2 bombs explode in Myanmar's biggest city of Yangon

FREEDOM TO DEMOCRACY IN BURMA

YANGON, Myanmar - Witnesses say two bombs have exploded in the biggest city of military-ruled Myanmar. No casualties were reported and the cause of the blasts Sunday was unclear.Witnesses, who insisted on anonymity for fear of official reprisal, said the first explosion took place on the street in the downtown area of Yangon at around 8 p.m.The second blast occurred on a different street in the downtown area, about an hour later.No further details were immediately available, and there were no immediate claims of responsibility. The government has not blamed any group.

Suu Kyi can vote in Myanmar charter poll, her party says

FREEDOM TO DEMOCRACY IN BURMA

YANGON (AFP) - Myanmar's detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has the right to vote in a referendum next month on a military-backed constitution, her political party said Tuesday. "According to the law, (Aung San Suu Kyi) has the right to vote at the referendum as her detention was not a court order or sentence," said Nyan Win, spokesman for the National League for Democracy (NLD)."It was just an administrative function," he told AFP.Aung San Suu Kyi has spent 12 of the past 18 years locked away by the ruling military junta in her sprawling lakeside home in Yangon.

Her latest period of detention began in 2003 after a deadly attack on her convoy by supporters of the junta, and has been periodically extended since, with little sign that the generals plan to free her.The regime has called a referendum on May 10 on the proposed new charter, which they claim will -- if approved -- lead to general elections in 2010.Under the new constitution, which was drafted by a committee hand-picked by the junta, Aung San Suu Kyi would be barred from running for office because she was married to a foreigner, Michael Aris, a British citizen who died in 1999.People convicted of a crime by a court are not allowed to vote in the referendum, but detainees who have not faced trial can cast a ballot.There are currently about 1,850 political prisoners in Myanmar, at least 700 of whom were arrested after anti-junta demonstrations last September, which the military crushed, killing at least 31 people, the UN says.

Next month's referendum will be the first balloting in Myanmar since 1990, when Aung San Suu Kyi led the NLD to a landslide victory, which was never recognised by the junta.The NLD and other activists are calling for a "No" vote on the charter, which analysts say simply enshrines the military's role.

British Envoy Says 'Atmosphere of Intimidation' Clouds Burma Polls

FREEDOM TO DEMOCRACY IN BURMA

BANGKOK (AFP) -- A top British envoy on Myanmar [Burma] said Friday an "atmosphere of intimidation" was clouding next month's referendum on a new constitution and urged the military-ruled country to let opposition forces take part.Michael Williams, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's envoy on Myanmar, said Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party must be allowed to participate in the May 10 poll.Williams, who was in Bangkok for discussions with Thai officials, told reporters that he hoped the vote "will have credibility and legitimacy and will allow participation and inclusion of all Myanmar's social and political forces.""At the moment, for the UK, we are concerned there is an atmosphere of intimidation prevailing about the country," he added."The process falls short of what the UK would like to see," Williams said on the last leg of his four-country Asian tour.

The NLD is urging people to vote against the junta-backed charter, which activists say will simply entrench the army's role in Myanmar, which has been ruled by the military since 1962.At least 23 anti-charter activists were arrested on Tuesday for wearing T-Shirts emblazoned with the world 'No,' the NLD reported.The party has also said that any attempts to campaign against the constitution were being suppressed.Official NLD documents were being confiscated by authorities, they said, while local party organisers had been detained and interrogated,The referendum will be the first balloting in military-run Myanmar since 1990, when Aung San Suu Kyi led the NLD to a landslide victory that was never recognised by the junta.

She remains under house arrest.The regime says the referendum will pave the way for multi-party elections in 2010, but activists say the constitution was drafted with no public input.The NLD and other pro-democracy groups are calling for a "No" vote, but they have little ability to campaign effectively because the junta has outlawed speeches and leaflets about the referendum.

Hundreds protest Dalai Lama in Seattle

FREEDOM TO DEMOCRACY IN BURMA

SEATTLE - In a showing of pro-Chinese support, hundreds of demonstrators protested outside a college arena Monday as the Dalai Lama spoke to students on solving problems through dialogue.

Thousands of people have flocked to Seattle to hear the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader speak since he arrived Thursday for a five-day conference on compassion, but the city's Chinese community had remained largely silent until Monday.
Demonstrators held signs alleging media bias and protesting the violence from rioting by Tibetan monks.
Some echoed Beijing's stand that the Dalai Lama is behind the recent uprising against five decades of Chinese rule. Signs called the Dalai Lama a liar and a "CIA-funded militant." Many people waved large Chinese flags.
"I think that people are misinformed. They have media discrimination," demonstrator Jiange Li said. "Tibet was freed — 50 years ago."

The group chanted "We love Tibet," "Stop lying" and "Dalai, your smiles charm, your actions harm," as thousands of people filed into the University of Washington arena. A small plane flew overhead with a banner mirroring the chants.
The China-born community is the largest Asian immigrant group in Seattle, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures.
However, Seattle has historically been friendly to the Tibetan cause. The Dalai Lama has visited the city several times and has always been warmly welcomed.
Inside the arena, the Dalai Lama received an honorary degree and spoke of the importance of employing dialogue and mutual respect to solve problems.
He was greeted by a standing ovation. University president Mark Emmert welcomed the Tibetan leader, calling him the "pre-eminent spiritual leader of our time."

"You will make this century of peace," the Dalai Lama told students. "Today's world (is) heavily interdependent. Destruction of your neighbor or enemy is destruction of yourself."
He said dialogue is the only way to solve conflict, especially because he sees poverty and environmental problems increasing in the future.
While his visit to the United States was billed as nonpolitical, the Dalai Lama is expected to meet with a senior U.S. official next week to discuss China's crackdown on anti-Beijing protesters in Tibet.

Suu Kyi's party calls for 'No' vote on Myanmar constitution

FREEDOM TO DEMOCRACY IN BURMA

Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party Wednesday urged voters to reject an army-backed constitution, turning next month's referendum into Myanmar's first battle for ballots in nearly 20 years. The National League for Democracy (NLD) issued a statement calling on the public "to clearly and bravely vote 'No' when you mark your ballots."The party accused Myanmar's ruling junta of handpicking the drafters of the constitution, saying it was written without consulting any opposing voices.The final version of the constitution has not been released to the public, but leaked copies show the basic law would give the military continued dominance over the government even after elections slated for 2010.Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace prize winner who is under house arrest, would be barred from running for president because she married a Briton.The military would also receive broad powers to declare a state of emergency, allowing the generals to take direct control of the government while granting them immunity from prosecution.

The NLD said the constitution would not bring democracy to Myanmar, the Southeast Asian nation formerly known as Burma, which has been ruled by the military since 1962."It cannot give any guarantee for democracy and human rights, which are strongly needed by the people," the party said."It is not in accord with the basic democratic principle that the sovereign power of the state is derived from the people," it added.The referendum in May will be the first balloting in Myanmar since 1990, when the NLD won a landslide victory that was never recognised by the junta.

The junta says the referendum will pave the way to multiparty elections in 2010, but analysts say the constitution leave political parties with little room to campaign for the polls.Many of Myanmar's 54 million people have never voted before, so the NLD also issued a one-page guide explaining exactly how ballots are cast -- instructing people how to inspect the voter roll, tick the ballot, and then ensure it is kept secret as it goes into the box.The statement was the party's official stand on the referendum, although the NLD's youth wing had last week joined other dissidents in campaigning against the charter.

Myanmar's secretive regime surprised the world by announcing its election timetable in February.The junta says it is building a "discipline- flourishing democracy," but critics accuse the generals of trying to enshrine their control of the government while distracting the world's attention from its deadly crackdown on protests last year.Buddhist monks in September led the biggest anti-government marches seen in nearly two decades, but the military responded by opening fire on the crowds and beating protesters in the streets.The United Nations estimates that at least 31 people were killed, while Amnesty International says more than 700 remain behind bars.The junta last month rebuffed an offer by a UN envoy to send observers and provide technical support for the polls.

The regime has outlawed speeches and leaflets about the referendum, and the NLD's ability to campaign is severely hampered because the party is only allowed to maintain one office in Yangon. Aung San Suu Kyi has been confined to her home for 12 of the last 18 years, and her top lieutenant is also under house arrest. Myanmar has not had a constitution since 1988, when the current junta took power by crushing a pro-democracy uprising, leaving at least 3,000 dead.

NLD urge the people to make their protest vote in referendum

FREEDOM TO DEMOCRACY IN BURMA

Dear all,NLD EC announced today that that they reject the SPDC's constitution and urge the people to cast their pretest vote.

http://burmese.dvb.no/news.php?id=4198

Prayer Service for Thingyan New Year

FREEDOM TO DEMOCRACY IN BURMA

You are cordially invited to participate with family and friends at the Thingyan New Year Prayer Service to be held by the Buddhist Missionary Society, New York. The ceremony will be conducted with the following programs. It will be a good opportunity to meet new friends, renew acquaintance and perform meritorious deeds on the auspicious occasion of Thingyan New Year.


Programs:


Date: April 20, 2008 (Sunday)

Time: From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Place: PS 222 (86-15)

FF Christopher A. Santora School
37th Ave, Between 86th and 87 Street
Jackson Heights, NY 11372

Subway: Take # 7 train and get off 90th Street.

Phones: (718) 898 8274/ (718) 899 6081




In the service of Dharma
Buddhist Missionary Society
New York
May you be full of bliss

The HUMAN RIGHTS Council must follow up on Myanmar

FREEDOM TO DEMOCRACY IN BURMA

The UN special expert on Myanmar has just presented his report to the Human Rights Council. In it, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro talks of systematic and extremely serious human rights violations and calls on the Council now to follow up on its own resolutions on Myanmar.

Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, presented two reports during the 7th session of the Human Rights Council on Thursday (March 13). The first was on the general situation in the country, the second on events following the peaceful uprising in September 2007, bloodily put down by the ruling Junta. The renewal of the Rapporteur’s mandate is due to be reviewed during this session.
For seven years Pinheiro has worked on the issue of human rights in Myanmar. “I did not create my mandate. You have entrusted me with the follow-up of your resolutions” he told Council members. He said there has been no progress on the Council’s recommendations of December 2007. "Read the resolutions that you have adopted and see if they have been respected or not in Myanmar,” he demanded.
The sombre atmosphere in the room reflected the gravity of the human rights violations listed in his report: summary executions, torture, forced labour, sexual violence, recruitment of child soldiers, detention of political prisoners, forced displacement, confiscation of land, restrictions on the rights of assembly, on humanitarian aid, on the opposition, on freedom of the press, the culture of impunity. But it is not an exhaustive list.

Sham Reforms

In 2004 the Burmese authorities announced a seven-point road map leading to democratic transition. A referendum on a new constitution is due to take place in May 2008, as well as multiparty elections in 2010. In between came the peaceful demonstrations of September 2007 and their bloody repression by the military junta.
Since December 2007, the government has not given Mr Pinheiro permission to visit the country. He did however, make a report. “At least 31 people have been killed, between 3,000 and 4,000 people were arrested between September and October 2007 and at least 74 disappearance cases merit serious investigation” said Mr Pinheiro, adding that, “at least 1850 political prisoners are behind bars”.
He also revealed that, “activists, human right defenders, and journalists are hunted down and arrested for such reasons as having a copy of my last report to the Council. I am extremely concerned that official reports by this Council can be used as proof of criminal activity”.

Only 15 dead

For its part, the Burmese delegation totally rejected both the Pinheiro reports, considering them “completely lacking in objectivity and impartiality. It accused the Special Rapporteur of interfering in the country’s internal affairs and stressed Mayanmar’s “positive and significant” development towards a democratic state. The Ambassador explained the reasons for refusing to give permission for Mr Pinheiro to visit Myanmar since December 2007. “The timing is not opportune…the government has had a very busy and important schedule” in the run up to the referendum. He also told the Council “we would like to restate that only 15 people died” in the crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations.
Twenty- one delegations and eight NGOs responded to his remarks. China said it hopes Myanmar will adopt a more conciliatory attitude in the Council. India called for a “process involving all sections of society including Mrs Aung San Suu-Kyi and ethnic groups”. The International Commission of Jurists said “the situation is a test for the Council as well for all its members to exercise their responsibility so that the government of Myanmar is held to account”
“If the Council wants to have meaning, said Pinheiro, taking the floor for the last time. "I think it is fundamental that its resolutions are respected. It is time to check what is applied and what is not”.
His final words received thunderous applause broke out. According to seasoned Council observers, “it was a rare moment within these walls”.