Voice of Humanity

Tension within Burmese community at Peninsular Plaza

2007-10-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

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.

Events in Myanmar and its Manifestations in SG: Part 2

2007-10-01T17:20:00.000-07:00

"Are we too busy shuffling our heads back to work, pretending that such atrocities are not being committed?"

It appears so. To the general public in SG, maybe, it seems. Most of us are content to reading about world news, and let them resolve by themselves, devil may care. Bochap and back to work.

Some do it ever so efficiently.

It has come to my attention that Singapore's Police are rather adept at that.

Nevermind that Burmese in Singapore feel duty-bound to express their heartfelt disgust for the actions of the Junta, and render their support for fellow countrymen, who are dying by the days. The efficient Police Force have tried and are trying to stop people from heading toward the Myanmar embassy at St Martin Rd, largely by intimidation and threats to investigate upon them and demanding their NRIC for reference.

Supporters just want to voice their views and support via a silent protest to THEIR government. It has nothing to do with the government of Singapore or disturbance of peace. Supporters didn't only include Burmese, which the police have largely succeeded in preventing their entry through relentless intimidation. There were Indians, Bruneians, Malaysians and some Singaporeans, though as expected, few.

The only reason why the silent protest and the petition has taken place, is ironically, because of the Singapore Democratic Party, championed by Dr Chee Soon Juan.

I'm not a supporter of the touted democratic party and have largely been politically neutral (or apathetic, as most Singaporeans are). But I would that they have hit the right string on this issue, extending their aid and views toward the largely Burmese community and sentiment.
Ironic. But true.

Why are we made to FEAR our expression of compassion? Why do the police threaten with blunt, rude choice of words to the public that wishes to offer their views on a foreign issue and support by entering St Martin Rd to sign a petition?

I understand that the police have gone to the extent of video-camming each and everyone who has entered the compounds for security intelligence in case of "incidents". But isn't the painstaking efforts, by a FEW videocammers, on emotionally distraught, disheartened Burmese right into their faces a tad bit RUDE and intrusive?

As I walked out of the compounds, I saw the look on the police officers' faces. Some of them stared at us with the "Wait till you get it, you fools" contemptuous look as I walked out.

We know you're the boss, the ones with the baton.
In that case, I think we're the only ones with heart which you, I'm sad to say, don't have.

I'm Singaporean.
I am ashamed and I felt like leaving most of the time when I was there. And for most moments, I had nothing to say to the Burmese companions about the situation, merely offering my silent voice. And I hope the over-zealous law enforcers preserve some shame too.

The only probable reason why they didn't start arresting people would be: how would it make Singapore look like if it spilled to international attention? That would be the question their top levels have yet to find an answer to, and which is why the silent protest still goes unto its third day today.

Until the authorities know what to do with the sensitive issue, which has wiggled out through the compassionate voice of Burmese which is deserving of expression because EVERYWHERE in the world is doing so, Singapore has to follow in suit - in compromise of its "illegal assembly" iron-fist law, or rick losing face.

And through that, authorities have every right to threaten ensuing investigations and follow up. All because we preserve compassion and humanity.

I thought it would be more logical to allow people with such heartfelt pains to express them, than to keep them inside, till they pile up and take DRASTIC actions. In which case, the targets will not be anyone local. The SDP would obviously try to ride on this wave and succeed in winning popularity with a foreigner community, but to my understanding, the Burmese sentiments are non-political to the SG government. I therefore, don't think they warrant threats and intimidations.

CLIPS from peaceful protests WORLDWIDE:

Malaysia

thailand

S. Korea

Taiwan

Indonesia

Philippines

New Delhi, India

Japan

Hong Kong

United States

Australia

UK

France

Italy

Events in Myanmar & its Manifestations in SG: Part 1

2007-10-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

As we go about our daily routines, pretending nothing is happening, hundreds of people are being bludgeoned, tortured, shot, burnt.

People like you and me. People who deserve to live a life, with opportunities, or so we believe. Even so, they deserve the right to believe. That there is hope.

The way it goes, and the world's hope is on UN. And UN's hope and answer, is on its Envoy, Mr Gambari. Every other day that his inquisition extends, he's being taken through a facade of the situation in Burma.

Staged peace. Forced demonstration in Mitchyna, whereby every household is ordered to send 2 of its members to partcipated in a staged demonstration, whereby security forces responsible peacably. It's audience - our world's hope, none other than the Envoy.

Every night then, much unknown to international media, throughout the curfew in Myanmar, people are being massacred by the hundreds. Thanks to the sly kill-and-rob-the-corpse tactics employed by the military and its paid thugs, the official death toll is a mere 10?

The systematic wipeout of protestors and its champions, even sees tactics such as employment of thugs to do the dirty work of killing. So any footage caught by our fancy IT gadgets do not hold true to the deed of the military.

Every day then, that the Junta takes our hope, the Envoy to a specially staged circus outing, people are dying.

It isn't the worst. As ko-thike (http://www.ko-htike.blogspot.com/) puts it, "We only have our lives to lose..." as 200 monks in the Ngwe Kyar Yan monastery were orderly executed or arrested.

The worst thing is... the hope, the only thing that the people of Myanmar has been clinging unto, is dying every day. Little by little. The government, or so I would rather term it as bandit lords, is, the way it seems, on its way to quelling opposition voices and making life in Burma the way it was - without hope - for the past FOUR DECADES.

Now, are we that entrenched in the status quo, time and again pushing the issue away as an "internal affair" of Burma?

Are we too busy shuffling our heads back to work, pretending that such atrocities are not being committed?

Do we know that silence means consent. Do we condone such acts? Are we too wrapt in our own narrow lives to come to terms with our conscience?

Resolution:
If it is no, is it so hard to the UN to send peacekeeping troops to halt violent acts?
There is no need to oust the government, but is sending a neutral force too dificult?
There are footages, clips, evidences... of atrocities to quell peace protestors.
Or does the world need to wait months for votings by UN committee panel to agree on decisive action?

If it takes thousands of lives to be lost, even millions, before a decisive action is made, what good is the UN, the beacon of hope for humanity, human rights, and peace?

Why not specialize in casketing and burial services.

Which will be better - save us false hopes, and possible misconceptions/misinterpretations/misconstrued perceptions that it is little more than a global organization of governments with self-interests.

Even then from that aspect, there are natural resources of natural gas, oil and gems from Burma. If it applies to our material rationale.... as our hearts and conscience are lost.