Interview with Ko Kyaw Thet

Interview with Ko Kyaw Thet (Democratic Information Department)
Copyright© by Ko Si Thu
(Driving for Burma Campaign - http://drivingforburma.blogspot.com/).

Please go this link to listen the interview in Burmese :
http://drivingforburma.blogspot.com/2007/12/interview-with-ko-kyaw-thet-did.html


Ko Si Thu: Please Kindly introduce yourself.
Ko Kyaw Thet: Well, My name is Kyaw Thet and I am from 88 generation student movement.

Ko Sithu: Where were you working before?
Ko Kyaw Thet: During the 8888 Student upring, as a 88 generation student, I am working for the Whole Burma Student Union Headquarter.

After the cracked down of the student, I escape to Thailand and then to US since then I am settle down in US and working together with any organisation which have same vision, same objective and resolution for our country.

Ko Sithu: What do you think about this 7 Steps Road Map which was written by the Military Junta?
Ko Kyaw Thet: If you look at the The Junta policy of 7 Steps Road Map, the one step is writing of Constitution and now they are preparing to write the Constitution. The Constitutions are very important to any one country. It is the Life Line and essential requirement of the country.

But as of today, if you look at the Constitution which they(Junta) preparing to write is not reflect to the people desire nor reflect to the people life, then this Constitution will be considered as not applicable.

Beside that if that Constitution is going to be adopted by the National Congress then we have to check the delegations of the National Congress. Who are these delegations? Who they really represent? That's why for me, I will not accept the Constitution which is written by them(Military Junta).

Ko Si Thu: So who should be written the Constitution?
Ko Kyaw Thet: As for me, The constitution should be written by the Delegations who are truly elected by the people to represent the people wish and desire. Any person or any Organisation or any establishment cannot write the Constitution by themselves to satisfy their own desire and benefit.

Since the constitution have to reflect the people desire and people life, we will never accept any constitution which is written to look after the benefit of the certain group or certain organisation or certain Establishment.

The Constitution MUST be written by the delegations who are truly elected by the people to reflect their desire, their wishes and their life.

Ko Sithu: Recently I heard that there are some movement of creating the Federal Government and writing of Federal Constitution outside of Burma. Do you think it is the right time to do that or it is necessary?
Ko Kyaw Thet: As my OWN personal point of view, the Federal Constitution written outside of Burma is to be considered as DRAFT. One day, when the Constitution which is real and truly reflect the people desire and wishes are written then this Federal Constitution will be submitted as a DRAFT Constitution to be study and considered.

Ko Si Thu: Thank you.
Ko Kyaw Thet: Thank you very much too

Disclaimer:
I translated the interview as best as possible to the original conversation with my best intention.... Bay Dah

Mrs. Bush's Remarks at a Video Teleconference on Burma

Mrs. Bush's Remarks at a Video Teleconference on Burma in Recognition of International Human Rights Day

Roosevelt Room
9:33 A.M. EST
MRS. BUSH: Thanks, Ambassador. Thank you, Dr. Maung, for joining us this morning.

Let me tell you who's here with us. We have Jim Jeffrey*, the Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs is here by me. Next to him is Elliott Abrams, Deputy National Security Advisor for Global Democracy Strategy; Dennis Wilder, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for East Asian Affairs. On this side of the table, Anita McBride, who is my Chief of Staff; Ambassador Chris Hill; and Kristen Silverberg at the table with us. (Full Story)

International Human Rights Day Ceremony Held Under Junta's Microscope

Translation Courtesy by Naychiu (Link to her blog)

On December 10, A meeting to mark the International Human Rights Day was held in Kyi' Myin Taing, Yangon, at the home of U Myint Aye's, the leader of the HRDP (Human Rights Defenders and Promoters). The meeting, held from 9:00 until 10:30 am, was attended by about 100 people, the members around the country, diplomats from United State of America, some public members with interest in Human Rights as well as staff members of Sun Arr Shin (Power Rangers) - the government's public movement control officials.
(Read Full Translated Article here)

Original post in Burmese: http://www.dvb.no/burmese/news.php?id=3103

Related Article Link: We Are Burmese And We Are Proud Of It

Letter from United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar(Burma) (Click on the photo to read)

Lin Let Kyal Sin's International Human Rights Day

Arts and Literature Exhibition of International Human Rights Day in Singapore © by Lin Let Kyal Sin

(To read the original post by her in Burmese, you can visit her wonderful blog http://linletkyalsin.blogspot.com/ )

Today is the International Human Rights Day. Once I realize it is the International Human Rights Day, the thought immediately came into my mind was my Country and myBurmese People who lost their Basic Human Rights under Military Junta.

Under the limited situation and condition, everyone(OPB and all the volunteers) didn't bother about their sleepless nights and their own jobs and gaving up their personal times to make this International Human Rights Day Arts and Literature Exhibition in Singapore a success.

I went to the Exhibiton hall around 4:00pm Sunday to support the Exhibition.

In the middile of the exhibition hall was the Tree of Life .

Wishing Cards which people wrote down their desire, hope and wish for their good for the People of Burma were hanged on this Tree of Life.

The Exhibition was attended by the well known figures from all sort of life such as HE Ambassdoe from Poland, Director of Political Affairs from British Embassy, Singapore MP Ms. Irene Ng, Singapore Opposition Dr. Chee from SDP, etc.

I would like to thank to OBP for contributing Time, money and Money to make this exhibition the great success. ©Lin Let Kyal Sin

(I translate the original post with the best of my intention....... Bay Dah)

Message from 88 Generations Students

International Human Rights Day Message to All the UN member Nations and The International Organization
from
88 Generation Students Organization of Free Burma Movement.

Date: 10 December 2007

To

All the Government around the world and all the people of the whole world,

Since the United Nations General Assembly's adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 10 December 1948, all the member nations have the full responsibility of respect and protect for the basic Human Rights.

The development of modern technology, news media and Globalisation of trading, ideas, cultural exchanges make the countries, governments and people to think and act practically and naturally beyond their geographical boundaries of their nations.

In this time of Globalisation around the world, the Military Junta from Burma(Myanmar) have been openly suppressed and practised gross violations of all the Basic Human Rights to its own people in their own country daily since 1962.

All the UN members countries shouldn't look at this situation as JUST an internal affairs and ignore our Burmese people plight, instead they should act together and get involve to ensure that the primacy of human rights and to confront human rights violations wherever they occur as a kind consideration and rightful act to the fellow human being.

The killing of Japanese Reporter, Heated Discussion about Burma Democracy and Human Rights issue at UN security council, Refugee issues, Drugs productions and smuggling, Human trafficking in Burma, Face loosing situation of ASEAN Leaders at recent ASEAN Summit were clearly showed and proved that Burma Military Junta's violation of Human Rights issues are no longer cannot consider ONLY as Burma Internal Issue anymore.

Therefore, all the International Communities should not ignore the gross violations of Human Rights in Burma.

We would like to appeal and request all the Nations, please don't waste time or reluctant to help and protect the fellow human being dignity and their Basic Human Rights, JUST for the sake of giving priority only to the profit of your country business.

Signed
88 Generation Students
email: 88gstudent@gmail.com

( Act Now !! Time is running out !! Are you waiting for the another Killing Field is going to happen again and again?? .... Bay Dah)

Interview with Former ABSDF Joint-General Secartary

Interview with Ko Thiri Nyunt © by Ko Si Thu
(Driving for Burma Campaign - http://drivingforburma.blogspot.com/).

(N.B. Ko Thiri Nyunt was former ABSDF joint-general Secretary and former commander of regiment 102. Ko Si Thu had served with him in this regiment 102 for a few years.)

Please go this link to listen the interview in Burmese : http://drivingforburma.blogspot.com/2007/12/interview-with-thiri-nyunt.html

Ko Si Thu(Question):
Ko Thiri, What is your view about the current Political Situation In Burma?

Ko Thiri Nyunt(Answer):

I don't want to say Big Thing about Politics. The Monks lead Saffron Revolution in September and those Student uprising in 1974, 1988, etc were happened because of people unable to stand the unfairness and suppression anymore and with their own will, own desire and initiate their own responsibilities to up rise against the Country Bad System and Bad Policies.

Burmese people are the most patient and most forgiveness people on Earth, if the government did a certain level of good thing for the country, Burmese people will not bother about the politics. Now what happen was because of too much of unfairness and too much of suppression, they (Burmese people) with their own will, they stand up against the Junta by themselves. These uprising were happened by itself, it was not because of any others influence.

As long as there are no freedom, no democracy, no justice in Burma, these kind of uprising against Military Junta will continue to happen for sure and Burmese people will stand up by themselves with their own will. As long as there are Suppression and Unfairness, the uprising will happen again and again by itself.(No need to wait for any encouragement from others)

Question:

What should we do and how do we fight in the Future to get Freedom in Burma?

Answer:

I don't want to say anything about what we should do on the interview because Enemy(Junta) will get time to prepare to counteract against these actions. I don't want to tell what we have to do, All the activist already know what to do.

But my OWN personal view and my Own believe, In 1988 we were suppressed and Junta drove(forced) us on this road of Armed Struggle. I myself participated in Armed Struggle against Junta for 5 yrs along the Border and Our Comrades are still continue Armed Struggle there.

A weapon without ammunition is not even as useful as the stick. Armed Struggling without support will difficult to succeed. Armed Struggling need weapons, ammunition, medicines, supply etc. . Last time those Leftist Revolutions were successful because it got full support by Russia and China from behind.

Since we don't have this kind of support from anywhere at this moment, we are not able to move forward yet in this moment. But I don't mean we will never win because of we can't able to move forward at this moment.

I believe, one day if we get this kind of support, we will win. I am one of the person who really hate war, there are only bad and evil things on the battlefield.

But since Junta Government don't want to walk on Peace Road and don't want to settle in peaceful way, we have no other option, we have to fight for to get the freedom in Burma, this is my own personal believe.

Question:

What do you want to say to the People in Burma?

Answer:

I want to tell to the people who are not Only inside Burma, I also like to tell to the Burmese people who are outside of Burma, I want to tell to Every Burmese people that it is the responsibility of everyone. Everyone is responsible and accountable, I am also responsible and you(Ko Si Thu) are also responsible if we love our country.

If there are a lot of people who just want to look for themselves or just only interest in looking after for their own family well being and just sit down and do nothing and just watch what other people are doing, then our country will never change.

But if there are a lot of people who understand their responsibilities and accountable for the good cause of our Country, then we will win one day and our Country will become develop and better.

I don't want to say it is the responsible of the People from inside or the People from outside. It is the responsibility of everyone who love Burma and all of us are responsible for changing all the Bad things to the Good things. That's all I like to say. Thank you.

(I translate the interview as much possible as to the original interview with my best intention. If there anything is wrong interpretation, it is solely my Fault.

Ko Si Thu, Thank you very much to allow me to post this Translation on your interview with Ko Thiri Nyunt. Bay Dah)