Letter to Ban Ki Moon fromVenerable U Pannya Vamsa, President of the International Burmese Monks Organization

December 3, 2008

Dear Secretary General Ban Ki Moon,

We send our greetings and blessings at this end of the year. We appreciate your continued focus on the terrible suffering in Burma, and support your plans for a potential visit there soon. We have two requests. The monks of the International Burmese Monks Organization (IBMO) would like a meeting with you at the earliest time.

We also request that you insist that all political prisoners, including Daw Aung Saw Suu Kyi, be released by the end of December, 2008 or you will recommend to the Security Council that they pass an arms embargo against Burma. The regime must also agree to allow the ICRC access to all political prisoners immediately without conditions.to continue
http://burmesemonks.org/news/news_4.aspx

The International Burmese Monks Organisation has successfully reformed with following executive committee on November 22, 2008.

Committee members of
the International Burmese Monks Organization (2008)

Eight ministers and Rangoon’s mayor to resign soon

by Mizzima News
Tuesday, 09 December 2008 18:13

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – At least eight ministers in the cabinet of Burma’s military government along with the mayor of Rangoon will resign from their current positions in preparation to contest the upcoming 2010 election, a source in the military said.
According to the source in Naypyitaw, ministers from the Ministries of Forestry, Construction, Immigration & Population, Livestock Breeding & Fisheries, Transport, Agriculture & Irrigation, Industry (1), Communication, Posts & Telegraphs, in addition to the mayor of Rangoon, will soon retire from their positions as part of the lead up to the 2010 general election.
listed on http://www.mizzima.com/news/breaking-and-news-brief/1415-eight-ministers-and-rangoons-mayor-to-resign-soon.html

Lectures of Prof. Win : In Response to Burma Digest Part 1-3

This is the gist of lectures given to the various universities and locations in North America and Europe. These lectures are published in response to the request of Dr Tay Za of Burma Digest, whose publication is considered is one of the most balanced reporting for the ethno democratic publications. Only relevant and intelligent questions are inserted. The lectures and all answers are Prof. BT Win’s (Kanbawza Win) personal omissions and commissions and did not represent any university, organizations or movements.
part 1 http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/14461
part 2 http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/14480
part 3 http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/14494

not a polite gesture in our culture

UN was “Disrespectful” In Approach to Aung San Suu Kyi, NLD Leader Says

UNITED NATIONS, December 8 — As political leaders east and west are calling for the UN to do more about the situation in Myanmar, Monday in New York leaders of that country’s National League for Democracy criticized the UN’s last trip to Yangoon. NLD leader Khun Mying Tun, speaking at New York University, was asked by Inner City Press to review the UN’s recent performance. He referred to UN staff shouting at Daw Aun San Suu Kyi through a bullhorn and pasting fliers on the gate of the house in which she is under house arrest.
“That is not a polite gesture in our culture,” he said. “We viewed it as the junta trying to embarrass our leader.”

http://www.innercitypress.com/un1nld120808.html

Factory worker jailed for 19 years after ILO report

Dec 9, 2008 (DVB)–Kyi Myint Taing township court in Rangoon yesterday sentenced three people to between five and 19 years after they reported a labour rights issue to the International Labour Organisation, according to their families.continue
http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=1994

Cyclone Heroes

The volunteers came from every walk of life—monks, business people, ordinary citizens, celebrities, intellectuals, dissidents and members of religious charities. continue http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14748

Christian Group Honors Laura Bush for Burma Advocacy

Michigan-based Christian Freedom International applauded the First Lady for being an outspoken advocate for the hundreds of thousands of displaced refugees who have suffered tremendously because of the ongoing internal conflict.
source christian post

1,000 Wa fighters were said to be involved in the drills, according to locals coming to the border.

Military exercises recently launched by the Wa accompanied by mortar shellings and gunfire have put the Thai border forces on the alert, according to a Thai security officer.
The exercises have been taking place at Mongyawn, only a few kilometers from Chiangmai’s Mae Ai district border since the beginning of December, he said.
http://www.shanland.org/