Tension within Burmese community at Peninsular Plaza

Contrary to what most Singaporeans know, tensions in Burma have rippled through our shores.

Apparently, there also exists a division of pro-democracy and pro-military supporters in the Burmese population working here in Singapore.

Unknown to many, there have been friction amongst these 2 groups, most of which appear beyond the surface.

Two Opinions, Two Factions
Pro-democratic Burmese have pooled money for donations back home. To the needy. To the monks. To sustain morale and thus protests for the fight for peace and democracy.

The pro-military side here, apparently seem to be scratching beyond the surface to identify those proactive and point them out to authorities back home, say reliable Burmese sources here, who wish to remain anonymous.

Shops have refused to admit remittances to Burma, cash or in kind, for fear of being singled out. Some Burmese shops & entities been boycotted, for being pro-military and having active links to the Junta in Burma. One such store has been boycotted by Burmese customers here since it refused money remittance by a Burmese monk for peace aid. Sources say word about the incident got around via smses within the community.

There have been speculations about the particular store operators singling out proactive individuals and attempts to sabotage them, by notifying the Singapore police about their extreme, proactive stances and thus, probable plans that might 'disrupt peace', whether they be existent or not.

Consequently, there have been several Burmese who have been called up for investigation, not knowing what 'offence' they might have commited to even warrant a talk with authorities. Such an instance included a National Serviceman who wore a t-shirt with the words "STOP BLOODSHED IN BURMA". Local police went to the point of searching him out a store in Peninsular Plaza and calling him back to the station for investigation. He was also asked to remove the t-shirt, sources say.

Speculators thus say this could be an intentional sabotage to individuals singled out by pro-military supporters in the Burmese community here in Singapore.

When asked what could be the fate of those identified as proactive democracy supporters to the Junta in Burma, most Burmese interviewed say they will be arrested and locked up for years without further confirmation and hope to survive such an ordeal, was often bleak. Therefore, they may never set foot back home again, lest there be a change in the political powers.

A source also said that he believed someone intended to frame him by passing word around that a peaceful procession walk he was organizing had been approved, when in fact it wasn't. Any go ahead of such procession would thus convict him as guilty of illegal procession.

I hereby pray and wish that justice prevails.
I know it will, just a matter of timing.