Concern For BURMA / Myanmar in Singapore
16-July-2009
It will be 62th Martyr Day on 19-Jul-2009. Now, General Aung San started "4th Burmese Army" in 1945 to fight British and Japanese. We enjoyed democracy after independent country since 1948 and ended in 1962 by Ne Win led military coup. In 1988, general uprising gave way to new military leadership. General Than Shwe's military government so called "Junta" showed worst military dictator in Asia.
World amazingly watched the Nov 2007 Buddhist Monks' peaceful uprising. Junta destroyed by brutal killing by weapons. Janta one sided 2010 election plan and new constitution was approved by vote cheating even though democracy groups organized "Vote No" campaign. In May 2008, a disaster "Nargis Cyclone" killed estimated 100,000 people in Burmese Delta and created millions of homeless but Junta refused internal help as well as international help. Many democracy groups and Burmese people felt hopeless.
Now, it was already 1 year anniversary of Nargis Cyclone, people in Burma are still no change in life. People are migrating more and more to neighbor countries. The worst situation can be seen inside Burma. Hunger with jobless, low income created life span. In Burma it is normal to die after 40 years of age by drug, alcohol, poverty ..etc.
International Voices
USA government helped more than 40,000 Burmese refugees from Burmese border to US. Other EU countries eg. Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden and Australia accepted refugees to re-settle in their country. But majority of Burmese refugees are still living in Thailand. As per political analysis, Junta easily oppressed democracy groups is because of China support in region. In UN, China, Russian and even France (try to sell weapons) are supporting Junta. USA and EU countries are unable to dominate in UN General Assembly for tougher action to Junta. The worst case is Burma and N.Korea relationship. North Korea tested Nuclear Bomb and missiles. That endangers the world peace. Now, Burmese Junta is co-operating with notorious N.Korea. General Maung Aye and group visit to N.Korea report was leaked out to Internet.
Junta Found Gas Income
Unfortunately, Burma found Neutral Gas at Off Shore. After year 2000, Junta completed Neutral Gas pipeline form off shore to Thailand. After 2005, Junta laid Gas pipelines to India and China. 2 July 2009 Singapore Straits Times newspaper said, 2008 Burma's total income is US$6004 millions and majority (may be 70%) comes from Neutral Gas. (US$6.04 billions in 2007-08 fiscal year, gem products accounted for US$647.53 millions). Now, Junta is richer and they are spending more money for military expense. People are poorer and poorer.
Singapore Authority expelled Democracy Activists
Singapore government targeted Burmese activists to maintain their stability as a small country. Firstly, Singapore Authority expelled the Nov 2007 Burmese democracy peaceful leader. JJ @ Ko Kyaw Soe - Organizer and activist of Overseas Burmese Patriots OBP was forced to surrender his Permanent Residence status. Ko Kyaw Soe stranded few months to remain in Singapore but finally he left to Indonesia as UNHCR refugee. Other OBP activist (may be more than 10 youths) also expelled from Singapore by removing their work permits. A Burmese library in Singapore Peninsula Plaza (so called Little Burma in Singapore) was established in May 2007. Their main task is to barrow books (especially - democracy books not available in Burma). This LPK Library @ Polaris Library volunteers are actively involve in fund raising for "brutal killed monks in Burma" and "Victims of Nargis Cyclone". Singapore Authority forced a Librarian (Nay Nay) to incontinences by stopping re-entry permit. Finally, she surrendered her Permanent Resident and left to USA in 2008. Many Burmese activists are forced to leave Singapore and majority is now living in Cambodia. Some can migrate to USA but USA government is not so helpful to those Burmese activists from Singapore. Anyway, Burmese survive in Burma and overseas by their own.
More and more Burmese migrated to Singapore to work, study. Based on newspaper data, at least ~100,000 Burmese (1% of Singapore population) are living in Singapore. Majority Burmese are working as WP work permit holder. After 2007, many Burmese migrate to Singapore by sending their young children eg. 3 years old , pre-school student. Children's mother get guardian pass and she can live, work in Singapore. Many Burmese business companies also open their branch in Singapore because Singapore. Finally, majority Burmese in Singapore are working, education and business related. Singapore government is protecting Burmese military generals property and their activities.
Singapore Activist Arise Again in June 2009
In May 2009, Burmese democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was removed from house arrest to notorious Insein Prison. Junta dirty politic played to DASSK and showed Junta power to opposition party NLD leader. They create a story of US citizen illegally entry to DASSK's house by swimming across Inya-Lake. International protests and request to Burmese embassy. Singapore activists held a "Pray session at Burmese Buddhist Temple" in Topayo. More than 500 Burmese attended. In Jun 2009, Singapore activists help the 64th birthday of DASSK at Burmese Buddhist Temple. It is good to hear that Burmese activists are able to negotiate with Burmese Buddhist Temple committee who refused to held such activities in their temple. Temple management committee allowed democracy events after famous Penang Sayadaw (Malaysia) visit.
Support from Local Sinaporean
Singapore Government always refuse to give permit on Burmese Talk at "Speaker Corner". After DASSK was removed from "house arrest" to "prison", local Singaporeans' applied permit to talk about "Freedom of DASSK". Finally Singapore Authority approved this "Speaker Corner" talk. It was successfully done on 31 May 2009.
Conclusion
OBP activists can come out to public by this kind of event in Singapore.
LPK Library is running for 3 years with democracy education to Burmese in Singapore.
Not only Burmese in Singapore, local Singapore people also supporting.
Die heart Burmese activists are young. They have great energy for future Burma. We salute them. Their democracy meet in Burma will be sooner..
The End.. http://witmone.blogspot.com
¾ÔÁ¾ì˹éÒ¹Õé