Travellers (Written By Aung San Suu Kyi)

Photo: Naytthi.net

(This article was written by Aung San Suu Kyi and was published by Mianichi Shimbun on May 23, 2011 )

Truman Capote's inimitable heroine Holly Golightly, that most worldly of waifs, kept her possessions in suitcases with luggage tags that, in place of an address, bore the single word, "Traveling". I was barely out of my teens when I first came across this original approach to abode and I thought it was wonderful and adventurous and interpreted it purely in terms of physical movement.

Even the dead could not travel to cemetery in peace in Burma

Written by NWL

When the government is not only unable and/or unwilling to protect its own citizens, but also fails miserably in ensuring that its citizens have access to basic human needs, the responsibility rightly falls on the responsible citizens humanitarian workers to take care of well-beings of the public. If that government also becomes a source of the problem rather than part of the solution, only courageous and responsible citizens humanitarian workers can rise up to the challenges.

The story of Free Funeral Service Society (Yangon), FFSS (Yangon), like those of other humanitarian organizations, is the battle against poverty, consequences of poverty and natural disasters. However, FFSS (Yangon) has to achieve those noble goals while overcoming obstacles and prohibitions put in place by the government and deep-rooted superstitions of the society.

Ongoing Abuses in Burma's Kachin State

Although the new government in Burma has promised to change the country into a democractic country, its army continues to conduct human rights abuses in ethnic areas such as Kachin and Shan states.

Human Rights Watch(HRW), a New York based organization, issued a press release on October 18,2011 to highlight the ongoing abuses conducted by the Burma's armed forces against ethnic Kachin civilians.

The press release was issued after the HRW has conducted a fact-finding mission to the conflict areas in Kachin State (by visiting abandoned villages and eight remote camps of internally displaced persons) and documented the witnesses's reports. The serious abuses committed by Burmese soldiers included but not limited to killings,attacks on civilians, pillaging of villages and the unlawful use of forced labor.

"Since hostilities began over five months ago against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Burmese armed forces have been responsible for killings and attacks on civilians, using forced labor, and pillaging villages, which has resulted in the displacement of an estimated 30,000 Kachin civilians" the press release said.

The press release also pointed out the September 2011 report to the United Nations General Assembly by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Burma, Thomas Ojea Quintana, “Allegations of abuses against civilian populations throughout Kachin State include reports of 18 women and girls having been gang-raped by army soldiers, and of four of those victims being subsequently killed.” 

Although the government is showing some good deeds in its cities, people from remote areas are still being victims of human rights violations. There is still no significant change in Burma.  

Photo from Human Rights Watch: Villagers from Sang Gang, in Kachin State, site of recent fighting, at a newly established internally displaced persons camp in southeastern Kachin State.

Sharing is Caring

If you are complaining about the food you are eating..please don't..there are millions of people who do not even have food to eat.

If you are not satified with the presents you received from your parents, please don't...there are millions of children who have no parent or anyone to give them presents..

these less fortunate children are in need of your help, please contact no: 011-951-613665

Aung Zyear Min Monastery in Yangon (a shelter for more than 1000 orphans)

Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi talked to Archibishop Tesmond Tutu by using skype

http://www.charlierose.com/view/content/11914

Give us back our freedom and human rights !

The more i see the happiness of people who are enjoying their freedom...... the more i feel for those whose freedom was taken away.....

unlike other kids, they have no right to study peacefully

victims of forced re locations ordered by Burmese military government

Happy Birthday Khun Htun Oo (September 11)

Americans are mourning for those who sacrificed their lives on Sep 11. My heart is with all the friends and families of victims.

On this special day, Shan people from Burma are also mourning for the detention of their leader, Khun Htun Oo, who was sentenced to 93 years' imprisonment by Burmese military government in Feb 2005. He was born on Sep 11, 1943. He is celebrating his birthday alone in jail. He was unfairly treated and detained in prison due to his peaceful activities to bring human rights & democracy in Burma. Unlike people from America, Shan people could not even mourn in public..they can be tortured or arrested even by holding a peaceful prayer service for Khun Htun Oo.  

Khun Tun Oo is serving a 93 year of sentence in jail with poor medical condition at this time

My head is bowed to show respect to those who have been sacrificing their lives for others. May all human beings stop conducting hate crimes to each other all over the world.