Again I’ve received a letter from Ben Wikler of Avaaz about the situation in Burma, and, at least in my eyes, it’s necessary to publish it because we hear nearly nothing about what is going on in the media.

Burma’s streets are quiet–no mass demonstrations, no riot police. But the calm is an illusion. Change is coming to Burma, and we are all a part of it.

Here’s where we stand: The regime has massacred, tortured, and intimidated its critics at home, and continues its night arrests and brutal interrogations. But while it has momentarily silenced the domestic opposition, its attacks on the revered Buddhist monks ignited an anger amongst the Burmese people that cannot be extinguished. Contacts inside Burma tell us that the demonstrators are steadily regrouping, even in the face of the deadly crackdown.

And around the world, the roar has grown deafening–so powerful that governments are scrambling for ways to bring new pressure to bear on the junta. Government leaders and the media have publicly credited the outcry of global civil society. Look at the statistics in the box on the right to see how, working alongside allies around the world, Avaaz members have begun to make a difference.

Many Burmese members of Avaaz have written in. Here’s a note from one of them–Trisa, now living abroad:

I am one of the 8888 uprising generation. Since the September uprising in Burma, I can’t get good night sleep. I can’t contact my remaining families and friends if they are ok… The voice of the world is very powerful. I have heartfelt thank you for all the supporters. Your voice can change our lives!

And here’s a note from an Avaaz member, Lynn in London, who joined a group of Burmese monks to hand-deliver the Avaaz petition–contained in a big red box–to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, on the steps of 10 Downing Street last week:

When I put my hand on the red box, which held the 753,000 signatures from around the world collected by Avaaz, I imagined the outrage of the many people from every country in the world, every culture, every race, and every religion, contained within this box which was about to be presented to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. I thought about what it might mean for these Burmese monks whose religious brothers far away had been hurt and mistreated by the crackdown, to know that in every country in the world, people were supporting them.
And here’s what May Ng, a Burmese writer, editorialized on the news site Mizzima after seeing our petition:

Avaaz will share the struggle of the Burmese people until the struggle is won. Our goals are constant: transition, dialogue, reconciliation, and democracy. We will also continue to take action together on many urgent issues, from climate change to peace in the Middle East to human rights–but we will not turn from the cause of the Burmese people. We believe that every human life has equal value, whether in Berlin, Beijing or Rangoon.
As Aung San Suu Kyi once urged, we will use our freedom to promote theirs.

With hope,
Ben, Ricken, Paul, Galit, Graziela, Iain, Sarah, Pascal, and Milena–the Avaaz team

PS: 52 years ago today, the UN charter enshrined "the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples." Twelve years ago today, Aung San Suu Kyi was imprisoned. And today, in key cities around the world, protesters held a new wave of protests; the first shipment of supplies, paid for by Avaaz members, left for Burma–and the junta agreed to re-admit Ibrahim Gambari, the U.N. envoy who is working to build a dialogue between the regime and the opposition, earlier than previously announced. It’s been a long struggle, but the most important ones always are.

PPS: If your friends haven’t yet signed the petition, urge them to sign at: http://avaaz.org/en/burma_hope_lives/6.php

PPPS: Some further reading:
Voices from within Burma:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7058610.stm
and
http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/-/world/east-asia/myanmar-burma/
and
http://www.mizzima.com/MizzimaNews/Interview/01-Oct-2007.html

Avaaz’s Paul Hilder "People Power can win": http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/paul_hilder/2007/10/people_power_can_win.html
There will also be a solidarity protest in Berlin on the 27th of October. Solidarity with the protests in Burma- we give Burma a voice! It starts at high noon at the "Lustgarten" near by the Hackischen Market, and goes on at 13:00 hrs at the Brandenburg Gate with peaceful protests and praying. You will find a flyer in German here.

Saturday eve was much enjoyable at "Die kleine Philharmonie". The  Trio "Scho" from the Ukraine was playing wonderful music about traveling, from Odessa via Berlin to Paris, about resignation, departure and arrival. About the feelings nearly everyone has than - longing and homesickness(well, I never was homesick, sometimes I didn’t wanted to go back to Germany). But next time it might be better, to publish it a bit earlier that they come to give a concert, than more guests will know about it. This time I got the information on Tuesday, four days before the event happened, and I’m there quite often. In my eyes it need to be announced two weeks before.

Here you can see the photo album of this eve. The slide show is updated also.

Well, it was a very nice evening, so Peter and I were in a quite good mode, and we decided to finish it at the "Tu Candela", the Latino-bar in the Grollmanstreet. And that meant Caipirinha! It was fun, music nice people- but if that decision was so good? At least the next morning I didn’t felt so well- or better lets say : I got up at noon.

I’ve got an e-mail from the Avaaz team yesterday, and I think it’s important to publish it, so that everyone can participate.

Dear friends,

This Monday, October 15, the foreign ministers of the 27 European Union states will meet in Luxembourg–and decide whether to live up to their warnings to the Burmese junta.

Three weeks ago, the EU vowed to step up sanctions on the Burmese regime if it cracked down violently on the protesters. If the EU fails to take action now, the Burmese regime will take it as a sign that international pressure is mere talk, and won’t hesitate to commit further atrocities.

Burma isn’t a democracy, but EU countries should be. If we can send a flood of messages to our own foreign ministers before the meeting on Monday, we can press each of them to vote for stronger sanctions and targeted incentives to push the regime into dialogue– without hurting ordinary Burmese people. Click here to send an email to your foreign minister:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_squeeze_the_junta/d.php?cl=31193482

The brutal Burmese military sees EU sanctions as a serious threat. To finance its vast army, the junta exports billions in gas, oil, gems, and timber each year. Targeting these industries will hit the state-run monopolies, but won’t affect the public; most Burmese are desperately poor and gain nothing from this ugly trade. In parallel we can offer aid and incentives for reconciliation. Strong sanctions would give the democracy movement a powerful bargaining chip– the government might cede power in exchange for them being lifted.

That’s why Aung San Suu Kyi, the iconic Burmese opposition leader, has been calling for stronger international sanctions for more than a decade. And it’s why, earlier this week, she refused to back down–even after the dictator Than Shwe promised to meet with her if she would drop her demands.

We can stand with Suu Kyi, with the monks and other protesters–so many of whom have given their lives–by supporting their call. Let’s send a flood of messages to the EU foreign ministers before they meet this Monday, supporting targeted sanctions and incentives for Burma:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_squeeze_the_junta/d.php?cl=31193482

The very day before the Burmese junta’s crackdown began, the EU threatened to "reinforce and strengthen the existing sanctions regime" if the junta were to "resort to using violence against the unarmed and peaceful demonstrators." Meanwhile, a remarkable global movement has arisen–protests worldwide, media attention, more than 750,000 individuals signing the Avaaz petition on Burma.

Unless European countries act now, international pressure could lose all credibility. It is up to us to make sure that our leaders live up to their own words–and take meaningful action now to support the Burmese people.

With hope and determination,

Ben, Ricken, Pascal, Graziela, Galit, Iain, Paul, Sarah, and Milena - the Avaaz team.

Please, join all, and show them that you support the Burmese people, too!

88 generation students have called for unconditional dialogue between the Burmese military regime and opposition leaders, according to a statement released yesterday. 

In order to enable an open dialogue, the statement urges the Burmese government to release detained National League for Democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, stop their harassment of students and monks, and create a constructive environment for dialogue without preconditions.

Ko Aung Naing, an 88 generation student leader, hoped that the opportunity would bring about a genuine exchange.

"We have paid for this opportunity with the blood and sweat of so many of our people, monks and students. We need truthful dialogue without the tricks being played to fool the people of Burma and the world," he said.

Source: Moe Aye, DVB

Now something private: During the next weeks in october there are many events where I will have to go to. And, like always I’ll try to make a few good pictures which will be published.

The first will be on the 13th at 21:30hrs at "Die kleine Philharmonie". The Trio "Scho" with their Program "Transit"(Odessa - Berlin - Paris) Songs about Traveling,resignation, departure and arrival. Longing and homesickness.

Amanda PUR with the Premiere of her new chanson program will be on the 16th of October, 21:00hrs at the Osterkirche. There will also be two other performances on the 19th and 20th.

On the 19th it’s Swing time with Detlef Heuke and Andre Schwinge at "Die kleine Philharmonie", Piano: Robert Browness-Smith.

On the 20th there will be the three year Jubilee party of the "Berliner Bier Academy".

On the 30th of October there also will be a big Halloween-party,

and finally on the 31st there also will be a big Halloween party at "Die kleine Philharmonie". The three best costumes will win prices.

I will try my best to be online often enough, but I can’t promisse anything. And my damn mobile is also still not repaired.

According to BBC , Ye Min Tun, a Burmese diplomat, has told them how "appalling" treatment of Buddhist monks during last month’s protests prompted him to resign from the military regime.

The government’s crackdown has seen curfews imposed in Burma’s main cities, and frequent night-time raids on monasteries and private homes.

Ye Min Tun, a foreign ministry official for 10 years, who describes himself as a "good Buddhist", sent a letter of resignation to the Burmese embassy in London.

In an interview with the BBC, he described the crackdown on the September protesters as "horrible".

"I have never seen such a scenario in the whole of my life. The government is arresting and beating the peaceful Buddhist monks."

He said he had hoped that the protests would force the generals to come to an agreement with the opposition.

"This revolution, this incident seemed to be the decisive factor that could persuade the government to go to the negotiation table."

"But actually the government ignored the reality," he said.

And here is a another voice talking about that problem, a voice which we normally never hear cause her husband is doing the political business:

First lady calls on Myanmar’s ruling junta to ’step aside’

U.S. first lady Laura Bush — in a rare foray into foreign policy — called on Myanmar’s military junta to "step aside," give up the "terror campaigns" against its people and allow for a democratic Myanmar in a commentary published in Wednesday’s Wall Street Journal.

"Gen. Than Shwe and his deputies are a friendless regime. They should step aside to make way for a unified Burma [Myanmar] governed by legitimate leaders.The rest of the armed forces should not fear this transition — there is room for a professional military in a democratic Burma," Bush said, in keeping with the U.S. policy of still using Myanmar’s former name.

In Wednesday’s commentary, Bush called on Myanmar’s military leaders to release Suu Kyi and other opposition leaders so they can meet with and plan for a transition to democracy.

"Meanwhile, the world watches — and waits," Bush warns.

"We know that Gen. Than Shwe and his deputies have the advantage of violent force. But Ms. Suu Kyi and other opposition leaders have moral legitimacy, the support of the Burmese people and the support of the world."

"The regime’s position grows weaker by the day. The generals’ choice is clear: The time for a free Burma is now."

Mrs. Bush, you are absolutely right!

Sources: BBC / CNN

Joerg Wolf of the Atlantic initiative interviewed fourteen policy analysts from reputated think tanks across Europe what they are thinking about the US planes in Iraq:

Other news from the Atlantic Initiative you can get at the link in my sidebar.

Are there good news about Burma? It might seem so, because of this article from Nay Htoo, DVB: The Burmese government has appointed a liaison officer to facilitate relations with detained National League for Democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

A foreign correspondent based in Rangoon believes signs are hopeful for dialogue between the two sides. “It seems like the dialogue is really going to happen,” he said.

We all can only hope so, but when I read this article, also from Nay Htoo , then I’m not so sure: Government officials have categorized detainees into four groups based on their level of involvement in recent anti-government demonstrations in Burma. The categories range from A, which includes protest leaders or organizers and politicians, to D, people who were bystanders at the protests or clapped their hands in support. Category B denotes those who held flags or marched in the first row of protesters. There is no further information on those in category C or what will happen to them.

But it might be, that the threatening of the People’s Movement Leader Committee to call for a boycott of the 2008 Olympics if China uses its veto in the United Nations Security Council again to block action on Burma has helped.

Their statement said, that if China continues acting in this way, they will start a campaign to get all six billion people of the world to boycott the upcoming Beijing Olympics…and also all Chinese products. Well, I would add Russian products too. Some bloggers have already made a nice sticker for the products a while ago.

"They are asking her to confess to offenses that she has not committed," said Nyan Win, spokesman for the Nobel peace laureates National League for Democracy (NLD), whose landslide election victory in 1990 was ignored by the generals.

China, however, continued to oppose international action. "There are problems there in Myanmar, but these problems still, we believe, are basically internal," Chinese Ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya told reporters. "No international-imposed solution can help the situation," Wang said. "We want the government there to handle this issue," he said. He is a marionette of his government, that’s right, but I hope that that asshole will get killed by some gang members in NY.

And now here is something amusing what I found via Michael Holmes, he called it: No pigs in space! It is an article from Reuters in the magazine Scientific American.

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia has come up with the world’s first comprehensive guidebook for Muslims in space as its first astronaut prepares to go into orbit next week.

The book, entitled Guidelines for Performing Islamic Rites at the International Space Station, teaches the Muslim astronaut how to perform ablutions, determine the location of Mecca when praying, prayer times, and how to fast in space, the Star newspaper reported on Saturday.

The 34-year-old Malaysian has said he will try to observe as much of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in orbit as possible. The lunar month, during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, is due to end around October 13.

Well, I don’t see any problems at all about Ramadan. When the station is across night places on earth he can eat, and when they are over daytime places he can’t eat. He only has to eat a bit faster and not a couple of hours. Tell me if I’m wrong.

With Internet access limited, state-controlled newspapers churned out the junta’s version of the national crisis, suppressing stories of wide-scale arrests.

Myanmar’s military junta stepped up its propaganda machine yesterday, calling foreign critics "liars" and filling state-controlled media with positive spin of the crushing blow it dealt to pro-democracy advocates. I guess we know that stuff from all totalitarian regimes already, it’s always the same with them.

Newspapers made no mention of Buddhist monks being detained or got killed for their role in protests, or of soldiers, dragging people from their homes in nighttime raids. No, this has never happened they wanna make us believe.

Instead, coverage was devoted to pro-government rallies that have been held in stadiums around the country by Soldiers and their families(well, they have to attend, or they get killed also, like the monks)in recent days.

What the government media don’t tells us also is, that a staff member of the United Nations Development Program got arrested with her husband and her brother-in-law. But okay, those have already been released, so maybe they just saw no reason to tell the people.

Help the people of Burma! Please join the campaign.