singapore to do their activities for their mother land. Nevertheless, Burmese in Singapore will continue their struggle for democracy and human rights in their own front with their strong determination, intelligence with the use of technology.Interestingly, they are not only struggling for democratic reform for their mother land, they are also fighting for their basic right from Singapore’s authority within the law. As a Burmese living in overseas, I praise for all overseas government’s sympathy and supports for our efforts and our struggles for prople of Burma. Hopefully, Thai people and new Thai government are more interested and have strong desire to support democratic reform in Burma. More active involvement on its neighbour’s issue will bring back Thailand’s good democratic image in the regional and global political stage.
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