Today's Hot News

Dear All,

This afternoon at about 2-2:30 pm Burmese time, members of the ‘88 Generation Students swiftly gathered at a few public places in Rangoon including this famous Yuzana Plaza in Tamwe Township and laid flower baskets in commemorating and honoring the heroic monks and laypeople who were killed by the security forces last week. Acoording to eyewitnesses, a couple of hundreds people quickly gathered and immediately dispersed as police cars arrived.

At least five monastries were raided in Rangoon last night on October 3. Many reports inform you more arrests of activists inside Burma right after the UN Special envoy Mr. Gambari left. Actually, number of arrests had been made even while he was in the country for four days. The military trucks going around some parts of Rangoon City and dragged away some people last night as well (3/10/07) when threats were made to those who involved in the peaceful protests.

So far, we only know that Mr. Gambari delivered a strong message to military regime’s top leaders but no substance of what they discussed has yet been released or revealed. The UN Human Rights Council has passed resolution on Burma which calls Burma authority to allow the Special Rapporteur Mr. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro to “access the current human rights situation and to monitor the implementation of this resolution”.

Cambodia’s Prime Minister has urged neighboring countries of Burma to work as a group to find a democratic solution to political crisis of the country.The nearest neighbor, Thailand, however shows its concern over affect on their Business if the protests prolong and the US and EU imposed sanctions against Burma.

What we are very sure of is that Thailand will be the first and foremost country to feel the affect of ‘spillover’ from extreme crackdowns by the military regime in Burma as we’d seen in 1988 right after the military coup in September. However, we are dismayed that the government of Japan still mulling over its decision over whether to stop overseas development aid to Burma or not while the slain body of Japanese journalist flied back home. We would like to see Japan’s decisiveness in this scenario since Japan is one of the main donors to Burma.

Mr. Min Zaw, a Burmese national who works for a Japanese newspaper, is released after six days of detention ‘for questioning’ by the military regime in Rangoon today. In Australia, as four Burmese continue their hunger strike in front of the Burmese embassy other activities and actions take place in other parts of the country to show their support for the people of Burma. Today, Free Burma rally and hunger strike organized b the ACDB take place in Sydney.

We learn that Australian Sangha Association has also put out a statement in support of the peaceful protests in Burma. In Canada, a Press Conference was held in the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa. Hon. David Kilgour had addressed to attending activists and crowd and had called everyone attention on whether to go to the Olympics would be held the government of China in 2008.

The European Union has also stepped up their pressure on Burma with tougher sanctions while urging India and China to take a more robust stance against the military regime. In the US, the Congress has overwhelmingly voiced their support to Burmese democracy protesters and condemned the military regime in Burma.

The US House of Representatives voted a resolution calling for the release of opposition leader and Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. US senators also demanded that the US put its pressure on China and India to sever their ties with Burmese regime.

Solidarity and Support around the World We also get news and emails that campaigners around the world will wear red headbands in solidarity with the monks who are now under arrest and tie these onto government buildings, religious shrines or key landmarks to signify the thousands of lives currently hanging in the balance and some even languishing as we speak.

It seems people are trying to find ways to regain their ground to continue with the peaceful movement. Days ahead we are going to need your supports so badly. In Solidarity,

Above is reported by:
Khin OhmarAPPPB Coordinator
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- At about 9:30 am (Burma standard time), soldiers were raiding a monastery in South Okkapala township, Rangoon, source from Rangoon said.

- United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki Moon recently said Burma would remain on the top issue of the world’s agenda.

- Among arrested, staffs of UN included, and UN works in Burma were at risk, a UN official from Rangoon said.

- Rumors about celebrities’ fleeing on the border including Kyaw Thu and his wife, Tin Moe Lwin, Soun Oo Hlaing and two comedians were incorrect. Yesterday, US-based the First Post and some Burmese Medias carried this news.

- YANGON, Myanmar (AP) -- After crushing the democracy uprising with guns, Myanmar's junta stepped up its campaign to intimidate citizens Wednesday, sending troops to drag people from their homes in the middle of the night and letting others know they were marked for retribution. Read more, go to the following link.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/03/myanmar.roundups.ap/index.html#cnnSTCText
The following is also good link too.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119144623100748099.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
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Yesterday News

- Commander of Rangoon command Gen. Hla Htay Win and his family was housed arrested and all prosperities were seized. Earlier news said he and many other commanders refused Than Shwe’s order to shoot and suppress monks and monasteries.

- In the early morning of 3, Oct, military went around Rangoon and searched monasteries and arrested at least 25 monks.

- As soldiers have been heavily cracking down against monasteries and arresting monks, many monks tried to leave Rangoon. Rangoon residents saw a lot of monks at bus and train stations, but they were refused to have a seat. Bus drivers feared if they allowed monks, cars would be stopped and searched on the way. Another possible thing could be happened, drivers thought, was that fuel quota would be cut off by authorities.

- Men aged between 15 and 40 were arrested in Bahan’s Rd no.3, Rangoon by soldiers at about 3:30 pm, sources in Rangoon said. Later, the source confirmed only women and aging people (aged between 70-80) remained on this road.