Suu Kyi appears on state TV as under-fire Myanmar frees monks

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

YANGON (AFP) - Myanmar's military regime Friday broadcast rare footage of detained democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi on state television for the for first time in at least four years.

The junta also said it had freed hundreds of detained monks, and it restored Internet access after a week, steps that appeared aimed at appeasing world opinion as the generals came under strong attack at the United Nations.

The TV report showed Aung San Suu Kyi with UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari and said he met the leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) twice and held talks with regime leader General Than Shwe during his four-day visit this week.

Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, has spent most of the past 18 years under house arrest, and her image has not appeared in state media since before her last period of detention started in 2003.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071005/wl_asia_afp/myanmarunrest_071005175919

[Miss Chybil]

1. So nice to find a thread to recommend.

As opposed to all the "only bad Democrats like Hillary" threads.

Let's hope there will be peace in Burma.

[maddezmom]

5. here is another one to K&R

Myanmar monk makes phone appeal to backers in NY
A leader of the Buddhist monks who have led street protests in Myanmar urged Americans on Friday to press for more international action to pressure the military junta toward dialogue with the opposition.

Speaking by phone from an undisclosed location in Myanmar to a public meeting at the Asia Society in New York, the monk was identified by organizers as "U Gambira," a name he took as leader of a group calling itself the All Burma Monks Alliance.

"The military junta is still arresting people at the Buddhist monasteries every night and every day," the monk was quoted as saying by Aung Din, a former political prisoner who translated the monk's remarks to the audience in New York.

"He said there are many soldiers surrounding the Buddhist monasteries and also in the streets," Aung Din said.




http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x312440

[graphixtech]

2. Release ALL of the monks

The people and monks of Burma remain in a political crisis
and are in urgent need of continued international pressure.

Release ALL of the monks and political prisoners!

The number reported of monks detained or killed has spiralled
downwords daily. Are we to believe the shocking initial, independent
reports or these new numbers supplied by the controlled media?

Stand with the Burmese People (petition)
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/tf.php?cl

"The monks, activists and their supporters are the true heroes
in the current stage of Burmese history. They have done their job,
and they want the international community to grab this opportunity
to help create a free and democratic Burma."
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8802

"People in Burma are determined to continue their struggle for
freedom and human rights with or without international support.
People are now committed to bring about systemic change in Burma
even if they have to sacrifice their precious lives.
Therefore, the UN-led international community must show its
support of the people openly and stand up alongside the people."
(Oct. 5 Article)
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8919

UN Security Council Must Act Now on Burma
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=8921

Great links for local reporting on the current situation in Burma:

Irrawaddy News
http://www.irrawaddy.org

Burma News
http://www.mizzima.com /



"Asean leaders know if the situation in Myanmar deteriorates ...
there will come a breaking point where much more brutal force will
be used to put their people down"
—Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew

[Gregorian]

3. Release all of the monks.

And recommended.

My first thought. And think of all the good we could have been doing, while we were instead making war.

[lovuian]

4. Free the Monks

:applause:

[graphixtech]

6. thought provoking comments

Three comments from DVB:

http://english.dvb.no/letstalk.php
____________________________
lalela1616 (USA)

These are sad times for Burma and the Burmese people, but more than this, these are sad times for the world. It is sad to be a citizen of a world where we do not manage to protect and defend those who have suffered for so many years and finally find the courage, out of desperation, to stand up against their oppressors.

The saffron robes of the monks, a symbol of the power of the quiet voices, has hit the world during these last weeks, and the hearts of many have gone out, wishing, pleading to help. The saffron robes touched so many of us, and yet, today we are left with the feeling- we can do nothing. And the courage shown by the young men in Burma is in vain.

I am ashamed to be a citizen of a world that accepts that their courage is in vain. I am ashamed of the Olympic committee who does not rise to the occasion and use their power to pressure China. I am ashamed of the UN nations who do not send peace keeping forces. I am ashamed that economic gain is more powerful than the voice of the saffron clad monk. I am even ashamed of the neighboring Buddhist countries, which do not rise to the occasion and protect their faith, some even preventing refugees from crossing their borders. But most of all, I am ashamed to be one of the many individuals accepting I have no power to change what I see has to be changed. I am ashamed because the monk in his saffron robe did not accept; he stood tall and fought his own fear, a fear grown over many years of knowledge of a regime and its doings. The monks knew and yet knelt before their oppressor in prayer.

It is not the time now for the protester in Burma; he has already shown his courage. The reprisals are too stern, the risk too high. Even quiet protest is risky unless done so skillfully the military will never know who did it. The monks have shown the way and taken the consequence, now is the time for the rest of the world to show we are not the divided people we think we are. We live in free countries; we have a right to protest. We can protest and make our voices heard to those with power to change. A massive demand from the people of the world will leave no politician with any choice but to obey. Demand the boycott of the Olympics, demand military interventions, demand economic boycott, demand sanctions to China. Give the leaders of the countries we live in no chance but to obey. Make them sure they will surely loose the next election over this issue. Let us not let the deaths of so many and the courage of so many be in vain. Let us make our voice heard.

____________________________

Tree (USA)

What would Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have you do? What would those who lifted no arms against oppression and paid with their lives have you do?

One comment calls all stupid asks why you cannot come up with some clever way. Yet makes no offer of one....... Here would be a good place for that person to do so- when, is that not what your asking the world for on this page, is ideas? Boycott of Olympic sponsors is for the rest of the world to do in honor of you. What may be out of the ordinary for a response, I will risk for so many call one "evil" - here is something different.

How many have sent message of thanks that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed an 'additional' visit by the UN that was not even asked for? How many sent message of thanks for those who were RELEASED. I will not defend evil- nor do I hear cry from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for the death of the government in power but says instead she wants to TALK with him. If I yell at your face of what wrong you do- is this talk? How does that help you to change? Yet if even the most evil person hears praise for ONE SMALL ACT of kindness - does this not help them see "that path" to change????

Is not PEACE what you truly desire? That is the hard path to find. Violence is the easy one. Peace is the way of the wise. If non exists we must "create it". For every action there is more than one reaction.

These are only thoughts and I pray I am not condemned if they are not popular - I am only trying to help you find a path that seems to, for so many decades - to have escaped.

Creating peace in such times - is a challenge but finding the means to do so - is a worthy one. Even if it means praise of a tyrant the MOMENT he stops behaving like one. Plant seeds of peace - seek an end to the suffering - but see beyond the focus of suffering to any cause to praise even the slightest move of peace in your enemy. Then see what response you get.

When in the wilds I find a bush full of berries and I eat the biggest and plumpest and leave the shriveled ones the next year I come back to find those are the ones which have gone to seed. - I accept at their worst and return to them their best that that may be what grows. If you seek change provide the environment for it and the room for it - for even the most evil - to turn to good. Praise for one who kills and rapes and oppresses thousands? DID I say this was EASY??????

Is this not what those monks who's voices are silent would say? What would "they" have you do? If you punish your enemy - and they learn the light - they have already been punished and have little cause to punish themselves.

Help them learn truth - and peace and the things you wish for. Then they will have cause to have to work hard, to find cause to have peace with themselves for what they have done. If you found a better path would you take it? How about if he does not know the better path - then would he then not continue on the one he is on? For how many more decades??? Call him evil focus on only that - what will then grow within him? Do not underestimate the power of peace - even though that path is not always the easy one.

Just ideas - may those who hold hate not hate me for wanting to find a path of peace enough to ask these questions and pose these ideas.

I do not say they are the answer- They are just my own questions.

It is the peace of the Burmese people who caught my attention decades ago. I could not visit your land Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, requested tourists wait.

I honor her request above my own desire.

Tree (USA)
________________________
anke (germany)

If violence is used what is to stop China from military aid of troops to junta??? People of the world who read this please think- no matter how crazy your idea may sound post it here. Help create a NEW way to deal with this ancient issue.

The problem is clear, it is the SOLUTION which needs to take place. Safe behind my computer? I know what it is to have my father killed when I was 12 and flee to the wilderness - To come out only to have my dog team - those I loved murdered one after another in ways meant to drive any man of heart insane and the police do nothing.

I won. And did NOT become like my enemy who sought to destroy my peace.

I did not react in ways expected. I created new ways. PEACEFUL ways. Post your ideas here - no matter how crazy they may sound. We may just find a way to help all peoples of the world - to find peace to situations like this and the Burmese become famous for solving this same issue the world over not just for them.

INVENT the NEW path to peace. The junta cant deal with something new, they wont know how. I did not return insane violence in ways that were expected - and won my freedom and did not kill the killer.

I spend my life now in peace - I fought for using my mind - not a rifle. And can live with myself.

No stranger to years of terror. Nor did I become a terrorist to regain my freedom. I forgave the killer - and he destroyed his own life. There is POWER in peace - HUGE power. A power those of violence cannot tap into. This is your advantage. A tool the oppressors cannot hold.

Post your crazy ideas here - they may sound crazy if they are NEW ways to deal with this ancient issue afflicting mankind.

This is a chance and a place to change the world. Those outside Burma do all you can - boycott - email your governments - and post your ideas here that you may help these people find their path to peace.

If old ways never get much done - create a NEW ONE. My internet goes off today but I will spend my time in mediation on this same thing during that time.

No matter how crazy your ideas my sound post them here - its time to put an end to this - for ALL who suffer this same fate- to find a NEW path - to peace. If new - they will not expect it nor know how to deal with it. Outside Burma - turn off your natural gas - refuse to buy gasoline - refuse the world over to fuel global insanity with your money - they listen to that! How hard is it to live without fossil fuels? Thats why I'm going offline - while I did just that! And FIND the ways to do so- Turn off you fossil power, how you suffer to learn alternatives is nothing compared to how the world does, if you do not.

Those who are not in burma use the internet to help them by giving them what you can send them this way - Your ideas - help them FIND - CREATE - a NEW path to peace, by using peace.

____________________________

[graphixtech]

7. Resolution Through Peaceful Methods

TODAY is
International Day of Action on Burma!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1978292&mesg_id=1978292

emlov's excellent BURMA RESOURCES thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1954428&mesg_id=1954428

198 Methods of Non-Violent Action

http://www.aeinstein.org/organizations103a.html
(printable pdf available at link)


(2005 in KC)

[supernova]

8. Thanks for the hopeful news

:cry: