"The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP) can confirm that so far 104 political prisoners have been released from 22 different prisons in Burma.
The 104 released include 37 members of the National League for Democracy, including 3 MPs; 18 women; 11 former political prisoners; 4 monks; 4 journalists; 9 members of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Network; 6 members of the 88 Generation Students; and 1 lawyer.
On the evening of September 17, 2009 in Rangoon, state-run MRTV carried a news bulletin announcing that 7,114 prisoners were to be released “on humanitarian grounds.” "
On the evening of September 17, 2009 in Rangoon, state-run MRTV carried a news bulletin announcing that 7,114 prisoners were to be released “on humanitarian grounds.” "
I'm not too sure why they've all been released, I've only just seen this and 'humanitarian grounds' isn't too revealing. But this is great news.
Today I got a big breakfast at Auntie's Coffee which was good. Then I cycled to Hle Bee in my Longyi (but the female version is called a Htamain) and hung around for most of the day. I painted teacher Phyu Phyu's nails and played with the baby etc. It was generally just a fun day at the school.
On Friday, I taught Grade 6 in the morning for 2 hours. It was actually quite fun, they tend to muck around a bit because I've never been a teacher to them, I just come in from time to time for fun. They have started doing a whole process at the start and end of every day where they line up and sing the Thai national anthem while lowering and raising the Thai flag. The flag is so high you can't even see it!
Played with Toe Toe & my baby again.
Grade 6 boys loved the Burmese - English dictionary.
BABY HTET CUT HIS HAIR! He is not becoming a monk.
The boys found the camera.
In the afternoon I was knackered and hot so I slept with the babies in kindergarten B (KGB).
Veryyyyyyyyy sweet little things.
Tonight I went to Canadian Dave's for dinner. I go out so often cause I can't be bothered cooking. Spent ages there waiting for mum to call. The homestay is so quiet at night that I dont want to use the phone and disturb everyone. Anyway, Canadian Dave's wife's son's wife (sounds confusing) was heavily pregnant last time I saw her. I asked her son today how she was getting on and he said that she had the baby 10 days ago! Congratulations to the family, she'll be well loved.
I'm off to the border market with GA tomorrow, going to try and persuade him to fix my printer. Goodnight! x
That's quite a blog, Louise!
ReplyDelete1) The Irrawaddy says that the latest prisoner release is 'little more than an attempt to deflect international criticism ahead of trip to New York by Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein, who will attend the UN General Assembly next week'. Certainly a friend of ours has said that many friends back in Burma were arrested for political reasons 2 weeks ago. So if they're still making political arrests, releasing others is just another publicity stunt. It's great for those prisoners but I guess they don't want to be used as propoganda for the junta. Good on you for highlighting it to us though. I had missed that news this week.
Mum
Your other news is a hoot.
ReplyDeleteHow on earth do you cycle in a longhi? I can't imagine that. Have you sewn it together? What if it unravelled and fell off! Aargh. I'm dead impressed at your improved bike riding cos you hated it so much last year.
We are laughing here at Hle Bee's enormous flagpole. Whenever we have been, they have always had the 3 Thai flags flying and it's really ironic that they weren't up when the police came. It's also a hoot that they bought the highest flagpole in the world to put the flag up.
Gorgeous photo of you and Toto (Toe Toe?!!) and whose baby... MY BABY....???
Little Htet, what have you done to your hair? Tell him to grow it again. I must tell Irvine to check it out. He really liked Little Htet.
What are you like sleeping with the babies in the afternoon? That is SO typical of you. How you could lie on that concrete, beastie crawling floor and sleep, I don't know. Neither wonder you are covered in bites.
We must send a card to Chulee's new grandaughter. Tell them congratulations from us.
Keep blogging. You're good at it and by the way, your hair is going really blonde in the sun.
Love you
Mum
Napping in the afternoon WITH KGA - now WHY did I not think of that???!! Tee hee.
ReplyDeleteFiona x
PS Htet would be most affronted at you calling him Baby Htet - he's the big brother of his family! Say hello to the boys for me - Tun min naing's friendship bracelet is still on my wrist - though probably needing a bit of a wash! Get them on the computers, Louise and we can build up to email!!
I'll try, but im teaching grades 1, 2 & 3. The classes are too big to do emails. I could maybe ask to take grade 6 for a few lessons sometime & explain to Thazin that we'd send emails to Scotland.
ReplyDeleteHahah Htet just smiles, he's very sweet! I will tell them you're asking for them.
Napping was the best idea ever, the kids were SO sweet, all sleepy and cute.
Here is an article from Irrawaddy telling you what I told you about the arrests in Burma.
ReplyDeleteArakan Youth Arrested
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By LAWI WENG Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Sixteen ethnic Arakan youth in Rangoon and Arakan State's capital, Sittwe, were arrested by Burmese authorities recently, according to sources in Bangladesh.
Khaing Mrat Kyaw, an editor at the Dhaka-based Narinjara News agency, said the 16 youth were arrested at different locations. Seven were arrested in Rangoon, and others were arrested in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State.
“Special police from Rangoon came to Sittwe to arrest the youths,” he said.
The Burmese authorities have reportedly accused them of links to an exiled Arakan political movement, the All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress (AASYC), which is based in Mae Sot on the Thai-Burmese border, sources said.
The Irrawaddy on Wednesday contacted the AASYC but the organization refused to comment on the arrests.
Aye Thar Aung, Rangoon-based Arakanese politician who is the secretary of the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament, said, “By arresting young people, the junta is suppressing their potential for growth. The military authority sometime accuses them of involvement in bombs or illegal activities without evidence. I am worried about the fairness in those cases.”
The arrests followed the junta’s amnesty of 7,114 prisoners this week, including 128 political prisoners.
About a dozen democracy activists were also arrested recently in Mandalay Division. Many observers believe the continued arrest of activists is an attempt to discourage demonstrations on the second anniversary of the Saffron Revolution in September.